CTC BLOG

FP TrendingApr 30, 2021 17:00:46 IST

A study conducted by cybersecurity company Kaspersky has revealed that as many as 22 percent of personal computer users are still using end-of-life Windows 7 operating system. The findings are based on anonymised data collected from Kaspersky Security Network users, who consented to it. The study has found that less than one percent of PC users have Windows XP and Vista. The support for Windows XP ended in 2014 while for Windows Vista it ended in 2017.

Windows 7 is now 9-years old.

Among the users of Windows 7, almost 22 percent of users are from small and medium businesses (SMBs), and very small businesses (VSBs), as per the press statement by Kaspersky. It further mentions that around 72 percent of users are using Windows 10 which is the latest version of Windows operating systems and also has support. As many as 24 percent of users are running a Windows operating system that does not have mainstream support.

Speaking about the importance of updating the operating system, Oleg Gorobets, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Kaspersky said that the operating system update “fixes bugs that can open a gaping door for cybercriminals to enter”.

He added that regardless of third-party solutions for cybersecurity, OS updates should not be overlooked. Equating OS to a house, Oleg said, “If your house is old and crumbling, there is no point in installing a new door. It makes more sense to find a new home, sooner rather than later”.

The cybersecurity company suggests that in order to protect their data, users should use an updated OS and make sure that the auto-update is enabled.

OverdriveApr 30, 2021 17:54:47 IST

While the standard Ford Ranger Raptor is expected to be launched in India sometime this year, Ford has unveiled a more aggressively styled derivative of the 4×4 pick-up in the Australian market. Called the Ford Ranger Raptor X, this version comes with a slew of additions that make the Ranger Raptor stand out even more. The Ranger Raptor X is finished with matte black and red-bordered decals that runs over the bonnet, roof and tailgate. There is another stripe along the sides.

Further, matt black covers most of the extra exterior cladding the Raptor already gets with the grille, bumper, fenders, door handles, mirrors and wheel caps all finished in this material. The carried-over wheel design also gets a similar treatment. Topping this off are red tow hooks and an extended sports bar on the loading bay.

The X edition helps keep the Ford Ranger Raptor stay fresh till the new model arrives by 2023. Image: Ford

The interiors also get a sportier makeover. The original blue stitching on the all-black cabin has been replaced with red on the steering wheel and dash while there are more black accents on the doors and dash.

The Ford Ranger Raptor X remains mechanically unchanged from the standard Raptor. Specific to the Raptor is a reinforced chassis and a unique chassis set-up geared towards high-speed off-roading. The rear suspension has been replaced with a new coil-over arrangement with an integrated Watt’s linkage for better lateral stability. The shock absorbers are supplied by Fox, now 63.5mm wide, and offer variable damping while being supported by aluminium control arms. Uprated brakes, a 60 percent thicker bash plate and specially developed BF Goodrich 285/70 R17 tyres are other highlights.

Red stitching and blacked-out elements are exclusive to the Ford Ranger Raptor X’s interior. Image: Ford

These additions allow the Ranger Raptor a 283 mm ground clearance and 850 mm wading depth. The 4×4 pick-up has a 32.5-degree approach angle, with ramp-over and departure angles of 24 degrees. The Ranger Raptor is powered by the 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel in its twin-turbo guise, making 213 hp and 500 Nm while being paired with the 10-speed torque converter automatic. Aside from the usual drive modes on the Endeavour and Ranger, the Raptor adds a Baja mode that allows for high-speed off-roading.

It’s unlikely that the Ford Ranger Raptor X will come to the Indian market with Ford expected to start sales with the standard version, to begin with at least. The Ford Ranger Raptor is expected to be significantly more expensive than the related Ford Endeavour, possibly around Rs 70 lakh (ex-showroom). Originally expected to launch by the first quarter of 2021, the current surge in COVID-19 cases will invariably push back this launch schedule.

OverdriveApr 30, 2021 19:09:05 IST

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has taken the wraps of its latest one-off creation. A work of its Bespoke super-exclusive customisation division, the Rolls Royce Phantom Oribe has been designed in collaboration with Parisian luxury brand Hermes. The Phantom Oribe has been commissioned by Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese entrepreneur, art collector and supercar enthusiast, wanted his Phantom to be built around the theme of private air travel. For the Phantom Oribe, Rolls-Royce has created a unique shade of Oribe Green for the two-tone green and cream-white colour scheme.

Rolls-Royce created a unique ‘Oribe Green’ shade for the two-tone green and cream-white colour scheme. Image: Rolls-Royce

The green shade has been recreated from the 16th century Oribe Japanese ceramic ware that Maezawa is a collector of. Rolls-Royce will even go on to provide this shade for the private jet that the owner wants to pair this Phantom with.

The Phantom Oribe’s steering wheel, door handles, gear selector and rotary climate controls are all finished in Hermes Enea Green leather. Image: Rolls-Royce

This Oribe ware theme is replicated on the inside with help from Hermes. Touchpoints like the steering wheel, door handles, gear selector and rotary climate controls are all finished in Hermes Enea Green leather. This material is used throughout the car as well – on the upper dash, door pillars and parcel shelf. In a measure of the attention to detail in this build, this leather also covers the glove box and boot, centre console and even the cooled Champagne cabinet. Hermes uses its expertise to create these elements using techniques originally employed by master saddlers.

Complementing the leather is some high-grade woodwork. Wooden speaker housings are seamlessly integrated into the open-pore walnut wood trims on the doors. The material is also used on the centre console, the rear armrests and the foldable tables. Finishing touches to the trim and upholstery are the Hermes piping on the cushions and recliners, white accents and matching lambswool floor mats.

The piece-de-resistance of the cabin is the artwork crafted by Hermes for the Phantom’s Gallery, the housing that displays owner-commissioned pieces in front of the forward passenger seat. Here a design by French artist and illustrator Pierre Peron has been used along with Hermes horse motifs and recreated on an open-pore walnut panel.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Oribe is the latest in a long tradition of completely handcrafted and fully customised works by the brand for owners who just don’t want to be seen in another Phantom.

