Vivo has confirmed the launch date (not publicly) of the upcoming V29 series. The brand has made the Vivo V29 microsite live, where the colour variants, as well as some more information, is mentioned. According to the Vivo V29’s official microsite, the smartphone series is coming to India on October 4. However, the launch date is not very easy to find on the microsite. On the Vivo V29 series microsite, there’s a small banner that says “Know more”. When you click on it, a rectangular box will appear that reads “Stay Tuned till We Meet on October 4”.
Vivo launched the first Vivo V29 series model last month, the Vivo V29e. Now the Chinese brand is all set to launch two more smartphones that are the Vivo V29 and V29 Pro. Vivo will feature the 3D-curved display in the Vivo V29 series. Apart from that, the smartphone series will also feature 3D particle technology on the back. Vivo also confirmed that the Vivo 29 will weigh 186 grams and the Pro variant will weigh 188 grams. Furthermore, there will be three colour options; Majestic Red (with colour changing back panel), Himalayan Blue, and Space Black.
Also read: Vivo V29 series could launch under ₹40,000: Camera details and colour options tipped
Now talking about the specifications, the Vivo V29 is already available in other regions. Let’s see what the global variant Vivo V29 packs.
The Vivo V29 is equipped with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. Moreover, the smartphone ships with FuntouchOS 13 skin which is based on Android 13 OS.
Also read: Vivo V29 5G spotted on BIS certification website, as Vivo confirms V29e
The smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor coupled with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. It is powered by a 4600mAh battery with up to 80-watt fast charging support.
Speaking of the camera, it has a 50-megapixel OIS main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor. On the front, it has a 50-megapixel camera.
As the Snapdragon Summit comes closer and is just two months away, we all await the upcoming flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. But ahead of its launch, a leaked benchmark listing has revealed some of its specs. The Snapdragon Summit is just 2 months away and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has become the talk of the town. If rumours are to be believed, the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will be launched earlier than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was launched last year.
Now, ahead of its launch, we have come across a leaked benchmark listing. This gives us a hint at what to expect from the upcoming chipset that’ll power our smartphones.
Also read: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 appears on AnTuTu, claims to be 30-percent faster
Allegedly, tipster Digital Chat Station took to Weibo to share this leak. The tipster shared a Geekbench 5 score of the RedMagic 9. It scored 5977 in multi-score and 1596 in single-score.
The device which was tested, mentions that its motherboard is the “pineapple" moniker. This is the one that is rumoured to be the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It runs on Android 14 and could be one of the first flagship phones to have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Also, the listing revealed that the device had one primary core with 3.19GHz, next to five middle cores at 2.96GHz clock speeds, and two cores featuring 2.27GHz. Hence, according to Digital Chat Station, the chipset could have one Cortex X4, five Cortex-A720, and two Cortex-A520, respectively. In addition to this, it will be equipped by an Adreno 750 GPU.
Also read: Xiaomi 14 series: First smartphones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3? Check more details
The leak by Digital Chat Stating suggests that the device is using just a regular version of the chipset and there could be another version for the same chipset. This was true for this year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and "Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy" that was used especially for the Galaxy S23 series and other premium smartphones.
Twitter lookalike Threads was rolled out recently on July 5 and took the internet by quite the storm. But it turns out that the hype was really short-lived as the App is seeing a massive decline in active users. Currently, the Zuckerberg Twitter alternative is really struggling to regain its popularity with users.
At the time of its launch on July 5, 2023, Threads got almost every Instagram user onboard with its popularity soaring high. It made records by gaining more than 100 million sign-ups on the App within the first five days of its launch.
Also read: Twitter vs Threads: 5 cool Twitter features that Threads still doesn’t have
Zuckerberg had even used the correct timeline to launch his new App as Twitter was facing a lot of backlash for the new policies rolled out by Elon Musk and people saw it as an alternative to the blue-bird App. But it now seems that Threads only had a small shot at fame and couldn’t beat Twitter.
As mentioned earlier, Threads had gained more than 100 million users within the first five days but a month later the Meta App is struggling with only 10.3 million daily active users. Reports suggest that about 79% of the initial users have stopped using the app altogether. Other reports reveal that Threads has lost more than half of its users already. A Reuters report cited an internal call from Meta, revealing that Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Threads’ retention was 'better than what the executives had expected, it was not perfect'.
A new report by Indian Express cites Similarweb, revealing that Threads had about 49.3 million active users on July 7. But now the numbers have dropped disappointingly to just 10.3 million active users. Further, the report reveals that initially, the average time spent on this new social media platform was about 21 minutes which has now dropped down to just 3 minutes per day.
Also read: Threads isn’t threading enough and here is why we think it is so
Considering this data, Meta is reportedly strategising to bring back its engagement through various new features including but not limited to a web version, mention buttons etc.
Apart from physical damage to your computer, malware is probably the biggest threat to most computing devices you use. And often we do not know how to deal with the situation if malware or virus has entered our computer system. Malware can be any malicious code or program that sneaks into your PC, and it includes but is not limited to viruses, spyware, ransomware, and other unwanted software that get installed in your devices without your knowledge. Once malware gets installed in your system, cyber criminals can easily access your personal and sensitive information. Run unwanted ads, take control of your devices and in most cases demand money. Now let me tell you how to get rid of malware from your computer or PC.
How malware can infect your computer
There are many pathways through which malware can enter your device.
1) When you download stuff from illegal or shady websites. 2) Using compromises hard drives or USB pen drives. 3) Clicking on fake links (phishing links) sent to your device, via pop ups, mails, or messages. 4) Downloading content from illegal or pirated file sharing websites.
How to check for malware on your PC
You might not be able to know when malware enters your device but be on a lookout for these signs.
