News & Analysis News - Page 15

GoPro Hero 13 Black Review: This action camera takes the DSLR route

More than the camera itself, the new attachments are what make the GoPro Hero 13 feel like a notable upgrade

Vivo X200 Review: The complete camera package…almost

Vivo has been making some of the best camera phones when it comes to stills, surpassing even the mighty iPhone for some time now. This year, with the X200, they have outdone even themselves, and beaten Apple at its strongest suit — videos

Foxconn finishes building $230 million-worth dormitories for workers at Tamil Nadu iPhone plant

Spread over 20 acres, the dormitory facility at Foxconn's Tamil Nadu factory includes six residential blocks, each ten stories tall, with a capacity of 18,000 beds. The company employs over 41,000 people in and around Chennai, 35,000 of whom are women

Something's cooking at Google, CEO Sundar Pichai urges employees to ‘stay scrappy’ ahead of pivotal year

With mounting pressure from rivals like OpenAI and Perplexity entering the search space, Google aims to fortify its leadership in AI. A key focus is scaling the Gemini app, the company’s flagship AI product, for consumers

How Google Maps is making it more difficult for Palestinian users to navigate the West Bank

The start of the war in Gaza last October has only worsened the challenges for Palestinian drivers. Many now turn to social media and messaging apps to share real-time updates about road conditions and checkpoints, filling in the gaps left by Google Maps

Mexico creating smartphone app for migrants to push out alerts if they get detained in the US

Part of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, Mexico’s Foreign Secretary, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, explained that the app is a big part of the “Know Your Rights” programme, aimed at giving migrants legal and emergency support

Apple planning major overhaul for iPhone 18 cameras, may introduce variable aperture system

The inclusion of a variable aperture system could significantly elevate the iPhone’s photographic capabilities. It would offer more professional-level control for enthusiasts who crave more than computational photography

All you need to know about ISRO's SpaDeX Mission and its Space Docking Experiment

With SpaDeX, ISRO is set to showcase India’s growing prowess in cutting-edge space technologies, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space exploration

Why killing Google's search partnership with the iPhone will be a massive headache for Apple

If Apple were forced to cut ties with Google or implement these regulatory remedies, it could hinder the company’s ability to deliver top-tier products and services to its users. The partnership with Google has not only been financially rewarding for Apple but also strategically beneficial

OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji's parents call for FBI to probe his mysterious death

The parents of OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji are demanding the FBI investigate his death as they don't believe that the 26-year-old died by suicide

British computer scientist convicted for repeatedly claiming he invented Bitcoin

Since 2016, Wright has claimed to be the man behind Bitcoin, a claim that, if true, would make him one of the richest individuals in the world, with Bitcoin holdings estimated at $100 billion (£80 billion). However, he failed to provide credible evidence

Russian space programme confirms it will support NASA in destroying the ISS in 2030

The decision to decommission the ISS signals a turning point for space exploration. For NASA and Roscosmos, the collaboration reflects a pragmatic recognition of the station’s limitations and the need to prioritise next-generation projects.

YouTube to crack down on videos by Indian users that feature clickbait titles, egregious thumbnails

YouTube's crackdown will focus heavily on videos related to breaking news and current events. Examples of prohibited tactics include flashy but misleading headlines. YouTube explained that such content often leaves users feeling deceived and frustrated

iPhone-maker Foxconn looking to acquire Nissan’s stake from Renault, discussions ongoing

Foxconn’s interest in Nissan aligns with its recent focus on electric vehicles (EVs). The tech giant has been investing heavily in EV manufacturing as part of its diversification strategy. For Nissan, the potential partnership could provide much-needed financial relief

After smartphones, Qualcomm is making some interesting moves in XR, VR and automobiles. Here’s how

Qualcomm’s diversification comes at a time when industries like XR and connected vehicles are experiencing exponential growth, offering fertile ground for innovation

Google laid off 10% of its management, VP roles as part of layoffs to push for efficiency, says CEO Sundar Pichai 

