Home Blog Page 10

Apple May Unveil the New iPad Pro 2 on March 31st

iPad Pro 2

Apple may launch two new products on the 31 of March: the iPhone SE 2 and the iPad Pro 2. We already know a lot about the iPhone SE 2. However, not much is known about the iPad Pro 2. Unlike the iPhone SE 2, which is a budget device, the iPad Pro 2 may cost $799. It is definitely targeted at the premium market. The iPad Pro is expected to come with a faster processor and three cameras in the back of the device. Of course, taking pictures on an iPad isn’t going to be easy ergonomically speaking. 

What are the features of the new iPad Pro 2?

Unfortunately at the moment, all one knows is that an iPad Pro 2 might be unveiled along with the new iPhone SE 2. There is absolutely no information on features pertaining to this device. Thus, it would be presumptuous to make assumptions about the new iPad Pro. What one can imagine is that the iPad Pro will address the growing need for premium tablets among professionals.

The new iPad Pro 2 resembles the first iPad in its journey

Apple has been working towards developing a market that supports its own growth initiatives. As part of its strategy, Apple released the iPad more than a decade ago and created a market out of nothing. Most people had scoffed at the idea of a device that hung somewhere between a smartphone and a laptop. However, Apple proved that it was possible to launch a completely new device even if it mimics existing devices. Today, the iPad is one of the most successful devices ever launched. It continues to grow in both popularity and usage. 

Premium marketing and elimination of leaks

With these factors in mind, one can assume that the Apple event on the 31st of March will hold a lot of promise. As it is going to launch a budget smartphone it only makes sense for the company to launch a high-end device alongside. Without premium marketing, Apple might find it very hard to compete with its rivals. 

Apple seems to know this very well. This is probably the reason why the new iPad Pro 2 is not only going to be expensive but also quite elusive. The Cupertino giant needs to prove to its investors that it still has its mojo in place. Making sure that there are no leaks regarding this particular product might be part of the strategy as well. 

MIT Announces Smart Diapers that Notify Caregivers When Wet

Smart Diapers

MIT has just announced that it has developed a smart diaper that runs on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The smart diapers notify caregivers when diapers are wet so that they can immediately change them. The technology makes use of FASTag, which most people can recognize as the sensor that powers their cars’ windshields. 

The sensor detects when the diaper is damp and notifies the caregiver immediately on a smartphone or computer via a nearby receiver. These sensors are low-cost and will prove to be immensely useful for hospital and home-based caregivers. 

Both adults and infants benefit from these smart diapers

Diapers are necessary not only for infants but also for adults who suffer from incontinence. A host of medical and physical conditions necessitate the use of diapers among adults. Accidents, physical disabilities, old age, surgeries, etc. can make adults depend on diapers. Their caregivers often find it difficult and embarrassing to ask when the diapers need to be changed. 

Thanks to this non-intrusive and smart technology, caregivers can quickly change the diapers and that too without causing much embarrassment to the adult wearer. A research assistant at the MIT, Pankhuri Sen, agreed that adults can use this smart diaper as well. Infants too benefit from this product as wet diapers can cause rashes and other skin conditions. 

How does the smart diaper work?

MIT places the RFID tag just below the superabsorbent polymer in diapers. This is a kind of hydrogel that absorbs moisture quickly and is also mildly conductive. This is just enough for the RFID tag to detect wetness and send signals to a reader placed less than a meter away. The sensor may cost less than 2 cents to manufacture. Mass production of these sensors in order to meet the demands of the market may be very easy. 

Wearable technology and RFID tags may revolutionize caregiving

Wearable technology is developing at an astounding rate. Companies and researchers are increasingly looking at ways to exploit wearable technology in order to bring better healthcare services. Sensors and RFID tags play an important role in this matter, as caregiving requires constant surveillance. IoT, wearable technology and sensors form the holy trinity of making caregiving more sustainable and non-intrusive in the coming months and years. 

Smartphones May Cost More Due to the Coronavirus Outbreak

Coronavirus

Industry insiders expect that smartphone prices might likely go up by 6 to 7% in the wake of coronavirus in China. Most warehouses have run out of stocks and it is becoming increasingly difficult for Chinese companies to export their products. The demand is very high but the shipments are just not going through. In fact, feature phones may become expensive exponentially too. Many feature phones may see price increases of more than 10%. 

Why is the coronavirus situation affecting the smartphone industry?

China has shut down a number of factories in its industrial heartland, which has resulted in a complete breakdown of manufacturing. Smartphone companies are unable to put together their devices because suppliers are located in the hardest-hit regions. The factories are closed indefinitely and retailers just do not have any stocks. 

The problem is so serious that there is now a ban on Chinese companies participating in the Mobile World Congress, which is due to take place in Barcelona, Spain. Many sources have noted that companies from Wuhan are completely prohibited from entering the event venue, Companies from other parts of China may face stringent scrutiny. 