1) Your computer could suddenly slow down, crash or show error signs. 2) You are unable to shut it down. 3) You cannot uninstall the said software. 4) Unexpected and too many ads constantly pop up on your PC screen. 5) Your laptop computer runs out of battery quickly. 6) Your internet homepage keeps changing in your web browser.
How to remove the malware from your computer
1) You need to download antivirus software on your device. 2) Check if it’s up to date and turn on automatic updates. 3) Next, scan your device for any virus or malware. 4) Delete anything that seems unsafe or problematic. 5) If this doesn’t work, then backup your data and reinstall your operating system.
To be extra safe and avoid any such problems, stay away from suspicious websites, popups and unwanted links.
Samsung has announced the Indian prices of various products that were launched in the Galaxy Unpacked Event 2023. This includes the new Galaxy foldables namely the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, new wearables namely, the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and new tablets namely, the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Let's check out these crazy products and their crazy prices here.
But before we do, note that the Z Flip 5 and the Z Fold 5 are being manufactured in Samsung's Noida facility. This comes as part of the company's Make in India, Make for India initiative.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 India price, offers, and other details
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 offers a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display along with 120Hz refresh rate. The cover screen features a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED 60Hz Display. The phone has a dual camera setup having a configuration of 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel. There’s even going to be a 10-megapixel selfie shooter.
The phone will run on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC for Galaxy paired with up to 8GB 512GB. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 packs a battery of 3,700mAh.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is available in India at ₹99,999 for the 8+256GB model and ₹109,999 for the 12+512GB variant on all major online and offline retail stores from August 18. You can pick it in Mint, Cream, Graphite and Lavender colours. If you buy it from Samsung.com, you can get the Gray, Green and Blue colour options too.
Those of you who pre-book the Z Flip 5 gets benefits worth ₹20,000 (including ₹12,000 upgrade and ₹8,000 bank cashback), and up to 9 months no cost EMI purchase option.
Additionally, if you pre-book it today at 12 PM during the Samsung Live event, you can get a silicone case with ring worth ₹4,199 for free.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 India price, offers, and other details
It features a 7.6-inch QXGA Dynamic AMOLED 2X main screen. The cover screen on the other hand features 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display.
You can spot a 10-megapixel selfie camera on the cover display, a 4-megapixel under display camera. And finally the triple camera setup offers a combination of a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 50-megapixel main camera and a 10-megapixel lens.
The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC for Galaxy roomed with up to 12GB+1TB. The phone is backed by a 4,400mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available in India at ₹1,54,999 for the 12+256GB model, ₹1,64,999 for the 12+512GB variant, and ₹1,84,999 for the 12+1TB model from August 18 on all leading online and offline retail outlets. The first two models come in Icy Blue, Cream, and Phantom Black colours. The 512GB model can be purchased in Icy Blue colour only. Buy it in the exclusive Platinum colour from the Samsung.com.
Those of you who pre-book the Z Fold 5 gets benefits worth ₹23,000 (including ₹5,000 upgrade and ₹8,000 bank cashback; Buy 256GB in this pre-booking window and you'll get 512GB, which is another ₹10,000 benefit), and up to 9 months no cost EMI purchase option.
Additionally, if you pre-book it today at 12 PM during the Samsung Live event, you can get a standing case with strap worth ₹6,299 for free.
Also read: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 launched with major upgrades: Better display, faster processor and more
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 India price, offers, and other details
The Galaxy Tab S9 features an 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and runs on customised Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. On the camera front, you will spot a 13-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel selfie shooter. It offers up to 12GB RAM 256GB storage and packs a 8400mAh battery.
The Tab S9 (WiFi) price starts at ₹72,999 but after ₹9,000 bank cashback and ₹5000 upgrade bonus, the net effective price becomes ₹58,999. The 5G model, meanwhile starts at ₹85,999 but after all discounts, the net effective price becomes ₹71,999. It goes on sale from August 18. You can pre-order it starting today at 12 PM from Samsung and other online and offline stores.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus India price, offers, and other details
This Galaxy Tab is quite similar to the previous one. It however features a 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. It also comes with the same processor but packs a 10,090mAh battery. It features a 13-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens. There’s a 12-megapixel selfie shooter too.
The Tab S9 Plus (WiFi) price starts at ₹90,999 but after ₹11,000 bank cashback and ₹7000 upgrade bonus, the net effective price becomes ₹72,999. The 5G model starts at ₹104,999 but you can grab it for the net effective price of ₹86,999 after the cashback and upgrade bonus. The availability details are the same as above.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra India price, offers, and other details
The most premium tablet of this series sports a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. Further, it has a dual camera set up in the rear with 13-megapixel and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens. There’s a dual camera setup in the front too, featuring a 12MP + 12MP camera. It also features the same processor but comes with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra packs a 11,200mAh battery.
The Tab S9 Ultra (WiFi) price starts at ₹108,999 but after ₹12,000 bank cashback and ₹8000 upgrade bonus, the net effective price becomes ₹88,999. The 5G model starts at ₹122,999 but you can grab it for the net effective price of ₹102,999 after the cashback and upgrade bonus. The availability details are the same as above.
Also read: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 launched: 6 things beyond specs that are worth knowing
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 India price, offers, and other details
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 offers two variants, each in two colour options: 44mm: Graphite, Sliver 40mm: Graphite, Gold
The watch features a sapphire crystal display. The 44mm watch has a 1.5-inchSuper AMOLED. Whereas the 40mm watch has a 1.3-inch Super AMOLED. It works on a Exynos W930 Dual-Core 1.4GHz processor. It offers 2GB RAM 16GB storage. You can expect upto 40 hours of battery life when Always On Display is off. And up to 30 hours when Always On Display is on. It runs on the Wear OS Powered by Samsung.
