APhone, a device-agnostic Web-based digital cellphone app that redefines the web3 cellular expertise, introduced its official launch through the Solana ecosystem as we speak — offering customers an inexpensive manner of partaking with web3 functions with out {hardware} limitations.
The preliminary launch on Solana will see it faucet right into a Web3 ecosystem with over 500 Web3 apps, video games, NFTs, DeFi protocols, hundreds of thousands of customers, and clean, stutter-free efficiency.
APhone comes pre-installed with prime blockchain apps similar to Magic Eden, OKX, Bybit, in addition to video games, together with HoneyLand, Mighty Action Heroes and Warpcast. APhone NFTs, which give customers entry to the in-app expertise, may be minted and activated (burned) straight on the Solana chain.
Jennifer Booze, Former Global Head of Business Development at Polygon, who now leads Ecosystem Development & Growth for APhone mentioned: “We’re delighted to launch on Solana and assist difficult the duopoly of Google Play and Apple’s App Store, while selling self-custody and open platforms for crypto. We’re right here to assist present better accessibility to seize the rising curiosity in web3 and crypto.”
As an inexpensive Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN)-powered digital cell phone app, charging $20 per yr, APhone bypasses the {hardware} limitations of older cellphone fashions and allows entry to Solana’s DePIN ecosystem, the place GPU, storage, and RAM are important for seamless performance. APhone will allow entry to a number of key DePIN tasks on Solana, together with Helium, which rewards customers for offering community protection and validating transactions.
APhone is trying to ship cloud-based GPU compute to make sure better attain, stability and accessibility throughout areas, particularly in rising markets. The app is obtainable for $20 yearly. Additionally, as a part of the primary internet launch on Solana, APhone will provide choose Solana Mobile customers discounted entry to APhone.
OnePlus, in partnership with interactive leisure model HoYoverse, launched the OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition throughout Mobile World Congress (MWC). This particular version smartphone is tailored for the ardent followers of the blockbuster sport, Genshin Impact.
Inspired by the character Keqing, the design components span throughout the smartphone’s exterior design, absolutely customised OS, collectible reward field, and particular enhancements on the cell Genshin Impact expertise.
Kinder Liu, OnePlus President and COO, mentioned, “We’ve pushed the boundaries to make sure avid gamers get pleasure from uninterrupted high-quality graphics and gameplay once they play heavy-duty video games on their telephones.”
At the guts of the OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition is the HyperRendering expertise which delivers sensible lighting results by optimising the GPU and the show. The cellphone’s 1.5K 1-120Hz ProXDR Display with fourth-generation LTPO helps as much as 2,160Hz PWM dimming and an excellent excessive display brightness of as much as 4,500 nits.
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 can be used to offer show safety. Additionally, it helps Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and has been awarded a TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care certification.
Video Credit: Video: Mahananda Bohidar, Edit: Renil S Varghese
The HyperTouch expertise boosts the contact response fee to 1000Hz, minimising latency. The cellphone additionally addresses reminiscence points by way of the RAM-Vita reminiscence efficiency accelerator, enhancing app booting and switching speeds.
With its massive 5,500mAh battery, the OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition guarantees lengthy battery life, together with 100 W SUPERVOOC flash charging capabilities.
Through the CPU-Vita expertise of the Trinity Engine, the OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition can recognise sport situations in Genshin Impact and mechanically modify CPU efficiency to stability excessive efficiency and low energy consumption. Even in computationally demanding sport situations like map exploration, fundamental story quests, and every day quests in Genshin Impact, the cellphone can run at a median of 59.4 FPS for over an hour with out producing a major quantity of warmth.
The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen2 chipset, twin audio system with Dolby Atmos, a 16GB RAM and 256GB massive storage mixture, and the quick and clean OxygenOS 14.
The cellphone sports activities an Electro Violet colorway with a violet again panel impressed by Keqing’s look within the sport. Additionally, an unique Keqing visible and reside wallpaper pops up each time the cellphone is unlocked. The cellphone additionally is available in an unique reward field that features extremely collectible merchandise and equipment for Genshin Impact followers, reminiscent of a Lightning Stiletto-shaped SIM tray ejector, a violet charging adapter with Electro Element and Lightning Stiletto logos, and a violet USB Type-C charging cable with a violet LED mild and a 90-degree design for comfort.
The OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition might be obtainable for buy in India from March 19. The machine might be priced ranging from ₹49,999.
If you learn my final e-reader review, you’d know I’m detest to alter my studying system. I really like the distraction-free expertise that an e-reader gives. It works completely for Finding Nemo’s Dory-like, simply distracted readers like me.
