Technology

San Francisco, June 4 (IANS) Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly working on adding compatibility with iPad as a new linked device, meaning users will be able to link WhatsApp for iPad to their existing account in the future.

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp for iPad is still in development and not yet available to beta testers, however, once it is released, users will finally be able to link their existing WhatsApp account on Android with their iPad.

Recently, WhatsApp rolled out a 'companion mode' feature to iPhone users, allowing them to link an existing account to a second iOS device.

With this feature, users can link up to four devices simultaneously, meaning they can connect even more than two mobile phones to their WhatsApp accounts.

According to the report, users' personal messages and calls will remain end-to-end encrypted even when using WhatsApp from a linked device.

Users can link their existing WhatsApp account to a secondary device by scanning the QR Code.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out a new feature called 'screen-sharing', along with a new placement for tabs within the bottom navigation bar, to beta testers on Android.

This feature will allow users to easily share their screen during a video call.

--IANS
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San Francisco, June 4 (IANS) Android 13 has now reached 15 per cent of active devices globally, while Android 11 is still the most common version of active devices, according to the latest data from Google.

The Android Studio reports let you see what percentage of devices are running a particular Android version or higher, according to 9to5Google.

This is useful for determining which apps are supported by your device based on the lowest version of Android it supports.

Android Studio data for April 2023 and June 2023 indicates that Android 13 has experienced another period of growth, growing from 12.1 per cent in April to 14.7 per cent in June, meaning Android 13 is now installed on around 15 per cent of active devices worldwide, but Android 11 is still the most commonly used version, with 23.1 per cent of active devices installing it worldwide.

However, Android 12, 11, and 10 have each seen slight declines, the report said.

The only other version of Android to grow between April and June is Android Oreo, which moved from 6.7 per cent to 8.3 per cent (though still down from 9.5 per cent in January).

Meanwhile, Google has released the first public Beta of Android 14 with new features focused on system navigation, privacy, performance, and user customisation to both developers and early adopters.

Among the features, a new back arrow has been updated under the gesture navigation to help improve back gesture understanding and usefulness while interacting with your app.

--IANS
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San Francisco, June 2 (IANS) In yet another high-profile exit, Twitter's head of trust and safety, Ella Irwin, has resigned amid ongoing drama over a film.

She joined Twitter in June 2022 and was appointed as head of trust and safety in November, replacing Yoel Roth who resigned after Elon Musk took over.

According to reports, her departure coincides with the platform's ongoing challenges in retaining advertisers, primarily due to concerns from brands about their association with inappropriate content.

Conservative outlet the Daily Wire claimed on Thursday that Twitter "cancelled a deal" for them to make its film, 'What is a Woman?' available on the micro-blogging platform for free.

"Twitter cancelled a deal with @realdailywire to premiere 'What is a Woman?' for free on the platform because of two instances of misgendering," posted Jeremy Boreing, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Daily Wire.

Musk replied: "This was a mistake by many people on Twitter. It is definitely allowed. Whether or not you agree with using someone's preferred pronouns, not doing so is at most rude and certainly breaks no laws."

Boreing commented: "Our hope is that Twitter remains a place where we are free to do so."

While it's not clear that the Irwin situation is connected, she likely would have been involved in the decision to label the video, "which is currently igniting a firestorm among conservative and anti-transgender Twitter users who see Musk as a reliable ally", reports The Verge.

--IANS
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San Francisco, June 2 (IANS) Tech giant Google has introduced a new 'Reading practice' feature for its Play Books Android application and Kids Space, which will help new readers independently improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Now available in the US, the new feature will highlight the text as the user reads out loud, tracking where they are in the book and helping them to focus on the next word, the tech giant said in a blogpost on Thursday.

If the user gets stuck on how to pronounce a word, they can tap it to hear what it sounds like.

Also, the new feature provides a child-friendly definition of a word, if the user wants to learn more about the word.

"At the end of the page, they'll have the option to practice any words they skipped or mispronounced," the company said.

The tech giant further mentioned that users can use the "Reading practice" filter in Google Play Books to narrow down their store or library searches to ebooks that offer Reading practice.

--IANS
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San Francisco, June 2 (IANS) Tech giant Microsoft has announced new features in the free version of its proprietary business communication platform 'Teams', including the ability to collaborate with communities on Windows 11 devices, in addition to iOS and Android.

"On Windows 11, community owners can create communities from scratch, share and invite members, create and host events, moderate content with critical trust and safety features, and get notified about all important activities," the company said in a blogpost on Thursday.

Communities in Teams will soon be supported on Windows 10 and macOS devices as well as the web.

The tech giant also announced support for Microsoft Designer (Preview) in Teams on Windows 11. The Designer is powered by generative AI technology and allows users to create unique and personalised designs effortlessly.

"Community members can now record videos from their mobile devices using Microsoft's new capture experience," the company added.

Additionally, starting with iOS, community owners can use their smartphone's camera to scan and invite multiple emails or phone numbers from an online document, a paper directory, or any other list they might have.

The tech giant also announced an update in its free group messaging app 'GroupMe'.

Users can now create Microsoft Teams calls inside the messaging application.

--IANS
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San Francisco, June 2 (IANS) Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has introduced the next generation virtual and mixed reality headset 'Quest 3' which will be launched later this year.

The 128GB headset starts at $499.99 and users will also get an additional storage option for extra space, the company said in a blogpost on Thursday.

"It features higher resolution, stronger performance, breakthrough Meta Reality technology, and a slimmer, more comfortable form factor."

Also, the new headset features a next-generation Snapdragon chipset which delivers more than twice the graphical performance as the previous generation Snapdragon GPU in Quest 2.

"On Quest 3, our best-in-class Meta Reality technology lets you seamlessly blend your physical world with the virtual one," the company said.

The new headset is compatible with the Quest 2 catalogue of more than 500 VR games, applications and experiences, and also more new VR and MR titles are lined up for launch.

Also, starting June 4, Meta will lower the price of Quest 2 to $299.99 for the 128GB SKU (stock-keeping unit) and $349.99 for the 256GB SKU.

"We'll continue to sell Quest 2 and Pro alongside Quest 3, as well as continue shipping new software updates to make the Quest experience even better," it added.

--IANS
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San Francisco, May 27 (IANS) Outgoing Twitter CEO Elon Musk has said that Silicon Valley companies can afford to cut more workforce without affecting productivity.

Musk slashed over 80 per cent of the Twitter staff in October-November last year as he took over after acquiring the platform for $44 billion.

Speaking virtually at The Wall Street Journal's summit in London, Musk said there were a lot of people at Twitter that didn't seem to have a lot of value.

"I think that's true at many Silicon Valley companies. I think there is the possibility for significant cuts at other companies without affecting their productivity, in fact, increasing their productivity," he was quoted as saying in the report.

He said that Twitter was in a situation where you'd have a meeting of 10 people and "one person with an accelerator and nine with a set of brakes".

Musk told conference attendees that Twitter now has around 1,500 employees, saying it is "probably a reasonable number".

Musk continued to sack Twitter employees even after the massive round in October, despite promising not to fire more staff after his brutal layoff exercise in November that affected two-thirds of the micro-blogging platform's 7,500 employees.

Twitter also shut down two of its three India offices and directed its employees to work from home. In November, Musk fired more than 90 per cent of its staff in India, around 200-plus.

"We will need to be extremely hardcore. This will mean working long hours at high intensity. Only exceptional performance will constitute a passing grade," Musk had said.

--IANS
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New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Google Pay in conjunction with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Tuesday rolled out support for RuPay credit cards on Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

The users can now link their RuPay credit cards with Google Pay to pay at all online and offline merchants where RuPay credit cards are accepted.

The feature is now available to RuPay credit card holders of Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, HDFC bank, Indian Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India, the company aid in a statement.

"This feature will give Google Pay users more flexibility and choice in making payments, and will drive greater adoption of digital payments in the country," said Sharath Bulusu, Director of Product Management from Google.

To activate, users need to add the RuPay credit card to Google Pay. Users can tap on the "RuPay credit card on UPI" option in their profile and select the bank which issued their RuPay credit card.

Thereafter, users will need to set a unique UPI PIN by entering the last six digits of the card number and expiry, entering the OTP from their bank.

"The integration of RuPay Credit Card on UPI delivers a remarkable user experience seamlessly combining the convenience of UPI with the benefits of RuPay Credit Card," said Nalin Bansal, Chief Relationship Management and Key Initiatives, Corporate Business from NPCI.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had allowed linking of RuPay credit cards to the UPI platform in June 2022.

Meanwhile, the NPCI reported a massive jump in monthly transaction count as the UPI transactions touched 8.7 billion in March.

According to NPCI data, approximately 74 billion transactions worth Rs 125.94 trillion were conducted using UPI in calendar year 2022.

--IANS
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New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Over the past decade, the smartphone industry has witnessed remarkable advancements, revolutionising the way people perceive and utilise mobile devices.

A decade ago, users primarily sought basic functionality in an entry-level smartphone, such as calling, texting, and accessing the internet. However, in today's tech-savvy world, users' expectations for entry-level smartphones have significantly expanded.

Today, users anticipate a host of features, including larger and higher-resolution displays, longer battery life, fast charging capabilities, powerful processors, improved cameras, ample storage capacity, enhanced security features, and seamless connectivity options like 4G or even 5G.

India has witnessed a remarkable evolution in digitisation in recent years. With the advent of pocket-friendly smartphones and the expansion of 4G networks, millions of Indians gained access to information, entertainment, and online services like never before.

The transformation in user expectations over the last decade showcases the rapid progress and innovation within the smartphone industry, offering more accessible and advanced features to a wider range of users, meeting their evolving needs and preferences.

Being at the forefront of technological innovation, realme has catered to the demands of young Indian consumers, with an incredible 14.5 per cent market share in 2022. The brand has managed to differentiate itself in the highly competitive smartphone market by bringing futuristic technologies and leap forward design to the entry-level segment. Its customer-centric approach and unique marketing strategies have resonated with young consumers, enabling the brand to achieve top rankings in several countries within a short period.

realme's smartphone lineup has empowered millions of Indians to access the Internet and engage in online activities, thereby fuelling the country's rapid digitization and bridge the digital divide. The brand's commitment to providing the latest technology at competitive prices has empowered individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate actively in the digital ecosystem, fostering a more inclusive and connected India.

With the emergence of 5G technology, realme recognised the need for faster internet speeds and enhanced network capabilities and introduced the realme X50 Pro as India's first 5G smartphone in 2020, empowering users with lightning-fast download and upload speeds, enabling seamless video streaming, online gaming, and immersive virtual experiences. It opened up a whole new realm of possibilities and set the stage for the future of connectivity in India.

According to a survey, In India, smartphones have become the primary device for work, streaming, and gaming. An overwhelming majority of seven out of eight smartphone users believe that innovation in fast-charging technology is crucial. Furthermore, the survey emphasized that long battery life is the most significant aspect that users prioritize.

realme has successfully positioned itself as the undisputed leader in fast-charging technology in the smartphone market. With its relentless commitment to innovation, realme has introduced groundbreaking fast-charging solutions that have revolutionised the way we power our devices. realme's smartphones come equipped with cutting-edge fast-charging technologies such as SUPERVOOC, Dart, and MagDart, which offer unparalleled charging speeds and convenience.

At the World Mobile Conference, 2023, realme introduced another game-changing device, the realme GT3, which offered the industry-leading 240W fast-charging technology. Right from its entry into the market with 33W charging to the milestone 240W charging, realme has definitely journeyed its way through the evolutions.

The company has made significant strides in introducing cutting-edge camera technologies, such as the 64MP quad camera, AI-based image processing, and advanced night mode features. These advancements enable users to capture stunning photos even in low-light conditions. The brand introduced the world's first 64 MP quad camera in realme XT in 2019, carving another niche in the market. The upcoming realme 11 Pro series is expected to push the boundaries of smartphone photography even further, with the world's first 200 MP camera and 4× lossless zoom technology.

realme has also focused on delivering powerful processors and high-capacity batteries to meet the performance needs of its users. The brand has pioneered the use of state-of-the-art processors, with models like the realme X7 5G, realme 8s 5G, realme 9 Pro+ 5G, and realme X50 Pro featuring advanced MediaTek chipsets.

realme continues to push boundaries and enhance user experience. The realme 10 Pro+ 5G, for instance, boasts the segment's first smartphone equipped with a flagship-level 120Hz Curved Vision Display, complemented by India's first 2160Hz PWM dimming. This dedication to delivering exceptional quality ensures an unparalleled user experience.

realme's narzo N53 is yet another launch that boasts of being a segment-first slimmest smartphone. The smartphone is the slimmest smartphone launched by realme and is equipped with 33W fast charging technology, a massive storage capacity and an industry-leading 50MP AI camera. It became No.1 best selling smartphone under 10K segment on Amazon.in and realme.com on Day 1 revolutionizing entry-level smartphones by democratizing cutting-edge technologies.

With realme's innovative offerings and the ongoing advancements in technology, India is poised to embrace a future where seamless connectivity and digital empowerment are at the forefront.

--IANS
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New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) Google on Tuesday said it will delete personal accounts and their content that haven't been used or signed in for at least 2 years.

The company said it will purge the content in inactive accounts within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), YouTube and Google Photos.

While the policy took effect on Tuesday, it will not immediately impact users with an inactive account and the earliest the company will begin deleting accounts is December 2023.

"The policy only applies to personal Google Accounts, and will not affect accounts for organisations like schools or businesses," Ruth Kricheli, VP, Product Management at Google, said in a statement.

The update aligns Google policy with industry standards around retention and account deletion and also limits the amount of time Google retains the unused personal information.

"If an account hasn't been used for an extended period of time, it is more likely to be compromised. This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven't had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user," Google explained.

Google's internal analysis shows that abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step-verification set up.

This means that these accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam.

"To reduce this risk, we are updating our inactivity policy for Google Accounts to 2 years across our products," said the company.

"We will take a phased approach, starting with accounts that were created and never used again," it added.

Before deleting an account, Google will send multiple notifications over the months leading up to deletion, to both the account email address and the recovery email (if one has been provided).

As previously announced, people will need to specifically sign in to Google Photos every 2 years to be considered active.

--IANS
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