The Watch 6 40MM BT is priced at ₹29,999 but after ₹6000 bank cashback and ₹4000 upgrade bonus, you can get it for ₹19,999. The LTE model, meanwhile, will set you back ₹33,999 but after the discounts, will be available for ₹23,999. It goes on sale from August 18. You can pre-book it from noon on July 27 through Samsung website and other online and offline retail shops.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic India price, offers, and other details
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic offers two variants, each in two colour options: 47mm : Black, Silver 43mm : Black, Silver
The 47mm watch has a 1.5-inchSuper AMOLED, whereas the 43mm watch has a 1.3-inch Super AMOLED. The 47mm watch offers a battery worth 425mAh, meanwhile the 43mm one has 300mAh.
The Watch 6 Classic 43MM BT is priced at ₹36,999 but after ₹6000 bank cashback and ₹4000 upgrade bonus, you can get it for ₹26,999. The LTE model, meanwhile, will set you back ₹40,999 but after the discounts, will be available for ₹30,999. The availability details are the same as above.
Student discounts are one of the best perks you can get if your college issues an official email ID along with an ID card. Everything from hardware to software can be obtained at a discount if you are a student. Heck, even Spotify offers a student discount in India. While the opinions on this matter are still divided, with some suggesting that these discounts are nothing but a way for brands to secure future customers.
But hey, if you are getting some sweet deals on your next laptop or a discounted subscription to arguably one of the best music streaming services, who cares? After you are done using the service or have bought the thing that you wanted, you will have a fair idea of what the brand has to offer. So you will know what they bring to the table, and if it is related to tech and you are not able to figure it out, then you know whom to reach out to. Now, without wasting your time or mine, let’s dive into the world of student discounts and have a look at all the deals and offers that you can grab using just your ID card and email.
Spotify
If you are a student with a valid ID card/email ID granted by your institution, then you can easily get your hands on a subsidised subscription to Spotify. Spotify’s student plan in India costs ₹59/month. These charges are deducted from your account after you finish your first month of premium subscription, which is free. At max, you can get Spotify Premium for four years, after which you will no longer be eligible to get the service at a discounted rate, and you will either need to opt out of Premium or continue with a regular plan.
UNiDAYS
One of the most popular services used by brands across the world for student status verification is UNiDAYS. Thanks to the wide variety of clients that they have under their belt, UNiDAYS also becomes a good starting point for students to step into the world of student discounts. By verifying that you are a student, UNiDAYS opens the gates to discounts from brands like Apple, Samsung, Gaana, Saavn, and even fashion and apparel brands like H&M and Birkenstock. The signup process is super easy, and all you need is an active student ID administered by your institution. If you don’t have that, then you can also upload images of your ID card that has been issued by the institute that you are studying at, and you are set.
A single UNiDAYS verification will open you to getting the following discounts (only tech hardware discounts listed here, for more, visit UNiDAYS) -
Microsoft
One of the biggest tech brands in the world, Microsoft, also has a lot of discounts on offer for students. A limited selection of Surface products is available at a discounted price, not only for students but also parents and educators. And, if you are lucky and your college offers you email powered by Outlook, then you can also get access to various Microsoft Office 365 as well. All you will need to do is sign in using your Microsoft account when using those services, and you should be able to use them without needing to pay anything to Mr Gates or his organisation.
Airlines
Airlines are one of the places where you can save the most money using your student ID. Most airlines these days, be they domestic or international carriers, offer tons of benefits to students, be it in terms of fare discounts or baggage allowance. Domestic carriers generally offer a 10 per cent discount on the fare and an additional allowance of 10 KG baggage, totalling the total allowance to 25 KG. For international carriers, it completely depends on the sector that you are flying and what policy the airline has in general. For example, in college, I was flying with Lufthansa and got an additional baggage allowance which included one whole extra bag, and along with that, there was a discount on the fare as well. However, keep in mind that you will need to produce a valid student ID card whenever you are checking in, despite the airline being domestic or international.
GitHub
GitHub also has a lot of benefits for students on offer. To get access to it, you will need a valid ID card along with a working student email ID. With the GitHub Student Developer Pack, you get access to a host of tools that will definitely help you get a headstart on your coding journey. The offerings include courses from Scrimba and access to assets from repositories like IconScout. There are many other things on offer, and they can be checked on the GitHub Student Developer Pack page here.
Adobe Creative Suite
One of the essentials in any creative workflow these days is the Adobe Creative Suite. For students, Adobe offers a subscription at ₹1,596.54/mo, which is 60 per cent off their regular Creative Cloud plan. You get access to Adobe’s entire creative suite, which includes apps all the way from Premiere Pro to Adobe Aero. There are also Substance 3D apps, which include Stager, Painter, Sampler, Designer, and Modeller.
AI chabot war gets interesting with each passing day as the key players either innovate or inspire from each other. ChatGPT also gets citation feature similar to Google Bard. The difference is Bard relies on Google search while ChatGPT relies on Bing.
Talking about other changes, Google Bard will now be giving pictures with Google search on when you ask it for something. On the other hand, ChatGPT has now collaborated with Bing and with the help of that it will be giving real-time answers sourced from the web.
Google Bard and Google search engine
Google Bard calls this an experimental update and that as soon as you ask Bard for something according to the prompt it will give you the answer along with the latest picture from Google search for that very topic.
So if you ask Bard about what places you should visit for your Ladakh trip, it won't only give you the names but on the backend Google images will work on it and give you the exact and the most recent picture of the places that Bard will be mentioning.
According to Google this was implemented by keeping the theory in mind that visualisation makes things easier to understand.
ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing
According to the Microsoft corporate VP ChatGPT has to deal with a huge language model based on pre trained data. So, the lack of internet can make ChatGPT give answers that aren't really up to date. Even it won't be able to provide you with any current data.
So, it has now decided to offer Bing search results and citations to all ChatGPT users now. Now, whenever you ask ChatGPT for some answer you'll definitely get the updated and clarified answer as the internet and Bing search engine comes to use.