Agence France-PresseApr 30, 2021 11:56:29 IST

China launched the first module of its “Heavenly Palace” space station on Thursday, a milestone in Beijing’s ambitious plan to establish a permanent human presence in space. Billions of dollars have been poured into space exploration as China seeks to reflect its rising global stature and growing technological might, following in the footsteps of the United States, Russia and Europe. The Tianhe core module, which houses life support equipment and a living space for astronauts, was launched from Wenchang in China’s tropical Hainan province on a Long-March 5B rocket on Thursday, state television showed.

In this image taken from undated video footage run by China’s CCTV via AP Video, a rendering of a module of a Chinese space station is shown. China has launched the core module on Thursday, April 29, 2021 for its first permanent space station that will host astronauts long-term. (CCTV via AP Video)

Chinese President Xi Jinping called the space station a key step in “building a great nation of science and technology” in a congratulatory message Thursday.

The Tiangong space station, whose name means “Heavenly Palace”, is expected to be operational by 2022 after around 11 missions to deliver more modules and assemble them in orbit.

Live footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed space programme employees cheering as the rocket powered its way through the atmosphere billowing flames from the launch site.

Crowds wearing sunhats and wielding smartphone cameras gathered under the coconut trees of a nearby beach to watch the launch as a band played in photos published by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

“A palace in the sky will no longer be just a romantic fantasy of the ancients,” the CCTV anchor said.

The completed station will be similar to the Soviet “Mir” station that orbited Earth from the 1980s until 2001.

The Chinese space station is expected to remain in low orbit at between 400 and 450 kilometres above Earth for a lifespan of around 15 years.

The completed station, weighing little more than 90 tons, will be around a quarter the size of the International Space Station.

The station will have two other modules for scientific study and will be equipped with solar panels as well as experimental equipment including an ultracold atomic experiment apparatus, according to the Chinese Society of Astronautics.

The core module will give three astronauts 50 cubic metres of living space, equipped with advanced telecommunications equipment that will allow astronauts to browse websites “no differently from normal people using the internet and phones on Earth”, Bai Linhou, deputy chief designer of the space station, told CCTV.

China launched the Tiangong-1 lab, its first prototype module intended to lay the groundwork for the permanently crewed station, in September 2011.

The lab disintegrated on re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere in 2018, two years after it ceased functioning.

A second lab, the Tiangong-2, was launched into orbit in 2016.

Space ambitions

The International Space Station — a collaboration between the US, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan — is due to be retired after 2024, although NASA has said it could potentially remain functional beyond 2028.

In this photo released by China’s Xinhua News Agency, a Long March 5B rocket carrying a module for a Chinese space station lifts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Wenchang in southern China’s Hainan Province, Thursday, April 29, 2021. China has launched the core module on Thursday for its first permanent space station that will host astronauts long-term. (Ju Zhenhua/Xinhua via AP)

With the retirement of the ISS, which received its first crew in 2000, China’s Tiangong could become the only space station in Earth’s orbit.

Beijing does not have specific plans to use its space station for international cooperation like the ISS, but Chinese space authorities have said they are open to foreign collaboration, although the scope of that cooperation is as yet unclear.

The European Space Agency has sent astronauts to China to receive training in order to be ready to work inside the Chinese space station once it is launched.

China also said in March it was planning to build a separate lunar space station with Russia.

The facility, planned for either the surface or the orbit of the Moon, would house experimental research facilities and would be Beijing’s biggest international space cooperation project to date.

The country has come a long way since its first satellite in 1970.

It put the first Chinese “taikonaut” in space in 2003 and landed the Chang’e-4 robot on the far side of the Moon in 2019 — a historic first.

The Chinese space programme sent a probe into Mars’ orbit earlier this year. The wheeled probe is expected to touch down on the surface of Mars in mid-May.

Also read: China begins building three-person space station, first launch to take place soon

tech2 News StaffApr 29, 2021 22:27:10 IST

Having given the world a clear look at the car a few days ago, Honda has finally revealed the all-new Honda Civic in full. Now in its 11th generation, the Honda Civic has evolved once again from the edgy, striking sedan it was in its outgoing generation, into a more sedate, three-box sedan that aims to build on the strengths of its predecessor. What is clear from pictures of the 2022 Honda Civic is that the production model hasn’t strayed too far from the design of the concept, which debuted last year.

The new Civic sticks to the wide and low stance the world now associates with a Civic, but the design and styling are a complete contrast to the outgoing model. Honda has binned the sharp angles and creases, and the new Civic opts for cleaner surfacing and a more mature look overall.

The 2022 Honda Civic opts for cleaner surfacing and a more mature look overall. Image: Honda

The face of the production-spec Civic looks largely the same as that of the prototype – the LED headlights (with LED DRL eyebrows) are inset into the fascia, with the slim grille placed a little further ahead, and the front bumper houses a large radiator grille, with LED fog lamps placed in the C-shaped housings either side of it.

The bold shoulder line originates from the front fender and extends all the way back to the tail-lights, and the window line has a subtle kink as it stretches back towards to the D-pillar – a nod to the current-gen Accord (on sale abroad). Understandably, the production model ditches the prototype’s 10-spoke, 19-inch alloys in favour of wheels that range from 16- to 18-inches in diameter.

A 36 mm increase in wheelbase promises to free up more rear seat space in the 2022 Honda Civic. Image: Honda

Under the skin, the new Honda Civic retains the current model’s underpinnings, but with some key upgrades to add rigidity so the new Civic has better driving dynamics. It has a 36 mm longer wheelbase, as well as wider rear track.

The 2022 Honda Civic sports a twin-screen setup on the inside. Image: Honda

On the inside, the new Honda Civic has a floating 9.0-inch touchscreen (7.0-inch on lower-spec variants), a 10.2-inch screen for the all-digital instruments display and a honeycomb mesh that spans the width of the dash and houses the AC vents. Another key addition is the presence of an electronic parking brake. The increase in wheelbase also frees up a little more room for rear-seat passengers.

Honda has previously confirmed the new Civic gets several active and passive safety features, new airbag designs and driver assistance systems. It features what Honda calls a donut-shaped driver-side airbag, which is said to cradle the head in an accident, and a three-sided passenger airbag, which is claimed to open like a book to enhance protection for the front passenger.

