Ritwick Jaiswal, Author at Exhibit Tech

Google Is Rolling Out New Emoji Updates In Android 12

While texting, it isn’t easy to convey your tone through just words. This is where emojis come into play. Emojis have become an essential means of sharing your emotions and intentions in messaging. With every new event, new emojis are added to the Unicode Standard, and OS upgrades are released to support these emojis on the system.

In a recent blog post, Google has announced that hundreds of emojis are getting a new touch up and are being improved upon to make them more universal, accessible, and authentic. These will get a release, along with the new ones, when it’s Android 12 mobile operating system arrives this fall.

“Emoji have a global audience and it;s important for them to be globally relevant,” the blog post read.

Google gives pie emoji as an example of its change. Earlier, pie mimicked a slice of pumpkin and was not known much internationally. The updated emoji seems like a whole, uncut pie and could mean apple pie, strawberry pie, blueberry pie, and the list goes on, Google says.

Google also says that soon apps will access these 992 redesigned emojis separately from system updates. Other emojis that have witnessed a change include the mask emoji that looks a little less sick and unhappy.

Let’s be honest here. Some changes are more realistic while others are more. The emojis are not consistent since few almost look like posterized photos, while the others are more or less cartoonish. But since the emojis cover a wide array now, it’s impossible to match a similar style precisely.

Basic food emojis also look a little more appetizing in Android 12. These new emoji aren’t just arriving on Android 12, but Google is rolling them out to other services, including Gmail, Chat, Chrome OS, and YouTube Live Chat in this month itself.

Updating emojis is an improvement that many people will find silly, but it has become a large part of our vernacular.

Xiaomi Leaves Apple Behind As World’s Second Largest Smartphone Maker

Xiaomi takes over Apple to become the world’s second-biggest smartphone maker. According to Canalys’ most recent data, Xiaomi Corp. witnessed an 83% jump in shipments in the second quarter of 2021.

The South Korean smartphone giant Samsung continues to lead the spot with a 19 per cent market share. However, Xiaomi has significantly closed the gap with a 17 per cent market share, giving cut-throat competition to the tech giant.

Xiaomi Is Now Second Largest Smartphone Maker

Xiaomi’s shipments in Latin America witnessed a climb by more than 300 per cent, by 150% in Africa, and 50% in Western Europe. The main reason for this growth is that Xiaomi offers products that cost 40 to 70% cheaper than Samsung and Apple devices. According to Canalys, Xiaomi should focus on increasing its sales of smartphones like the Mi 11 Ultra.

Huawei Technologies Co. was in the league of disrupting the rankings until sanctions cut it off from essential supplies last year. Its withdrawal pushed other Chinese vendors to spend aggressively on new upgrades into the market.

Xiaomi actively launched two flagship devices within the first four months of the year. The company’s Mi 11 Ultra features one of the largest camera sensors to date, pushing it further into the premium pricing range.

Catalyst Research Manager Ben Staton said in a release,

“It is now transforming its business model from challenger to incumbent, with initiatives such as channel partner consolidation and more careful management of older stock in the open market. It is still largely skewed toward the mass market, however, and compared with Samsung and Apple, its average selling price is around 40% and 75% cheaper respectively. So a major priority for Xiaomi this year is to grow sales of its high-end devices, such as the Mi 11 Ultra.”

Even so, Xiaomi stole this position; Apple is still in a good position. iPhone 13, which is expected to be introduced this fall, can keep up the robust iPhone 12 sales, like Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan believed. Research conducted by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners showed that iPhone 12 accounted for 63% of the US iPhone sales during the third quarter of 2021.

Clubhouse Introduces Backchannel, A New Messaging Feature

We all knew DMs were going to be the next significant feature on Clubhouse. The social audio company is launching its new messaging feature, called Backchannel, for Android and iOS users.