Also, when ChatGPT comes up with an answer now it will also provide the citation and web data available for the question you ask. But unlike Bard, it hasn't reached the stage to get visualised data as of now. As in you won't be provided with images.
So if we compare things between Bard and ChatGPT then they have both taken a leap ahead to improve their existence in the AI world. Also, slow and steady wins the race. So, hopefully they'll be coming up with many more updates very soon.
The Unique Identification Authority of India announced a feature which would help Indian residents to get their Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers and email IDs verified online or through mobile apps.
Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric identification system which helps Indian residents to prove their identity offline and online without always carrying around every document for proof. This identity card with a 12-digit unique ID number helps with e-governance, citizen services, banking, trading and other important activities without any hassle.
Just the way updating your Aadhaar address is necessary, same way you should keep yourself updated as to what contact details are attached to your Aadhaar. Now, let's look into why this is important and how it functions.
Why is verifying the Aadhaar mobile number and Email ID necessary?
UIDAI reported that there are circumstances where the Aadhaar card holder isn't aware of which number or email ID their Aadhaar is linked to. This could be a really grave issue as there are times when you need OTPs for different purposes and it goes to the number that is linked to your Aadhaar.
How can the Aadhaar mobile number and Email ID be verified?
UIDAI has given an official statement as to how the mobile number and Email ID can be verified. It says, “Now, with this facility, the residents can check these quite easily. The facility can be availed under ‘Verify email/mobile Number' feature on the official website or through mAadhaar App. This feature gives confirmation to residents that their email/mobile number under his/her knowledge is only seeded to respective Aadhaar.”
Step 1 - Open either mAadhaar app or log into UIDAI’s website to check your Aadhaar details
Step 2 - Find and click the ‘Verify email/mobile number’ button
Step 3 - Verify if your email or mobile number is accurately linked to your Aadhaar
In case the mobile number or the email id isn't linked then the resident gets notified and is provided with the necessary steps that are to be followed for updating their Aadhaar details.
UIDAI has further stated, “In case the mobile number is already verified, residents will see a message like, 'the mobile number you have entered is already verified with our records', displayed on their screen.
In case a resident does not remember the mobile number she/he has given during enrolment, she/he can check the last three digits of the mobile on Verify Aadhaar feature on MyAadhaar portal or mAadhaar app.”
For linking or updating contact number with Aadhaar, you will have to visit your nearest Aadhar centre.
Amazon Great Summer Sale will end tomorrow and these are some of the useful gadgets on sale at amazing discounts. These include sub-₹500 mobile and laptop accessories and some of them are best sellers in their respective categories. So, without further ado, let’s check out these Amazon sale deals.
Accessories under ₹500 on Amazon Great Summer Sale 1. Portronics Ruffpad Re-Writable LCD Writing Pad
This is an 8.5-inch LCD screen and stylus combo. You can use write, erase, and rewrite on the pressure-sensitive display using the stylus. Whatever you write or draw will be easily erasable using a one-button clear command. However, if you want to store or save something from erasure, you can use the Anti-Erase Lock button. These can be synced and opened on Ruffpad apps on iOS and Android phones.
Check out the Portronics Ruffpad at ₹188 after a 76-percent discount on Amazon's Great Summer Sale.
2. Ptron Bullet Pro 36W PD Quick Car Charger
If you are looking for a car charger, the Ptron charger offers 36W of QC 3.0 and PD-compatible fast charging through 2 USB-A ports and 1 USB-C port. The company claims the charger is equipped with a smart IC chip that prevents short circuits and temperature issues.
Check out the Ptron car charger at ₹299 after a 77-percent discount on the Great Summer Sale.
3. Striff Adjustable Laptop Tabletop Stand
You can prop up your laptop or tablet at 7 adjustable height options ranging from 2.7 inches to 6.7 inches. You can adjust as per your requirements with respect to anti-glare, comfort, and reachability. The laptop or tablet mount also offers air ventilation to dissipate heat. The thing can lift up to 25 kg. It also comes with a phone stand.
The Striff laptop stand comes at ₹299 after an 80-percent discount on the Amazon Great Summer Sale.
4. Tygot Bluetooth Extendable Selfie Sticks
This is a 3-in-1 multi-functional selfie stick that is a wireless remote as well as a tripod stand. The selfie stick part can be used up to 15 feet in height. It weighs 113 grams only but there is no rubber grip. It also allows 360° plus 220° angular adjustment.
You can buy the Tygot selfie stick at ₹376 after a 81-percent discount.
5. WeCool Adjustable Mobile Phone Foldable Holder Stand Dock Tabletop Mount
Thanks to an aluminium alloy stalk and a heavy base, the WeCool phone holder stand claims to be adept at easily lifting a mobile phone’s heft. Its textured interiors should also facilitate the grip required to firmly hold the device. The mount can also be easily rotated at 180 degrees letting you view the phone’s screen in any orientation you feel comfortable.
The WeCool mobile phone holder stand is currently priced at ₹299 after an 80-percent discount on the Amazon sale.
Digit, India's leading personal technology media brand, has published the findings of an innovative survey exploring the country's attitudes and reactions to the rapid pace of AI growth and its potential impact. The analysis done by the Digit Research Lab aimed to evaluate India's general sentiment and response to the potential effects of AI related to employment and education sector.
The survey, which polled 3,050 participants from 24th March 2023 to 10th April 2023, revealed that 59% of Indians view AI as a mix of opportunities and threats, with 11% considering it a significant threat that could result in job displacement and increased competition. Students perceive the threat level even higher at 40%, as opposed to working professionals at 36%, according to Digit's findings.
