Technology
Microsoft Is Shutting Down This Popular Chrome Extension For Users From January 2024: All Details Microsoft has diversified into a software company for businesses with products like the Microsoft 365 which brings all popular Microsoft tools under one subscription. It even has an extension that can be used on Chrome and Edge browser to help you quickly access any of these apps.
But now, the company has decided to end support for this extension which as per its support documents, will be from January 15, 2024. Chrome extensions come in all shapes and sizes and serve people with different features but we’re not sure why Microsoft has decided its Microsoft 365 extension with over 10 million users as of today, will be shutting down.
The company has also notified the users that after January, 2024, the extensions will be removed from the respective web stores and also won’t get any further security updates, bug fixes and technical support from the company as well.
Chrome and Edge users have been advised to remove the extensions before the deadline and they can do that manually by going to the browser settings where you will find the manage extensions tab. But how big a deal is this extension that has been used by 10 million users over the years?
The Microsoft 365 extension is the shortcut for Chrome and Edge users to get other apps, documents and files. So now that the extension is losing official support, how can Microsoft users access these tabs? Microsoft says you can still access the Microsoft 365 apps that too for free but on the web via www.microsoft365.com website which can be bookmarked to Chrome or Edge browser for quick access on the mobile or PC.
The company has been in the news lately for other developments, one of which would have made Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI as the chief if AI research team at Microsoft. But after a whirlwind 48 hours, Altman is back at OpenAI with his original team and heading further advancements in the world of AI with support from Satya Nadella and his company.
About the AuthorS AadeetyaS Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media ho...Read MoreTags:
WhatsApp Android Users Will Get Option To Hide Meta AI Shortcut: Here s How WhatsApp, the instant messaging application, is reportedly rolling out a feature to hide the Meta AI shortcut from the Chats tab. They created this shortcut to make it easier for users to access AI-powered chats directly from the Chats tab. However, due to user complaints, the platform has now given users the option to hide these shortcuts if they prefer.
“The shortcut was implemented with the intention of enhancing user awareness of this feature, allowing people to integrate AI interactions into their regular use of the app. After installing the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.25.15 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to hide such shortcut,” WABetaInfo reported.
According the report, a new toggle will be be available in the chat settings, allowing users to disable the new shortcut to open Meta’s AI chat from the Chats tab, which was released in a previous update. This toggle is very important as the shortcut to open the chat with the Meta AI assistant was always visible, and now more users can finally disable it.
However, this shortcut is only available if you already have access to AI chats. Otherwise, you will need to wait for a future update of the app.
The report suggested that allowing users to disable this option brings a significant advantage in terms of user experience. Many users complained about the new shortcut to quickly open the chat with Meta AI.
“This is because they do not want to use Meta’s artificial intelligence service and prefer to limit the app’s usage to interactions with friends, colleagues, and family. In addition, many people found the new shortcut visually unpleasing for the app, which recently has been redesigned to offer a more modern interface,” said WABetaInfo.
The ability to hide the Meta AI shortcut from the Chats tab is currently accessible to certain beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta for Android update from the Google Play Store. The rollout of this feature will extend to more users over the next few days.
About the AuthorBharat UpadhyayBharat Upadhyay, Senior Sub-Editor at News18 Tech, brings over six years of expertise in technology and gadgets. With a journalism background, he has ...Read MoreTags:
Alibaba Cloud Suffers Second Service Outage In A Month: All Details Alibaba’s cloud service said it suffered a near two-hour long disruption affecting customers in mainland China, Hong Kong and the United States on Monday, its second outage within a month.
The impact was mainly felt by several of Alibaba Cloud’s database management products, including PostgreSQL, Redis and MySQL editions. Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Virginia in the U.S. were among eight regions affected.
”From 09:16 Beijing time (0116 GMT) on November 27, 2023, Alibaba Cloud monitoring detected abnormalities in console and OpenAPI access for database products,” Alibaba Cloud said in a statement posted on its websites on Tuesday. The issue ”was resolved at 10:58 on the same day.”
Alibaba is China’s largest cloud vendor, garnering 29.9% of the market share for the first half of 2023, followed by Huawei with 13.2% and China Telecom with 12.2%, according to data from industry research group IDC.
The latest issue comes after the company’s customers suffered a service disruption on Nov. 12 that lasted over 3 hours and impacted a broader range of products, and affected a far more parts of the world.
Dozens of products impacted during that disruption included cloud-based database management systems and cloud communication systems, while the regions impacted ranged from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East to North America.
The Nov. 12 disruption resulted in many of Alibaba’s flagship application services briefly crashing – including shopping app Taobao and work collaboration tool service app DingTalk.
While Alibaba resolved the two outages, tech industy experts raised questions about the reliability of its cloud services.