In the US, Honda will offer two engine petrol engine options – a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated unit making 160 hp and 187 Nm of torque, and a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged unit producing 182 hp and 240 Nm of torque. Both engines will come mated to a CVT automatic transmission.

In India, the current-gen Honda Civic was discontinued in 2020 along with the Honda CR-V, as the company closed operations at its Greater Noida plant. The main hurdles for the Civic in India were its lofty price tag as well as weak powertrain combinations, because of which the sedan struggled to find favour even after making a highly anticipated comeback in the Indian market. Given what happened with its predecessor, it seems highly unlikely that the 11th generation Honda Civic will come to India.

If you’re even a moderate gaming enthusiast, you’ve likely heard of Discord, a messaging app that prides itself on near-instant voice chat as well as the ability to communicate via text and instant messaging. If you don’t game, chances are you’re thinking “Discord, what?” 

While the completely free app has somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 million users, somehow, in the non-gaming community, it’s pretty much unknown. And that’s a bit of a shame because in terms of free voice/video/texting software, group collaboration tools, and ease of use, it’s hard to beat. In fact, even among paid messaging software, it stands up to all of the big boys. 

Head to the Discord website, and you’ll have the opportunity to either access chat right through the web, or you can download a desktop app for machines running Windows 7 and up, or MacOS 10.10 (Yosemite) and up or Linux. Alternatively, you can download the mobile apps for iOS 10.0 and above at the Apple App Store or for Android 5 (Lollipop) and above at the Google Play store.

Once that’s accomplished, you’ll be asked to create a “server,” which is Discord’s name for a chat room. You can start from scratch or choose a template from categories including Gaming, Friends, or Study Group. After that, you’ll be asked for your email and a password if you’d like to access your different servers and the chats they contain even after you close the app.

Next comes the fun part: chatting. To do so in your own server, you’ll need to add or invite friends, which you can do using their individual “DiscordTags” (read: usernames). Easy navigation buttons on the left side allow you to create a new server, explore public servers, or download apps that plug into Discord.

If you choose to explore public servers, you’ll certainly get the impression that Discord is for gamers, as the main servers you’re presented with are for Minecraft, Fornite and other popular games. But choose from the categories on the left, and you’ll see just how many communities there are to get involved with using Discord. There’s everything from the TruckersFM station in the Music category, that provides music to drive with, to a “Stranger Things” server under the Movies & TV category. 

Join a server and you’ll be asked to read over its rules, much like joining a subreddit in Reddit. Follow all instructions, and click the “Join” button at the top of the screen to get in on the action. Once you’ve either created or joined a server, you’ll see a list of possible chat threads (called “Channels”) on the left, much like you’ll find in Slack. Click one and you can start interacting with others who belong to the same server. 

You can also follow a server to have its notifications sent to your own server. 

One of the stand-out features that sets Discord apart from other collaborative apps like Slack, is that you can enter lounges where, if you leave access to your microphone enabled, you can have an ongoing conversation with everyone else on a server. It’s a bit like turning on a CB radio (remember those?) and listening in on conversations – and contributing when you want to. 

Discord also lets you direct message other users for a more private chat. You can also change the permissions for users of your own servers so that you can control what they can see and participate in. 

Discord is a lightweight install that offers an intuitive eye-catching design and the chance to dive into a range of communities for either business or fun. The free version of the app provides pretty much all you need to connect to friends who already use the service, or to make new friends in the public servers. 

Discord’s paid option is called Nitro and costs either 9.99 per month or 99.99 for a year. This bumps up some features such as letting you increase file upload (yup, you can do that too) size from 8MB to 100MB, share your screen (that too) or stream other content at higher resolution, and enjoy some vanity features like animated avatars and emojis and creating a custom Discord tag. While those might be nice to have if you’re a power user, we think you’ll do just fine starting out with the free version. 

Download Discord here.  

Rogan is a famous, rich, white male living in one of the most developed countries in the world with access to quality healthcare during the pandemic.

Joe Rogan, on his The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast, advised healthy people to not take the COVID-19 vaccine. He went on to talk about vaccinating children and spoke about his own kids’ experience with the virus. Fellow comedian and podcaster Dave Smith joined him on the episode that aired on 23 April. The entire podcast spanned 193 minutes.

The three-hour podcast was two hours too long. The last time I willingly sat to watch anything that long was Snyder’s Cut of Justice League, which was at least well worth the time spent.

Joe Rogan – Podcast host, commentator, comedian. Image credit: YouTube

The entire conversation, like most of Rogan’s podcasts over the 12 years it has been active, was in a lighter vein. And that’s what makes his podcasts so enjoyable for most of his 190 million listeners. He is clearly doing something right if he is one of Spotify’s top listened-to podcasters in 2020. He was paid a whopping $100 million to make his audio-video podcast exclusive to the music platform.

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This podcast, though, reeks of privilege and an ignorant person talking to another ignorant person about a situation they escaped unscathed, trivialising the pain and suffering of the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their lives or been greatly affected by the virus.

The first 20 minutes were boring, but it was at the 24-minute mark that the anti-vaxxer opinions started to flow and were dispersed throughout the episode. They started by talking about a mutual friend – Ari Shaffir – getting his Moderna shot.

Rogan said, “He (Shaffir) got shot up with the Moderna as soon as he got back.”

“I’m like that’s the one that is supposed to give you the worst side effects, buddy. Allegedly,” he continued, with Smith ‘hmm-ing’ along.

Both comedians were on a roll, and the next thing Rogan talked about was “how masks do not work at all” and mentioned a doctor’s YouTube video (Here is scientific information on how and why wearing a mask protects one from COVID-19 ).

If @Spotify were smart they would step in here because this is a public health issue as much as it’s anything.

— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) April 28, 2021

There is plenty of back and forth between the two, with Rogan and Smith seemingly having an issue with anything and everything pandemic-related. During their entire tirade, all I could think of was – “Put that tin foil cap away, guys. Your paranoia is showing.” An ironic thought, since they jokingly mentioned wearing tin foil hats several times on the episode.

