In 2017, after a string of terrorist attacks, the government relented. Lawmakers passed a bill allowing officers to fire on motorists who flee traffic stops, even when the officers are not in immediate danger.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/LZiKTAD
via
Friday, June 30, 2023
Meta Google Advised in Vietnam to Use AI to Detect Toxic Content on Social Media: Report
Vietnam has told cross-border social platforms to use artificial intelligence (AI) models that can detect and remove "toxic" content automatically, the latest requirement in its stringent regime for social media firms, state media reported on Friday.
Vietnam has repeatedly asked companies like Meta's Facebook, Google's YouTube and TikTok to coordinate with authorities to stamp out content deemed "toxic", such as offensive, false and anti-state content.
"This is the first time Vietnam has announced such an order," state-run broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) reported from the information ministry's mid-year review event, which was opened to selected newspaper.
The report did not give details on when and how cross-border platforms had to abide by the new requirement.
During the first half of this year, in accordance with government requests, Facebook removed 2,549 posts, the ministry said in a statement. YouTube removed 6,101 videos while TikTok took down 415 links, the info ministry said in a statement.
The announcement came as Southeast Asian countries are drawing up governance and ethics guidelines for AI that will impose "guardrails" on the booming technology, Reuters reported this month.
Vietnam in recent years has issued several regulations together with a cybersecurity law that target foreign social media platforms in a bid to battle disinformation in news and force foreign tech firms to establish representative offices in Vietnam and store data in the country.
The country last month undertook a comprehensive inspection on short videos platform TikTok's local operations and preliminary results showed "various" TikTok violations, the info ministry has said.
VTV reported the info ministry saying at Friday's event that US streaming giant Netflix had submitted documents needed to open a local office in Vietnam.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/Knf2Wew
via
France braces for more violence after riots over police shooting
France said on Friday the coming hours would be decisive after three nights of riots since a police officer shot dead a teenager at a traffic stop in a working class suburb of Paris. The violence has plunged President Emmanuel Macron into the gravest crisis of his leadership since the Yellow Vest protests that started in 2018.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/M5dfRNy
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/M5dfRNy
via
Meta Now Allows Secure Chat Transfer Between Devices on WhatsApp Using QR Code
Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg on Friday announced a new feature on the platform's instant messaging app, WhatsApp. According to the Meta CEO, users will now be allowed to transfer their chat history between devices conveniently and in a secure way. Currently, both the devices need to work on the same OS (operating system) for the transfer to take place. The new feature makes the process easier and faster to transfer messages as well as larger attachments from one device to another.
In a post shared by Meta CEO on his official Facebook handle, Zuckerberg wrote, "If you want to move your WhatsApp chats to a new phone, you can now do it more privately without your chats ever leaving your devices." Apparently, now the users will be able to share the chat history with the help of QR code authentication. He also shared a demonstration video to explain the new process.
While WhatsApp already allowed users to transfer their chat history from one phone to another, the new method of chat transfer using QR code makes the process more safe. Currently, users can transfer their chat history by either using third party apps, or by updating the backup on cloud services.
However, with the new process, users do not need to exit their app on one device to transfer the data on the other phone. The data remains only between two devices, without any third party apps or clod services in between, and stays safe.
Users will therefore not be required to take a backup of the data for the purpose of transferring that chat history or media files. In order to transfer using QR code, both devices should be physically connected to Wi-Fi and location enabled. One can transfer chats and media from an old phone by going to Settings > Chats > Chats Transfer > Scan the QR code using the new device.
Apple's annual developer conference is just around the corner. From the company's first mixed reality headset to new software updates, we discuss all the things we're looking forward to seeing at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/Ao3Oiqd
via
2nd Ashes Test: Australia extend lead to 221 before rain cuts short Day 3
Usman Khawaja hit a resilient unbeaten 58 as Australia tightened their grip in the second Ashes Test, stretching their lead to 221 against England before rain forced early stumps on Day 3 at Lord's on Friday. After England's batting collapse in the morning session gave Australia a 91-run lead, Khawaja led the visitors' in the second innings, finishing the day at 130 for 2.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/RYzd5NL
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/RYzd5NL
via
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Ahead of SCO summit Russia tells India situation under control
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval received a briefing from his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev about the aborted coup by the Wagner Group, a mercenary army that went on a rampage last week against Moscow under its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former ally of President Vladimir Putin.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/AbxFon2
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/AbxFon2
via
Byju'sClose to Achieving Profitability at the Group Level Claims CEO
Edtech major Byju's is growing slowly but sustainably and is close to achieving profitability at the group level, the company's CEO Byju Raveendran said on Thursday.
The company organised a town hall with Raveendran to allay apprehensions about the uncertainty around the company's growth and its future.
According to sources, who attended the town hall, Raveendran said that issues with $1.2 billion (nearly Rs. 9,852 crore) Term Loan B lenders are being resolved through discussion and hopeful of a positive outcome in the next few weeks without the court's intervention.
"Byju shared that Byju's is close to achieving profitability at the group level, demonstrating the company's commitment to financial management and optimization of operations," a source said.
He said that despite the challenges faced by tech companies globally, Byju's has made substantial progress towards this significant milestone.
Byju's had set a timeline to achieve profitability by March 2023.
"He said that Byju's is now growing slowly but sustainably and most of its business verticals are in good shape, relatively speaking," the source said.
Several reports have emerged around Byju's financial performance, debt burden, delay in filing financial results and the latest being investor in the firm Prosus lowering valuation in the firm for 9.6 percent stake.
Prosus' 9.6 percent stake value pegs the edtech firm's valuation at around $6 billion (nearly Rs. 49,260 crore) instead of $22 billion (nearly Rs. 1,80,600 crore) claimed by Byju's.
Amid all the controversies, a Delaware Court recently passed an order in favour of Byju's giving the company a significant boost in its fight against various controversies.
"Byju shared an important update that the TLB dispute is being resolved through constructive discussions, and the company is confident about achieving a positive outcome in the next few weeks without court intervention," another source said.
Raveendran said that constructive discussion with lenders signifies the company's ability to navigate challenges and find solutions through proactive engagement.
The CEO clarified to employees about the director's and auditor Deloitte's resignation.
"Byju highlighted the strategic decision to appoint BDO as Byju's statutory auditors for the next five years which led to Deloitte's exit. He said that a mutually agreed-upon decision has been taken to focus on efficient and timely audits going forward," the source said.
Raveendran during the town hall said that the company is now actively expanding and diversifying its board to reflect the scale, scope, and reach of operations, which is a routine practice for large companies.
He touched upon concerns around the viability of edtech as an industry.