”Such a high frequency of glitches is not reasonable,” tech expert Feng Ruohang wrote in a WeChat blog post on Monday that garnered over 30,000 views. ”This is hugely damaging to Alibaba Cloud’s brand image as a reliable cloud service provider.”
Alibaba this month announced that it was abandoning original plans to spin off its cloud business due to uncertainties created by U.S. export controls on chips used in artificial intelligence applications.
The e-commerce giant had initially announced plans to list the unit as part of a broad restructuring and analysts had estimated then that the cloud division could be worth $41-$60 billion.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Reuters)About the AuthorBharat UpadhyayBharat Upadhyay, Senior Sub-Editor at News18 Tech, brings over six years of expertise in technology and gadgets. With a journalism background, he has ...Read MoreTags:
iPhone 15 Pro s Action Button Lets You Trigger ChatGPT Voice Assistant In Seconds: Here s How ChatGPT’s Chat with Voice feature is now available for free to all ChatGPT mobile app users—both on iOS and Android. This feature allows you to have a full-fledged conversation with the chatbot, which is based on OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 large language models. Simply put, it is your usual ChatGPT chatbot but with a voice, and the ability to hear you.
However, as good as the feature is, you have to go through a multi-step process to use the feature by first opening the ChatGPT app on Android or iOS, and then tapping the headphone icon. But what if we told you that you could activate ChatGPT Voice with just the press of a button? Yes, if you have the iPhone 15 Pro, you can use its new Action Button to trigger ChatGPT Voice.
Action Button triggering ChatGPT Voice. (Image: Shaurya Sharma – News18)This is possible because Apple allows you to trigger Shortcuts, opening up a myriad of possibilities for what you can do with the button—whether unlocking your car, smart lock, or, in this case, activating ChatGPT Voice assistant. Before, we get started with setting this up, you must download the ChatGPT app from the Apple App Store, and if you already have it, update to the latest available version.
To Learn How to Do This, Follow These Steps:Like ChatGPT, you can use the Shortcuts toggle to activate any Shortcut you create, and this makes the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action Button an indispensable tool for people who like to have more control over their device.
About the AuthorShaurya SharmaShaurya Sharma, Sub Editor at CNN-News18, specialises in reporting on consumer, emerging, and gaming technology. With a passion for technology since c...Read MoreTags:
Meta s Ad-free Service Faces Scrutiny; Users Paying For Better Privacy Not Right BRUSSELS: Meta Platforms' paid no-ads subscription service launched in Europe this month faced one of its biggest tests as advocacy group NOYB on Tuesday filed a complaint with an Austrian regulator, saying that it amounted to paying a fee to ensure privacy.
Meta announced the service for Facebook and Instagram last month. It said the move was in compliance with EU rules that users must be given a choice on whether their data can be collected and used for targeted ads.
The ad-free service cost 9.99 euros ($10.90) monthly for Web users and 12.99 euros for iOS and Android users. Meta has said that a subscription model is a valid form of consent for an advertising-funded service and was in line with a July ruling from Europe's top court.
Users can opt for a free, ad-supported service.
Vienna-based NOYB (None Of Your Business), the digital rights group founded by privacy activist Max Schrems, said it disagreed with Meta on the concept of consent.
"EU law requires that consent is the genuine free will of the user. Contrary to this law, Meta charges a 'privacy fee' of up to 250 euros per year if anyone dares to exercise their fundamental right to data protection," NOYB data protection lawyer Felix Mikolasch said in a statement.
NOYB filed the complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority. It also criticised the amount of the fee.
"Not only is the cost unacceptable, but industry numbers suggest that only 3 percent of people want to be tracked – while more than 99 percent don't exercise their choice when faced with a 'privacy fee'," the group said. "If Meta gets away with this, competitors will soon follow in its footsteps."
Meta said: "The option for people to purchase a subscription for no ads balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users choice and allowing Meta to continue serving all people in the EU, EEA and Switzerland."
A Meta spokesperson pointed out that the pricing was in line with similar subscription offerings in Europe.
Netflix charges 7.99 euros for a basic subscription plan, while Alphabet's YouTube Premium costs about 12 euros and Spotify's Premium service is priced at about 11 euros.
NOYB, which has filed hundreds of complaints against big tech companies ranging from Alphabet Google to Meta over privacy violations, urged the Austrian privacy authority to launch an expedited process to stop Meta and also impose a fine.
The complaint will likely be forwarded to the Irish data protection watchdog which oversees Meta because it has its European headquarters in Ireland.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Reuters)Tags:
Sony INZONE H5 Wireless Gaming Headset Launched In India: Price, Specifications Japanese tech giant Sony on Tuesday launched a new gaming headset – INZONE H5. The latest addition to Sony’s headset lineup boasts a 28-hour battery life, AI-based noise reduction, 360 spatial sound technology, a lightweight build. and more.