Out of all the inane things said on this podcast, Rogan topped it off with “As a global pandemic, we got really lucky. I mean it could’ve been a Spanish flu, it could’ve been something that really does wipe out…” he stopped short of completing that sentence. Maybe common sense took hold.

The Spanish flu, according to some estimates, killed 50 million people. That is a lot higher than the three million deaths COVID-19 has caused so far. We have managed to avoid that number because governments put in place lockdown orders, mask-wearing and handwashing guidelines and pushed research in medicines and vaccines. Should we have waited and watched while people suffered? Isn’t this a good thing? Isn’t hindsight our biggest weapon against future outbreaks?

Dave Smith, comedian, podcaster at The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Image credit: YouTube

However, always the yes-man, Smith bemoaned the fact that he can’t be vocal about his opinion as people won’t like it. God forbid you’re not allowed to talk smack about people dying during the pandemic. How does one survive without an ounce of human decency?

If Rogan thinks this virus hasn’t had as significant an impact as it could have, here are a few India-specific numbers to open his eyes.

India, according to the Delhi High Court, is currently facing a “tsunami” of new COVID-19 cases. 3,79,257 fresh infections and 3,645 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. We have been recording over three lakh new cases every day for over a week now.

Over the course of their brain-melting conversation, they mentioned reading the science, listening to the science, following the science behind the virus and the vaccine. I couldn’t help but wonder if they had actually taken the time and effort to read the science, considering their stance, or did they just selectively read the stuff that supported the argument they want to make?

Science is never definite and is constantly changing. During a pandemic, it is changing even quicker with studies, analysis, and reports coming out daily. It is nearly impossible to keep up with everything, but if you are going to use your platform to put out strong opinions, it’s best you arm yourself with sufficient knowledge.

Special mention: JRE does have a producer/fact-checker/ Google master overseeing the operation. This entire podcast would’ve provided them with plenty of homework if they were up to it.

Smith said, “Well, imagine if kids died, how much worse the panic would be” with the same tonal voice one would use when discussing the weather or an irksome pet. And I would like to ask them – does mostly adults dying make this situation any better?

Rogan bragged that he hasn’t been sick in 15 years and went on to explain why. Along with popping vitamins, he also boasted that he does a daily sauna session, is on testosterone and exercises daily.

Well, good for you, Joe. You are taking care of yourself. But it would be unwise to overlook the fact that you can afford to do this. Not everyone has the same spending power, but that doesn’t mean they deserve to suffer from the virus, or worse, die.

Rogan stated he is not against the vaccine. He tried to get it himself during the UFC 261 pay-per-view, but for some reason, couldn’t do so. He said his parents are vaccinated and said vulnerable people should take the vaccine. However, he added that if you’re 21 years old, exercising “all the time” and healthy, you don’t need to get vaccinated. Smith also said something similar a little earlier in the podcast.

“I don’t think you need to worry about this (COVID-19),” said Rogan.

Healthy young people DEFINITELY SHOULD get the vaccine. That’s how we stop the spread. Not rocket science guys. It’s about returning to normal and saving lives. In India they are literally burning bodies in the street while people like Joe Rogan encourage people not to vaccinate.

— Ethan Klein (@h3h3productions) April 28, 2021

During his tirade, Rogan diminished the coronavirus experience because his children weren’t affected too much, “akin to them getting a cold.” Smith also firmly stated that he won’t be vaccinating his offspring, for the sake of virtue-signalling.

After their constant digs at White House’s chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci, the good doctor spoke to the Today show and said, “You’re talking about yourself in a vacuum. If you want to only worry about yourself and not society, then that’s OK.”

Fauci also added that healthy, young people should “absolutely” get vaccinated.

After this episode aired, there has been a lot of debate, with Twitter opinions split about the comedians’ stance. But when more than three million people have died because of this virus and the US is currently leading the charge, now is not the time to be a woke bro.

My feeling is that, no matter what your age, you should not take medical advice from Joe Rogan

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) April 27, 2021

Maybe Rogan needs a reminder that children and newborn babies have died because of this virus. Many young and healthy people have died or have been affected so badly they are still facing the effects of long COVID. Parents, grandparents, people of all races and ethnicities and age groups have died of this virus that started at the end of 2019.

Maybe Rogan needs a sign that says “Check your privilege” as a famous, rich, white male living in one of the most developed countries in the world with access to quality healthcare.

Rogan needs to remember that being humane, compassionate and kind are qualities everyone needs to possess during a time of global crisis.

He definitely needs someone to nudge him into using his platform to spread the right information in the midst of a worldwide humanitarian crisis that doesn’t seem to have an end in sight.

An apology is in order for dismissing the experience of hundreds of people with a little “no offence but…”

Here is a list of other COVID-19 -related thoughts that Rogan and Smith shared during the episode:

• Ivermectin is 99 percent effective against COVID-19 , but Rogan thinks no one is talking about it. This, he believes, is because it will somehow stop people from taking the vaccine if there is an effective medicine – This is completely untrue. Recently, WHO conducted an analysis of several studies and found Ivermectinis not as effective as some think it to be, and there isn’t enough evidence to suggest otherwise. Read the report here.
• Lockdowns were ineffective and were done as a way to control us – Lockdowns were initiated as a way to stop the spread of the virus when not much was known about it. Studies have shown they saved lives and also managed to help the Earth heal for a brief period. They resulted in cleaner air and water, a drop in pollution levels and a growth in local wildlife. You can read an analysis of the lockdowns’ effectiveness here.
• There was some talk about how the virus cannot spread via surfaces and everyone went berserk cleaning their groceries for no reason – There was a lot that was unknown at the start of the pandemic, but as studies were conducted, changes were made. It is not true that surface transmission cannot take place. However, the possibility is low. But why do we have an issue with hygiene and cleaning surfaces and groceries? Read an epidemiologist’s POV here.
• Rogan mentioned that some doctors spoke about ventilators killing people during the pandemic, but that information was shut down and no one was talking about it – That is untrue. Some of the major news outlets spoke to doctors and reported on this topic. Read here.
• Another nugget that Rogan so generously passed onto us was that one can fight COVID-19 by being outside in the sun and absorbing Vitamin D – Having a balance of all vitamins and minerals along with a healthy lifestyle will help in fighting all diseases. However, taking Vitamin D pills or even getting it naturally from the Sun will not help fight the virus. It will help if you have a deficiency. Read more here.
• The most controversial of all statements on this podcast was Rogan telling “young and healthy” people to avoid getting vaccinated because they don’t have to worry about getting infected – There is no scientific evidence to back this statement. People of all ages are contracting the virus. While it is true that the virus mostly harms the elderly, recent trends have shown that now even younger adults are getting infected. Read here.

