Being an iPad user and operating Instagram has always been a frustrating experience. Once you’ve bought the iPad you expect it to be compatible with all the applications present in the iPhone with an even better experience. While that is indeed true for most applications out there, the same cannot be said for Instagram. Being an iPad user myself, it gets frustrating to operate Instagram on a small vertical screen without proper integration of the iPad’s widescreen. Well, it looks like the pains of iPad users are not going to be fixed by Instagram, but there’s a silver lining to this cloud!
iPad Instagram web interface gets better
Our friendly neighborhood tech enthusiasts at The Verge were one of the first people to notice the changes in the web interface of Instagram on the iPad. While there is no specific app design for Instagram on the iPad, a slightly redesigned version of Instagram on the web can be seen. This new design includes a navigation sidebar with links to options like search, explore, notifications, and messages. These options were previously placed unlabelled at the top of the screen.
The Verge received a statement from Meta spokesperson Christine Pai where it was revealed that the company is working on improving the instagram.com web experience for users. The recent changes have been described as updates to ‘modernize’ Instagram web with the inclusion of improved navigation, optimization of video experience, and the introduction of a more ‘immersive’ way to DM.
This surely does not fill the shoes of having a dedicated application designed for the tablet experience but it’s a step in the right direction nonetheless. It was only back in February when Adam Mosseri, the Head of Instagram had written that creating an iPad-specific Instagram app was not on their priority list. It looks like nothing has changed since then!
The new owner of Twitter is ready to shake up how the app works from the ground above. Elon Musk recently took control of Twitter after completing his $44 billion acquisition the past week. A lot has happened ever since Musk took command of Twitter, be it him walking into the headquarters with a sink in his hands or key staff members and the board of directors being shown the front door. While it was expected that Musk will make radical changes to the platform, people were not expecting that there will be a change in how accounts are verified with the blue tick. It looks like users will now have to pay a monthly fee in order to keep their verified status on Twitter!
$8 for blue tick on Twitter
Musk had some strong views to share on Twitter’s verification policy. He described the current system as a ‘lords & peasants system calling it ‘bullshit’. Elon wants to bring a change in the Twitter verification system with it being available only to Twitter Blue subscribers at the price of $8 per month.
Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit.
A verified tick is not the only feature as Blue members will also get more benefits with the $8 price tag. Twitter won’t be an entirely ad-free experience for Blue users but they will see ‘Half as many ads’. Additionally, Blue members will also get priority in tweet replies, mentions, and search. Another feature catering to creators on the internet is the ability to be able to post longer video and audio content. Twitter Blue will also come with a paywall bypass feature that will directly work with publishers that collab with the platform. According to the Twitter boss, Blue subscription will be differently adjusted by country. Twitter Blue has not been introduced yet in India and it will be interesting to see at what price the subscription is introduced here.
Naturally, the decision has faced a lot of backlash on the platform. Many blue tick verified users have expressed their disappointment over the new rule. However, Elon Musk won’t be backing down from his decision.
Imagine logging into your Instagram account expecting to interact with your daily feed. Instead, you’re prompted with the message “Instagram Account Suspended”. That is stuff made out of nightmares, to say the least! That was the case for a number of users on October 31, coincidentally on the eve of Halloween when they received a notification about their accounts getting suspended. Thousands also shared that they were unable to log in to their accounts entirely and also witnessed a massive drop in followers due to mass suspension. To our relief, Instagram’s outage issue has been resolved.
Instagram outage fixed
In an apology posted on Twitter, Instagram wrote “We’ve resolved this bug now — it was causing people in different parts of the world to have issues accessing their accounts and caused a temporary change for some in the number of followers. Sorry.” According to Instagram’s rules, the platform can disable certain accounts that violate community guidelines. The community guidelines include illegal content, bullying, hate speech, spam, and violating intellectual property rights. However, users who follow the community guidelines were also affected by the outage which took them by surprise.
It was not long after the outage when #InstagramDown started trending on Twitter and an outpour of memes was witnessed. Many content creators also started posting reels and stories making fun of the sudden followers drop. This Instagram outage came only a few days after Meta’s WhatsApp had also suffered a long downtime. Users were unable to send messages and upload status which resulted in #WhatsAppDown trending on Twitter.