Sony INZONE H5 Wireless Gaming Headset: Price, Colour And AvailabilityPriced at Rs 15,990 in India, the INZONE H5 will be available across Sony retail stores, the ShopatSC portal, major electronic stores, and other e-commerce websites in India from 30th November 2023 onwards. The Sony INZONE H5 wireless gaming headset comes in two colours — Black and White.
Sony INZONE H5 Wireless Gaming Headset: SpecificationsWeighing in at only 260 grams and equipped with soft-fit ear pads and a low-pressure design, the INZONE H5 headset offers a combination of lightweight build, comfort, and durability, making it ideal for extended PC gaming sessions.
Powered by precision-engineered 360 Spatial Sound, the INZONE H5 wireless gaming headset provide a competitive advantage with 3D sound positioning. This feature ensures an immersive audio experience with pinpoint sound accuracy, giving gamers an advantage in staying ahead during gameplay, the company said.
The INZONE H5 headset from Sony also claims to offer clear communication by providing AI-based noise reduction and a bi-directional microphone.
The INZONE H5 supports uninterrupted gaming with its wireless capability, providing a low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless connection with a USB dongle. This allows gamers to play cable-free for up to 28 hours, Sony India claims.
“Engineered to deliver richer highs and more powerful lows, the INZONE H5 provides a dynamic audio experience that immerses users in the game. From footsteps to explosions, every sound is brought to life with exceptional clarity, the company said.
According to the brand, this headset from Sony offers precision controls and settings to tailor audio and mic preferences. allowing users to tailor audio and microphone preference.
About the AuthorBharat UpadhyayBharat Upadhyay, Senior Sub-Editor at News18 Tech, brings over six years of expertise in technology and gadgets. With a journalism background, he has ...Read MoreTags:
UPI Fraud: You May See 4-Hour Delay For Making Transactions Above Rs 2,000: Know Why The Indian government is reportedly working a new process that may affect users of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). They are planning to introduce a minimum time frame for the first transaction between two individuals in an effort to combat fraud in online transactions.
If implemented, users could experience a four-hour delay for transactions exceeding Rs 2,000. This means that a four-hour time limit would apply whenever a user initiates the first payment over Rs 2,000 to another user with whom they have never transacted before.
Although this approach may add some complexity to digital payments, government officials believe it is necessary to address cybersecurity concerns, the Indian Express report said.
The report further stressed that this measure could apply to various digital payment methods, including Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
According to the report, the objective isn’t only to slow down or restrict the first transaction when you open an account, as some digital payment systems already have some form of this practice. The main idea is to keep a close eye on and manage every first transaction between two users, regardless of their past transaction history.
At present, when you create a new UPI account, you can send a maximum of Rs 5,000 within the first 24 hours. Similarly, for National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), after you add a beneficiary, you can transfer up to Rs 50,000 (either in full or parts) within the initial 24 hours
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Indian Experess, “We are looking to add a time limit of four hours for first-time digital transactions over Rs 2,000. The discussion will be taken up during a meeting on Tuesday with government and industry stakeholders, including the Reserve Bank of India, various public and private sector banks, and tech companies like Google and Razorpay.”
The meeting on November 28 will discuss digital payment frauds, financial crimes, and cybersecurity measures needed to counter these activities.
About the AuthorBharat UpadhyayBharat Upadhyay, Senior Sub-Editor at News18 Tech, brings over six years of expertise in technology and gadgets. With a journalism background, he has ...Read Morefirst published:November 28, 2023, 14:18 ISTlast updated:November 28, 2023, 14:18 IST
Google Pixel 8 Pro Brings AI Camera And Longer OS Support But Is It Worth Over A Lakh? Google Pixel 8 series has once again got a wide launch this year, which includes markets like India where we also saw the Pixel 7 series launch in 2022. The Pixel 8 series promises to make further inroads into the world of AI on a smartphone that the whole world is now keen to experience.
The Pixel 8 Pro is once again the highlight of the lineup, not only because it packs one additional camera at the back but also comes with premium features which Google believes makes it a phone worth over Rs 1 lakh. Yes, there are some interesting upgrades on offer, not at least the new Tensor G3 chip which hopefully improves on the battery and thermal management front. But once again it is a matter of determining whether the new Pixels have enough in the tank to challenge the premium peers.
Google Pixel 8 Pro, Starring AI CameraGoogle had a lot to share about the AI prowess of the Pixel 8 series cameras and the Pixel 8 Pro extends that capability with the telephoto lens. AI basically means you can create visuals from nothing, something that the Magic Eraser does quite well. You also have the option to edit audio from a video using the AI tech provided by the Tensor G3 AI chip (more on that later).