tech2 News StaffApr 29, 2021 13:29:27 IST

Vivo has launched its latest flagship – the Vivo V21 – in India today. The smartphone’s highlight is its 44 MP OIS selfie camera, which the company claims makes it the first smartphone in the world to feature the camera tech for selfies. For selfie videos, the Vivo V21 offers both Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). Besides that, Vivo also claims that the V21 is the slimmest smartphone available in the Indian market. The smartphone is 7.29 mm thick.

Vivo V21 pricing, availability, offers

The Vivo V21 comes in two configurations:

8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage: Rs 29,990

8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage: Rs 32,990

The smartphone will be available in Sunset Dazzle, Dusk Blue and Arctic White colour options.

Pre-booking for the smartphone starts today (29 April) and it will be available for purchase starting 6 May on Flipkart.

Customers who pre-book the V21 online can avail an instant cashback of Rs 2,000 for purchases made via HDFC Band debit or credit card.

Vivo V21 5G comes with 8 GB RAM, up to 256 GB RAM.

Vivo V21 specifications and features

Vivo V21 features an E3 AMOLED display with 90 Hz refresh rate, HDR 10+ supports and a peak brightness of 800 nits. Powering the smartphone is MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset. It offers 8GB RAM and up to 256 GB UFS 2.2 storage. The storage can further be expanded by up to 1 TB using a macroSD card.

The Vivo V21 also offers extended or virtual RAM tech. For the uninitiated, the tech essentially is a block of space in your phone’s storage allocated by the OS to pretend to be RAM when you physical RAM runs short for actively running programs.

For photography, the Vivo V21 uses a 44 MP Night OIS selfie camera. For better lighting, it also features two spotlights along the bezels, which automatically turn on when clicking a picture at night. The front camera also supports 4K video, which are supported by both EIS and OIS. At the back, the smartphone features a triple camera setup, which includes a 64 MP primary camera, 8 MP super-wide angle camera, and a macro camera.

The Vivo V21 offers 5G connectivity. It comes with 33 W flash charger in the box and runs Android 11-based Funtouch OS 11.1

tech2 News StaffApr 28, 2021 18:51:19 IST

Samsung is hosting another Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event today. This would be the third Unpacked event of 2021. At the launch event, Samsung will not be launching any new smartphones, but it is expected to unveil three new laptops under the Galaxy Book series – Galaxy Book Pro 360, Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Go.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event: How to watch it live

The event is scheduled to kick off at 7.30 pm IST. The event will be available at Samsung Newsroom India and Samsung’s Youtube channel. The event webcast video is embedded below:

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Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event: What to expect

In its event trailer, Samsung teased that it will be “the most powerful” Galaxy device yet and will be powered by an Intel chipset.

That’s a clear hint towards new laptops being launched at the event today. Several leaks suggest it will be three new laptops under the Galaxy Book series – Galaxy Book Pro 360, Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Go.

Recent render leak suggest that the Galaxy Book Go will feature a 14-inch display with Full HD resolution support and is said to run on Windows 10 Home operating system.

The leak also suggests that the device would come with a Full HD AMOLED screen and will be powered by the Intel 11th Gen CPU versions such as i3, i5, and i7. The processors will be tagged with Intel Iris X graphics and Nvidia 450 graphics and would include features like Thunderbolt 4, S-Pen support, secondary screen, LTE (optional), Link to Windows, Samsung DeX, and more.

The Galaxy Book Pro, on the other hand, is expected to measure 11.7mm in thickness, weigh up to 1072 grams, and to come in two colors of Denim Blue and Silver colour options.

The Galaxy Book Pro is expected to come with two processor options that include one powered by the Snapdragon 7c along with 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128 GB of UFS storage, while the other higher model would be powered by a newer version of the Snapdragon 8CX processor, which is also dubbed as Gen.X. Compared to the Gen. 1 Snapdragon 8cx, the new Gen. X processor would offer with up to 10 percent CPU performance and up to 40 percent enhanced GPU performance. This model would come with 8 GB of LPPDD4x RAM and 256 GB of UFS storage.

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tech2 News StaffApr 28, 2021 21:31:00 IST

At the April 2021 Galaxy Unpacked event, as expected, Samsung unveiled two new laptops in the Galaxy Book series – Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360. Both Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 come in a 13-inch and a 15-inch variant. Both Galaxy Book laptops are powered by 11th gen Intel Core processors. The Galaxy Book Pro offers up to 32 GB RAM, whereas the Book Pro 360 is equipped with up to 16 GB RAM.

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 will be available in Mystic Navy, Mystic Silver, and Mystic Bronze color options. The Galaxy Book Pro will be available in Mystic Blue, Mystic Silver, and Mystic Pink Gold. The price and availability of the laptops has not been revealed yet.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360. Image: Samsung Mobile press

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 specifications and features

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 offers an sAMOLED Full HD display in a 13.3-inch and a 15.6-inch screen size. The laptop runs 11th gen Intel Core processors with option for i7, i5 and i3, and supports Iris X graphics (i7, i5) and Intel UHD Graphics (i3).

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 WiFi variant weighs 1.04 kg and the 5G variant weighs 1.10 kg. The Galaxy Book Pro 360 15, on the other hand, is 1.39 kgs heavy.

While the Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 comes in 8 GB and 16 GB LPDDR4x configurations, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 15 comes in 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB RAM variants. Both variants come with up to 1 TB SSD storage.

Fuelling the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is a 63 Wh battery and the laptops come with 65 W USB Type-C Fast Charger. For authentication, similar to the Apple MacBook Air, the Galaxy Book Pro uses a fingerprint​ sensor on power key.