When I was first handed the Noise IntelliBuds for review, I was skeptical about the promised gesture control features & voice commands of this TWS. It looked more like a gimmick than a feature that could actually work seamlessly without lags. Boy was I wrong! The Noise IntelliBuds took me by surprise and these intelligent TWS should be on your list if you’re in the market for a good wireless music experience.
Design and Features
When it comes to the case and earbuds design, the intelliBuds do not experiment much. The 45 grams charging case is much of a standard affair with its rectangular design. Whereas the in-ear design of the earbuds with 6mm drivers is also nothing out of the ordinary. It is the features where this TWS zooms past a lot of its competitors. Noise has partnered with the known audio company Bragi to deliver the feature-rich IntelliBuds. There are an array of features here like voice commands, gesture controls, transparency mode, and much more.
The IntelliBuds’ gesture controls are backed by a powerful AI neural network. The company claims that the AI has been trained rigorously for weeks to detect accidental and intentional head movements. During my testing of the gesture controls on Intellibuds, the device was able to detect the movement 9 times out of 10 which is impressive. Another standout feature here is the ‘Hot Voice Commands’ where a user can simply say ‘Hey headphones’ followed by a command. For example, ‘Hey headphones, Next’, this feature also worked as one would expect and I did not face any issues with voice commands on the IntelliBuds. One thing to note here is that all these features are backed by the ‘NoiseFit Smart’ application. Users first need to download the application and calibrate the earbuds before they can start using the features. I made the rookie mistake of not downloading the app and expecting the features to work right out of the box, only to be disappointed.
The IntelliBuds also come with the support of music sharing. The feature-heavy TWS goes a mile ahead by adding a customizable equalizer that allows users to tune the earbuds according to their liking. Some preset equalizer modes like Rock, Pop, etc. are also present here. Noise cancelation is also present here and the transparency mode works just fine. The audio output with its customizable features is overall a good experience. The audio is crisp and does not feel harsh on high volumes. A few times, the IntelliBuds would disconnect themselves and connect again which was odd, but it happened too few times to take into consideration.
Battery
Once the earbuds are connected to the NoiseFit Smart app then they can be used to click photos and enable fast mute. The IntelliBuds are powered by a 600mAh battery case that is capable of charging up the earbuds three times. While the company claims that the earbuds last up to nine hours on a single charge, my extensive testing resulted in them lasting up to six and a half hours at full volume without transparency mode being turned on. The earbuds do take a hit on the battery performance when you’re using the gesture and voice commands regularly. Ultimately, the Noise IntelliBuds priced at Rs 4,999 is one of the best TWS in the market in that price category.
Verdict
At Rs 4,999 the Noise IntellBuds are one of the best TWS to buy. The smart features of the earbuds make them stand out among the bunch. The voice commands and gesture controls are a delight to use.
Let’s be real, projectors are much of a specialty product in the Indian market as they’re usually placed either in school or office settings. Only a few true cinephiles in the country set up projectors in their home setting to get the best cinematic experience and picture quality. When I was told to review Epson’s beefy beast LS12000B projector, I was taken back to my school days when going to the A/V room was something every student looked forward to. So, does this heavy-duty offering by Epson deserve to be your next home projector? To put it simply, YES! However, there are other aspects of this device one needs to consider before making a purchase as it does not come with a cheap price tag.
Design and Functionality
The LS12000B is not really a lightweight product, it weighs over 20Kgs which makes it a rather stationary product. It is meant to be placed in one spot in your home and let rest there for the entirety of its lifetime unless you want to carry the stone of a projector around a lot. It comes with a powerful 3LCD system inside which allows it to project content even in a well-lit room without missing out on details. The picture doesn’t struggle much in a brightly lit room, but it surely stands out when the ambiance is turned dark. The design of the projector is pretty straightforward. The matte layer on top of it is truly beautiful. One standout design feature here is the powered lens cover that slides open when the projector is turned on and shuts back when it’s powered off. This allows for keeping the lens clean and also gives off a futuristic vibe.