"The results of Digit's survey highlight the critical role that AI is set to play in shaping India's future and the importance of equipping our workforce and students with the necessary skills to succeed in an increasingly AI-driven world. Although there are concerns about the potential risks of AI, the opportunities for growth and innovation are enormous. Digit is thrilled to demonstrate the power of AI tools such as ChatGPT by creating an entire issue of our magazine using this cutting-edge technology. We are excited to witness how AI will continue to transform the way we work and learn," says Vikas Gupta, Founder, and Director of 9.9 Group.
India believes AI literacy is crucial for future
The Digit survey also disclosed that 67% of the respondents had a high familiarity with generative tools like ChatGPT. Meanwhile, 23% reported moderate familiarity, and a mere 10% indicated no familiarity. The study also determined that 75% of respondents believed their career growth would be hindered if they did not acquire knowledge in AI, machine learning, and related fields.
On an optimistic note, 62% of Indians acknowledge the substantial role of AI in personalized and expedited learning processes via targeted feedback. The survey also discovered that respondents believe the Indian education system should give priority to developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills (54%), building strong digital literacy foundations (49%), incorporating AI-related subjects in the curriculum (46%), and promoting interdisciplinary learning to foster adaptability (30%) to better equip students for a future with AI.
Digit Magazine even demonstrated the potential of AI tools like ChatGPT and generative AI art in the publishing sector with a special April 2023 "Written By AI" issue, which included cover stories, relevant features, letters to the editor, gadget reviews, and all other customary sections of the regular.
"Digit's research has produced compelling observations. Despite the concerns about job loss due to the growth of AI, the majority of the survey respondents have expressed a keen interest in learning more about AI to enhance their career prospects and professional development. This trend is not limited to students alone but also observed among professionals who want to make informed decisions, improve their skills, and advance their careers using AI. It will be fascinating to observe the overall impact of AI on the Indian job market as this technology continues to evolve”, says Ms. Shambhavi Sinha, Lead Analyst at Digit Research Labs.
Digit's survey offers valuable insights into India's reaction to the AI revolution and emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive strategy to address both opportunities and threats in the swiftly evolving landscape.
About Digit For the past 22 years, Digit has been steadfast in its mission to be the most trusted friend when it comes to everything you may want or should know about technology. With editorial content across 8 languages (English + 7 vernacular), Digit is amongst the top 3 online tech destinations in India (as per Comscore rankings). Digit strives to educate you on how technology can enhance and enrich your life by providing you with information, opinion, and advice on what to buy and how to get the most out of it. With our ever-growing community, Digit is a sum of all its members and followers who are an integral part of Digit. Digit is not a brand, it’s a community that feeds your passion for technology. Digit's Gaming brand - SKOAR!, connects with gamers via its digital and on-ground properties like SKOAR! College Gaming Club (SCGC). Focussed on building the college-level gaming ecosystem in India, SCGC engages with gamers by partnering with colleges across India to establish gaming clubs/esports programs and support student competitive gaming leagues across dozens of colleges in India.
Flipkart has announced the Big Savings Days from May 4 at 12 PM. A wide range of electronic products will be on sale. Among these, several smartphones will be at their lowest price ever. Here are some of those deals as teased by Flipkart.
5 best smartphones on sale on Flipkart Big Savings Days
1. During the Flipkart Big Savings Days, Apple iPhone 13 will be available at a crazy discount. The exact sale price isn’t revealed but you may be able to grab it for a lower price than usual. As for specs, you are getting an OLED screen, A15 Bionic chipset, 12MP+12MP cameras at the back, Face ID and iOS.
2. If you want to buy a Samsung phone from the Flipkart sale, you can check out Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G which will be at its lowest price. Then, there is also the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 which will be up for grabs at an impressive exchange discount.
3. Google phones will also be on sale including the Pixel 6a at ₹25,999 and Pixel 7 at ₹44,999.
4. Some Xiaomi phones to watch out for during the Big Savings Days are Poco X5 Pro 5G, Poco C55, and Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G.
Poco X5 Pro 5G will be selling for ₹20,999 (incl of offers), which is ₹2000 less than its current price.
Poco C55 can be bought from Flipkart at ₹7,999 in the Flipkart Big Savings Days sale.
Redmi Note Note 12 Pro 5G, meanwhile, will be retailing for ₹21,749 in the big Flipkart sale.
5. Realme GT Neo 3T will be coming for ₹19,999 on Flipkart during the sale days whereas its current price is ₹22,999.
Some other smartphones like the Moto e13, Infinix Hot 20 5G, Realme C55, and Realme 10 Pro+ are also previewed to be on sale from May 4 at 12 PM.
Now, in this sale, you could grab a host of other electronics too with up to 80 percent discount. Big appliances including TVs will be up to 70 percent off.
Microsoft has been bringing in quite a lot of upgrades recently, including a lot of AI tools to use. Some of those Windows upgrades aim to connect Android and iOS devices more seamlessly.
Microsoft's Phone Link, which was named as Your Phone app during its launch, allows Android devices to build a connection with Windows. Through this feature it's easy to send or receive files, also text and call and have control over the phone's music without touching your phone when you are on your laptop.
But this wasn't available for iPhones, which is now going to change in May, 2023. Microsoft will be launching Phone Link iPhone support which will further allow iPhones to have the same advantage that the Android users only had access to. For this the Link to Windows app for iOS is needed.
This change will include iMessage support with Windows 11. But there are limitations to it. This new feature will allow you to receive and send texts but a lot of other features of iMessage won't be possible, like group chats, sending images or videos and also conversation history won't be available.
For iMessage to run properly it is very important to connect the iPhone to the Windows 11 device using Bluetooth. A lot of macOS users don't like using it because of complications but they use it because it makes calling and texting easier for them when they are on their laptop swamped with work. But hopefully, the introduction of this in Windows will give them a ray of hope.
Like macOS, probably Windows will not be able to get all features of iMessage perfectly. But, this is just the first step and as time passes Windows has better plans with iPhones the way they have strived better in terms of Android.