After a reasonably good run with the Kobo Libra 2, I gave the Kobo Clara 2E a shot. Here’s the way it fared.
Display
Design-wise, the Kobo Clara 2E jogs my memory of the outdated Amazon Paperwhite I’ve had for ages. This one sports activities a 6-inch HD e-ink Carta 1200 show. It has a glare-free touchscreen that provides a typical 300 ppi decision. The system’s rear panel gives a matte, agency grip and comes solely in the Deep Ocean Blue color variant. The rear panel additionally homes a bodily energy button on the prime nook. At 171 grams, it’s pretty light-weight and straightforward to pop in my mini shoulder bag when commuting. The firm says it’s been crafted with an 85 per cent recycled plastic exterior, which incorporates 10 per cent ocean-bound plastic, equivalent to water bottles and CDs.
Experience
I selected Isabel Allende’s The Soul of a Woman to start out the studying expertise on this system. From the get-go, one thing felt off. As I used the system for a few extra nights in mattress, I realised the interface was painfully slow. There’s a 1 GHz processor packed in. However, every thing from web page turns to tweaking settings. Opening a brand new guide from my library generally took as much as 8 seconds to render. Considering it’s a step down from the Libra 2, on-device options, too, are restricted compared. There’s Dark Mode for high-contrast studying if that’s your factor. There’s additionally the selection of getting a cool or heat backlight on the system. ComfortLight PRO can also be included, which reduces pressure from blue mild emission. When I need to tweak some studying settings, returning to the web page after closing the settings window additionally takes 8-9 seconds. Painfully lengthy.
It helps e-book codecs equivalent to ePub, ePub3, PDF, FlePub and MOBI. If you want listening to books, bear in mind it helps Kobo Audiobooks solely. You also can learn graphic novels and comedian books because it helps CBZ and CBR codecs.
Tech Specs
There’s 16 GB of on-device storage, sufficient for tens of 1000’s of e-books or near 80 audiobooks. The system can also be waterproof, that means you’ll be able to chill with it by the pool or seaside.
It is waterproof for as much as 60 minutes (in as much as two meters of water). So it does imply you’ll be able to’t simply depart it there and neglect about it. Like all different e-readers, this one, too, stays on for weeks on finish, and charging it’s so uncommon that you simply wouldn’t fear about how a lot time it takes.
Verdict
At its value level, I had extra expectations of the Kobo Clara 2E. I didn’t anticipate it could battle with the fundamentals of what a very good e-reader must be, which is – earlier than providing frills – provide a quick, seamless studying expertise. That, it doesn’t.
Price – ₹14,999
Pros – Lightweight, customisable options, USB-C charging port
Cons – Slow to operate general which mars the studying expertise
I write for a dwelling, however I don’t keep in mind the final time I wrote with a pen. Every yr although I spend about 2-3 weeks attempting out a tool on which I really like utilizing a pen. This yr, it’s the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with the S-Pen that landed on my desk a number of weeks in the past, and I’ve been hooked on to it since then.
Design
Although I like ‘em huge, the dimensions of the Galaxy S24 Ultra are only a bit past a comfortable grip for me. A two-handed operation feels safer with a telephone this measurement. The unit appears to be like elegant in the Titanium Grey end I’ve, though I’d beloved to sport the Titanium Violet, which is extra my vibe. Beyond the color variant branding, the body on the telephone options precise titanium, which I’m guessing we’ll see extra of in flagships now.
Display
The flagship sports activities an enormous 6.8-inch show, which provides as much as 120 Hz adaptive refresh charges and a peak brightness of 2600 nits, which is greater than anybody will ever want for display screen visibility. There’s Corning Gorilla Armor on the show, which claims to chop down on reflection by an enormous quantity. The general show is a bit flat as I cue up the first episode of Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Gong Yoo in his tweed coat appears to be like charming as ever. The witty dialogues and the atmospheric background scores sound resonant on the twin audio system as properly.
Camera
When I take the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra alongside to a late-evening al fresco music present, I’m low-key certain it’s not going to disappoint. The rear digicam setup features a 200 MP, a 50 MP telephoto periscope lens, a 12 MP telephoto lens and a ten MP ultrawide lens.
I began with low-light images at a location that was as soon as a horse secure and is now a live performance venue. The banyan bushes overhead have been low-lit by gold and purple lights. Despite the dim lights, the smartphone delivered some surreal-looking images.