There is a lot of flexibility here with features like zoom, lens shift, keystone controls, and focus. If you already have a destined spot to place your projector then you won’t need to change it as the projector can adapt to the room thanks to its optical zoom. Epson has managed to tick off all the right spots with the LS12000B’s 4K HDR visuals that are crisp and vivid. I played a few action scenes from Cameron’s Avatar and was surely taken aback by its visuals. The projector is capable of scaling up to 300 inches and down to 50 inches which gives more flexibility to its users. One key aspect to note for a projector is how bright it can get and Epson is clearly not playing around here as the LS12000B is rated for 2,700 lumens. Make sure your curiosity doesn’t make you peep right into the projector lens while it’s on!
Pricing
The LS12000B is surely an expensive affair. It is priced at Rs 6 lakhs in the Indian market which puts it in the luxury tech category. However, even with that heavy price tag, it does not come with smart TV features. That issue can be quickly resolved with the help of a firestick so it’s not a grave concern. On the other hand, there is also no speaker output here. Simply put, the LS12000B is awesome, but it is just a display. Ultimately, the LS12000B is targeted to the most indulgent cinephiles amongst us and if you’re one of them then this is definitely worth the price for you!
Verdict
The LS12000B is a luxury product meant for true cinephiles. While it misses out on Smart TV features and speakers, it makes up with crisp and eye-pleasing picture quality. If you want to make the perfect home theatre setup with the best quality then this is the projector for you.
Spider-Man is my favorite superhero character from all of Marvel and DC lore. Peter Parker represents all of us in some way by trying to strike a balance between his normal and superhero life. When the Spider-Man game by Insomniac had initially released on PS4, I was skeptical of it being a cash grab. The past superhero-related games had left a sour taste in my mouth, with the exception of the Batman: Arkham series. However, I was taken by surprise at how wonderful the game was. It perfectly blends the story and spectacle staple to a Spider-Man story, creating an immersive experience for the player.
The PC Experience
I was definitely confused when the announcement of the game for the PC platform was made. I was convinced that players will not have a good experience with the game on PC as it felt like a perfect fit for the PlayStation controller. I am glad to say that I was completely wrong! Spider-Man’s swing is definitely one of the finest movements ever seen in any gameplay and controlling it via a keyboard and mouse felt smoother to me than on the PlayStation. Marvel’s Spider-Man was undoubtedly a visually pleasing game on the PS4 that was then given a bump in performance with PS5. However, on the PC platform, with the right specifications, one can squeeze out everything the game has to offer at the performance level.
I played this game on an Intel i9 12th Gen system sporting the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti coupled with 32GB RAM. There was never a question of whether the game would play well on this system, but about how well it will perform! I was surprised to see that it consistently provided 4K gameplay without any lags and dropping the resolution down to 1080P made it smooth like butter. With the correct specifications, there is no doubt that Marvel’s Spider-Man will perform excellently on PC.
Story
Marvel’s Spider-Man does not waste any time in showing the character’s origin story as it has been told and retold many a time in pop culture. While the game has been out for years, I won’t be diving into spoilers as everyone deserves to experience this gameplay and the story afresh. The Spider-Man we see in this game is an already-established friendly neighborhood hero who is trying to balance his life. He works as an apprentice to Dr. Otto Octavius and the dynamics of their relationship are also explored. Spider-Man’s classic characters like Mary Jane and Aunt May are also present here. There is also a heartwarming Stan Lee cameo that makes you go ‘aww’. To simplify the plot, it is Spider-Man’s ultimate battle against the sinister six. Sony was keen to introduce the Sinister Six back with Andrew Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man series but did not get to do so due to the lukewarm response to the franchise’s second installment. However, with Insomniac’s game, Sony finally brought Sinister Six from comic book pages to the screen. Another element of the game that feels like a well-fleshed-out character itself is New York City. There is a lot to do in downtown Manhattan in this game and completing the side quests gets you different gadgets and suits. And how can one forget the suits? The suits here are beautiful and something a Spider-Man fan can only dream to see in live-action. The fight sequences could feel repetitive after a point but they lead to a cinematic conclusion that keeps you hooked till the end. Ultimately, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is a treat for all Marvel and gaming fans in general! Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is priced at Rs 3,999 on major retail platforms.