With more Apple devices launching very soon, this feature is going to be really useful for iOS users and especially the ones who don't want to use their phone when they are busy on their laptop and also miss nothing,
The most demanded feature is now available, along with a few more new features on the chat platform WhatsApp, owned by Meta. Up to five phones can each utilize the same WhatsApp account.
Similar to how you connect WhatsApp on web browsers, tablets, and desktops, you connect every additional phone. Your messages, media, and phone conversations will all remain end-to-end encrypted since each paired phone establishes its own separate connection to WhatsApp.
Additionally, as a security measure, you will be immediately signed out of all partner devices if your main phone is dormant “for a long period." The global rollout of this update is now underway for all users. The rollout will be finished "in the upcoming weeks."
Also read: WhatsApp ‘Keep in Chat’ feature will let you bookmark messages: Here’s how
In addition, rather than having to scan a QR code, you may input your phone number on WhatsApp Web to get a one-time code that you can apply on your phone to enable device connection. Currently, this is just available on WhatsApp Web, but "more companion devices in the future" are promised.
According to reports, WhatsApp is introducing a group feature for group administrators to allow them to control how they authorize new members. It surely helps group admins make sure that only desirable individuals are added to the group.
When this feature is activated, new members must be accepted by a group admin ahead of them joining the group, regardless of whether they received a group invite link, by looking at the "Pending participants" area, claims WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp tracker.
Also read: iPhone users can make their own WhatsApp stickers now, very simple to do
When the feature is turned off, anybody is able to join a group by clicking an invite link without contacting the admin privately. According to the study, in the past, this posed a severe problem for community administrators because it may result in unwanted messages asking the administrator to be included in the subgroup that they manage.
WhatsApp is also developing a brand-new one-to-many mechanism for information dissemination dubbed "Channels" in the meantime. Users will find it simple to get helpful updates from the sources they select with the channels function. The function is currently being created and scheduled to be included in the next app version.
In order to accommodate channels, WhatsApp plans to change the Status tab to "Updates" in this portion of the app. A WhatsApp Channel is a confidential tool where users' phone numbers and other details are always kept secret.
BenQ has launched a new monitor in India — GW90QT. It comes in two sizes viz., 27-inch and 32-inch. They feature a 2k display, USB-C (TB3) 65W power delivery, speakers with noise filters, noise-cancellation microphones and an accessory monitor base cover. Scroll to find the complete details including how much it costs and where can you buy it.
BenQ GW90QT monitor features
1. Starting with the main thing about a monitor, its display: You are getting a 2K IPS 8-bit panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 75Hz refresh rate,1000:1 contrast ratio, 99% of sRGB coverage, 350 nits of brightness, and anti-glare, anti-flicker, and low-blue light properties.
You can choose between various colour modes like Care mode, Coding, ePaper, Game, M-Book, Movie, Standard, and User. You can also prop this monitor horizontally or vertically.
2. There is a 2x 2W speaker with noise filtration. This is backed by noise-cancelling microphones. If you want to listen using a headphone, there is an audio jack for that.
3. Other ports on the GW90QT includes HDMI 1.4, Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port (that supports 65W power delivery, DisplayPort Alt Mode as well as data sharing), DisplayPort out (Multi-stream transport), and 3x USB 3.2. You also get the Daisy Chain option to use several screens at a time.
4. For better cable management, BenQ has given the GC01 monitor base cover. Besides cables and accessories, you can also keep stationery items on it.
5. The monitor is rated for environmental standards such as Energy Star 8.0, TCO Certified 9.0 and EPEAT Bronze. You get up to a 3-year warranty on this BenQ monitor.
BenQ GW90QT pricing and availability
BenQ GW90QT is available on Amazon India starting at ₹26,990 for the 27-inch model. You can purchase the 32-inch model at ₹34,990.
Samsung has become accustomed to releasing its foldable smartphones and a fresh wave of items in August, including smartwatches and headphones. But a rumour came around that the South Korean tech giant will conduct its second Unpacked event of the year early, which could have an impact on when the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 are released.
According to speculation, Samsung's upcoming significant Unpacked announcement event will occur in the final week of July. Given that the corporation has often had its second announcement event of each year in August, this is earlier than you might have anticipated.
Also read: Samsung opens up pre-booking of its latest Neo QLED 2023 series of TVs
Holding the aforementioned in mind, let's remember that the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5, as well as the Galaxy Watch S6 and Galaxy Tab S9 series, will all be unveiled at this event. Anticipate that subsequent Unpacked to occur on July 25, 26, or 27 because the firm often schedules its events for the middle of the week.
It won't make much of a difference that the unveiling is a few weeks or so earlier than it was last year, but it could be a sign that Samsung is aware of the growing competition it is facing in some markets, such as the foldable space, and wants to respond a little earlier than it otherwise would have to the N2 Flips and Pixel Folds of the world. Of course, all of this is just conjecture but plausible speculation if we do say so ourselves.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S24 could have EV grade battery enhancements among new features
Although the reason for Samsung's decision to postpone the launch date was not explained, it may be due to the fierce foldable competition in the sector. In addition to the recent foldable phone releases from Chinese companies Vivo and Oppo, Motorola is also expected to introduce the Razr+ and 'Razr Lite' in June. Google is also expected to reveal the Pixel Fold during I/O 2023 in May.
Samsung might not be concerned with the limited stock of Motorola's Razr 2023 or Vivo's X Flip in important markets. However, given that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumoured to be delivered in July, the fully folding Google Pixel Fold might overshadow it.
Arm won’t just design, but also manufacture chips as per a new FT report. The British company which is known for selling design IPs to brands like Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia, etc. is aiming for vertical expansion into the chip-making business. Here’s what we know so far about this.