The laptop features a 720 p HD camera for video calls and a Dual Array Mic. The speakers are powered by AKG and Dolby Atmos.

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 sports one Thunderbolt 4, two USB Type-C, 3.5pi Headphone/Mic, MicroSD and a nano SIM port.

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 also comes with S-Pen support.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 comes with an updated S-Pen. Image: Samsung mobile press

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro specifications and features

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro offers an sAMOLED Full HD display in a 13.3-inch and a 15.6-inch screen size. The laptop runs 11th gen Intel Core processors with option for i7, i5 and i3, and supports Iris X graphics (i7, i5) and Intel UHD Graphics (i3). The Galaxy Book Pro 15 comes with an additional NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU option.

The Galaxy Book Pro 13 WiFi variant weighs 0.87 kg and the 5G variant weighs 0.88 kg. The Galaxy Book Pro 15, on the other hand, weighs up to 1.15 kgs.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro. Image: Samsung mobile press

Both Galaxy Book Pro 13 and Book Pro 15 come in 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB LPDDR4x RAM configurations. All variants come with up to 1 TB SSD storage.

Fuelling the Galaxy Book Pro is a 63 Wh battery and the laptops come with 65 W USB Type-C Fast Charger. For authentication, similar to the Apple MacBook Air, the Galaxy Book Pro uses a fingerprint​ sensor on power key.

The laptop features a 720 p HD camera for video calls and a Dual Array Mic. The speakers are powered by AKG and Dolby Atmos.

The Galaxy Book sports one Thunderbolt 4, two USB Type-C, 3.5pi Headphone/Mic, MicroSD and a nano SIM port.

FP TrendingApr 28, 2021 17:52:37 IST

Realme has started rolling out realme UI 2.0 stable version update for the users of Realme 7 Pro and Realme 6 Pro. Realme has also released the latest version C.20 for Open Beta users to experience in advance. The update will be pushed in a staged rollout to ensure the stability of this update. Initially, a limited number of users will randomly receive the update and will have a broader rollout in a few days after making sure there are no critical bugs. Also to receive this update, the users have to ensure their device is updated to the required version A.37 (RMX2170PU_11.A.37).

After the upgrade, it may take a longer time to boot for the first time, especially if there are many third-party applications on a device. In such a scenario, the users can leave their phone for 5 hours after the phone is fully charged or use the mobile phone for 3 days normally, then the device will get back to normal.

Realme will also update a manual download link to its website in the coming days.

The Realme 6 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 720G and features a 64 MP primary camera on the rear. Image: Anirudh Regidi/Tech2

Realme UI 2.0 for Realme 6 Pro, Realme 7 Pro: What’s new?

With the UI update, Realme 6 Pro and Realme 7 Pro users will now be able to create their wallpaper by picking colours from their photos. An inertial zoom feature is added which makes zooming smoother during video shooting. The level and grid feature is also added for better video composition.

The Realme UI 2.0 also comes with a screen adaptability feature that has three dark mode styles: enhanced, medium, and gentle; wallpapers and icons can be adjusted to Dark mode, and the display contrast can be adjusted automatically to ambient light. The system can support third-party icons for apps on the home screen.

The split-screen mode allows dragging text, images, or files out of a floating window or from one app to another app. The Drawer mode has added filters to allow the filtering of the phone apps alphabetically, by install time or usage frequency to quickly find an app.

Improvements have also been made to the Immersive mod. Gamers can now change the way to summon Game Assistant. There are some added optimised vibration effects for text input and gameplay.

An AI algorithm is added to control charging speed at night to extend battery life. The users can now determine a period when Do Not Disturb is on. The new Sleep Capsule helps to schedule downtime and secure an individual’s sleep time.

The “System cloner” allows the creation of a system clone from the main system and uses different fingerprints to enter different systems. The users can quickly display their emergency info even on the lock screen, to first responders. The Safe feature allows syncing the photos in a Private Safe to the cloud.

With Realme UI 2.0, users can also use QR code to share personal hotspots.

Another update is the sound amplifier, which can amplify faint sounds in the environment and soften loud sounds when wearing earphones.

Agence France-PresseApr 28, 2021 11:08:44 IST

US ride-hailing service Lyft agreed to sell its autonomous driving division to a unit of Japan’s Toyota for $550 million, the companies said Monday. The move follows a similar divestment from Uber last year, with ride-sharing firms focusing on core operations as they struggle during the coronavirus pandemic. The Lyft operation known as Level 5 will be folded into Woven Planet Holdings, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, which will create a team of some 1,200 people working on self-driving technology in Japan, the United States and Britain.

Lyft will receive some $550 million in cash, with $200 million paidup front and $350 million over five years under the agreement.

A development engineer  lifts his hands off the steering wheel as the car is on self-driving mode. Image: Reuters

“This acquisition advances our mission to develop the safest mobility in the world at scale,” said Woven Planet chief executive James Kuffner.

“This deal will be key in weaving together the people, resources, and infrastructure that will help us to transform the world we live in through mobility technologies that can bring about a happier, safer future for us all.”

Lyft CEO Logan Green said the transaction “brings together the vision, talent, resources and commitment to advance clean, autonomous mobility on a global scale.”

The buyout marks Woven Planet’s first major deal, according to a statement.

The Toyota subsidiary, which began operational activity in early 2021, specializes in research and development in areas such as autonomous vehicles, robotics and smart cities.

Work on its flagship project, “Woven City,” was launched in February. The laboratory city, built on the site of a disused Toyota factory at the foot of Japan’s Mount Fuji, will enable future technological development and testing.

A Woven Planet spokesman told AFP that a group of about 360 engineers and inventors should become Woven City’s first inhabitants within four to five years.

Both Lyft and Uber had been working on their own technology for autonomous cars, but the firms have been hit hard by the slowdown in ride sharing during the pandemic.

FP TrendingApr 27, 2021 17:18:02 IST

Google is set to shut down its ‘Question-Answer’ section on Google Search, one of the major features of the search engine that showed answers to questions asked by the users, in somewhat related search terms. The feature will no longer be available starting 30 June. The tech giant has updated its support page for the topic, informing users of the update.