Pixel 8 series gets AI-powered cameras via the Tensor G3 chipAI is also supposed to help you deliver longer battery life on the Pixel 8 Pro and other smartness essential to use a smartphone. The AI camera takes its time to process these alterations but Google is more keen to show us its might in this direction which could become faster and more effective in the near future.
Tensor G3 Chipset: Third Time Lucky?Google decided to go in-house with its Tensor chips and truth be told the progress has been limited. Last year’s Tensor SoC was underwhelming in different ways so we were hoping for a better return with its successor. Tensor G3 is definitely a lot more reliable than the G2 but the benchmark wasn’t hard to beat, however, when you compare it with the other SoCs from Qualcomm and even Apple’s A-series chip, the performance levels feel more tuned to a semi-mid-range phone than a flagship.
Pixel 8 Pro uses the new Tensor G3 chip with 12GB RAMWe noticed the heat levels aren’t that concerning this time, which means the cores in the chipset are doing a better job of managing the heat. But it is hard to associate the Pixel 8 models with the G3 as an iPhone 15 Pro rival, at least when it comes to performance which has been made obvious by various benchmark tests.
Effective Design ChangesCompared to the Pixel 7 series, the new Pixel phones have some design changes that do help with better grip and handling.
Design changes have helped the Pixel 8 Pro offer better grip and handlingThe curves on the edges and the use of matte finishing on the back panel make the phone more durable and also prevent it from easily catching smudges and also make it less slippery than the Pixel 7 Pro. The overall balance of the device is also much better which is crucial when you have a large capacity battery packed inside.
Actua-lly Good Display Curved edges and matte finish help the Pixel 8 Pro in many waysGoogle pointed out that it is using a new Actua display panel on the Pixel 8 series and we must say the Pixel 8 Pro screen is definitely flagship-grade. It goes up to QHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate screen which delivers smooth and fluid touches and navigation is seamless as well.
How Does Battery Fare?Pixel 8 Pro does better than the 7 Pro with its battery life and thanks largely to the new Tensor G3 managing heat better. Having said that, the Pixel 8 Pro delivers an average screen-on-time of around 5 hours which is nowhere near the other giants in the premium market.
Bigger battery helps give you better life but only justAdd to that, you don’t get fast-charging speeds which means the phone is plugged to the charger for a longer time than say the likes of the OnePlus 11 which supports over 80W charging speed. The 8 Pro now supports 30W wired charging speed, which is higher than the 27W speed offered with the Pixel 7 Pro last year.
What About Everything Else?Pixel 8 Pro features 12GB RAM with the Tensor G3 chipset and you get storage options up to 256GB in India this year. The whole hardware package allows you to perform most of the tasks, including gaming without much fuss, however, the levels aren’t comparable to other flagship devices as we mentioned earlier.
It just feels like Google is still playing catch up with the Tensor G3 especially with the G2 pushing them two steps back from the competition. The face ID feels more reliable but it falters the moment the light is low near you, something that doesn’t happen with Face ID on iPhones because of its dedicated camera sensors. The fingerprint sensor is still a mixed bag and might need multiple attempts to unlock.
Google also surprised one and all by confirming that the Pixel 8 series will get 7 years of OS and security updates. That means this Pixel phone will run for you till 2030 but here’s the worry, will the Tensor chip hold up till then and if so, how much can it handle in terms of the tasks that continue to be pushed at a phone.
All these things clearly say that the Pixel 8 Pro is a big improvement on the Pixel 7 Pro but the challenge is to look at the competition and that’s where the new device lags on multiple fronts.
About the AuthorS AadeetyaS Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media ho...Read MoreTags:
Hackers On Telegram Using THIS Trick For Phishing Scams: All Details If you use Telegram, this could be an important alert for you, as scammers and hackers are employing a malicious Telegram bot called ‘Telekopye’ to carry out large-scale phishing scams, according to a recent report.
As per security researcher Radek Jizba from ESETResearch, Telekopye is an advanced tool enabling criminals to craft convincing phishing websites, emails, SMS messages, and more.
Operating under the guise of a legitimate company, a group of hackers known as Neanderthals employs Telekopye within a structured framework. They recruit members through underground forums who then gain access to specific Telegram channels for communication and monitoring ongoing operations.
They have three primary scam objectives — seller, buyer, or refund. Seller scams involve deceiving victims, termed as Mammoths, into purchasing nonexistent items.
In buyer scams, Neanderthals pose as buyers to trick merchants (Mammoths) into revealing financial information. Refund scams mislead Mammoths into thinking they’re receiving a refund, only to deduct the same amount again.
These hackers use various strategies for successful scams. In seller scams, they prepare additional photos of the non-existent item and manipulate internet images to complicate reverse image searches.