Arm’s semiconductor business plans
As already mentioned, Arm's semiconductor plans include not just designing, but also manufacturing chips, states the report. However, since it’s new to the game, it will seek help from manufacturing partners.
The report reveals Arm has created a "solutions engineering" team that’s tasked with the development of prototype chips. These chipsets will be used in mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices.
The company has reportedly made some strides so far. It has been working on an advanced chip for the last 6 months. This is said to be a step above the current chips.
Once its IPO happens sometime this year, Arm could announce its efforts to the public.
History of Arm in the semiconductor business
Acorn Archimedes
Recently, Arm signed a partnership with Intel whereby Arm’s partners involved in semiconductor manufacturing can use Intel foundries to make the chips. The foundries will be in particular used for making mobile SoCs in the beginning.
This and the new report of its loftier business plans all seem to have been set in motion post the collapse of its deal with Nvidia. Nvidia was going to buy Arm from its current parent, viz. Japan’s Softbank. This could have been the biggest deal on record valued at $40 billion. But regulatory challenges pushed it to fall apart.
Still, Arm has been doing well in terms of revenue from its server-chips business, chip sales in the automotive sector, and Arm V9-based processors in smartphones. Recently, it has also announced its intention to raise the royalty and licencising fees.
So in its over 3-decade existence, the company named ARM (short for Acorn RISC Machine), whose first product was a RISC processor for a personal computer called Acorn Archimedes, has its design-based chips in almost every major electronic product.
Now only time can tell if it manages to directly compete with its customers, and showcase the actual potential of an Arm-based chip. Let’s see where it goes from here.
Flipkart has announced the Super Cooling Days from April 21 to April 26 2023. The event aims to help with the high demand for cooling appliances, including air conditioners, refrigerators, fans, and coolers, during the early summer season.
Customers can choose from the wide range of sellers and brands offering energy-efficient ACs, air coolers, smart fans equipped with BLDC motors (brushless direct current motors), and refrigerators. The event will feature attractive deals, exchange bonuses, free uninstallations, and bank and prepaid offers on cooling appliances.
Here are some of the 5-star ACs on the Flipkart sale
All these AC features a 5-star energy efficiency rating from BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency).
1. Whirlpool 4-in-1 Convertible Cooling 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split Inverter AC
This Whirlpool split AC is available at a 50-percent discount on Flipkart. The sale price is ₹36,999. This comes with 4-in-1 convertible cooling, inverter, 1.5-ton capacity, remote control, copper condenser coil, 35db noise, dust filter and auto air swing.
Check it out here.
2. Samsung Convertible 5-in-1 Cooling 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split Inverter AC
The Samsung split AC is up for grabs at a 41-percent discount on Flipkart. You can buy it for ₹42,599. It is equipped with a copper condenser coil, remote control, 2-way air direction, auto mode, and dust filter.
Check it out here.
3. LG AI Convertible 6-in-1 Cooling 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split AI Dual Inverter AC
You can purchase the LG AC at ₹45,490 after 40% discount on Flipkart. It features a split design, 6-in-1 convertible cooling, copper condenser coil, and a 4-way swing. LG also claims the AC is capable of offering anti-virus protection.
Check it out here.
4. Lloyd 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split Inverter AC
The sale price of Lloyd 1.5 ton 5-star split AC on Flipkart is ₹43,599 after a 35-percent discount. The AC sports a copper condenser coil, 4-way air direction, Anti-bacteria Filter, and a dust filter.
Check it out here.
5. IFB FastCool Convertible 8-in-1 Cooling 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split Inverter AC
IFB has packed the FastCool 1.5-ton AC with copper coil, a 7-stage air treatment, 4 way Air Swing, Stabilizer-free operation, and filters for dust, PM 0.3 particles, and bacteria. You can snag it for ₹43,990 after a 25-percent discount.
Check it out here.
The e-commerce company has noticed a large hike in demand for cooling appliances, mostly from Tier 2+ towns. The constant yearly growth of air conditioners and refrigerators has increased by 1.3x and 1.4x, while air coolers recorded a 2x growth and fans saw a 1.4x growth.
People usually prefer energy-efficient cooling products along with advanced technical features such as Wii-enabled features, FrostWash technology, Bottom Mount Freezers, remote control, convertible technology, and inverter compatibility. Noiseless BLDC motors are the most demanded fans, especially in tier 2 and beyond cities.
Blue Star, LG, Samsung, Lloyd, Daikin, and Voltas are considered the leading air conditioner brands in India, according to Flipkart. However, Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Haier, and Godrej are the highest-selling refrigerator brands. In addition to that, Symphony, Hindware, and Crompton are the top air cooler brands. In the last, Flipkart considers these brands; Atomberg, Crompton, Orient Electric, Havells, and Bajaj as the leading fan brands in India.
Flipkart's 'Super Cooling Days' event is expected to provide for the high demand for cooling appliances across various cities such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Patna, Lucknow, Bangalore, and Kolkata.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI which created the ChatGPT AI chatbot, made waves by announcing a multi-million dollar investment into a little-known life sciences startup that’s trying to solve the problem of biological ageing in humans. So in essence they’re trying to conquer death!
When Retro Biosciences, in 2022, announced that the company is launching with $180 million initial funding with the aim “to increase healthy human lifespan by ten years”, the biotechnology ecosystem was thrilled and sceptical as to the existence of the company, how it would accomplish this claim and above it all who were the investors that believed so passionately in this concept. To our surprise the MIT report disclosed, there’s only one investor who has invested 180$ million in the venture and he is none other than the ChatGPT mastermind, Open AI’s CEO, Sam Altman.
The 37-year-old start-up genius, Sam Altman has made a path breaking advancement in technology with his artificial-intelligence company which offer electronic art programs and conversation AI who have been redefining the systems with human-like capabilities. Now we can further understand the ambitions of the CEO as he has invested his money in two other programs. Helion Energy, a fusion power start-up that required him to invest more than $375 million and the other is Retro which asked for $180 million funding. Altman made the investments in the same year.