He said that edtech is not a 'pandemic phenomenon' but a permanent fixture in education.
"Byju reassured that Byju's has weathered storms before and emerged stronger. He exhorted his team to “rise above the noise” and work with the resilience and determination that is found in the DNA of BYJU'S," the source said.
Another source claimed that employees did not ask any questions about lay-offs and provident fund deposits.
"Raveendran said that the company has been under crisis multiple times and has come out stronger. So they will come out stronger this time too," the source said.
An email query sent to Byju's elicited no reply.
Is the Xiaomi Pad 6 the best Android tablet you can buy under Rs. 30,000 in India? We discuss the company's latest mid-range tablet on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/V3LlwPB
via
OpenAI Sued in US for Allegedly Misusing Artists' Work to Train ChatGPT
Two US authors sued OpenAI in San Francisco federal court on Wednesday, claiming in a proposed class action that the company misused their works to "train" its popular generative artificial-intelligence system ChatGPT.
Massachusetts-based writers Paul Tremblay and Mona Awad said ChatGPT mined data copied from thousands of books without permission, infringing the authors' copyrights.
Matthew Butterick, an attorney for the authors, declined to comment. Representatives for OpenAI, a private company backed by Microsoft, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Several legal challenges have been filed over material used to train cutting-edge AI systems. Plaintiffs include source-code owners against OpenAI and Microsoft's GitHub, and visual artists against Stability AI, Midjourney and DeviantArt.
The lawsuit targets have argued that their systems make fair use of copyrighted work.
ChatGPT responds to users' text prompts in a conversational way. It became the fastest-growing consumer application in history earlier this year, reaching 100 million active users in January only two months after it was launched.
ChatGPT and other generative AI systems create content using large amounts of data scraped from the internet. Tremblay and Awad's lawsuit said books are a "key ingredient" because they offer the "best examples of high-quality longform writing."
The complaint estimated that OpenAI's training data incorporated over 300,000 books, including from illegal "shadow libraries" that offer copyrighted books without permission.
Awad is known for novels including '13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl' and 'Bunny'. Tremblay's novels include 'The Cabin at the End of the World', which was adapted in the M. Night Shyamalan film 'Knock at the Cabin' released in February.
Tremblay and Awad said ChatGPT could generate "very accurate" summaries of their books, indicating that they appeared in its database.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money damages on behalf of a nationwide class of copyright owners whose works OpenAI allegedly misused.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/i9zXJKg
via
2nd Ashes Test: Duckett leads England fightback after Smith ton
Opener Ben Duckett narrowly missed out on a maiden Ashes ton as his impressive 98-run knock helped England fight back against Australia in the second Test at Lord's on Thursday. Duckett smashed a counter-attacking 98 as England ended Day 2 at 278 for 4 in an another high octane "Bazball" batting display after Ben Stokes and co. bowled Australia out for 416 in the morning session.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/HZ8FrVi
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/HZ8FrVi
via
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Indian Government Met Foxconn Samsung Electronics Others to Discuss PLI Scheme
The Indian government met large global firms such as Foxconn, Samsung Electronics and Reliance Industries to find ways to boost manufacturing in the country with its production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
The meeting, addressed by India's Trade Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday, comes amid concerns that some of the businesses were facing delays in availing the incentives from New Delhi amid complicated procedures.
The discussions included ways to improve local manufacturing at competitive costs, higher domestic value-adds in production, and quick grievance redressal, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.
The meeting was also attended by executives from iPhone maker Wistron, laptop maker Dell, telecommunications firm Nokia Solutions and others that benefited from the scheme's incentive payouts.
The PLI scheme, introduced in late 2020, is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's main industrial policy to boost manufacturing.
The government has so far announced incentives for 14 sectors including electronics and technology products, pharmaceutical drugs, and drones, among others, drawing investments totalling Rs. 625 billion until March 2023, per the statement.
Investments under the PLI scheme are expected to rise further to Rs. 2.74 trillion as it runs its course, according to government estimates.
With more than Rs. 1.97 trillion earmarked for incentives, payouts totalled Rs. 29 billion until fiscal 2023 across eight industries.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/Dpc9gHK
via
Activision Blizzard to Set Up Shop in Barcelona Following EU's Approval for Microsoft Acquisition
Activision Blizzard said its studio that developed Call of Duty would set up shop in Barcelona, putting into action its pledge to invest in Europe after Brussels approved Microsoft's $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,66,000 crore) acquisition of the company in May.
The US company said on Wednesday its game developer Infinity Ward, which created the blockbuster first-person shooter game, would join its Digital Legends mobile games unit in the Spanish city.
The decision comes after Britain blocked the Microsoft takeover, prompting Activision, which has studios in Guildford and Warrington in England, to say it would "reassess" its growth plans in the country.
In contrast, it said it would "meaningfully expand" its investment and workforce in the European Union after the deal received the green light there.
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are battling antitrust regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to clinch the deal, the biggest ever in video gaming.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and his Microsoft counterpart Satya Nadella are due to testify in a court in San Francisco on Wednesday to urge a judge to allow the merger.
The Federal Trade Commission, which is seeking to block the deal, wants the transaction temporarily stopped in order to allow the agency's in-house judge to decide the case.
Microsoft is appealing the British veto with the "aggressive" support of Activision.
The games company, which also owns the Candy Crush Saga and World of Warcraft franchises, said in April that Britain was "clearly closed for business" after the deal was blocked.
It said on Wednesday it was looking closely at the EU to enlarge its studio footprint.
"For good reason: Europe has played a key role in the evolution of gaming — particularly mobile gaming — across the globe and it's not unreasonable to expect developers on the continent to maintain that momentum thanks to ample skills, ambition, and government support," it said in a blog post.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
What are the most exciting titles that gamers can look forward to in 2023? We discuss some of our favourites on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/ov8tJcb
via
Nvidia AMD Other US Chipmakers Face Fall in Shares as US Plans Curbs on Export to China
Shares of US chipmakers fell on Wednesday following a report that the Biden administration was planning new curbs on export of computing chips for artificial intelligence to China as early as July.
Companies such as Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Intel, which rely on the world's second largest economy for at least a fifth of their revenue, fell between 0.8 percent and 1.8 percent, caught in the US-China crossfire.
The Philadelphia chip index dropped 0.9 percent.
Last year, US officials had ordered Nvidia to stop exporting its top two AI chips to China to limit the country's technological capability.
Months later, Nvidia launched a new advanced chip called A800 in China to meet export control rules.
The new restrictions being considered by the Commerce Department would also include a ban on the sale of Nvidia's A800 chip without a special US export license, the Wall Street Journal report said.