Buyer scams involve meticulous planning, with Neanderthals selecting targets based on factors like gender, age, online marketplace experience, ratings, reviews, completed trades, and item types, tailoring their approach for higher success rates.
To entice Mammoths, Neanderthals engage in real estate fraud by creating fake apartment listings. They maintain anonymity using VPNs, proxies, and TOR, making it challenging for authorities to trace them.
Meanwhile, another new scam is on the rise this year fraudsters have been duping people of lakhs of rupees while posing as customs officials across metro cities.
In this new method, called courier scam, the imposters posing as police officials or NCRB agents contact people accusing them of engaging in illicit activities related to sending and receiving parcels containing drugs or other banned substances.
Then the scamsters convince the victims that they will be contacted by police personnel and the entire racket of money extortion begins to settle the false complaint against the victims. The courier scam has been targeting people between 35 to 50 and there have been hundreds of cases reported to the police this year.
(with inputs from IANS)
About the AuthorBharat UpadhyayBharat Upadhyay, Senior Sub-Editor at News18 Tech, brings over six years of expertise in technology and gadgets. With a journalism background, he has ...Read MoreTags:
Some Google Drive Users Are Losing Their Data; Company Says Investigating Issue Google has officially acknowledged an issue affecting Google Drive, causing users’ data to disappear from the cloud.
Google notes that the company is currently “investigating reports of an issue impacting a limited subset of Drive for desktop users” and will provide updates soon. Additionally, the search giant has highlighted key points to consider until this issue is resolved.
How to Safeguard Yourself From This Issue According to Google
Firstly, users must not click on “Disconnect account” inside Drive for desktop. Secondly, users should not delete or move the following app data folders on Mac and Windows:
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/DriveFS
- Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\DriveFS
As an added protection measure, you can create a backup of the app data folder on a physical storage drive.
How This Issue Surfaced Online
The news of this mysterious disappearance was first reported by The Register when a user logged into their Google Drive and discovered that the state of their Drive was as it was in May 2023, meaning all uploads since then had disappeared. Despite multiple attempts, the user failed to recover any data.
“I followed recovery process that Google support team ask me to (South Korea team). They put a recovery program and failed. ask me to backup and restore DriveFS folder, nothing changed. I reported the issue to the Google support team probably in States and they ask me to report the issue to their engineer. But no answer from the engineer and cannot know whether they are reviewing my issue,” the user posted on Google Drive community forum.
Since then multiple users have reported the same issue, with one user stating: “Same thing happened to me too. I’m devastated right now because the missing files dated back >3 months ago. Our IT team try to contact google support but no solution yet. Hopefully the files can be restored.”
About the AuthorShaurya SharmaShaurya Sharma, Sub Editor at CNN-News18, specialises in reporting on consumer, emerging, and gaming technology. With a passion for technology since c...Read MoreTags:
Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro Likely To Launch Next Year With Major Upgrades: What To Expect Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is reportedly planning to launch the successor to the Xiaomi Pad 6 lineup – the Pad 7 series in it home country next year. This upcoming series is expected to include two models — Xiaomi Pad 7 and Pad 7 Pro, might come with major upgrades.
As per a report from GSMChina, Xiaomi is anticipated to launch the new Mi Pad 7 series around April next year. According to the report, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro may remain exclusive to the Chinese market without a global release.
While Xiaomi has not officially confirmed the tablet’s details, some information about the Pad 7 Pro has surfaced, as seen in a Mi Code. The report suggests that the upcoming tablet is codenamed “sheng,” which translates to a musical instrument in Chinese. Xiaomi has a history of using musical instrument names as codenames for its Pad series tablets.
According to the report, the tablet, with the model number “N81A,” is expected to feature a 10-inch panel manufactured by Tianma. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is likely to have an LCD panel with a resolution of 1480×2367 pixels and a 144Hz refresh rate. In comparison, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro has an 11-inch display.
These latest rumors align with earlier speculations from Digital Chat Station, suggesting that the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro might be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Like the previous model, the upcoming tablet is anticipated to include a quad-stereo speaker system and operate on Xiaomi’s newest operating system, Android 14 HyperOS.
Meanwhile, the Redmi K70 series from Xiaomi is scheduled for release in China on November 29 at 7:00 pm local time (4:30 pm IST). Alongside the new smartphone lineup, the event will also introduce the Redmi Book 16 2024 laptop, the Redmi Watch 4, and the Redmi Buds 5 Pro TWS earphones.
Both models are said to come with triple rear camera units and 5,000mAh batteries. The Redmi K70 Pro is confirmed to be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipsets.