Users can now chat one-on-one and send group chats, which brings quite a bit of utility onto the voice-driven social network. You cannot yet images or videos through Backchannel, but a spokesperson revealed that the company is bringing in those functionalities and few other features. An optional secondary inbox has also been added to see the text requests, which stay in there before you approve it.

The Backchannel feature will help the speakers chat among themselves during a live session or coordinate after the meeting.

Clubhouse announced its new feature on Wednesday through a blog post. The icon appears to the left of the follow button on the users’ profile. You can also swipe left in the room to access the Backchannel feature.

The unique proposition of the Clubhouse app is that it lets you hear the conversations, and introducing a chat feature will undoubtedly make organizing rooms a bit easier. Users can text co-hosts of the things they need to plan next, pitch in their questions, and discuss a particular topic without disturbing the host.

Backchannel lets you hold conversations with up to 15 members in a group. Not anyone will jump into the chat – only the moderator will have the power to add or remove people. Also, you’ll be warned if you are added to the group that includes someone you have blocked, so you can promptly exit.

You are also allowed to change your settings, so you only get texts from people you follow. You can also report chats or specific messages.

The app reportedly has garnered around 8 million downloads on Android devices, with more than 500,000 rooms created daily.

Instagram’s Security Checkup Feature For Hacked Accounts

With cyber-crimes and hacking incidents on the rise more than ever before, Instagram is rolling out a new security check in the app, which aims to keep users’ Instagram accounts safe and secure. The Facebook-owned social media app will prompt users with previously compromised accounts to update their profile info and settings.

Instagram users were recently exposed to a text scam that put their accounts at risk in the hands of hackers. In April this year, a Facebook data hack even put CEO Mark Zukerberg into a severe cyber threat. In a similar series of events, Twitter was also left to deal with a massive Bitcoin scam last year, where few users had their private messages accessed.

Today, the social media giant announced a security checkup, aiming towards users whose connected email address or phone number was changed recently, resulting from potential hack rather than their actions.

The new Security Checkup feature will guide users through various security steps, including confirming accounts that share login information, reviewing profile information and login activity, and keeping up-to-date recovery contact information. Once the user completes the Security Checkup procedures, the account will be much safer and more protected against future cyber attacks.

Stay Safe

A recent wave of password reset emails has made its way into people’s DMs. These messages claim to be directly from Instagram to get people to share their passwords. Instagram issued a reminder stating that if any user receives direct messages claiming to be from Instagram, it is most likely not them.

“Instagram will never send you a DM: Over the past few months, we’ve seen a rise in malicious accounts DMing people to try and access sensitive information like account passwords. They may tell you that your account is at risk of being banned, that you are violating our policies around intellectual property, or that your photos are being shared elsewhere. These messages are often scams and violate our policies.”

Instead, Instagram says that they will do it via Email if they ever want to reach you. To review authentic communication from Instagram, one can go to the ‘Emails from Instagram’ tabs in their settings.

Hacks and scams are common nowadays, and it is essential to keep your data safe online. One should refrain from putting up useful or personal information on the web as much as one could. Fortunately, social media apps are adding security features to make the user experience more secure.

Realme GT Master Explorer Edition Tipped, Likely To Launch With Master Edition By July End

Smartphone manufacturer Realme has been exposed to numerous leaks and renders lately. We witnessed how few hands-on leaked images of Realme Pad surfaced on the Internet, which suggested that the device was still in the stage of work in progress. The latest to join the trail of leaks is the Realme GT Master Explorer Edition.

Realme is prepared to stretch its GT series of smartphones with the GT Series Master Edition launch in China. The handset with the model number RMX3366 was revealed on the website of China’s TEENA, hinting towards an imminent launch. A new leak by a Chinese tipster suggests that the company will announce yet another Pro variant of the Realme GT Master Edition.

The claims, if believed, propose that the new smartphone could be Realme GT Master Explorer Edition.