During the layoffs which saw Google reduce its workforce by about 12,000 employees, about 10% of the organisation's managers and VPs were terminated, in a bid to increase efficiency

UK regulator labels Google 'irresponsible' for letting advertisers track customers’ digital activity

The data watchdog described Google's move as “irresponsible,” raising concerns that even privacy-conscious users will struggle to avoid being monitored. Fingerprinting, unlike traditional cookies, collects a mix of signals from a device’s software and hardware to uniquely identify users

Apple likely to invest over $1 billion for 2 factories in Indonesia to lift iPhone 16 ban

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has greenlit the plan, with the expectation of further investment from Apple in the future. The first factory is set to be located on Batam Island, with the second factory, planned for Bandung

US asks NVIDIA to investigate how its AI GPUs ended up in China despite Chip ban

Over the past year, NVIDIA's AI chips have reportedly bypassed export restrictions, raising concerns about regulatory adherence and the effectiveness of compliance measures. The department has asked Nvidia and its partners to tighten inspections and ensure stricter controls

Samsung planning its first AI data centre, make $1 billion dollar annually through cloud services

Samsung's decision to ramp up AI infrastructure aligns with the industry’s ongoing race to meet the surging demand for AI capabilities. As companies across the globe adopt AI at breakneck speed, Samsung is trying to reposition itself as a key player in this expanding market

Want to add a personal touch to your holidays? Apple’s Genmoji and Image Playground features are great options

With Genmoji and Image Playground, iOS 18.2 is your ultimate toolkit for creating personalised and memorable holiday moments.

US' measures to curb China, Russia's access to AI chips are ‘inadequate,’ says US Commerce Dept

The findings by the US Commerce Department indicate that existing export controls are underfunded and poorly enforced, leaving gaps that allow these nations to acquire critical technology for advanced weapons development

Apple abandons plans for hardware-as-a-subscription model for iPhones

The subscription service was envisioned as a way to address slowing device upgrades, partly driven by longer repayment plans and the lack of significant new features in recent iPhone models. By removing ownership, Apple hoped to encourage regular upgrades

European Union to take on Elon Musk’s Starlink using IRIS-2, their take on satellite connectivity

The European Space Agency (ESA) envisions IRIS² as a versatile system capable of serving diverse sectors. For government use, it will support border and maritime surveillance, crisis management, and protection of critical infrastructure

US' environment agency approves California’s plan to ban sale of petroleum-powered vehicles by 2035

The US EPA's approval allows the state to implement the Advanced Clean Cars II Regulations (ACC II), which were originally crafted and approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2022

Amazon workers across US to go on strike this week, days before Christmas rush

The strike comes amid escalating tensions between Amazon and its employees over the company’s refusal to negotiate contracts with unionised workers. Union locals have been organising picket lines and other actions outside Amazon facilities nationwide

Chinese AI chip cos blacklisted for developing weapons gained access to AI tech through UK

Moore Threads and Biren Technology China’s leading AI chip designers were restricted by the US for their involvement in developing tech for the Chinese military. However, they were able to get their hands on key American tech before the sanctions came into effect, through the UK

ChatGPT gets a new WhatsApp number that users can chat with, adds Maps feature to mobile app

OpenAI has made ChatGPT available on WhatsApp globally. To chat with the AI, users can simply add the number 1-800-242-8478 to their contacts and start messaging. This update means anyone with WhatsApp can now engage with ChatGPT, no OpenAI account required

ChatGPT rival Perplexity AI is now worth $9 billion after latest funding round

Founded in 2022, Perplexity AI has quickly carved a niche for itself. In April, Perplexity was valued at $1 billion, a figure that jumped to $3 billion in June after an investment from SoftBank Group Vision Fund 2. Now, it is valued at $9 billion after latest funding round

Apple says EU's interoperability laws risky for user privacy, slams Meta for repeated access requests

According to Apple, Meta has made at least 15 separate requests, including ones for iPhone mirroring and cross-device connectivity. Basically, Meta wants its Facebook and Instagram apps to be able to see all calls, messages, emails, images, calendar events, files, and even passwords