Curbs on sales of datacenter graphics processing units to China would impact future financial results, Nvidia's finance chief Colette Kress said on Wednesday. However, the company does not expect the additional restrictions to have an immediate material impact on its results.
"With an update on export controls now expected, investors will assess just how limiting the new rules will be for chip makers' sales," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets, Hargreaves Lansdown.
"A handful of tech companies pack a huge punch on Wall Street due to their sheer size, so any wobble in confidence reverberates on indices."
Rising expectations over the advancements in AI have helped Wall Street climb this year, with Nvidia at the pole position on the S&P 500 index, gaining 187 percent so far this year.
But the sharp rise in shares has also sparked doubts over lofty valuations.
Nvidia is trading at 47 times its expected 12-months earnings, while AMD is at a 31.2 multiple and Intel at 31.8, way above the S&P 500's multiple at 19, according to Refinitiv data.
The Philadelphia chip index has surged more than 44 percent so far this year, far ahead of the benchmark index's 14 percent rise.
Across the Atlantic, Nordic Semiconductor, Dutch chipmaker ASML, Milan-listed STMicroelectronics, however, closed between 2.3 percent and 6.4 percent higher.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/KPkJ1cC
via
2nd Ashes Test: Smith's 85 takes Australia to 339/5 on Day 1
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
US House Panel Critical of Twitter Privacy Investigation to Question FTC Chair at Hearing
US Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan is set to testify on July 13 before the House Judiciary Committee led by Republicans who have sharply criticized her leadership of the antitrust enforcement agency, the committee, and commission confirmed on Friday.
This will be her first appearance before the committee since Republicans assumed control.
Republicans have been especially critical of the FTC's privacy investigation into Twitter since it was purchased by billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
In March, the FTC confirmed it was conducting an investigation into Twitter's privacy practices. The agency has been concerned whether Twitter had the staffing to abide by a May 2022 settlement with the FTC in which it agreed to improve its privacy practices.
In April, the committee subpoenaed Khan for documents related to the Twitter privacy probe following Musk's $44 billion (roughly Rs. 3,61,687 crore) purchase of the social media company in October.
House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan suggested in a June 8 letter "there is an unjustified approximate one-year gap in the FTC's actions with respect to Twitter" and added it was reasonable to conclude neither the prior chair nor Khan "seriously planned to take action against Twitter "until political pressure arose given Mr. Musk's impending acquisition."
Jordan in February also questioned the FTC's plans to adopt a new rule to ban noncompete clauses for workers and its approach to the merger of Illumina and Grail.
San Diego-based Illumina, which specializes in gene sequencing, is appealing an FTC order that said the company's $7.1 billion (roughly Rs. 58,200,830 crore) acquisition of Grail will curb competition in the cancer-testing market. Illumina has denied the allegations.
The FTC, which typically has five commissions including two from the minority party, currently has just three Democratic commissioners after Christine Wilson stepped down at the end of March.
Khan, an antitrust researcher focused on Big Tech's immense market power, vowed to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement after she joined the FTC in June 2021 and was named chair.
This week the FTC sued Amazon.com accusing it of enrolling millions of consumers into its paid subscription Amazon Prime service without their consent and making it hard for them to cancel.
Politico first reported the plans for the hearing.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
What are the most exciting titles that gamers can look forward to in 2023? We discuss some of our favourites on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/CZPXDiF
via
Monday, June 26, 2023
Explained: Why Are Facebook Instagram Cutting News Access in Canada
Meta Platforms plans to cut off access to news on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada once a new law requiring internet giants to pay news publishers takes effect, arguing news has no economic value to the company and that its users do not use the platform for news.
Canada drafted new rules after legacy media companies complained about internet companies elbowing news businesses out of the online advertising market.
Why are technology companies against the law?
The Canadian parliament passed "Bill C-18" into law, requiring internet giants to pay news publishers.
The Online News Act forces platforms like Facebook and Alphabet's Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news publishers for their content.
Both Meta and Google had warned they would withdraw access to news articles on their platforms in Canada if the legislation is passed into law without amendments. Facebook says links to news articles make up less than 3 percent of the content on its users' feed, and that journalists benefit from posting their work on the social media platform.
Google has argued Canada's law is broader than those enacted in Australia and Europe, and puts a price on news story links displayed in search results and can apply to outlets that do not produce news.
Google proposed that the bill be revised to make the displaying of news content, rather than links, as the basis for payment and to specify that only businesses that produce news and adhere to journalistic standards are eligible to receive payments.
What happened when similar rules were passed in Australia?
Google and Facebook had also threatened to curtail their services after Australia became the first nation to enact similar laws in 2021. Eventually both struck deals with Australian media companies after amendments were made to the legislation.
During the fight, Facebook blacked out Australian news pages and only restored them once the government granted concessions.
Yet in the year following the law taking effect, Meta and Google have paid some AUD 200 million (nearly Rs. 1,100 crore) annually to Australian news outlets, according to a report from the former chair of Australia's competition regulator.
What could the global impact be?
Lawmakers are pushing for similar rules in Meta's home state of California and in the US Congress. Meta says it makes 40 percent of its revenue in the US and lists Australia and Canada among its most significant markets. If Meta fails to secure exemptions or get the rules changed in Canada, the tech giant may face a similar fate in the United States.
In 2022, US lawmakers released a revised version of a bill aimed at making it easier for news organizations to negotiate collectively with platforms like Google and Facebook.
The New Zealand government said in 2022 it would introduce a law requiring big online digital companies to pay New Zealand media companies for the local news content that appears on their feeds.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/X1t8Ajm
via
Nasa recovers 98% water from urine sweat on ISS
In a major breakthrough, astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) have attained a 98% water restoration rate using an advanced system that recycles astronauts’ urine and sweat into drinkable water. The development holds immense potential for future long interplanetary missions.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/msTZaw8
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/msTZaw8
via
Meta Launches Subscription-Based Service Meta Quest for VR Headsets
Meta Platforms on Monday launched Meta Quest+, a subscription-based service for its virtual reality (VR) headsets to shape a nascent but high-investment market.
Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, in a broadcast channel on social media app Instagram, said the Meta Quest+ subscription will be available from Monday at $7.99 (nearly Rs. 655) per month, or $59.99 (nearly Rs. 4,920) annually, for its Quest 2, Pro and soon for Quest 3.
Apple has entered the market dominated by Meta, showcasing its $3,499 (nearly Rs. 2,86,900) augmented reality headset called the Vision Pro. Still, Apple's headset is three times the cost of the priciest headset from Meta.
Meta in March had cut the prices of its headsets as its bold bets on the metaverse failed to make a big splash.