Seated fairly a distance away from the stage, I zoomed in to seize a few of the Rajasthani and Mongolian artists on stage. At 10x zoom, we may see the singers extra clearly, however I believe attributable to restricted mild, the pictures have been very noisy and in addition ridden with artifacts. During the day, the outcomes of 10x zoom have been a lot clearer, with considerably much less noise. Portraits taken at evening with one or two mild sources additionally delivered very nice outcomes. Most snaps taken throughout daytime have been vibrant and vivid, with the color saturation amped up just a bit bit. Portraits regarded polished whereas retaining the actual pores and skin tone and a stunning bokeh impact. The entrance digicam has a 12 MP lens which captures pores and skin tones in addition to a few of the texture precisely. However, it additionally tends to brighten up the total body and the topic just a bit greater than the precise situation.
An ultrawide snap taken in daylight
A hearty bowl of shakshouka captured in Food mode
An evening shot taken at 5x zoom
A cover overhead with out an excessive amount of grains
An atmospheric shot at the live performance
We have been sitting this far-off from the stage – taken at 1x zoom.
The sensible Alok Menon at their stand-up and spoken phrase present in Chennai
Capturing a lazy Sunday outdoor
A fairly excited pup on the scene
Sample of photograph taken indoors at a restaurant
Special options
The ‘Circle to go looking’ function on the smartphone
I beloved utilizing the S-Pen a lot extra with this gadget. There are significant AI options baked into the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. I attempted out was the ‘circle to go looking’ function first. An extended press at the backside of the display screen (both with the stylus or your fingers) means that you can draw a circle round a picture or textual content which is then routinely ‘Googled’ . I attempted it out on stunning monuments and landscapes I noticed on-line and the function delivers correct leads to a jiffy.
The ‘generate wallpaper’ function, which first debuted with the Google Pixel 8 sequence, is right here too. It makes for a little bit of enjoyable attempting to mess around with completely different components and colors. There are countless permutations and combos to get misplaced in. The solely draw back is that this generative AI takes its personal candy time (wherever between 5-10 seconds) to render new pictures.
A snapshot of the strategy of finalising an AI generated wallpaper of uncommon minerals on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
| Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh
The Summarise operate on the Samsung Internet app is snappier and presents a gist of any article or internet web page I’m on, at the faucet of a button. When I ask it to summarise the Devialet Mania evaluation, it successfully highlights the key factors. The ‘Detailed’ abstract possibility provides extra complete outcomes than the ‘Standard’ possibility. Any notes that I’ve scribbled in a rush could be auto-formatted relying on what I would like — a piece of assembly notes or neatly organised in bullet factors. Phone calls could be translated in real-time, though the default Hindi language pack provides a really formal register, which may make an informal dialog or texting between pals sound extra severe than it’s. There’s additionally the built-in capability to get writing assist in writing help and summarise and translate your voice recordings as properly.
Tech Specs
Powering all these options and the normal prowess of the smartphone is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 customised for Galaxy smartphones. It’s a top-notch processor with the capability to deal with a number of duties concurrently. The smartphone runs on Android 14 and has Samsung’s One UI 6.1 as the consumer interface.
The unit I reviewed has 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. For avid gamers, Samsung has in-built a bigger vapour chamber to maintain the temperatures cool. And in what looks as if a stunningly future-proof transfer, the firm has promised seven generations of OS upgrades and safety updates.
Battery
The battery capability on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stays the similar at 5,000 mAh. On a median day of streaming music, watching an hour or much less of Ok-dramas and taking some images and a video or two, the battery had dropped to solely 60 per cent at the finish of the day.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t a telephone for everybody. I imply, it’s, if all you do on the telephone is make calls, chat on WhatsApp, take images, watch media and play video games. It goes past to supply a particular use case for many who rely on their smartphone for productiveness greater than the frequent client. It’s focused at the client who wants to write down notes usually and a much bigger display screen to create, organise, delegate or collaborate. Now, with the addition of latest AI options, the productiveness flagship will get a step nearer to being the smartphone of selection in the event you work in a multicultural, multilingual setup. Or journey usually for work, as a result of that battery isn’t going die on you anytime quickly. If these options are on the guidelines on your subsequent smartphone, then the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra would undoubtedly be one among the prime contenders. The solely downside is that it carries the price ticket for a elaborate laptop computer, and therefore stays out of attain for many who may actually take pleasure in the options it provides however won’t have the need to spend a lot on a smartphone.
Snapshot
Price: ₹1,29,999 onwards
Pros: Meaningful AI options, first rate digicam setup, wonderful battery life
Cons: Prohibitively costly, not the most compact flagship
Apple has reported another quarter with record revenues from India, driven by greater iPhone sales.
“India grew in income phrases, reporting robust double digits in the December quarter, and hit a quarter income record,” Tim Cook, CEO, Apple Inc, stated at an analyst name publish the quarter numbers.