Rating – ★★★★
Verdict
Friendly neighborhood Spider-Man swings his way to your PC! The game is as fun on the PC platform as it was on PlayStation. With its indulgent visuals and story, Marvel’s Spider-Man should be on your list of games to play. This is surely one of the best Spider-Man adventures ever portrayed in pop culture which even casual fans will enjoy!
Samsung and Apple have been going against each other for many years. While Apple has the iPhone series, Samsung has the Galaxy S series of smartphones. Similarly, while Apple has the Apple Watch series, Samsung strongly contends with its powerful Samsung Watch series. In 2022, we’re in the 5th generation of the Samsung watch. The Samsung Watch 5 Pro is a direct contender to the Apple Watch Ultra as the two are the best smartwatches the companies have to offer. However, while the Apple Watch Ultra can make you shell out up to 90K which is nearly a lakh, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro with its ‘Pro’ power costs 45K, that’s half the price as compared to the ‘Ultra’ Apple Watch. So, is going for the Samsung Watch 5 Pro at 45K worth it? Or should you go for the Apple Watch Ultra?
Functionality
Both the Ultra and Pro come with a rugged design. The Galaxy Watch 5 pro has a 45mm titanium case with a sapphire crystal display. Whereas, the Apple Watch Ultra comes with a bigger 49mm titanium case and a sapphire glass screen. The Apple Watch takes the cake here when it comes to durability. The watch can be taken for a dive! It has water resistance up to the depths of 100m and IPX6 dust resistance. Besides, the Ultra watch can also survive temperatures below zero up to 130 degrees. On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch Ultra only comes with an IP68 rating, meaning it is water resistant up to 50 meters and is not suitable for high-pressure activities. Another additional point to the Apple Watch Ultra for its 86 decibels siren which can be heard from 180m away. One gripe with the Samsung Watch 5 Pro is that it misses out on the rotating dial which was staple to the previous gen Samsung watches. Due to its big form factor, the Apple Watch Ultra registers a lot of accidental touches which could be an issue for many.
Battery
Here, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro gets a point for longer battery life with its large 590mAh battery. Samsung claims that the watch can last a user up to 80 hours of typical use. On the other hand, the Ultra battery life is limited to merely 36 hours, and 60 hours with the low power settings activated. If you’re someone who likes to get lost in the wilderness without having to worry about charging your watch then the Samsung Watch 5 pro is the best option for you! While Apple claims that the Watch Ultra comes with a 36-hour battery life, our extended testing of the device resulted in an overall usage of under 24 hours.
Battle of the OS
One cannot skip the software while comparing Samsung and Apple devices. The Watch 5 Pro is powered by Google Wear OS while the Ultra operates on Apple’s own WatchOS, as one would expect. Here, Apple’s boat floats to the shore as WearOS is just not there yet as compared to the Apple experience. The Apple Watch Ultra has better app support as it comes with a far more developed app library as compared to the Wear OS by Google. The WatchOS comes with a slew of fitness and music apps at its disposal and Google’s WearOS has a lot of catching up to you.
Pricing
We’ve already discussed the pricing of both of these devices so it ends up being your decision which one you want to go for. The 90K Apple Watch Ultra could be an expensive affair for many to spend on a watch, but Apple has not targeted this product to the everyday joe but for the extreme sports enthusiast. The Watch 5 pro on the other hand is not just for sports enthusiasts but for everyone at a price of 45K.
For the Apple Watch Ultra, buyers shell out an additional 45K. For the bumped up price, users get a dual-frequency GPS and Bluetooth 5.3. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro comes with Bluetooth 5.2. Of course, there is also the brand value of Apple that comes along with the Apple Watch Ultra which is enough for many to go for it!
Conclusion
Both the Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Watch Pro 5 are some of the best wearable devices in the market right now. However, it ultimately comes down to the user’s preference. The Apple Watch Ultra is undoubtedly the one for heavy users who work up an appetite on the sports ground. Targeted towards extreme sports enthusiasts, the device can prove to be an asset to people who spend majority of their time outdoors. On the other hand, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro with its stylish design is surely a treat to the eyes. The Apple Watch Ultra is a clear winner in this comparison with its extensive features. Whereas, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro is well suited for people looking for a cheaper smart wearable.