The feature was introduced to Google users a couple of years ago. You could type a question in the Google search bar and the results would usually appear either directly related to the question or with a few more “related questions” and answers below them. Google also appears to have allowed publishers to reply to questions posted by users.

Google logo. Image: AP

Google had reportedly developed the feature primarily for the Indian market users. However, the company’s website does not mention this as an India-specific feature.

Google’s documentation, in response to the feature, says, “On Google Search, you can ask and answer questions about what you search. Contributions on Google Search don’t work in all languages and all countries/regions”.

However, some user experiences suggest that the questions and answers may not always have the best results. If you have responded to any questions over the past couple of years, Google suggests that you can head over to Google Takeout to export your search contributions before they disappear from the site at the end of June.

Google’s “Question & Answers” section, the never-ending section of Quora-like quick information snippets was very popular on many search results pages. Google currently allows users to ask questions and respond to questions from both the Google.com webpage and the Google app on smartphones.

FP TrendingApr 27, 2021 17:45:43 IST

Spotify and Facebook have announced an integration which will allow users to access a new mini player from inside the social media app. This feature has been announced only for Spotify Premium subscribers. The users will also get to control their music without switching between apps. The feature will be available on both iOS and Android devices in the US and 26 other markets. The availability of the feature for Indian users has not been announced yet.

The new integration arrives as Spotify announces hikes in the prices of premium account in several regions around the world.

Spotify Premium users can now access their favourite playlists from within the Facebook app.

Here’s how you can launch the mini-player:

1. Tap the “Play” button on the song which is shared with you by someone from Spotify to their Facebook News Feed

2. For first-time mini-player users, a dialog box opens that asks for the consent of the user to continue with the option. So, click “Connect” to continue.

3. For users already using Spotify and have logged in to their accounts, the apps will automatically switch and playback will start from the Spotify app

4. The playlists will continue to play while you scroll down your News Feed. However, you will have to manually pause or dismiss the mini player.

For free users, the ads will come directly from Spotify. However, Facebook will get to access only limited data about users taking up the integration, including subscription type and metrics to assess the performance of the mini player.

Spotify has ensured that it won’t use its user-information base to target ads and will ask its listeners’ permission to share data when they first start the player. Facebook has called its partnership with Spotify the “natural next step”.

The companies had made a deal in 2019 to allow Facebook to post short music clips from Spotify on its Stories. This recent announcement comes a week after Facebook revealed it was planning to add podcasts and live audio rooms to its set of features to rival Clubhouse which is currently the fast-growing audio-based app.

Ameya DalviApr 27, 2021 13:08:31 IST

Overall Rating: 4/5

Price: Rs 38,999

We have a new budget TV from Xiaomi, but wait! This one isn’t from its usual Mi TV series, but the first to sport Redmi branding. Rather than delving into how this is different from Mi-branded TVs, it’s simpler to view the Redmi Smart TV X55 as the next variant from the series (till there’s actually one) and look at what it has to offer and how it performs. And that’s exactly what we are going to do with the Redmi Smart TV X55.

Redmi Smart TV X55 – Design and connectivity: 8/10

This Redmi TV looks quite generic, with distinct glossy plastic bezels surrounding the 55-inch screen. They aren’t overly thick, but the company hasn’t bothered taking the near bezel-less route either. The bottom bezel has a tiny chin at the centre that hosts the IR receiver and power LED. The TV can be placed on a desk using the bundled plastic stands, unlike the metal ones provided with Mi’s QLED TV. Like all Xiaomi TVs, the wall mount isn’t bundled in the package, but provided at an extra cost if you need it. One interesting element here is that in order to limit wastage, the cardboard packaging can be used to make a cool looking shelf. If you’re up for a craft workshop, DIY instructions are provided.

Redmi Smart TV X55’s remote is compact and minimal in design. Image: Ameya Dalvi

The company bundles its usual voice-enabled remote in the package, but still no AAA batteries to power it; guess it’s bad luck to bundle batteries. The remote is compact and minimal in design, with hotkeys for Netflix and Prime Video. There are still no dedicated keys for Mute, Settings or Input selection; however, since the launch of the QLED model, there is a workaround, which has been carried over for the X55. You can mute the audio by double clicking the volume down key and bring up the settings panel by keeping the PatchWall key pressed for a few seconds.

Redmi Smart TV X55’s side ports. Image: Ameya Dalvi

The connectivity department on the Redmi X55 has an excellent spread for a budget TV. You get three HDMI 2.1 ports with support for ALLM, and one of the ports supports eARC. You also get two USB ports and a headphone out along the left edge of the rear module. The A/V inputs, optical audio out and an Ethernet port are placed along the bottom edge. The best part being, all ports are placed closer to the left edge of the TV, making them easier to access even if you choose to wall mount it, which is a smart design decision. Wireless connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi with support for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks and a/b/g/n/ac standards.

Redmi Smart TV X55’s bottom ports. Image: Ameya Dalvi

Redmi Smart TV X55 – Features and specifications: 8.5/10

The Redmi Smart TV X55 has a 55-inch panel with an Ultra HD (4K) resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and a 60 Hz refresh rate. Our unit had an IPS panel, but as always, the company has used IPS as well as VA panels in the same TV series. Peak panel brightness figures haven’t been specified, but it supports all popular HDR standards such as HLG, HDR10/10+ and Dolby Vision. Like all certified Android TVs, it has Chromecast built-in and lets you cast content onto the screen from compatible apps on your phone or tablet.

It is powered by a Mediatek quad-core processor with ARM Cortex A55 cores and Mali G52 MP2 GPU. Each of the four CPU cores can go as high as 1,500 MHz. You get 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage here, a chunk of which is taken up by the Android 10 OS for TV. You are left with over 10 GB of storage for your apps and data, which is quite good. Sound output is rated at 30 Watts RMS with support for Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual: X. I couldn’t test the HDMI 2.1 capabilities of the TV, as I didn’t have a PlayStation 5 or the latest Xbox at hand during the course of my test.