India’s smartphone shipments remained flat in 2023 at 152 million items, in response to the newest analysis from Counterpoint’s Monthly India Smartphone Tracker, however Apple shipments crossed the 10-million mark, serving to it seize the highest place in income for the primary time ever in a calendar 12 months.
Counterpoint Research Analyst Shubham Singh stated, “The premium phase (>INR 30,000, ~ $360) witnessed 64 per cent YoY progress in 2023 driven by straightforward financing schemes, which resulted in customers leaping worth bands to buy higher-priced smartphones. One out of each three smartphones was bought via financing in 2023. Apple’s deal with India can be aiding the pattern, with the model surpassing the 10-million-unit mark in shipments, and capturing the highest place in income in a calendar 12 months for the primary time, propelled by sturdy demand for each its newest and older iPhones. The opening of our personal retail shops and growing deal with LFR (large-format retail) via common promotions, contributed to elevated offline shipments. Besides, greater trade-in values introduced an interesting proposition for customers to transition to iOS.”
Samsung Electronics newest premium smartphones, unveiled on Wednesday, could have a number of AI functions, resembling simultaneous translation of international language telephone calls, within the firm’s newest push to problem Apple.
Apple topped Samsung in 2023 smartphone shipments, in accordance knowledge supplier International Data Corporation, dethroning Samsung for the primary time since 2010 as demand for premium units – a section Apple dominates – outpaces market progress.
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Samsung to embed Google’s generative AI tech Gemini Nano in S24 smartphone collection
In response, Samsung is providing varied synthetic intelligence functions in its premium Galaxy S24 fashions as a part of its technique to draw consumers.
The new telephones could have two-way voice translation in real-time of a reside telephone name performed in two totally different languages, which the corporate mentioned the Galaxy S24 collection is the primary ever smartphone to supply.
Drew Blackard, vp of product administration, unveils Samsung’s newest Galaxy S24 smartphones providing AI functions on the Galaxy Unpacked occasion in San Jose, California, U.S. January 17, 2024.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
Available in 13 totally different languages, the on-device AI operate is obtainable through Samsung’s personal generative AI coaching.
It additionally affords a “circle-to-search” operate by which circling any a part of a picture on display searches it in Google. Other options embody AI translation and altering the tone of messages to informal, formal, enterprise or social media.
There are additionally AI summaries and translation of voice recordings, “generative modifying” of images that fill in non-existent backgrounds, and a function that turns real-time movies into slow-motion by filling in non-existent frames with AI.
On-device AI refers to generative AI functions which can be downloaded to every consumer’s system after being educated, which don’t want to connect with the cloud.
Companies like Qualcomm and Samsung are touting on-device AI as safer for private data, because it doesn’t must ship knowledge to the cloud to be used.
AI smartphones
An worker wipes a Samsung Electronics’ flagship smartphone Galaxy S24 throughout its unveiling ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
Just 5% of smartphones shipped in 2024 shall be AI-capable, however it will develop to 45% in 2027, knowledge supplier Canalys forecasts.
In the long-term, “generative AI on units is sure to have a big impression on the smartphone market, particularly by way of consumer expertise,” mentioned Jene Park, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint.
However, this won’t “instantly have an effect on smartphone purchases”, Park added, because it takes time for generative AI functions to include extra and higher knowledge to extend worth for customers.
The Galaxy S24 collection shall be bought beginning Jan 31.
In the United States, the bottom Galaxy S24 shall be priced from $799 and two higher-specification variations, the S24 Plus and S24 Ultra, from $999 and $1,299, respectively.
Samsung has saved the costs of the bottom mannequin and Plus on the similar degree as final yr’s. The value of the Ultra has been elevated by $100.
S24 series will use in-built Gemini Nano and entry to Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 text-to-image tech by means of the cloud.
January 17 Samsung will deploy Google’s generative synthetic intelligence expertise in its Galaxy S24 series smartphones that have been unveiled on Wednesday, the businesses mentioned.
Under the multi-year deal, the South Korean agency’s flagship S24 series will use in-built Gemini Nano, Google’s most-efficient large-language mannequin, and get entry to Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 text-to-image tech by means of the cloud.
Google is locked in a race with Microsoft to embed GenAI in on a regular basis purposes and gadgets together with smartphones, private computer systems and productiveness software program, as the businesses search new avenues to monetize the instruments.
The market share of GenAI smartphones is probably going to double in 2024 from 4% in 2023, market analysis agency Counterpoint Research mentioned final month.
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Samsung launches latest Galaxy S24 smartphones with AI features
Samsung seems to be to tackle Apple with their newest AI features in the S24 vary.