If you’re in the market to buy a smartwatch in the 5K price range then you’ve got a number of options to choose from. But if that watch comes from the OnePlus brand then it is the cherry on top! The company has now managed to build a strong sub-brand with its Nord line of products and the OnePlus Nord Watch definitely delivers when it comes to functionality and usability. But does this watch stand out from all the others in the saturated budget smartwatch segment? Almost!
Design
The OnePlus Nord Watch comes in a rectangular form factor with curved corners as opposed to the OnePlus watch with its circular dial. The watch comes with a vibrant AMOLED display which is the first standout feature of this device. The display produces punchy colors in a 1.78-inch size at a 60Hz refresh rate that makes it a treat to the eyes. As one would expect, the device also comes with a button placed at the side that can be used to navigate through the watch. The button is also capable of rotating but it doesn’t do anything on the functional side. It makes me wonder why OnePlus decided to add a rotating button as opposed to a fixed one. Anyways, the body of the watch is made of a combination of zinc alloy and plastic which surely comes off as premium. I was handed the ‘Deep Blue’ color of the watch which looks pretty, to say the least, and also attracts eyeballs. The strap of this watch is easily detachable which makes it easier for users to swap it out but the one provided by OnePlus is surely good.
Performance
If you’re the kinda user who likes to install third-party apps on your smartwatch then this one is not for you. The OnePlus Nord Watch runs on a Real-Time operating system which prevents third-party apps to be installed. The performance aspect is where this smart device takes a back seat as it misses out on a few features that its competitors flaunt. It does not have Bluetooth calling and an always-on display which are some of the most prominent features for people looking for a smartwatch. I am not fond of watches but was wearing this one during my extensive testing and showed it around to my pals. Most of them were surprised about the fact that it does not come with a Bluetooth calling feature. Additionally, it also does not come with built-in GPS so your outdoor workouts cannot be tracked with this watch.
Keeping the gripes aside, the Nord watch does have a beautiful interface with 100+ customizable watch faces. While it misses out on an always-on display, the rise-to-wake feature works reasonably fine. There are also over 105 sports modes built-in the device that is surprisingly accurate in tracking. The built=in sensors to track sleep, steps, stress, and Sp02 work seamlessly. The addition of women’s health tracking is also something OnePlus deserves a point for.
The OnePlus Nord watch deserves applause for its battery prowess. It features a 230mAh battery that can keep the device juiced up for 10 days. In my testing of the device, it was certainly powered up over 10 days on moderate usage. The N-Health app designed to work with the Nord watch also works perfectly with little to no issues.
Verdict
While missing out on key features like Bluetooth calling and always-on display, the OnePlus Nord watch makes up for it with its powerful battery backup. It is a good purchase for people with tight budgets as it certainly does not come off as cheap looking. It is heavy on features while light on the pocket making it an overall performer as your next smartwatch.
Christmas has carols and Valentine’s Day has chocolates, however, Halloween simply would not be the spooky affair it is without horror movies. While the costumes and candies are definitely nice, scary movies to go with them add to the fun. Whenever October rolls around, there is no shortage of fun Halloween activities but the one for me is to curl up on the couch with a big bag of popcorn and immerse myself in movies that scare the living wit out of me. The list below is purely subjective and might miss out on some of your best horror film picks, forgive me for that. Whereas the idea of horror for me is not limited to spirits and evil forces as some psychological horrors are also noted in the list. Without further ado, here are some of the best scary films to watch this Halloween.
Get Out (2017)
2017’s Jordan Peele directorial debut Get Out is an oddly spine-chilling film. The director managed to merge two themes of horror and racism into a film that charts territories you cannot imagine. The film follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) who goes to meet his girlfriend’s parents only to get trapped in a situation he never anticipated. The film’s subtle creepy hints toward the ultimate horrific reveal are what make it one of the best neo-horror films out there.
The Shining (1980)
I watched The Shining only back in 2020 not knowing it was a horror film! Watching Stanley Kubrick’s films are always a treat for cinephiles but this one with Jack Nicholson’s creepy performance makes it one of his best. The ‘Here’s Johnny’ moment from the film has been parodied and holds pop-culture value to this day which proves the film’s prominence. If you wish to watch a classic horror film this Halloween, The Shining should be your pick.