The social media company's flagship VR headset Meta Quest Pro is currently priced at $999.99 (nearly Rs. 82,000), down from its launch price of $1,499.99 (nearly Rs. 1,23,000), and Quest 2 is being sold for $299.99 (nearly Rs. 24,600), according to Meta's website.
Termed as the next big thing, the adoption of virtual reality headsets has been limited to the gaming community despite the devices now having more advanced features.
The Meta Quest+ subscription service will provide users access to two hand-picked VR titles every month. Additionally, Meta is offering a limited-time deal of providing first month at just $1 (Rs. 82) for those who sign up before July 31. The offer is only valid for new subscribers.
Meta said in an official statement, "At a monthly value of up to $60, Meta Quest+ combines affordability with the convenience of a curated experience. We're excited to give gamers on Meta Quest a new way to explore all their headsets have to offer."
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3deFhxZ
via
Google Said to Have Urged Supreme Court to Quash Android Antitrust Directives
Google has urged India's Supreme Court to quash antitrust directives against it for abuse of the Android market, two sources said, as its presses its legal battle against the competition watchdog in one of its most important markets.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in October that Google, whose Android mobile operating system powers 97 percent of the 600 million smartphones in India, had exploited its dominant position.
It ordered Google to remove restrictions imposed on device makers, including those related to the pre-installation of apps, and fined the US firm $163 million (nearly Rs. 1,300 crore), which it paid.
In March, an Indian tribunal gave partial relief to the Alphabet unit by setting aside four of the 10 directives in the case.
The tribunal said CCI's findings of Google's anti-competitive conduct were correct, but gave Google some relief by quashing some of the directives that forced it to alter its business model.
Google is now asking the Supreme Court to quash the remainder of the directives, the first source with direct knowledge said.
Google is also arguing in its filing made on Monday that it has not abused its market position and should not be liable to pay a penalty, the source added.
Google in a statement confirmed the Supreme Court filing, saying that it looked forward to presenting its case and demonstrating how Android benefited users and developers.
The Indian tribunal had ruled authorities must prove harm caused by anti-competitive behaviour "but did not apply this requirement" to several of CCI's Android directives, Google said, explaining the rationale of its latest challenge.
Google's Supreme Court challenge has not been previously reported.
The CCI too has approached the Supreme Court, seeking to reverse the tribunal's decision to give Google partial relief, according to a third source. The CCI did not respond to a request for comment.
Google has been particularly concerned about India's Android decision as the directives were seen as more sweeping than those imposed in the European Commission's landmark 2018 ruling against the operating system.
Google had made sweeping changes to Android in India in recent months following the directive, including allowing device makers to license individual apps for pre-installation.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/aQqptfG
via
IndiaisNextKey LocationforSemiconductorManufacturers: AshwiniVaishnaw
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said current Central Government has succeeded in attracting investments in emerging technology, and stated that India is the next important location for semiconductor manufacturers. Congress has attempted to do so since the 1980s but was not successful.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the US last week, Micron Technology announced a massive India-specific investment plan.
On Thursday, hours after PM Modi met Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra in the US and invited him to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India, the global semiconductor major announced plans to build a new assembly and test facility in Gujarat in India with an investment of $825 million (nearly Rs. 6,800 crore). Once set up, the facility will address demand from domestic and international markets.
Micron said it selected Gujarat due to its manufacturing infrastructure, conducive business environment and a firm talent pipeline in the SANAND Industrial Park (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation — GIDC).
Phased construction of the new assembly and test facility in Gujarat is expected to begin in 2023. Micronexpects Phase 2 of the project, which would include the construction of a facility similar in scale to Phase 1, to start towards the second half of the decade.
"This was a very historic visit. It is a very proud moment when India was discussed in the White House. The US sees India as an equal partner. Several foreign policies focusing on India were signed during the visit. India and US are coming together as a big force. PM Modi's visit is considered a milestone globally. India has now become a force to reckon with," said IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
During PM Modi's US visit, partnerships on 35 emerging technologies, including on semiconductors, space, quantum computing, and AI, among others, were signed.
According to the minister, jet engine manufacturing in India by HAL is the most significant milestone.
In a major announcement coinciding with PM Modi's visit, GE Aerospace announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. These state-of-the-art jet engines, known for their endurance and durability, will enhance the capacity of the Indian Air Force.
Co-production of jet engines for the Indian Air Force, defence industrial collaboration, space sector cooperation, semiconductor supply chain and innovation partnership and collaboration in emerging Artificial Intelligence technology are among key takeaways from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US and his bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden.
"India tried for 40 years to
develop the semiconductor industry but this is the first time a major semiconductor player, Micron is coming to the country," Vaishnaw added.
"Today it is very clear all over the world that India will be the next big distinction of Semiconductor, now the way the whole company has seen India from a different point of view and an MoU has been signed between US and India 3 months ago in Semiconductor Corporation, which resulted during the state visit of Prime Minister, there have been 3 major advances related to semiconductor."
"Congress is hiding its frustration, it is their frustration, Congress's frustration is that they tried twice, tried thrice, tried in the 80s, tried in the 90s, tried back in 2010, all three times they failed, to bring the semiconductor industry in India."
Today, India, according to Vaishnaw, India is clearly focused on technology, joint development of technology, and how India's position can be ent in the global world order.
About Micron's plant in India, Vaishnaw it will be ready in record six quarters — by late 2024.
Is the Xiaomi Pad 6 the best Android tablet you can buy under Rs. 30,000 in India? We discuss the company's latest mid-range tablet on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/xR1kVmN
via
Sunday, June 25, 2023
Xiaomi Pad 6: Is This the Best Mid-Range Android Tablet Under Rs. 30000?
Xiaomi Pad 6 was recently launched in India as the successor to the Xiaomi Pad 5 that made its debut in 2022. Just like last year's model, Xiaomi has attempted to equip its latest tablet with a range of features and a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, while keeping the price of the device under Rs. 30,000. The Xiaomi Pad 6 sports a 11-inch LCD display, runs on Android 13 out-of-the-box, and Xiaomi claims it can offer up to two days of battery backup. It is equipped with a 13-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel selfie camera.
This week on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, resident device expert Pranav Hegde, who has spent some time with Xiaomi's latest tablet, talks to guest host Sheldon Pinto about the device. Pinto reviewed the Xiaomi Pad 5 last year, and the duo discuss some of the changes and upgrades that have made their way to this year's model and how it fares against the competition.
The Xiaomi Pad 6 isn't exactly a new device — it was launched in China earlier this year and only made its way to India last week. It runs on an Android 13-based MIUI 14 for Pad. The tablet sports a 11-inch LCD display with Dolby Vision up to 144Hz refresh rate, and supports up to 550 nits of peak brightness.