The Google deal will make Samsung one of many first corporations to check Gemini Ultra, the search engine large’s most succesful and largest large-language mannequin.
Customers can begin utilizing AI-powered summarization and classification options on Samsung’s native purposes comparable to Notes, Voice Recorder and the keyboard.
The Imagen mannequin will even assist customers carry out advanced picture enhancing duties in the Gallery utility of the S24 smartphones, which go on sale round end-January.
Samsung in the fourth quarter of 2023 misplaced market share to Apple and Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi and Transsion, with international shipments falling to 53 million models from practically 60 million a 12 months earlier, in accordance to analytics agency International Data Corporation.
Apple is providing uncommon reductions on its iPhones in China, reducing retail costs by as a lot as 500 yuan ($70) amid rising aggressive strain in the world’s largest smartphone market.
The US tech big reduce costs of some iPhones by 5 per cent, its Chinese web site confirmed on Monday. The time-limited promotion, branded as a Lunar New Year occasion, will final from January 18 by January 21 in a lead-up to the vacation in mid-February.
Sales of Apple’s newest iPhone 15 collection of handsets have been far worse than earlier fashions in China.
Home-grown rivals such as Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi provide aggressive fashions, whereas sources have stated some firms and authorities departments have been limiting staffers’ use of Apple gadgets – mirroring US authorities restrictions of Chinese apps on safety grounds.
Chinese iPhone gross sales dropped 30 per cent in the primary week of 2024 versus the identical interval a 12 months earlier, Jefferies analysts stated in a shopper notice, having fallen 3 per cent for all of 2023. Analysts count on the aggressive panorama to get more durable this 12 months.
Apple has not reduce costs for its newest iPhones in years. The cuts come after it stunned the market by not elevating costs for the iPhone 15 collection at its September launch.
Online procuring platforms together with Pinduoduo have been slashing costs of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro by as a lot as 16 per cent for the reason that starting of the 12 months.
Nicole Peng, senior vicepresident of market analysis agency Canalys, stated the reductions didn’t come as a shock as Apple is below strain to spice up gross sales globally, and particularly in China, amid intensifying competition and Apple followers’ rising reluctance to improve.
“It is obvious that Huawei is making a comeback,” Peng stated, “Some Chinese customers could return to utilizing Huawei as pushed by patriotism.”
Canalys expects Apple gross sales this 12 months to remain flat worldwide, whereas struggling a slight decline in China.
The world’s most prolific smartphone maker is leaning into synthetic intelligence as the important thing to unlocking better gross sales this year.
Samsung Electronics Co has introduced it plans to launch its subsequent flagship machine on January 17 in San Jose, California — doubtless to be often called the Galaxy S24 — with a livestreamed occasion. The teaser to the launch guarantees solely that “Galaxy AI is coming.” In previous years, Samsung and fellow cellular makers have relied on enhancements in digital camera know-how and versatile shows to stand out, however 2024 guarantees to be a year the place added AI capabilities take centre-stage.
Samsung to get about ₹500 cr PLI incentive: Official
More than a billion smartphones with built-in generative AI are anticipated to be shipped by the top of 2027, Counterpoint Research estimates. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Dall-E instruments, which generate textual content or visible responses to customers’ queries, are on the forefront of a generative-AI wave that’s swept throughout the tech business — and helped make Nvidia Corp. a trillion-dollar firm by offering the important thing AI-training accelerators. The subsequent step in advancing the know-how is to combine it into gadgets, as US chipmaker Qualcomm Inc. has touted over the previous year.
“Samsung and Qualcomm are fast leaders as present product choices and capabilities place them as first movers,” the Counterpoint researchers wrote in December. “Similar to what it did with foldables, Samsung is probably going to seize virtually 50 per cent share for the subsequent two years, adopted by key Chinese OEMs like Xiaomi, Vivo, Honor and Oppo.”
Apple recognised the newest rankings for prime iPad apps and video games of 2023, with year-end charts localised in greater than 35 international locations and areas, showcasing a spread of in style selections amongst customers.
In the paid iPad apps class, functions like Procreate, LumaFusion, and Forest: Focus for Productivity stand out, providing varied functionalities. Meanwhile, free iPad video games reminiscent of BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA, Ludo King, and Subway Surfers proceed to draw a big person base.
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Paid iPad video games, that includes Minecraft, Hitman Sniper, and MONOPOLY, spotlight the range of gaming preferences amongst customers keen to speculate in gaming experiences.
The Apple Arcade part consists of titles like NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition, Angry Birds Reloaded, and Mini Motorways, indicating a mixture of gaming genres accessible with the subscription.