About the AuthorBharat UpadhyayBharat Upadhyay, Senior Sub-Editor at News18 Tech, brings over six years of expertise in technology and gadgets. With a journalism background, he has ...Read MoreTags:
Last Warning! Stop Your Inactive Google Account From Being DELETED: Here s How It’s unlikely that you haven’t used your Google account in a while, but if it is indeed the case, or if you have a secondary account that you don’t check often—be aware that Google will delete it on December 1, 2023, which is only a few days away at this point.
Yes, Google is going to start erasing inactive Google accounts, along with all the data associated with them—photos, Gmail, contacts, Drive storage, and so on.
Also Read: Google Calendar App Will Stop Working If You Have These Android Phones
The important part here is that your account is considered ‘inactive’ if you haven’t used it in at least two years. So, if you’ve logged in recently, you’re all good. But if you’re reading this and can’t remember the last time you checked your account, you need to do one of the following things to make it ‘active’ again:
- Read or send an email from your Google account.
- Use Google Drive to upload or download content.
- Watch a video on YouTube from the same account.
- Share a photo via Google Photo.
- Download an app from the Play Store with your registered Google account.
- Upload a YouTube video.
Google—in a policy change document from May this year—stated that it has “invested in technology and tools to protect our users from security threats, such as spam, phishing scams, and account hijacking,” but that if an account has not been used for a long period of time, it may become “compromised.”
Google further added: “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. Our internal analysis shows abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step-verification set up.”
Only ‘Personal’ Accounts Are AffectedTo be clear, this policy change only applies to personal Google accounts. Accounts set up by educational institutions and official business accounts will not be deleted. Additionally, accounts with YouTube videos uploaded will not be affected.
About the AuthorShaurya SharmaShaurya Sharma, Sub Editor at CNN-News18, specialises in reporting on consumer, emerging, and gaming technology. With a passion for technology since c...Read MoreTags:
WhatsApp Users Will Soon Be Able Share Stickers On Channels: Here s How The Meta-owned instant messaging application WhatsApp is reportedly planning to roll out a new feature, allowing channel owners to share stickers in channels.
“After installing the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.24.10.72 update, which is available on the TestFlight app, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out the same feature to some beta testers who use the iOS app,” WABetaInfo reported.
The screenshot shared by WABetaInfo revealed that the ability to share stickers is also available to iOS users as the sticker button is visible within the chat bar.
This is important move towards making features consistent on various platforms, improving the overall experience for channel owners using both Android and iOS.
It’s worth noting that the latest version of the app now supports sending animated stickers, adding a dynamic element to engagement on channels. Furthermore, this feature is accessible to users who install the most recent build of WhatsApp from the App Store.
“Bringing the ability to share stickers into channels brings a helpful advantage. Stickers are visually appealing and can convey emotions, expressions, or messages in a more playful and creative way compared to simple text updates,” WABetaInfo said.
The report suggested that when channel owners share stickers that align with the content or theme of their channel, it adds a personalised and entertaining element to their updates.
This can lead to a stronger sense of community, since channel followers may find the content definitely more engaging.
Users who are part of the WhatsApp beta testing program for iOS and install the latest update via the TestFlight app now have access to a feature allowing them to share stickers in channels. This functionality will gradually become available to more users in the coming days.
WhatsApp is also developing a feature that will display profile information within chats. This profile information will be visible even when the contact is offline, alternating with the last seen if it’s available.
About the AuthorBharat UpadhyayBharat Upadhyay, Senior Sub-Editor at News18 Tech, brings over six years of expertise in technology and gadgets. With a journalism background, he has ...Read MoreTags:
Foxconn to Invest $1.5 Billion to Expand Its India Operations BENGALURU: Taiwan's Foxconn will invest $1.5 billion in India in its latest expansion plan, the world's largest contract manufacturer of electronics said on Monday.
The company, which announced the investment plan in a stock exchange filing, did not provide any further details.
Foxconn has been rapidly expanding its presence in India by investing in manufacturing facilities in the south of the country.
The contract manufacturer aims to double its workforce and investment in India by next year, a company executive had said in September.
The company's Chairman Liu Young-way had also said in an earnings briefing in August he sees a lot of potential in India, adding that "several billion dollars in investment is only a beginning".
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Reuters)Tags:
OnePlus 12 Teaser Shows New Nature Inspired Colours And A Big Change To Alert Slider OnePlus has officially released a teaser video for the OnePlus 12, its upcoming flagship phone that will succeed the OnePlus 11. The trailer gives us our first look at the phone in its new nature-inspired green colour. The BBK-owned company has also released a set of official images on Weibo that show us the white and black models as well.