What is the human cost of this trade embargo as a result of the coronavirus?

The deadly disease has already claimed more than 1,500 people’s lives. Close to 42,000 people are now suffering from the virus. China exports a large number of electronic goods to India and other neighboring countries. 

With trade, embargoes bring clamped on China, and China itself closing down factories indefinitely, smartphone manufacturers, retailers, and exporters simply have no other go but to increase prices. This has also resulted in many people losing their jobs, and employees being anxious about their job prospects. 

When will the problem begin to subside?

The price increase may happen as early as 15-20 days, and the impact will be far-reaching. The impact of the coronavirus will last at least 60-180 days. People will notice the ripple effects of the problem across the smartphone industry and international markets. 

Thankfully, some manufacturers in China has slowly begun to operate with the permission of their government. This shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, though the journey towards light nay is longer than expected. 

ASUS Updates Its ROG Huracan G21 Gaming System

ROG Huracan G21 Gaming System

ASUS announced an update for its ROG Huracan G21 gaming system. Known for its attractive miniature case, the gaming system now comes with enhanced CPU and GPU choices. As a result, gamers can expect a sharp increase in the performance of the machine. ASUS is closely working towards becoming a market leader in the PC gaming market, and this update is a step in that direction.

A few important features of the system:

ROG Huracan G21 Gaming System
  • The ROG Huracan G21 gaming system comes with a chassis of 129.9×372.4×366.1 mm. 
  • An Intel’s eight-core Core i9-9900K CPU sits in the compact body quite surprisingly
  • NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 2080 ensures superb gameplay, and gamers will not have much to complain about
  • The 32 GB RAM should be enough for even the most complex of games to load properly 
  • Other features include an M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD, a 3.5 inch HDD, and a DVD drive to play archaic games

Upgrading is very easy

The chassis is not set in stone, and can easily be dismantled for an upgrade. Thanks to the super-cooling feature, the CPU will not heat up or cause performance issues. To eliminate overheating, ASUS has included multiple inlets through which ventilation is enabled. In addition, the model also has a magnetically attached foldable panel that enhances performance and cooling. ASUS ROG Aegis III application additionally speeds up the system and enhances the overall performance. 

Certain unique features of the ROG Huracan G21 gaming system

ROG Huracan G21 Gaming System

What sets this computer apart from the rest of the models its genre is the number of connections it provides. For instance, there are several USB 3.1 Gen 1/2 Type-A/Type-C connectors. The multiple display outputs ensure simultaneous gameplay on devices. The audio system is stellar too, with an ESS Sabre DAC installed to ensure optimum audio quality. In short, this machine is made for gamers who want a serious machine that is stylish to look at. 

When will the ROG Huracan G21 gaming system be available?

At the moment it is not clear how much the 2020 ROG Huracan G21 gaming system costs. It is also not clear when the system will be out in the market. However, it is listed on ASUS’s website and the company makes it amply clear that it will be out sometime soon. Gamers will need to keep their eyes peeled open to order it the moment it is available.  

WhatsApp Achieves 2 Billion Users, Assures Data Privacy

2 Billion Users

Just a short while ago WhatsApp announced that it now has more than 2 billion users worldwide. This is an important announcement as it indicates the text messaging platform’s popularity all around the world. It’s been exactly 2 years since WhatsApp revealed that it had one 1.5 billion users. 500 million users in a span of two years are quite impressive indeed. 

2 billion users and growing. Or faltering?

In a blog post that underlined the importance of connections that people make whether familial or professional, WhatsApp implicitly encouraged more people to start using it. This comes at a time when governments across the world are increasingly pressurizing Facebook-owned WhatsApp to reveal user data. The official blog post seems curiously naive, given the context and conversations that are taking place around text messaging applications. This is probably why the company gets to more hard-hitting topics in the second half of the blog post. 

WhatsApp implicitly reassures its users in the celebratory blog post

It acknowledges the importance of privacy and stresses the importance of end-to-end encryption “by default”. The idea seems to be to reassure people who have been rattled by various governments seeking user data. For instance, the Indian government has repeatedly pressurized the company to handover not only user data but also a possibility to read through live messaging. In order to quell myths and dispel fears, WhatsApp further assures that its service comes with an unbreakable digital lock. 

The blog post concludes by saying the company will never compromise on its users’ privacy. The implicit reasoning here is, if it assures people that it will always respect users’ privacy, the number of users may continue to grow or at least remain stable. A point to note is, many people have begun to stop using both Facebook and WhatsApp. This is due to fears that their data may be handed over to various governments. 

2 billion users may be difficult for WhatsApp to retain

In the coming years, WhatsApp has the arduous task of retaining its huge user base. It also needs to ensure that they don’t switch loyalties. 2 billion users is a staggering figure and something to be proud of. However, it is quite easy for even companies like WhatsApp to quickly lose trust. It seems to recognize this issue and has taken the bull by its horns by trying to reassure users. 

Nikon Announces D6 DSLR for Professionals and Serious Photographers

D6 DSLR

Earlier today, Nikon announced its flagship professional D6 DSLR. The camera icon had first revealed the device in September 2019. The D6 DSLR is perfect for professionals who seek speed and autofocus accuracy. The device has already garnered a number of positive reviews and opinions across the web. It may not be for everyone, but it is truly a camera to reckon with. 

Here are some of the important features of the D6 DSLR:

  • The camera features a 20.8-megapixel full-frame (FX) sensor, similar to its predecessor
  • Expected 6 processor ensures that the processing of photographs and videos is lightning fast
  • Burst shooting is now 14 fps while using the mechanical shutter. In the silent mode, the speed is 10.5 fps
  • There is also an option to take 8MP stills at 30 fps. Those who want faster bursts can choose the 2MP stills at 60 fps
  • Autofocus points are now only 105, instead of the previous 153. Thankfully, all these points can be manually selected and cross-typed

D6 DSLR works well in the dark, but the video may not be very impressive

The phone works well in low light and takes astonishingly clear pictures even in the dark. However, the camera shoots 4K videos at 30 fps, which may not be stellar, but this kind of camera isn’t meant for shooting videos anyway. Notably, the D6 runs on dual XQD/CFExpress memory card slots, ensuring everything is spiffy and precision-based. In short, the camera takes great pictures in dim light, but may not be suitable for those who want a device that takes exquisite videos. 

When will be the D6 DSLR arrive in the market, and how much will it cost?

Nikon announced that the D6 will hit the stories in April 2020. It will cost $6,500 and is quite pricey for most people. However, professional cameras tend to be expensive, and they deliver a quality that cannot be found in regular cameras. D6 can be the perfect camera for a journalist, or even for someone who is into serious photography. It may not be the right camera for beginners or for novice photographers, considering its price. Nevertheless, for professional photographers, it is a great device that will help them to do their job more efficiently. 

Apple Unveils macOS Catalina 10.15.4 Public Beta 1

macOS Catalina 10.15.4 Public Beta 1

Apple unveiled macOS Catalina 10.15.4 public beta 1 today, and it is now available for public beta testers. It comes with several new features and it also hints at AMD processors in the future. The software contains clues about possible hardware features of upcoming Macs as well. 

For instance, the references made to AMD processors in the new public beta suggest Apple may start making computers with AMD processors, instead of Intel. The final version of this software is expected by the end of this month, or sometime during the first week of March. 

macOS Catalina 10.15.4 public beta 1 may help Apple gain a competitive edge

Apple has been consistently releasing software updates for both Mac and iOS devices in recent months. One of the reasons why the company has been so punctual is due to the number of security threats that have cropped up recently. For instance, studies show that new malware is created and launched by malicious entities almost every day. Apple needs to keep up with these bugs and malware and ensure that its devices remain safe and secure. 

In addition, the company also needs to make sure that its devices are competitive and up to date, when it comes to performance. Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei have all become increasingly popular in recent years. In order to keep up with its competitors, Apple has to release new updates every so often. This ensures that its devices perform just as well as its competitors’. 

Frequent software updates help build investor confidence

Frequent updates such as macOS Catalina 10.15.4 public beta 1 helps Apple to gain investor trust as well. Apple is one of the most valued stocks in the market, and part of the reason why it ranks high is, it launches regular updates. This creates trust among users, making them buy Apple products regularly. In turn, this helps build investor trust as well. 

One needs to wait and watch what new features the macOS Catalina 10.15.4 public beta 1 comes with. That is most likely going to happen when the final version of the software is released either this month-end or during the first week of March. 

Mi 10 Series Teaser Poster Confirms Extravagant Features

Mi 10 Series

Xiaomi will unveil its flagship Mi 10 series smartphone on the 13th of February, at an online-only event. Most insiders believe the event will see the Chinese OEM launching Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. The phones will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 SoC and will boast of 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. It is not clear at the moment if the RAM will come from the warehouses of Samsung or Micron. Mi 10 Pro may also feature 66-watt fast wired charging. 

Lei Jun leaked teaser poster revealing details on Weibo

In support of the rumors and expectations, Xiaomi has launched a teaser poster on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s co-founder, shared the teaser posters on his Weibo page. So, while it is confirmed that the release is imminent, it also throws light on certain features of the smartphones. 