Hereditary (2018)
The film is definitely not the one for everyone, but if you’re someone who can stomach gruesome visuals and wild jumpscares, then go for Hereditary. The film revolves around a mother who loses her child and descends into madness. However, there’s a big twist here that I wouldn’t reveal. The film is sure to shock you with the falling family dynamics and horrifying moments.
Midsommar (2019)
From the same production house, A24, and the director of Hereditary came Midsommar in 2019. The film for sure is a slow burner where one doesn’t anticipate the steep left turn. But once the film goes ‘Goblin’ mode with its depiction of cults and their activities, it’s sure to spook you out. The twist ending is also something to take you by surprise.
The Conjuring (2013)
How does one talk about horror films and not include The Conjuring? The first film in the Conjuring universe is for sure one of the best horror films ever produced. The film was so successful that it enabled the studios to churn out spin-offs and sequels that are indeed successful. The film revolves around paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren who help protect a family from evil forces. The crux of The Conjuring films revolves around the same base of saving a haunted family, which is an effective formula to base a horror franchise in, to say the least. If you end up enjoying The Conjuring, make sure to check out the sequels as they are equally scary (The spin-offs can be skipped in my opinion)
IT (2017)
The original IT film based on Stephen King’s novel was surely creepy but the 2017 retelling of the story is more chilling. The film revolves around a severe-dwelling murderous clown who goes around creeping children out. The ‘They All Float Down Here’ line is surely iconic in cinema history and after watching the flick ‘You’ll Float Too’. However, the 2019 sequel with the ensemble of children all grown up can be skipped.
Paranormal Activity (2007)
The Paranormal Activity film surely made a fool out of me when I watched it as a kid. The found footage approach to filmmaking portraying a documentary-style horror film was an innovative outing. However, knowing that it is a scripted film as opposed to real people going through paranormal activities in their homes does break the illusion a little. Watch this film if you’re looking for a raw horror movie with little to no pretentious horror film tropes.
Devil (2010)
With a runtime of 80 minutes, M Night Shyamalan written Devil should definitely be on your horror binge list. The film revolves around five strangers getting stuck in an elevator and dying one by one. The film has a twisted reveal in the end that is tied up to Biblical teachings. Made on a budget of $10M, the film rake up a box office collection of $62.6 million, which should indicate how good this elevator horror film is.
Nothing is slowly but steadily gaining momentum with its launches. The company has now launched its third product named Nothing Ear (stick) which stays true to its bracketed branding. The new wireless earbuds launched by Nothing are not exactly similar to the previously launched Nothing Ear (1) as they rock a minimal feature set shying away from Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Check out all the details about the newly launched Nothing Ear (stick) below –
Nothing Ear (stick) launched
The new Nothing Ear (stick) comes in a cylindrical form factor. The earbuds case looks like a mirrored image of a lipstick case which could be an aesthetic look for some. The body does not have any hinges or lids but instead twists to open. The Nothing Ear (1) launched previously came in a square form factor and supported wireless charging. The Nothing Ear (stick) on the other hand, is limited to a USB-C adapter for charging.
The company claims that Ear (stick) can last for up to 7 hours of listening time and 3 hours of calls on a single charge. The case additionally adds 22 hours of playback time taking the total up to 29 hours, which is impressive given its compact form factor. The case is a fast charging capability that can juice up the earbuds for 2 hours of playback in just 10 minutes. The earbuds themselves sport Nothing’s signature transparent design. The 12.6nm drivers have support for AAC and SBC codecs. There are no silicone tips this time around that were present on the Ear (1)
Along with the Nothing Ear (stick), the company has also introduced the Nothing X app that allows users to customize the sound output of the earbuds. The app is targeted toward people who do not own the Nothing Phone (1). People who own the Nothing phone do get additional benefits with the low-lag mode in gaming. There are also other exclusive features like custom equalizer gestures and software updates for Nothing Phone (1) users.
The Nothing Ear (stick) is priced at Rs 8,499 and will be available to purchase on Flipkart from November 17. Check out the Nothing Ear (stick) on Flipkart – HERE