While the device looks quite reminiscent of the outgoing OnePlus 11, upon closer inspection, one can observe that OnePlus’ iconic feature—the Alert Slide—has switched positions. It is now found on the left side of the device instead of the right. For those uninitiated, the alert slider lets you quickly toggle between ring, silent, and vibrate modes. OnePlus has also stated why this move happened:“Based on internal testing, it has been determined that the optimal position for gaming antennas is between the forefingers of the user when the phone is held in landscape orientation,” the company notes.
As for the colourways, the new green colour features a pattern on the back that would remind you of forests, nature, and landscapes—and that’s what OnePlus is using for their marketing as well. “Inspired by Nature,” OnePlus calls it.
Image: OnePlusThe white looks almost pearlescent, and from the renders, it reminds us of the white titanium finish that Apple offers with its iPhone 15 Pro. The black, on the other hand, looks like the same old OnePlus we know—with the sandstone-like finish. You can watch the teaser here.
It has also been confirmed that the device would pack a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 64-megapixel 3X periscope telephoto lens. Coming to the chipset, the device will get the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
In addition, the OnePlus 12 will feature a QHD+ (1,440 x 3,168) AMOLED display made by BOE. It will support a peak brightness of 2600 nits, making it brighter than some recent flagships, including the iPhone 15 Pro (2000 nits) and the Pixel 8 Pro (2400 nits). Moreover, the display has received an A+ rating from DisplayMate. This panel is called the ‘X1 Oriental Screen.’
OnePlus India also updated its website yesterday with an image of the OnePlus 12 and the aforementioned trailer. This signals that the device may launch in India soon after the brand is done with the December 5 launch in China.
About the AuthorShaurya SharmaShaurya Sharma, Sub Editor at CNN-News18, specialises in reporting on consumer, emerging, and gaming technology. With a passion for technology since c...Read MoreTags:
eSIM For Your Phone In India: Is It Time For You To Ditch The Physical SIM Card? Apple launched the first eSIM-only iPhone 14 model in select markets last year. eSIM as a technology has been around for many years but this is the first time when a tech company decided to completely ditch the physical SIM in favour of eSIM which is slowly gaining ground in markets like India as well.
While eSIM is not new in the country, the majority of smartphone users are not aware about using eSIMs. In fact, not all iPhone users in India activate eSIM which many see as a tedious process. But recently, one of the telecom operators in India reached out to its users and advised them to switch to eSIM and gave them multiple reasons to do so.
eSIM – Everything You Need To KnoweSIM stands for Embedded-Subscriber Identity Module. It is embedded in a device and is basically a virtual SIM card that is simply activated on a supported device. The telco talks about the benefit of moving to eSIM for your phone or even the smartwatch if it supports the feature.
It also claims that you can use multiple mobile numbers on a single eSIM and says it is easy to change devices with an eSIM because of the digital profile attached to the number. More importantly, eSIM is also helpful in case your device gets stolen and the thief will have a hard time erasing the number unless he has high-tech gadgets to pull that off.
Having said that, eSIM has nothing to do with providing better internet speeds or better cellular reception. It’s simply a digital copy of your SIM card. Also, note that you can’t have both an eSIM and a physical SIM for the same mobile number.
After the eSIM gets activated, your physical SIM card stops working and if you later decide to switch back to regular SIM card then the process will have to be reversed through the telco which can mean your number is unavailable for a few hours or even a day. Telcos are getting better equipped to handle the switch from SIM to eSIM but still we feel the hassle of changing numbers, unless you plan to use one device for 3 to 4 years, doesn’t add up yet.
About the AuthorS AadeetyaS Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media ho...Read MoreTags:
Using Firefox Browser? Indian Govt Says Do This To AVOID Major Security Issue More security warning for Indian users from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) this week and this time it is related to Mozilla’s Firefox web browser.
The security agency has been proactive recently with multiple alerts for Indian users and once again it is warning them about a security issue that can leave them vulnerable if the hackers are able to bypass their device security and gain access to confidential data.
You can head over to CERT-In website for the latest security bulletin which details the problem with Firefox and how it can be used to steal data from the affected users. The biggest concern about this alert is that Firefox has not one but multiple security issues that can make it easy to compromise your device.
All these issues clearly state that unauthorised access will be achievable which is never a good sign. But which Firefox versions are affected by the security issue and which platforms are in danger? The security agency says these versions of Firefox affect users:
– Firefox ESR versions before 115.5.0
– Firefox iOS versions before 120
– Mozilla Thunderbird version before 115.5
How To Secure Your Device From Firefox Security IssueNow that the CERT-In has raised the alert for the security issues in Firefox, it has shared a list of things that can help users secure their browsers and devices from any possible threat.
Update the Firefox browser right away which lets you secure your device from these issues
Make sure automatic updates is enabled for Firefox browser on your device
Do not click on links and attachments from unknown senders via message or mail.
In the past few weeks, CERT-In has issued warnings for security problems with Chrome on Android and major apps from Adobe.