Realme GT Master Edition and GT Master Explorer Launch Time Frame

The reports claim that the company plans to launch the Realme GT Master Edition alongside the GT Master Edition. Going with the leaks, the smartphones are expected to launch by the end of July this year. Reports also suggest that the smartphone company will launch its first laptop at the global GT event.

Realme GT Master Specifications

The handset that was spotted on TEENA had few key specifications revealed last week. As per the details, the GT Master Edition is to feature a 6.43-inch FHD + AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The smartphone can also feature an in-display fingerprint sensor supposedly powered by a Snapdragon 778 5G chipset.

The phone can be tipped with 12GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. We can also expect the device to run Android 11 on its system.

Realme GT Master can also sport a triple-camera setup. The rear-facing camera module can house a 64 MP primary main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The device might also feature a 32 MP front camera for selfies and video calling purposes. The handset is also tipped to pack a decent 4500 mAh battery with 65W SuperDart charging.

The smartphone is retail for around EUR 399 (Rs 35,300) for 8GB RAM and 256 GB storage, and EUR 499 (Rs 39,700) for the 12 GB RAM model.

The specifications and other details for the Realme GT Master Explorer Edition have not been revealed at the moment.

Alleged Realme Pad Leaked In Live Images

During the global launch of the GT smartphone, Madhav Seth, India-based CEO of Realme, confirmed that the company would launch its first-gen Pad soon. Few hands-on leaked images have surfaced on the Internet, claiming the device to be Realme Pad.

Here is the picture that was shared online via SlashLeaks:

The Pad, which seems to be still in the work of progress, has a few stickers and labels suggesting internal testing, but the Realme logo is nowhere to be seen! Since the images have been clicked from a distance, it is not the clearest that we could come across.

However, its slim unibody seems to be in Space Gray colour and has the standard-looking camera-hump in one corner, which appears to be similar to the cryptic image shared during the global launch.

The brand’s first tablet product is expected to launch alongside its first-ever laptop, the Realme Book. The Realme Tablet appears to have an aluminium or metal alloy frame with a single camera at the back, placed in an extending module. The Tablet also holds a square design which is somewhat similar to the Apple’s iPad Pro models.

This could mean that the device would be a premium device. It could even come up with Flagship hardware such as the Snapdragon 870 chipset and include a lot of storage. However, Realme has been relatively silent about the specifications and features of the device, so we are left with very scarce information about the same.

That’s pretty much everything we know about the Realme Pad so far, but we can expect more details very soon if more leaks appear.

Recently, the company has launched its Realme C11 2021 in India. The smartphone is the latest addition to the entry-level C series smartphone and comes with a 5000 mAh battery. The device also supports reverse charging, and UNISOC’s SC9863A octa-core processor powers it. It also has a 6.5-inch display with 2GB Ram, 32 GB internal storage and is priced at Rs 6,999 in Cool Blue and Cool Grey colours.

Samsung TV Plus Streaming Service Now Available On Web For Free!

Samsung’s free and linear video streaming service that was previously available exclusively on Samsung’s TV and devices is now widely accessible on the web to just about anyone.

The South Korean tech giant did not make any formal announcements about its web version. However, it might be a little too late to move into the video streaming coliseum, considering its other streaming rivals have already made a giant leap in the market.

How To Access Samsung TV Plus Web Service?

To access Samsung’s free streaming service, you can visit samsungtvplus.com using any browser via desktop, laptop, mobile, tablet, or any other smart display. The interface lists several channels divided into different genres such as comedy, crime, entertainment, food, game shows, international, kids, movies, news, sports, travel, and more. You can also choose the resolution up to 4K and opt for subtitles depending upon your region and language preferences.

You don’t need to set up any payment option as the streaming service is free of any cost. Samsung launched TV Plus in 2016, and over 50 million smart TVs worldwide now have access to its services. It is available in 23 countries, including Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, and India.