Equipped with a slightly older Snapdragon 870 chip that is paired with 8GB of RAM, the Xiaomi Pad 6 should be more than capable of handling daily tasks and a few games — you can read more details about the tablet's performance in our review. The processor is a slight upgrade over last year's Snapdragon 860 chip, which was an upgrade over Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855+ SoC.
You can also pick up a few accessories that are compatible with the tablet and were announced by the company when it launched the Xiaomi Pad 6 in India last week. This includes the Xiaomi Pad 6 keyboard, cover, and the Xiaomi Smart Pen (2nd Gen). Hopefully, Xiaomi will be able to ensure that these accessories remain available while the product can be purchased in the country.
Xiaomi's latest tablet has a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel selfie camera, and like most tablet devices, one might find themselves using the camera to click images of documents and similar materials, while relying on one's smartphone camera for regular photography. You can view the camera samples and details of how it performs in different scenarios in our review.
The recently launched Xiaomi Pad 6 packs a large 8,840mAh battery with support for 33W wired charging. With that charging rate, Xiaomi says that going from an empty battery to a full charge will take about 100 minutes. The tablet is also claimed to last up to two days on a single charge, according to Xiaomi.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/B64wF9P
via
Sisi backs Indias focus on Global South as ties turn strategic
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi signed a landmark strategic partnership agreement following their decision earlier this year to elevate ties, and after a bilateral meeting that saw discussions on G20 cooperation, food and energy security, climate change and the need for concerted efforts by the Global South to deal with such issues.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/bCSMaXZ
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/bCSMaXZ
via
Fight against WFI chief will be in court and not on road: Wrestlers
The protesting wrestlers on Sunday announced that the fight against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be fought in the court and not on roads. The decision by the wrestlers - Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrag Punia, came a day after asserting that they could hit the streets again to resume their agitation.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/bYtd1Da
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/bYtd1Da
via
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Brahmaputra tunnel to speed up troops movement to LAC
The Centre has cleared the decks for a strategic tunnel under the Brahmaputra to transport soldiers to the LAC with China and bring about rapid development of the area with minimal disturbance to the environment. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said technical bids for preparation of the detailed project report for the proposed 35kmlong corridor between Gohpur and Numaligarh will be opened on July 4.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/klh8nAJ
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/klh8nAJ
via
In Egypt Grand Mufti appreciates PM Modi for 'fostering inclusivity and pluralism'
PM Narendra Modi landed in Cairo Saturday for the first bilateral visit to Egypt by any Indian PM since 1997, looking to bolster the strategic partnership the 2 countries announced during President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to India in January this year with focus on enhancing defence ties, counterterrorism cooperation and efforts to deal with radicalisation and extremism.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/FNJTAL0
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/FNJTAL0
via
Friday, June 23, 2023
US to train Indian astronauts for joint space mission
The Indo-US joint statement issued after talks between PM Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden on Thursday night emphasized on deepening relations in space, nuclear energy, AI, semiconductor, science and technology, and affirmed that technology will play the defining role in deepening partnership between the two big democracies.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/MD63S1R
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/MD63S1R
via
Tesla's NACS to Become Important Component for All EVs in Washington State
Washington state plans to require electric vehicle charging companies to include Tesla's plug if they want to be part of a state program to electrify highways using federal dollars, an official told Reuters on Thursday.
Washington follows the move by Texas to mandate Tesla's technology, The North American Charging Standard (NACS), adding momentum to CEO Elon Musk's hope of making it the national charging technology.
GM, Ford and Rivan have said they would embrace Tesla's NACS, shunning efforts by the Biden administration to make the Combined Charging System (CCS) the dominant charging standard in the United States.
"I'm actually really happy about NACS and how finally automakers are gearing towards one standard. We want to provide access to as many makes and models as possible," said Tonia Buell, alternative fuels program manager at Washington state's Department of Transportation.
"It hasn't necessarily been tested and certified for other auto manufacturers, so we want to make sure it's going to work but we are planning to require NACS at our state funded and federally funded sites in the future."
The state plans to begin the requests for proposals process in the fall.
Buell said the decision is about “future proofing” the state's investments.
Buell said state officials are still trying to determine the right mix of NACS chargers based on current federal requirements. Under federal rules, each taxpayer-backed site must have at least four CCS chargers and Buell said the state may require at least two of them to work with NACS or perhaps all four.
The plan by Washington may add pressure on other states and the federal government to adopt Tesla's NACS.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple's annual developer conference is just around the corner. From the company's first mixed reality headset to new software updates, we discuss all the things we're looking forward to seeing at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/ESvA6T9
via
Single aircraft order from India creates over 1m jobs in US: PM
The address, Modi's second to the US Congress, was replete with punchlines, and punctuated with applause and standing ovations from many lawmakers who take a more pragmatic view of Modi and India. Familiar chants of "Modi, Modi" erupted from the galleries where his supporters sat.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/xr6IGEY
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/xr6IGEY
via
For EV Batteries Lithium Iron Phosphate Becoming Material of Choice
As the auto industry scrambles to produce more affordable electric vehicles, whose most expensive components are the batteries, lithium iron phosphate is gaining traction as the EV battery material of choice.
The popularity of the chemical compound known as LFP is due partly to environmental and geopolitical concerns. But technological advances have also reduced the performance gap with more widely used materials such as nickel and cobalt.
LFP, embraced by EV industry leader Tesla two years ago, has sparked new interest especially in the US, where a clutch of domestic and overseas manufacturers has pledged more than $11 billion (nearly Rs. 90,200 crore) in new production facilities.
Overseas, two of the world's largest automakers, Toyota Motor and Hyundai Motor, have both announced plans in the past week to equip their future vehicles with LFP batteries, but have not disclosed plans for the US.
“LFP is less expensive than cobalt and nickel, and all the minerals can be obtained here in North America (which means) much lower transportation costs and a more secure supply chain,” said Stanley Whittingham, professor at Binghamton University in New York and a 2019 Nobel laureate for his work on lithium ion batteries.
The addition of manganese, a staple ingredient in rival nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery cells, has enabled lithium iron phosphate cells to hold more energy than previously, providing EVs with more range — up to 450 miles (724 km) on a single charge, Toyota said recently.
Michigan-based Our Next Energy, which is building a $1.6 billion (nearly Rs. 13,100 crore) battery manufacturing complex in Van Buren Township, is a proponent of LFP, according to founder and chief executive Mujeeb Ijaz, because “the materials are more abundant and sustainable, with far less risk” of fire.
“We've also demonstrated that you can match the range of cobalt cells with no compromise,” he said.
Tesla is among the automakers leading the quest in markets outside of China to provide lower-priced EVs — in Tesla's case, targeting a base price of around $25,000 (nearly Rs. 20 lakh). The use of LFP batteries should help Tesla and rivals to achieve that goal, experts say.
Ford Motor aims to open a $3.5 billion (nearly Rs. 28,700 crore) LFP cell manufacturing plant in western Michigan, leveraging technology licensed from China's CATL, the world's largest EV battery maker. The goal, Ford CEO Jim Farley said in February, is to lower the automaker's cell costs to less than $70 (nearly Rs. 5,800 crore) a kilowatt-hour, from more than $100 (nearly Rs. 8,000)/kWh for current NCM cells.
More than 90 percent of LFP materials and components still come from China, said battery expert Shirley Meng, a University of Chicago professor and head of Argonne National Laboratory's Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science.
The rapidly increasing adoption of LFP by EV manufacturers including Tesla and Hyundai suggests those companies “are not ready to decouple from China," Meng said.
'Attractive proposition'
Battery expert Lukasz Bednarski, author of the 2021 book “Lithium: The Global Race for Battery Dominance and the New Energy Revolution,” believes automakers' interest in building lower-priced EVs could be one of the drivers behind LFP's rising popularity.
“LFP provides good enough performance at a lower cost, which makes it an attractive proposition for EVs for the middle class,” he said.
Bednarski added that the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides incentives “for the development of the whole battery chain (with no) preference for LFP chemistry.”
Rising investment in LFP manufacturing facilities in the United States is coming not just from domestic companies like Ford and ONE.
Battery makers from Norway, Israel, South Korea and even China have committed to building US facilities to produce LFP materials, components and batteries, some of which will be used not in vehicles, but in large energy storage systems.
“LFP was invented in the US and first commercialised here,” said Whittingham. He said this happened before Chinese companies such as BYD and CATL “moved fast” to improve and deploy the technology, mainly in EVs.
Now, given its continued cost advantage over NCM, he added, LFP “should be used in all grid storage systems and lower-cost cars.”
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/W4e7VQf
via
11-month-old toddler 'raped' by minor boy in UP; accused held
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Pakistan PM meets IMF director in a last-ditch effort to get bailout
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif met IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva in Paris on Thursday for release of halted funds ahead of the credit line’s expiry next week. The Paris pitch came amid claims back home that Shehbaz’s finance minister Ishaq Dar slapped a reporter who asked him questions on the stalled funds.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/HyFezBA
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/HyFezBA
via
15 standing ovations and 79 applauses as PM addressed US Congress
No survivors after Titanic submersible wreckage found on ocean floor
PM Modi pushes back at question on treatment of minorities
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed back strongly at attributed criticism over his government's purported restrictions on free speech and treatment of minorities, asserting that India lives and breathes democracy and there is no question of any official discrimination over religion, caste, creed, or gender in the country.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/wINv5Rp
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/wINv5Rp
via
JioPhone 5G Alleged Live Images Showcase Design; Specifications and Launch Timeline Tipped
Reliance Jio, Mukesh Ambani's telecom firm, is set to launch a JioPhone 5G device later this year. While not much is confirmed about the phone, newly leaked live images of the purported handset have revealed new details about the design of the upcoming JioPhone 5G. According to alleged hands-on images tweeted by a tipster, the JioPhone will likely sport a dual rear camera setup and come in a black colourway. Additionally, the tipster has also hinted at a launch timeline for the device and provided some key specifications for the smartphone. While we cannot confirm if these images are, indeed, of the unreleased JioPhone 5G, but if they are, the images do give more insights into the upcoming budget device.
A twitter user (@ArpitNahiMila) has posted live images of the purported JioPhone 5G, showcasing the front and back design of the handset. In the images, the dual rear camera module is situated at the top centre, likely led by a 13-megapixel AI camera, accompanied with a 2-megapixel secondary lens, according to the Twitter user.
The display sports a waterdrop-style notch housing the front camera, which could be a 5-megapixel shooter. The back of the phone is supposedly made of fibre plastic body. The Jio logo can also be seen on the back of the device.
Exclusive!!:fire:Here's a sneak-peek at the upcoming unreleased JioPhone 5G.
— Arpit 'Satya Prakash' Patel (@ArpitNahiMila) June 22, 2023
The phone is expected to release between Diwali and New Year. The expected price is under ₹10k.
Not much specs known but possibly a Unisoc 5G or a Dimensity 700 processor.
13+2MP Rear
5MP Front camera. pic.twitter.com/bzRRIH8Sdn
Additionally, the tweet mentions that the JioPhone 5G is expected to launch later this year, between Diwali and New Year and will likely be priced under Rs. 10,000. The tipster also mentions that the handset could be powered by a Unisoc 5G or a Dimensity 700 SoC.
Gadgets 360 could not verify if these images are, indeed, of the upcoming JioPhone 5G.
A previous report, claimed that the JioPhone 5G could be powered by the Snapdragon 480 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.
The 5G phone could likely feature a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD display with 90Hz refresh rate and could run on Android 12 out-of-the-box. The JioPhone could pack a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W charging.
The upcoming smartphone could be priced between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 12,000, a CounterPoint Research report had estimated last year.
The phone is said to come pre-loaded with Google Mobile Services and Jio apps. Last year, Reliance has confirmed that it was working with Google to launch a budget 5G smartphone.
This is not the first time that Ambani's Jio is working to launch an affordable device for the masses. In October last year, the company debuted its first-ever laptop, called the JioBook.
The budget laptop packs an 11.6-inch display, Snapdragon 665 SoC, and a 5,000mAh battery. It was launched at Rs. 15,799.
What are the most exciting titles that gamers can look forward to in 2023? We discuss some of our favourites on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/nvR4Q6w
via
Actor Gajendra Chauhan on Adipurush: Conspiracy to destroy minds
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Google Fined $15 Million for Infringing Patents Related to Audio Software
Alphabet's Google must pay patent holding company Personal Audio LLC $15.1 million (nearly Rs. 120 crore) for infringing two patents related to audio software, a Delaware federal jury said in a verdict made public on Wednesday.
Personal Audio had argued that Google's music app Google Play Music featured playlist downloading, navigation and editing features that violated its patent rights.
The jury also said that Google infringed the patents willfully, which could lead to a judge increasing the award by up to three times the verdict amount.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said on Wednesday that the company was disappointed with the verdict and plans to appeal. He said the verdict concerns a "discontinued product" and would not affect customers.
A spokesperson for Personal Audio's law firm Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth said on Wednesday that the firm was pleased with the verdict.
Beaumont, Texas-based Personal Audio had requested $33.1 million (nearly Rs. 270 crore) in damages, according to a May court filing. It first sued Google in 2015 over the patents in a lawsuit that was later moved from Texas to Delaware.
The Delaware verdict came less than a month after a San Francisco jury ordered Google to pay Sonos $32.5 million (nearly Rs. 265 crore) for patent infringement amid a sprawling intellectual property dispute between the companies over smart-speaker technology.
The case is Personal Audio LLC vs Google LLC, US District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:17-cv-01751.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
The Motorola Edge 40 recently made its debut in the country as the successor to the Edge 30 that was launched last year. Should you buy this phone instead of the Nothing Phone 1 or the Realme Pro+? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/ZqSgWaQ
via
Want to quit as leader of oppn & play role in NCP: Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar sprang a fresh surprise on Wednesday when he said at an NCP meeting in the presence of his uncle and party president Sharad Pawar that he should be relieved from the post of leader of opposition in the state assembly and should be given an organisational role. The statement comes after Sharad Pawar recently appointed his trusted aide Praful Patel and daughter Supriya Sule as the party’s working presidents.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/rGtskb1
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/rGtskb1
via
Armed drones jet engines to take defence ties with US to next level
The already expansive defence relationship between India and the US is set to register a quantum leap during the Modi-Biden summit with the twin pacts on the joint manufacture of GE-F414 fighter jet engines and the sale of armed MQ-9B Predator drones, both a first for a non-military ally of the US.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/iuwS47p
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/iuwS47p
via
Google Filed Complaint Against Microsoft for Dominant Cloud Services Position: Report
Alphabet's Google formally filed a complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday saying Microsoft used its dominant position in enterprise software to push customers towards its cloud services, The Information reported on Wednesday.
Microsoft used the licensing terms in its Office 365 productivity software to lock customers into separate contracts with its Azure cloud server business, Google's complaint said, according to the report.
There is intense rivalry between the two US tech giants in the fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar cloud computing business, where Google trails market leaders Amazon.com and Microsoft.
The sector has recently drawn greater regulatory scrutiny, including in the United States and in Britain, because of the dominance of a few players and its increasingly critical role as more and more companies shift their services to the cloud.
In March, Google Cloud had accused Microsoft of anti-competitive cloud computing practices and criticized imminent deals with several European cloud vendors, saying these do not solve broader concerns about its licensing terms.
Earlier this year, the FTC had said it is seeking information from the public on the business practices of cloud computing companies, including details on their market power, competition and potential security issues.
Google and Microsoft did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment, while the FTC declined to comment.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple's annual developer conference is just around the corner. From the company's first mixed reality headset to new software updates, we discuss all the things we're looking forward to seeing at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/EG4TmKc
via
'Darul Uloom never objected to English education'
Days after notification from Darul Uloom Deoband's (DUD) stern hornet nest over the alleged ban on imparting additional education (English, etc), the Islamic seminary on Wednesday informed the state minority commission, that DUD never objected to English education, but it was a clerical error which led to misunderstanding.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/Rms50E4
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/Rms50E4
via
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Manipur: HC awaits Centre state response to review pleas on ST status for Meiteis
The Manipur high court is awaiting responses from the Centre and the state government on a batch of petitions seeking modification of its March 27 order directing the N Biren Singh ministry to recommend the inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST list.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/fTIdepj
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/fTIdepj
via
Fuel suppliers fight shy of cash-starved Pakistan
Pakistan has failed to buy LNG from international markets in its first attempt in around a year as suppliers have not responded to the cash-strapped country’s tenders to purchase six shipments for October-to-December delivery. Bloomberg cited traders with knowledge of the matter to report that several overseas banks weren’t accepting letters of credit -- a pledge by a lender to repay funds if the buyer can’t – from Pakistani counterparts to purchase LNG, making suppliers reluctant.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/WYeufyq
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/WYeufyq
via
1st Ashes Test: Cummins leads Australia to thrilling victory over England
YouTube Musics Popup Alert Fagging Explicit Content Is Hindering Playback: Report
YouTube is taking active steps to ensure that its users are not exposed to any content that may harm them or trigger thoughts related to self-harm or suicide. The alert that flags such content on YouTube Music, however, is beginning to obstruct playback leading to complaints flooding social networking platforms. The issue is occurring on both mobile and Web apps of YouTube Music, as users have claimed in recent days.
According to a report on Android Police, YouTube Music is giving a content warning prompt to listeners if the song queued to be played next contains explicit references. The prompt halts streaming and brings music to a halt, as reported by several reddit users on a YouTube Music Sub Reddit thread cited in the report. The issue seems to be plaguing listers using Bluetooth headphones for music.
“I was very happy with YouTube music until it started to ‘warn' me about themes of suicide and violence. Now I need to accept the warning which leads to the playlist stopping. This only happens with my BT Headset and not my car for whatever reason,” Redditor u/Sherbert-Vast posted on the r/YouTubeMusic thread.
Screenshots of this pop-up have also been shared by irritated YouTube Music users.
“Viewer discretion is advised: The following content may contain suicide or self-harm topics,” the content warning prompt reads, giving them options to either cancel or confirm.
Until the users do not respond to this notification, the playback on YouTube Music reportedly does not resume.
The complaining users have further noted that they cannot seem to find a way to disable this pop-up alert. Despite keeping the Restricted Mode deactivated on YouTube Music's settings, the warnings continue to keep making appearances.
As of now, YouTube Music, which has around 80 million users globally, has not addressed these user grievances.
In March, YouTube Music began showing song credits and detailed album information. A ‘View Song Credits' option was reportedly rolled-out as part of the in-built choices YouTube Music gives its users — like the option to add the song to the playlist or to share it with others via social networking platforms.
YouTube Music also plans to add a podcast-focused service to its offerings in a bid to strengthen its position as a competitor to Spotify. Earlier this year, Kai Chuk, the head of podcasting at YouTube, revealed the platform's podcast-related plans during a recent event. For now, Chuk skipped on providing an exact timeline for the rollout of YouTube's planned podcast services.
What are the most exciting titles that gamers can look forward to in 2023? We discuss some of our favourites on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/PO195cj
via
Monday, June 19, 2023
14 deaths in UP & 7 in Bihar take heatwave toll past 100
Byju Said to Lay Off Between 500-1000 Employees in Another Round of Job Cuts
Popular Indian edu-tech startup Byju's will lay off between 500 and 1,000 employees in another round of job cuts to cut costs, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday.
The company, which employs around 50,000 employees, is one of India's largest startups, once valued at $22 billion (nearly Rs. 1,80,250 crore). It was founded in 2011 and has attracted global investors such as General Atlantic, BlackRock and Sequoia Capital over the past decade.