From the teaser poster, one can infer a number of things about the Mi 10 series smartphones:

  • Mi 10 will sport a 108MP primary sensor, in addition to 3 cameras modules on the back of the smartphone. This means photography enthusiasts can feed their hobby and/or profession. 
  • The smartphones will come with a curved display, which seems to be a trend in recent months. Samsung’s S20 series comes with a curved display too. 
  • The phones are compatible with UFS 3.0 storage, allowing the smartphones to process images very quickly

The Mi 10 series phones come with unique heat-dissipating technology

Mi 10 boasts of the largest VC heat-dissipating board among smartphones currently available. As a result, the phone remains cool for a longer time and performs superbly. The software detects when the smartphone is heating up and helps the device to cool down by dynamically adjusting power consumption and performance. By far, this remains the defining feature of the Mi 10 duo. 

There may be difficulties in being able to purchase these phones in the short term

When the phone is finally unveiled in the next few days, smartphone lovers can heave a sigh of relief that these are no regular phones. They come with some unique features and innovative designs, making them very different from other available smartphones. However, it remains to be seen when the poets will be available in the US, or elsewhere in the world. Chinese products are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and with the new coronavirus situation, there is an unofficial embargo on tech products emerging from China. 

Sony and Amazon Will Not Attend the MWC 2020

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China and elsewhere in the world seems to have dampened the Mobile World Congress 2020, to be held in Barcelona, Spain. Sony and Amazon are among the many companies that have declined to participate in the event as many of their delegates would have traveled to China. Previously, Ericsson, NVIDIA, ZTE, LG, and other companies have similarly canceled their participation at the MWC. 

Sony and Amazon both pull out of MWC 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus to be a global health emergency. Sony announced its plans to cancel its participation at the MWC 2020 by explaining it is concerned about the health and wellbeing of its customers, partners, media, and employees. It also noted that the decision was very difficult, and seemed to express its regret and helplessness. 

Amazon too expressed similar concerns and announced that it would be pulling off from the event. It has not had a huge presence in the MWC in the past anyway. However, it is a big company and its presence would have attracted visitors to the event. Amazon also did not have huge plans to unveil any sort of consumer devices. Its participation would have merely been symbolic. However, Sony had planned to unveil products at the MWC 2020, as it has done in the past. Now, the tech giant plans to announce its latest products on its Xperia YouTube channel. 

Participants who have visited China or are from China may not be allowed into the event

Participants from China face severe restrictions to attend the event. Organizers will not allow those who hail from China’s Hubei province to enter the event. This ban applies to anybody who has visited the province as well. Those who have visited other parts of China will need to prove that they have been outside China for at least 14 days before attending the event. With this in mind, many Chinese companies have already announced that they will not be attending the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. 

Is the event going to be a flop?

Considering all these cancelations, one might wonder just how successful the MWC 2020 is going to be. Most likely, the visitors’ numbers will also drop down drastically, as their favorite companies will not be participating. It is not clear how successful or unsuccessful the event is going to be this time. There is a great chance that the event will receive a very tepid response from participants, media, visitors, and delegates. 

Video Leak Suggests Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Phone to Arrive Soon in the US

Samsung Galaxy Z flip

Those who were worried that the Galaxy Z Flip wouldn’t arrive in the US can relax. The latest video leak not only confirms Galaxy Z Flip’s arrival in the US but also throws light on certain features that many reviewers didn’t previously know about. 

Galaxy Z Flip phone likely to come with an AT&T contract

The foldable phone comes with an AT&T logo, which makes it clear that it will be offered via a plan by the aforementioned telecom company. The phone has already generated a lot of interest among users who have long sought a foldable phone, far removed from the modern-day iPhone lookalikes. A quick look at the video will clear many doubts.

Here are some of the tentative features of Galaxy Z Flip phone:

  • The smartphone makes use of a Snapdragon 855+ chip, thanks to which the phone will likely be very responsive
  • The 6.7 screens should be enough to play games, watch movies, and make video calls without squinting one’s eyes
  • The 2,636 x 1,080 resolution also seems to transform this smartphone into a visual delight
  • The 256GB built-in storage is not much, but hopefully, you can make do with some cloud storage services
  • The Galaxy Z Flip phone can be used when it is bent
  • The two rear cameras and a single hole-punch front camera are sure to satiate any photographer’s picture cravings
  • Unfortunately, the phone neither comes with a headphone jack nor a microSD expansion.

When will the phone be released in the market?

It is not clear when the phone will be out in the market. As Galaxy S20 is still making news, launching the Galaxy Z Flip phone may hurt the parent company. Consequently, one may see a delayed release of the Z Flip. A few other observers note that the phone may come as soon as the 14th of February. This phone will be lapped up by consumers quite eagerly, as it promises several attractive features, minus a few details that could otherwise have been included. 

Regardless of when the phone will be released, the Galaxy Z Flip marks Samsung’s departure from making iPhone-like phones and launching designs that are unique in their own right. From a business perspective, this is impressive, and the company is moving in the right direction. 

Trending Posts