Competition

Samsung had a soft launch of its streaming service’s web expansion and started with zero fanfare. Sang Kim, Vice President of Samsung Electronics, confirmed to Protocol that the company broadcasts billions of minutes every month. Though its reach has been limited to Samsung users, it remains to be seen whether the latest web expansion can add any substantial numbers to its services.

The company is now in direct competition with other free video streaming services such as Pluto TV and Tubi. Samsung has also added casting support for Chromecast devices, but whether the company plans to make it available as an app on other innovative TV platforms is, again, a mystery!

Qualcomm Launches $1500 ‘Smartphone For Snapdragon Insiders’

US-based chip making giant Qualcomm, which manufactures Snapdragon processors and modems for almost every primary Android device, is now launching its Flagship. Qualcomm and Asus have collaborated on a custom device called ‘Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders.’

As the name suggests, Qualcomm will sell the $1500 phone directly to members of its Snapdragon Insider Fan Community, which was launched earlier this year. It is much of a token of appreciation for the community keen on learning about Qualcomm’s developments before anyone else.

Smartphone For Snapdragon Insiders Specifications

The flagship smartphone runs Android 11, Snapdragon 888 chip, has 16 GB of Ram and 512 GB of storage, a 6.78-inch, 144 Hz Samsung OLED panel with Gorilla Glass Victus, and offers a rear fingerprint scanner.

However, the Snapdragon 888 processor feels like an odd choice for a device this expensive since the company has already launched a more powerful 888 plus model. Although there is very little difference between the vanilla and the Plus variant, the latter is supposed to handle graphics better. The smartphone offers a 4000 mAh battery, which is again not the biggest we have seen in a smartphone.

Snapdragon Insider features a three-camera setup at the back, with the main one featuring a Sony IMX686 64- megapixel image sensor. There is also an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The front camera offers a 24-megapixel lens. The phone can shoot 8K at 30 frames per second and 4K at 30 or 60 frames per second.

What stands out in Flagship is Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Sound classification, which other Android devices have not yet offered. It promises a hi-fi music playback at up to 24 bit 96 kHz. Also, it includes some Master & Dynamics earbuds, which eventually appears to be MW08 earbuds with Snapdragon Logo on them. These earbuds sell in the market for $299 if that makes you feel any good about the $1499 price tag!

Snapdragon also boasts of offering the most comprehensive support for all key 5G wavebands in a single device. The device also supports Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.

In addition, the phone also includes a 65W Quick charge 5.0 charge, USB C to USB C, and USB C to USB A cables.

Biggest Setback

The major setback for the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders is that the device does not feature the company’s latest processor. Neither does it push the technology any further than what most powerful smartphones have to offer. OnePlus 9 Pro and Galaxy S21 Ultra provide the exact specifications for far less money.

The glowing Snapdragon logo at the back doesn’t make the smartphone worth the premium price tag.

Launch

The Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders will be first available in the US, China, UK, and Germany by August. It will launch in India soon, and the price could nearly equal 1,12,200, although no official data is available about the release.

Mozilla: YouTube’s Algorithm Pushes Harmful Content

A new study conducted by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation suggests that YouTube continues to recommend harmful videos to users that violate its own content policies.

The crowd-funded study found that around 71% of the videos that viewers considered ‘regrettable’ were recommended by the video platform’s own algorithm.

What Exactly is YouTube Regrettables?

Let’s understand it this way, any content that a user finds disturbing or harmful is deemed as regrettable. For example, some volunteers were often recommended videos titled, ‘Man humiliates feminist’.

Such misogynistic videos would fall under YouTube regrets. Other examples would include Covid misinformations, extreme political inclinations, or hate speeches.

Further Investigation

The finding was made using crowdsourced data from RegretsReporter, a browser extension that lets users report information on harmful videos and what actually led them there. More than 30,000 YouTube users used the platform to report the harmful content that was recommended to them.