A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on possible layoffs.
The company has already cut more than 3,000 jobs in the past year, and the latest round is in line with cost-cutting measures aimed at achieving profitability, the source said, without giving a timeframe for when the company expects to be in the black.
Byju's valuation was marked down to $8.2 billion (nearly Rs. 67,200 crore) by Blackrock last month, over 60 percent below its peak valuation. This was its second markdown after BlackRock marked it down to $11 billion (nearly Rs. 90,120 crore) in March, according to a filing by the US fund seen by Reuters.
The company is also fighting a battle in US courts with creditors who want an early repayment of a $1.2 billion (nearly Rs. 9,800 crore) loan.
India's Enforcement Directorate raided three premises linked to the online learning platform in April over alleged foreign exchange law violations, which Byju's has denied.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/xWmCtL6
via
1st Ashes Test: Brilliant Broad gives England slight edge
Seasoned pacer Stuart Broad got rid of world no. 1 and 2 batters Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith late on Day 4 to revive England's hopes of winning an enthralling first Ashes Test in Birmingham on Monday. Chasing 281 for victory in the fourth innings, Australia got off to a solid start and appeared to have taken the upper hand but Broad's late burst helped the hosts bounce back.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/9wFYobS
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/9wFYobS
via
Taarak Mehta actor says producer put serious allegations on her
Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, who played the role of Mrs Roshan Sodhi in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah quit the show after her fallout with the makers. The actress accused the Producer Asit Modi of sexual harassment. Now, in an exclusive interview she has revealed that Asit Kumarr Modi has finally responded to her complaint and has put some serious allegations on her.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/pWausHU
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/pWausHU
via
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Emergency was crime that put freedom in danger says PM Modi
Calling the Emergency a “crime” that endangered the country's freedom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said those who supported democracy at that time were tortured and it is only by evaluating this “dark period” in India’s history that the young generation can understand the meaning and significance of democracy.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/k2bYZei
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/k2bYZei
via
1st Ashes Test: Australia take control on rain-affected Day 3
Australia captain Pat Cummins displayed his all-round brilliance with bat and ball on a rain-marred third day of the first Ashes Test against England in Birmingham. Cummins played a crucial role as Australia enjoyed the upper hand, leaving England reeling at stumps.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/hZTo8bl
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/hZTo8bl
via
Saturday, June 17, 2023
NEET-UG: Physics score over bio for tie-breaker
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to revise the tie-breaker process for deciding ranks of candidates securing identical NEET scores by prioritising marks obtained in physics, followed by chemistry and biology. This is unlike the current practice of giving priority to marks obtained in biology, followed by chemistry and physics.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/8GWPKso
via
from Times of India https://ift.tt/8GWPKso
via
Happy Father's Day: Wishes messages quotes images and more
Friday, June 16, 2023
Explained: How MOVEit Breach Shows Hackers' Interest in File Transfer Tools
Ransom-seeking hackers have increasingly turned a greedy eye toward the world of managed file transfer (MFT) software, plundering the sensitive data being exchanged between organizations and their partners in a bid to win big payouts.
Governments and companies globally are scrambling to deal with the consequences of a mass compromise made public on Thursday that was tied to Progress Software's MOVEit Transfer product. In 2021 Accellion's File Transfer Appliance was exploited by hackers and earlier this year Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT was compromised to steal data from more than 100 companies.
So what is MFT software? And why are hackers so keen to subvert it?
Corporate dropboxes
FTA, GoAnywhere MFT, and MOVEit Transfer are corporate versions of file sharing programs consumers use all the time, like Dropbox or WeTransfer. MFT software often promises the ability to automate the movement of data, transfer documents at scale and provide fine-grained control over who can access what.
Consumer programs might be fine for exchanging files between people but MFT software is what you want to exchange data between systems, said James Lewis, the managing director of UK-based Pro2col, which consults on such systems.
"Dropbox and WeTransfer don't provide the workflow automation that MFT software can," he said.
MFT programs can be tempting targets
Running an extortion operation against a well-defended corporation is reasonably difficult, said Recorded Future analyst Allan Liska. Hackers need to establish a foothold, navigate through their victim's network and exfiltrate data — all while remaining undetected.
By contrast, subverting an MFT program — which typically faces the open internet — was something more akin to knocking over a convenience store, he said.
"If you can get to one of these file transfer points, all the data is right there. Wham. Bam. You go in. You get out."
Hacker tactics are shifting
Scooping up data that way is becoming an increasingly important part of the way hackers operate.
Typical digital extortionists still encrypt a company's network and demands payment to unscramble it. They might also threaten to leak the data in an effort to increase the pressure. But some are now dropping the finicky business of encrypting the data in the first place.
Increasingly, "a lot of ransomware groups want to move away from encrypt-and-extort to just extort," Liska said.
Joe Slowik, a manager with the cybersecurity company Huntress, said the switch to pure extortion was "a potentially smart move."
"It avoids the disruptive element of these incidents that attract law enforcement attention," he said.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/ME5oN8v
via
Huawei Ban in EU Opposed by China ZTE Demands Equal Treatment
China firmly opposes some EU countries' ban on Huawei and said the European Commission has no legal basis nor factual evidence to prohibit the Chinese telecom giant, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
ZTE, also singled out by EU industry chief Thierry Breton as a high-risk vendor, criticised the move to ban its equipment in the Commission's network and in EU countries.
Breton on Thursday urged more EU countries to join the 10 that have restricted or banned Huawei and ZTE from their 5G telecoms networks, citing risks to the bloc's collective security.
He said both companies will also be banned from EU-funded projects.
Huawei has criticised the move saying this was not based on a verified, transparent, objective and technical assessment of 5G networks.
Publicly singling out an individual entity as a high-risk vendor without legal basis is against principles of free trade, a Huawei spokesperson said.
"As an economic operator in the EU, Huawei holds procedural and substantial rights and should be protected under the EU and Member States' laws as well as their international commitments," the person said.
ZTE said it should be treated just like its rivals.
"ZTE's only request is to be treated fairly and objectively by regulators and legislators - just like any other vendor," the company said in an email.
"We welcome external assessment and scrutiny of our products by regulators and technical supervisory bodies at any time."
Several countries including Germany have been slow to implement the EU's security measures for 5G networks agreed three years ago to curb the use of "high-risk vendors" such as Huawei due to concerns about possible sabotage or espionage.
Telecom operators across Europe have been using Huawei gear because they were cheaper than rivals' and work as good, making it difficult for companies to choose costlier options.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/El9HyiY
via
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)