Redmi Smart TV X55 – User interface: 8.5/10

The Redmi Smart TV X55 runs the latest Android 10 OS for TV with the stock user interface. The UI is the same as on most certified Android 9.0 TVs. Alternately, you also get the latest PatchWall 3.5 UI (based on Android 10). There has been a marked improvement in the user interface since version 3.0. It looks noticeably uncluttered and user-friendly. Content from different OTT platforms is elegantly presented and sorted. You can simply select the content and start playing if you are subscribed and logged into the respective platforms on this TV.

You also get access to all the input sources right there, which makes life easier for the less tech-savvy. The Netflix and Prime Video apps are preinstalled, along with a handful of Google services including Play Store, YouTube, etc. The default Android UI as well as PatchWall are both snappy, and there was hardly any lag. As I mentioned earlier, you can bring up the quick settings menu by keeping the PatchWall key pressed for a few seconds. This works across all apps and input sources, and lets you adjust picture and sound on the fly – a big plus. One new addition is the Mi Home app that lets you control compatible smart devices in the house.

Redmi Smart TV X55 – Picture quality: 7.5/10

Picture quality of the Redmi Smart TV X55 is quite good, especially when watching 4K content. The colours look vibrant, and the contrast is quite good. The 4K panel can get reasonably bright, and details of dark areas in high contrast scenes in our test videos were clearly visible for the most part. Black levels aren’t the greatest here, bordering on dark grey, but par for the course for budget LED TVs. A special mention for the skin tones that look quite natural on this screen.

Redmi Smart TV X55

Dolby Vision content looks impressive here, and the same can be said about HDR10+ content, too. Shows encoded in those formats on Netflix and Prime Video respectively look pretty lively on this TV with vibrant colours and excellent contrast. There was hardly any flickering in high contrast scenes, which was good to see. 4K SDR content also looks sharp and vibrant on this TV with excellent detail. However, the colours feel slightly oversaturated at times. Adjusting the saturation level from picture settings helps in such cases.

Strangely, 1080p Full HD videos do not upscale well and look softer than they should. The colour reproduction seemed a bit off, too. After quite a bit of manual adjustment, they looked better, but not perfect. That’s quite unusual, and I don’t remember seeing an Ultra HD TV struggle with Full HD upscaling as much. Interestingly, 720p videos are perfectly watchable, and probably equally as sharp as their 1080p counterparts, relatively speaking. Anything lower than 720p looks flat or washed out, which is pretty much the case with all 55-inch 4K TVs. Viewing angles were excellent, given that we got a review unit with an IPS panel.

You get a handful of manual picture adjustment options such as brightness, contrast, sharpness, saturation, noise reduction and more, to fine-tune it to your liking. You also have some motion smoothening settings, but it’s best to turn them off as they tend to induce motion artifacts. I would also recommend turning off Dynamic Contrast. Long story short, the overall picture quality of this Redmi TV is noticeably better than that of the Mi TV 4X series, especially when watching HDR content, thanks to the support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Redmi Smart TV X55 – Audio quality: 7/10

Audio output here is rated at 30 Watts RMS total, and it is generally good in terms of clarity. The speakers are tuned well and there is good vocal clarity with a decent amount of warmth in the sound. It is nowhere in the league of Hisense 55A71 TV or the Nokia TV range with Onkyo sound bars but is acceptable for the segment. The output isn’t the loudest, and you need to push the volume upwards of 50 percent at most times for normal loudness; at times, even beyond 75 percent for certain shows and movies on Netflix and Prime Video in a mid-sized room.

You get a handful of audio pre-sets and a five-band equaliser to tweak the audio further. And you can access those settings from anywhere by long pressing the PatchWall key. The sound is perfectly fine for watching news, sports or the odd web series/movie that’s high on dialogues and not action. You will crave a bit more bass in action sequences. The speakers are compliant with Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual: X. Dolby Atmos is available only via passthrough, but it’s not like it makes a huge difference on TV speakers anyway. The TV gives you a good variety of audio outputs – from digital to analogue to wireless – for plugging in a soundbar and enhancing the audio further.

Redmi Smart TV X55 is priced at Rs 38,999.

Redmi Smart TV X55 – Overall performance: 8/10

This Redmi TV takes less than 40 seconds to boot up when you switch it on from the mains, which is standard for most Android TVs. The TV supports quick wake and comes back on in less than three seconds from standby mode if you switch it off and on using the remote. The default media player is decent enough when playing content from a USB drive, and you always have the option of installing VLC player from the Play Store.

While some keys on the remote double up to execute other functions, I would still have preferred to see dedicated keys for settings and mute. At times when you look to lower the volume, you end up muting it if you press the button twice, which happens often. Similarly, if you don’t press and hold the PatchWall key long enough to get to the quick settings, it simply shuts the content you are playing and starts the launcher, thus inducing irritation. Despite that, Xiaomi has done a good job of addressing the missing features from the Mi TV 4X series, and making the Redmi Smart TV X55 a better all-round product.

Redmi Smart TV X55 – Price and verdict

The Redmi Smart TV X55 is priced at Rs 38,999 with a one-year warranty. No complaints about the pricing, given its feature set and overall performance. Along with compliance for all popular HDR formats, you get support for HDMI 2.1 with eARC, ALLM and a claimed 5 ms input lag that makes this TV a great budget option to pair with the latest consoles from Microsoft and Sony, and get the best out of them. It does have a few shortcomings including below-par 1080p video playback, but nothing that can be termed a deal-breaker.

If your viewing distance is a little under 10 feet, there’s also a 50-inch variant of this Redmi TV with all the same features that sells for Rs 6,000 less. As for similar-sized alternatives, you get the Hisense 55A71F in a similar price range that has better 1080p playback and sounds much better but lacks HDR10+ and HDMI 2.1 support. In comparison to its predecessor, the Mi TV 4X 55, the Redmi X55 fares better in pretty much every department and can be termed a worthy successor. All in all, a good smart TV for under Rs 40,000 in India.

Respiratory allergies might be harmless at first but if left untreated, can develop into more chronic respiratory disorders.

COVID-19 can affect organs of the body and detecting signs of the illness helps the healthcare staff to identify whether the patient is infected with the virus. Image credit: Tech2/Abigail Banerji