Also read: Meet AutoGPT, the ChatGPT version everyone’s talking about
What is Retro Biosciences
Where Altman has invested in Helion Energy that aspires to tame atom smashing and promises to create a “limitless source of clean energy”, Retro’s is attaining the solution on how to rejuvenate our bodies and prolong life, said the CEO and cofounder, who is better known for inventing the world’s smallest personal computer, Joe Betts-LaCroix. The company has “cellular drivers of ageing” and will be working on three programs. The three programs are aimed at cellular reprogramming, autophagy and plasma-inspired therapeutics. The company aids at achieving a process that is capable of multi-disease prevention. Retro states that its mission “is to increase healthy human lifespan by 10 years.”
However, is this truly achievable well according to Altman, hard startups have a better chance than the easy ones. While fusion and life extension could be unachievable projects, a few years ago everyone suggested that maybe AI could at one point pass a medical exam, and Open AI’s ChatGPT did this year, hence investing in implausible ideas is a double edged sword.
Also read: ChatGPT and the Generative AI Mania!
Increase of 10 years in human life span?
There are multiple startups who have been working on the idea of longevity in different verticals of healthcare and medical treatments.
Betts-LaCroix’s interest in cellular reprogramming involved techniques that could transform the cells to be younger through genetic engineering. Retro teamed up with the Chinese researcher, Sheng Ding, the developer of new ways to reprogram cells for the same. And the CEO finally thought of processes that cells use to dispose of toxins which is known as autophagy. If the company achieves the said goal, the healthcare industry will have an avenue to build upon treatments for cancer and heart diseases.
Apart from Retro there are other startups who are aiming to fight death, below is the list to explore their avenues of beating death and prolonging life. Longevity Vision Fund - Neurodegenerative disease Tempus - Gene editing, epigenetic programming and organ regeneration Elysium Health - Biological age index Valo Health - Age-defying unicorns
As a brand, Apple has cemented itself as a mainstay in the world of smartphones, laptops, and now wearables and accessories. The brand’s love affair with India, predates its existence. It started when its co-founder, Steve Jobs, fell in love with the country and started visiting India before even establishing the brand. This week marks the completion of 25 years of the brand in India, as it gears up for the inauguration of its first official Apple stores in India.
In case you didn't know, Apple is set to open two stores in India. The first is in Mumbai and is opening on April 18, and the second is in Delhi set to open on April 20. This comes on the back of the rising affinity of the Indian populous towards the brand. That mainly comes from iPhones and MacBooks having a sense of ownership-pride attached to them.
A lot more to come
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, commented on the completion of this milestone and said, “At Apple, our mission is to enrich lives and empower people around the world.” He added, “India has such a beautiful culture and an incredible energy, and we’re excited to build on our long-standing history — supporting our customers, investing in local communities, and working together to build a better future with innovations that serve humanity.”
After years of importing its iPhones from its main manufacturing hub, China, in 2017, Apple began manufacturing phones in India in 2017. This move was welcomed with a lot of excitement both by the government and the fans of the brand. While it has been successful in many ways, there have been a few hiccups along the way. A Financial Times article published in February this year revealed that about half the Apple iPhone housings that were made in India were rejected during quality checks.
While this may seem like a major hit to India’s relationship with Apple as a whole, there are ways in which amends can be made. And, I am sure that the brand, and its associates in India would have already set the ball rolling on the fixes that need to be made to get things back on track. India, as a market and manufacturing hub, still has a lot to offer to Apple. It will be interesting to see how the relationship between one of the biggest personal electronics markets and one of the biggest personal electronics brands shapes up in the future.
Amazon India is back with the Mega Electronics Day Sale from April 10 to April 13. As the name suggests, there are deals on electronic products from leading brands like HP, Apple, Samsung, etc. The product categories ranges from laptops, mouse, tablets, wearables, and soundbars. Find some of those here.
1. HP Victus Gaming (24% discount)
You can grab the HP Victus Gaming laptop for ₹52,990 after a 24-percent discount and a ₹1000 coupon. Its MRP is ₹71,343. It has got a 16.1-inch display, 6-core AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Processor, 4GB GDDR6 Radeon RX 5500M graphics card, 8GB RAM, and 512 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage.
Check out the deal here.
2. Logitech MX Master 3S (14% discount)
Logitech MX Master 3S is up for grabs at ₹9,494 while its MRP is ₹10,995. It features 8K DPI with upgraded 8000 sensor, very quiet click sound, customizable software support, compatibility with 3 devices at a time, including Windows and macOS, and a design that’s made to suit natural wrist position.
Check out the deal here.
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (15% discount)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 comes with a 11-inch 120Hz display, Snapdragon 720G processor, 8000mAh battery, 45W charging support, S-pen support, among other features. It is currently available for ₹56,999 which is 15-percent off from its original price of ₹66,999.
Grab the deal here.
4. Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular, 44mm) (9% discount)
This Apple Watch SE model is armed with LTPO AMOLED display with sapphire crystal protection, loudspeaker, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, 50m water resistance, Emergency SOS during mishaps, WatchOS 9.4 support, and aluminium case. You can buy it at ₹33,400 although its original price is ₹36,900.
Here, you can grab the deal.
5. JBL Bar 5.1 (27% discount)
With the JBL soundbar, you get 5.1 surround sound backed by Dolby Digital and DTS. Inside, it has a 10-inch subwoofer. You can control it with a remote control, wireless Bluetooth connectivity, and more for ₹54,998 after a 27-percent discount from its MRP of ₹74,999.
Find the deal here.
As for every other deals, here is the Amazon Mega Electronics Days Sale page.