The investigation further suggests that non-English speakers were more prone to disturbing content and that ‘YouTube regrets’ was 60% higher in countries that don’t have English as their first language. Mozilla says that there were a total of 3362 regrettable videos from 91 countries, between July 2020 and May 2021. Most of these were either misinformation, violent or graphic content, hate/polarization speeches, and scams.

The study also suggests that recommended videos were 40% more likely to be reported by users than videos for which they searched.

Brandy Geurkink, Mozilla’s Senior Manager of Advocacy says that YouTube’s algorithm is designed to misinform and harm people:

“Our research confirms that YouTube not only hosts, but actively recommends videos that violate its very own policies. We also now know that people in non-English speaking countries are the most likely to bear the brunt of YouTube’s out-of-control recommendation algorithm. Mozilla hopes that these findings — which are just the tip of the iceberg — will convince the public and lawmakers of the urgent need for better transparency into YouTube’s AI.”

User Attention

The YouTube algorithm is essentially a black box. The video-streaming platform relies on its algorithm to show users what they like or might like to keep them hooked on for as long as possible.

The study by Mozilla backs up the notion that YouTube’s AI continues to feed users ‘low-grade, divisive, misinformations’. This makes it easier for the video streaming platform to easily grab eyeballs by triggering people’s sense of outrage. This only implies that the problem of regrettable or triggering recommendations is indeed systematic. The more you outrage people, the more you expand your appetite for ad revenues!

As a method to fix YouTube’s algorithm, Mozilla is calling for ‘common sense transparency laws, better oversight, and consumer pressure’. It also called for the protection of independent researchers to empower them to interrogate algorithmic impacts, as an exercise to repair the worst excesses of the YouTube algorithm.

Superficial Claims

YouTube has a history of being accused of fuelling societal ills by feeding hate speech, political extremism, and conspiracy junk. The parent company and tech giant Google has always responded to negative criticism flaring up around algorithms, by announcing few policy tweaks.

The dangerous behavior of YouTube algorithms, only suggests that Google has been making superficial claims of reform.

Nintendo Switch OLED Model To Launch In October

On Tuesday, Nintendo announced a new switch model, which is due on October 8 later this year. The new Nintendo Switch OLED model now comes with a larger and brighter 7-inch screen(slightly bigger than the regular Switch model’s 6.2 inch LCD), a wide adjustable kickstand, enhanced audio, and 64 GB of storage for gaming.

Nintendo Switch OLED will be available on October 8, the same day on which Metroid Dread, the most anticipated game in Nintendo’s 2021 lineup comes out. The device will cost $350, which is $50 more than the original. Nintendo says that the new OLED Switch will last up to 9 hours, which is more or less the same as the current Switch. It is also slightly heavier(0.71 pounds) than the weight of the current Switch(0.66 pounds).

Nintendo offers two color schemes- sharp black and white, while the remaining materials look similar to the previous model. It also offers a separate carrying base since you don’t want your $350 device scratched. The hybrid dock exhibits a wired LAN port, and the port can also be adjusted to play in the tabletop mode. Unlike Nintendo Light, it can be slotted into a dock for playing on a TV or used as a handheld console.

Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser said in a press release, “The new Nintendo Switch (OLED model) is a great option for players who want to experience the new vibrant screen when playing in handheld and tabletop mode,”

As per Nintendo, the device will arrive in two color configurations: a white set which features white Joy-Con controllers, a black main unit, and a white dock; and a neon red/neon blue set, which features neon(red/blue) Joy-Con controllers. Original Joy-Cons will work with this new Nintendo Switch, and all the existing games will run on the new model.

Nintendo’s Switch has dominated the US market for two years straight, ahead of the arrival of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox One X. Nintendo’s Switch has sold more than 85M of its consoles since its launch in 2017. The demand for the system boosted after the enormous success of 2020’s Animal Crossings: A new Horizon, a game that sold more than 30m copies.

With both Sony and Microsoft releasing new versions of their consoles last year, it’s certainly time for a big refresh from Nintendo.