About the AuthorS AadeetyaS Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media ho...Read MoreTags:
Ubisoft Accidentally Showed Ads Inside Assassin s Creed And Then This Happened.. Ubisoft has been making the Assassin’s Creed games for more than a decade, and while the series has had its ups and downs, it has developed a cult following of gamers for its stealth-based gameplay and historic settings. However, fans were recently left frustrated when Ubisoft accidentally showed in-game ads inside Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, its flagship action role-playing title from 2018.
This affected the gameplay experience, and these ads, as reported by a plethora of users, showed up in the middle of the gameplay as “pop-ups.” Since then, Ubisoft has acknowledged this error and dismissed it as a ‘technical issue.’
“We have been made aware that some players encountered a pop-up message in-game while playing certain Assassin’s Creed titles yesterday. This was the result of a technical error that has now been fixed,” Ubisoft said in the official statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The company added: “Our intention was to display a promotion for Assassin’s Creed Mirage as part of the franchise news in the main menu of other Assassin’s Creed games.” And that these pop-ups were removed as soon as they were discovered.
However, gamers on X were quick to call Ubisoft out for the statement. A user who goes by the username @Thraxis said, “Yeah, maybe don’t show ads in your games at all—don’t even put that functionality in them. We don’t need you advertising your other games in the games we’ve already given you money for—you have PLENTY of other places you can advertise to us that aren’t as intrusive.”
No, you were testing rollout of these ads in game and it went wider than you wanted. If you’d honestly said that – people might have bought it. They know you’re lying now.— ThanksForTheMemeries (@The_Memeries) November 24, 2023
Many others have since then claimed that it was intentional on Ubisoft’s end.
About the AuthorShaurya SharmaShaurya Sharma, Sub Editor at CNN-News18, specialises in reporting on consumer, emerging, and gaming technology. With a passion for technology since c...Read MoreTags:
Apple May Release iOS 17.1.2 Update This Week: Here s What To Expect Apple is expected to release the iOS 17.1.2 update sometime later this week, as reported by MacRumors. The publication says this based on their analytics logs recently discovered.
However, it isn’t clear what this new update will bring. It could be focused on bug fixes, preceding the anticipated iOS 17.2 update. The latter is expected to introduce new features such as Apple’s Journal app, support for recording Spatial Video on iPhone 15 Pro models, a translate option for the Action Button on iPhone 15 Pro, and soon Apple Music users will be able to create playlists together.
That being said, the iOS 17.1.2 update, according to MacRumors, may address WiFi issues that persist for some users even after updating to iOS 17.1.1—the latest publicly available build of iOS 17.
Furthermore, it has been found that the iOS 17.2 beta resolved these purported WiFi issues. Therefore, it is possible that these fixes will also be included in the iOS 17.1.2 update.
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 17.1.1 for all iPhone models compatible with iOS 17. This update addressed an issue with the iPhone 15 series’ NFC and wireless communication when charging with BMW wireless chargers, as well as a bug in the weather widget. Apple said that, in “rare circumstances,” services such as Apple Pay and other NFC features may become unavailable on iPhone 15 models after wireless charging in certain cars, and this update resolves that issue. Reports suggested BMW and Supra cars were affected, and BMW did acknowledge the issue and said that it was working with Apple for the fix.
About the AuthorShaurya SharmaShaurya Sharma, Sub Editor at CNN-News18, specialises in reporting on consumer, emerging, and gaming technology. With a passion for technology since c...Read MoreTags:
Apple Pay And Other Payment Apps To Be Regulated In This Country: All Details SYDNEY: Australia's government said on Monday it would bring Apple Pay, Google Pay and other digital payment services under the same regulatory umbrella as credit cards and other payments as part of legislation set to be introduced to parliament this week.
Digital wallets from the likes of Apple, Google and WeChat developer Tencent have exploded in popularity but are not captured by Australian payments law.
The legislation, first flagged last month, will broaden the legislation that empowers the Reserve Bank of Australia to regulate payments so that it applies to new and emerging technology.
"We are modernising Australia's payments system to ensure it meets the needs of our economy now and into the future," Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement.
"We want to make sure the increasing use of digital payments occurs in a way that helps promote greater competition, innovation and productivity across our entire economy."
Legislation is set to be introduced on Wednesday or Thursday, according to Chalmers' office.
Regulators are responding to the rapid growth of digital wallets, especially among the young. Transactions from a digital wallet hit 35% of all card transactions in the June quarter, up from 10% in early 2020.
Two-thirds of Australians aged between 18 and 29 use mobile payments. Before the pandemic it was less than 20%.
The amendments will also give a relevant minister power to subject a system or platform to special oversight in the event it presents a risk of "national significance."
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Reuters)Tags:
