CTC BLOG

FP StaffApr 29, 2022 16:31:18 IST

Realme launched the GT Neo 3 and a hoard of devices in the country today, in order to further solidify their growth in the Indian smartphone market. In over a year, they have shown 40 per cent YoY growth, which is the reason that they plan to go all guns blazing in the next couple of years.

The highlight of the event was the launch of the Realme GT Neo 3 150W edition. However, the up and coming tech company also announced another version of the GT Neo 3, the Realme Pad Mini, the Realme Smart TV X FullHd, and two TWS earbuds, the Realme Buds Q2s and the Realme Buds Air 3.

Realme GT Neo 3 Price, Specs & Availability

The Realme GT Neo 3 features a Dimensity 8100 processor and a dedicated display processor that powers the 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display which supports a 120Hz refresh rate.

As for the camera, the Realme GT Neo 3 packs a 50MP Sony IMX766 OIS system, an 8MP ultrawide unit, and a 2MP macro shooter. The front camera is a 16MP shooter.

The device is powered by a 5nm Dimensity 8100 processor, which has four Cortex-A78 units at 2.85GHz, and the MaliG610 graphics unit, along with UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5 RAM.

The device is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery, which comes with 80W SuperDart charging, as well as 150W UltraDart charging.

The Realme GT Neo 3 is available in 3 variants. The 8GB + 128GB unit is available for Rs 36,999, whereas the 8GB + 256GB unit is available for 38,999. The main highlight of the series, the Realme GT Neo 3 150W edition, with 12GB + 256GB variant is priced at Rs 42,999. 

The devices will be available from the 4th of May 2022 onwards, and up until the 9th of May, customers will be given bank discounts worth Rs 7,000 on all the three variants of the phone.

Other Products 

The Realme Pad Mini, with its 8.7-inch display, will be available in 4 variants. The WiFi with 3GB + 32GB unit will be available for Rs 10,999, whereas the WiFi unit with 4GB + 64GB spec will be available for Rs 12,999. The LTE unit with 3GB + 32GB will be available for Rs 12,999, whereas the LTE unit with 4GB + 64GB will be available for Rs 14,999.

The Realme Buds Air 3, with its 30 hours of playback time and segment-defining ANC features, are available at Rs 4,999. The Realme Buds Q2s, on the other hand, has been priced at Rs 1,999.

The 40-inch version of the Realme Smart TV X model will be available at Rs 22,999 whereas the 43-inch variant is priced at Rs 25,999.

Most of the products will be available on Realme’s website, across multiple e-commerce platforms and other stores from the 4th of May. For a part of the first week, i.e. till the 9th of May, Realme will be providing a number of discounts on the products launched today.

Tata Motors officials state the Avinya concept will be introduced to the market by 2025.

Tata Avinya EV concept. (Image: Tata Motors)

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) has unveiled a brand new EV concept called the Avinya. In case you’re wondering, Avinya is derived from the Sanskrit language and translates to innovation. The Avinya concept is based on Tata’s Gen 3 architecture and will be the basis for a number of new electric vehicles from the homegrown automaker. Tata Motors officials state the Avinya concept will be introduced to the market by 2025.

Tata Avinya EV concept. (Image: Tata Motors)

Speaking at this landmark occasion, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons and Tata Motors said, “While making the Avinya concept a reality, the central idea was to offer a mobility solution like no other – a state of the art software on wheels that is well designed, sustainable and reduces the planet’s carbon footprint. Green Mobility is at the nucleus of TPEM, and the Avinya concept is the perfect reflection of what the company stands for – a creation that will not only accelerate the adoption of EVs but also lead this movement. Furthermore, at the Tata group, we are uniquely positioned to bring all the expertise that is necessary to build these mobility solutions and we are confident that in years to come we will make a larger and sustainable impact not only in India but globally as well.”

Tata Avinya EV concept. (Image: Tata Motors)

Adding to this, Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. said, “It is indeed a matter of pride for us at TPEM to present the Avinya concept to the world, a vision pivotal in signalling a ‘New Paradigm’. Holding on to its values of Simplicity, Timelessness, Effortlessness and Grace, the Avinya is not only a concept but is our new identity, an identity which is here to challenge the status quo. It gives me an intense sense of optimism to present a new typology of vehicles that will introduce the automobile industry to options beyond mobility – a tranquil space which will offer you a complete sensory experience while on the move. At its heart, the Avinya concept has ‘IN’, which demonstrates our Indian roots and highlights how we pride ourselves in discovering new ways to move and power vehicles. The Avinya concept is the fruition of our first idea built on our Pure EV GEN 3 architecture, enabling us to produce a range of globally competitive EVs. Our vision for pure EVs is focused on delivering wellness and rejuvenation while travelling, backed by cutting-edge technologies, aimed at improving the overall quality of life.”

Tata Avinya EV concept. (Image: Tata Motors)

The Avinya concept is said to be originally inspired by a catamaran. Tata believes that it combines the essence of a premium hatch with the luxuries and versatility of an SUV and the roominess and functionality of an MPV. To our eyes, it sort of brings back the concept of the estate car. A significant highlight on the front and the rear of the vehicle is a new identity. This new identity as a part of the DRL is a subtle nod to Tata’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life and is a pivotal step in the evolution of EVs. Then, of course, there are the ‘Butterfly’ doors, which add a touch of class to the concept vehicle.

Tata Avinya EV concept. (Image: Tata Motors)

Tata has also fitted the Avinya concept with a skydome that enhances the overall sense of space and natural light. That’s not all, there is also the funky steering wheel design, voice-activated systems, swivelling seats and an aroma diffuser for creating a relaxed aura. Furthermore, the Avinya concept is designed with lesser screen time in mind. Taking this into consideration the Avinya concept has been made screen-less, to bar any distractions inside the car and create a stress-free environment for the mind and soul.

Tata Avinya EV concept. (Image: Tata Motors)

The Pure EV GEN 3 Architecture is built with the use of next-gen materials, efficient electronic componentry and proprietary energy management strategies & algorithms for efficiency management. There is extensive use of light-weight materials, and optimized structure for an EV only powertrain with enabled appropriate stiffness which helps minimize the overall mass, leading to good weight management. Furthermore, the battery used will support an ultra-fast charge capability, in line with the infrastructure evolution, pumping a minimum 500 kilometres range in under 30 minutes.

Ameya DalviApr 29, 2022 17:02:36 IST

Just like the last quarter, all the phones on this list are 5G ready. And we have some interesting new entries under Rs 25,000 that are sure to get you excited. We have phones with 108MP cameras, competent processors, AMOLED screens, high refresh rate displays and more to appeal to a wide variety of users. Choose one that appeals to you the most. Mind you, the choice may not be that simple.

Best phones to buy under Rs 25,000 in India

Motorola Edge 20 5G
The Motorola Edge 20 5G is now available for just under 25K, and that makes it an awesome buy. It has some very interesting features that no other phone on this list can brag about. For starters, it is less than 7 mm thin; something extremely rare in smartphones these days. Its 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display flaunts a flagship-grade 144 Hz refresh rate along with HDR10+ compliance and the capability to display a billion colour shades. It is protected against scratches by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. 

The camera department is equally impressive starting with a 108MP primary camera. The supporting cast is strong too with a 16MP ultra-wide shooter and an 8MP telephoto camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) that provides 3X optical zoom. Its 32MP front camera is bound to impress the selfie enthusiasts. This Motorola phone is powered by a capable Snapdragon 778G SoC, and you get 8 GB RAM with 128 GB internal storage to go with it. 

Its 4000 mAh battery suffices for a day of moderate use and supports 30W fast charging. It runs Android 11, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface that will appeal to a lot of Android purists. Long story short, the Motorola Edge 20 is an impressive all-round package and one of the best options in this budget.

Motorola Edge 20 5G price in India: Rs 24,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Realme 9 Pro+ 5G
Realme 9 Pro+ 5G is the only phone in this list that offers OIS with the main camera. It has three cameras at the back starting with a 50MP primary camera with OIS that does a commendable job in various conditions. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. Its 16MP front camera is more than decent for selfies and video calls. The phone runs the latest Android 12 out of the box with Realme UI 3.0. 

The Realme 9 Pro+ 5G is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 920 SoC, which is a good choice for the segment. You get 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage with it. It has a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate that is vibrant and fluid. It is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The 4500 mAh battery lasts well over a day of moderate use and the company bundles a 60W fast charger that promises to charge the phone fully in under 45 minutes.  

Realme 9 Pro+ 5G price in India: Rs 24,999 for 6 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G
The Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G is another phone that photography enthusiasts would like to look at closely, courtesy of its 108MP camera. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro camera. The 16MP front camera is good enough for selfies and video calls. This 5G phone is powered by a Snapdragon 695 SoC, and you get multiple RAM and storage variants in this budget to choose from. The internal storage can be expanded further with a microSD card. 

The Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display that can get up to 1200 nits bright. It supports a 120 Hz refresh rate for a flicker-free experience in compatible apps, and is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. A 5000 mAh battery keeps it running for close to a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 67W turbo charger claims to take it from 0 to 100% in less than 45 minutes. This Xiaomi phone runs Android 11 with MIUI 13. 

Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G price in India: Rs 20,999 for 6 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 22,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 24,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage 

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G
Samsung too has a solid all-round option in this budget that is quite sleek and light. Just like the Moto Edge 20, the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G too is powered by a Snapdragon 778G SoC. You get 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal (expandable) storage to go with it. It has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Its 5000 mAh battery lasts for over a day and a half of moderate use and supports 25W fast charging.

Despite the larger display and a high capacity battery, the phone weighs under 175 grams and is just 7.4 mm thick. The camera department is quite versatile with a combination of a 64MP primary camera, 12MP ultrawide snapper and a 5MP macro camera to capture some quality photos in various modes. The 32MP selfie camera embedded in a tiny punch hole at the top of the screen will have the selfie crowd interested. The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G runs Android 11 with One UI 3.1.

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G price in India: Rs 24,999 for 6 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

iQOO Z5 5G
Just like the Samsung phone, the iQOO Z5 5G retains its spot on our list. It offers impressive features and performance in this budget. At the heart of this phone too is a Snapdragon 778G SoC that remains one of the best options. You get the faster UFS 3.1 internal storage here. You generally get the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage variant in this budget, but because of a Rs 2,000 instant discount on Amazon India, you can also get the 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage variant under 25K while the offer lasts.

The iQOO Z5 5G has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ LCD screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Battery capacity stands at 5000 mAh, and you get a 44W fast charger, which promises to charge 50% of the battery in just 23 minutes. Photography is handled by three cameras at the back comprising a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide snapper and a 2MP macro camera. You also get a more than decent 16MP selfie camera. The phone runs Android 11 with FunTouch UI 12, and the company promises two major Android updates going ahead.

iQOO Z5 5G price in India: Rs 21,990 (effectively) for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 24,990 (effectively) for 12 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage

FP ExplainersApr 29, 2022 13:25:42 IST

One of the biggest challenges that most space-based tourism startups, especially those involved in lodging face are making it accessible to the general public. Replicating gravity in these properties is the biggest challenge that these startups face, as most people won’t be able to cope with extended periods of floating in zero gravity. An American startup is planning to employ a rather odd solution for this problem.

An artist’s rendition depicting space tourism. Artwork sourced from Reddit.

California-based startup Orbital Assembly Corporation recently announced that they are planning to make its first Pioneer-class space station operational by 2025. Orbital Assembly is planning to make this the first commercial hybrid and a modular space station that can be used for both research and leisure.

Basically, they plan to open the first hotel and business park in lower Earth orbit. The Pioneer station is supposed to be a luxury hotel that is capable of accommodating 400 people at a time. If successfully, deployed the property can accommodate 28 guests for up to two weeks.

An illustration of the Pioneer-class space station of Orbital Assembly Corporation. The space station will serve researchers as well as “leisurely travellers.”

In an email statement, Orbital Assembly said that they are planning to deploy their Pioneer design in a safe and secure manner, which would allow them to generate revenue and become profitable from both tourist and commercial sectors sooner than any of the vendors that NASA has employed.

NASA had awarded contracts to private US companies like Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origins & aerospace and defence manufacturer Northrop Grumman. They are supposed to launch their LEO (lower Earth orbit) space stations by 2030. These privately owned and maintained space stations are supposed to replace the International Space Station, by the time the ISS is decommissioned.

The International Space Station, also known as the ISS, has been functional since the late 1990s. It is set to be decommissioned in 2030.

The Pioneer space module will be an orbiting outpost, that is designed to simulate one-sixth of the Earth’s gravity. They plan to do this by spinning around a gravity ring. Having a weightless environment on a space station would allow people to still move around “while eating or drinking out of a cup normally and sleeping without having to be attached to a bed,” according to the company’s statement. Creating artificial gravity is also a way to mitigate the detrimental health effects of microgravity on the human body.

The way the system works is that the entire unit will be surrounded by a ring-like external structure, which would rotate or spin the module. The centrifugal force that would be exerted would simulate gravitational force, and therefore a portion of the Earth’s gravity. This is called rotational simulated gravity. 

Without adequate training, humans will have extreme difficulty functioning in zero gravity. Most people also wouldn’t be able to physically cope with the lack of gravity for a prolonged period of time.

Given this has never been attempted in space on such a large scale, this seems to be a rather big leap that Orbital Assembly is going for. However, if they manage to pull this off, it would be a game-changing move for space travel and lodging.

The only thing off about this entire endeavour has to be the timeline. 2025 seems to be awfully close to being able to pull something off like this, even if Orbital Assembly are able to source the funding that they need to. Having said that, even if they are delayed by 5 years or so, they will be in a position to influence how people think of living in space for longer periods of time.

FP StaffApr 28, 2022 15:29:42 IST

Xiaomi announced the OLED Vision 55, the company’s first OLED TV that has been designed for the Indian market. The Oled 55 Vision, features a 55-inch 4K UHD panel, at a resolution of 3840X2160. Although there’s no official word about where Xiaomi has sourced this panel, it looks like it is an LG unit that most companies use at that price point.

The panel used in the television is a 10-bit panel, which covers 98.5 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour space, and operates at a fixed 60Hz refresh rate.

The television supports HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. It also supports Dolby’s Vision IQ which automatically adjusts the display’s brightness to match the ambient light present in a viewing room. The TV also comes with an IMAX enhanced certification which means consuming video content on this TV should be an awesome experience.

As for audio, you get a system of 8-driver 30W speakers, with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS X surround sound. 

Powering the TV is a MediaTek 9617 SoC with four Cortex A73 CPU cores and a Mali G52 MC1 GPU. It also features 3GB RAM + 32GB Storage. The OLED Vision 55 runs on Android TV 11, with Xiaomi’s Patchwall UI which allows users to access content from 30 different providers.

You also get 3 HDMI 2.1 ports, 2 USB ports, an ethernet port, a composite in, optical out and a headphone jack. It also has dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity. One of the HDMI ports also supports eARC. Users also get far-field microphones that will allow users to use Google Assistant or interact with other smart home devices.

Do keep in mind that although the HDMI ports have been labelled as HDMI 2.1, they have the bandwidth of HDMI 2.0 ports. Xiaomi gets to advertise them as 2.1 because of a few added features. The television supports ALLM or auto low latency mode, which puts the TV in a low-latency mode when it detects a signal from a gaming console. This feature alone allows HDMI 2.0 to be advertised as HDMI 2.1

The Xiaomi OLED Vision 55 goes on sale on the 19th of May 2022 and will be available for Rs 89,999.

FP ExplainersApr 28, 2022 17:40:25 IST

Before Elon Musk acquired Twitter, he said he did not “have confidence in [the company’s] management. He’s made his displeasure quite evident as he has gone after Vijaya Gadde, the company’s head of legal, policy, and trust & safety issues.

Responding to a tweet by a prominent podcast host who shared an article on Gadde titled ‘Twitter’s top lawyer assures staff, cries during meeting about Musk takeover’, the billionaire called the suspension of a major news organistion’s Twitter account “incredibly inappropriate”. He was referring to the company’s decision to suspend New York Post over a controversial report on United States president Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden.

pic.twitter.com/GvM0YIB2NL

— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) April 26, 2022

After responding to Saagar Enjeti, the co-host of the Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar podcast, Musk posted a meme with a photograph of Gadde and the infamous podcaster Joe Rogan, accusing Twitter of left-wing bias.

Who is Gadde? And why is Musk going after her?

The woman who banned Trump from Twitter

Enjeti described the Indian-American Twitter executive as the “top censorship advocate” at the social media company. She leads the team that moderates content on the platform and is responsible for the company’s safety policy.

An article in The Times of India says that Gadde is “the most powerful media executive you’ve ever heard of”.

The 48-year-old is responsible for some of the company’s big decisions including suspending former US president Donald Trump’s Twitter account after the US Capitol riots. She has been instrumental in shutting down conservative voices on the platform.

“The account of @realDonaldTrump has been permanently suspended from Twitter due to the risk of further violence,” she tweeted on January 9, 2021.

The decision to ban political ads on Twitter ahead of the 2020 US presidential elections was also taken by the team helmed by Gadde.

Soon after the war in Ukraine began, Twitter started labelling tweets shared by Russian state media and took steps to reduce the circulation of propaganda on the platform.

We’re expanding our labelling of state-affiliated media accounts to now label state media links shared on Twitter. This builds on our work over the last few years to label and not amplify state-affiliated media on Twitter. https://t.co/oWuf2VyXVj

— Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) February 28, 2022

The controversies

As Enjeti pointed out in his tweet, the lawyer censored the controversial story on Hunter Biden published in The New York Post. The article had alleged that Biden, son of then-presidential candidate Joe Biden, had improper connections to an executive at a Ukrainian energy firm. Twitter later reversed the move, but not before it was accused of censoring information that could have hurt a Democratic candidate, according to a Bloomberg report.

Bloomberg called Gadde the “final word” on blocking tweets and accounts on the platform.

When former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey visited India in November 2018, he kicked up a storm for holding a poster that read “smash Brahminical patriarchy”. As his photograph went viral on Twitter, some right-wing activists blamed Gadde for Dorsey’s decision. She had then apologised for the incident, saying it was not reflective of Twitter’s stand.

The ‘Left bias’ allegation

Gadde and Twitter have been accused of leaning to the left. It is what Musk reiterated in his tweet attacking the lawyer. “For Twitter to deserve public trust, it must be politically neutral, which effectively means upsetting the far right and the far left equally,” he wrote.

pic.twitter.com/1CE7rjBrNH

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 27, 2022

When Musk goes after someone his army of loyal and often rabid supporters – called Musketeers – follow. Gadde became a target of online hate with some trolls harassing her for her Indian roots, throwing racist slurs like curry and making references to the caste system in the country.

Others used expletives or derogatory language and blamed her for having “destroyed countless @Twitter accounts for speaking the truth.” Some called for her to be fired or suggested she should leave on her own. Some of the abusive tweets were later removed for violating Twitter rules, reports Bloomberg. Some of the racist comments were targeted at Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, who is also of Indian origin.

Musk is a self-proclaimed free-speech absolutist and is intolerant toward Twitter’s censorship policies. “By ‘free speech,’ I simply mean that which matches the law,” he said in a tweet Tuesday. “I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law.”

Defending Gadde

Musk’s criticism of Gadde has not gone down well with some current Twitter executives including the CEO. While Agrawal did not go all out and slam Musk, he subtly spoke in favour of his legal head. “I took this job to change Twitter for the better, course correct where we need to, and strengthen the service. Proud of our people who continue to do the work with focus and urgency despite the noise,” he wrote.

Former CEO Ev Williams also spoke up for Gadde. “Just to say, there are many defensible _nuanced_ perspectives on content moderation and, also, @vijayais one of the most thoughtful, principled people I know,” he tweeted.

Just to say, there are many defensible _nuanced_ perspectives on content moderation and, also, @vijaya is one of the most thoughtful, principled people I know.

— Ev (@ev) April 27, 2022

Dorsey, who was said to be close to Gadde, has however remained mum.

End of Gadde’s Twitter stint?

Gadde, who was born in Hyderabad, came to the US at the age of three and grew up in Texas. She studied at Cornell University and the New York University School of Law.

Prior to joining the California-based social media company, Gadde was senior director of legal at the US multinational corporation Juniper Networks. Previously, she worked for nearly a decade at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a law firm based in California. Now she is also on the boards of Guardant Health, a company dedicated to defeating cancer, Planet, a leader in the Earth observation industry, and Mercy Corps, a humanitarian aid organisation.

Gadde joined Twitter in 2011 and has taken some tough but important decisions for maintaining the sanctity of the company. But now sources say that like Agrawal, she might be on her way out once Musk’s buyout is complete.

With inputs from Twitter

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FP StaffApr 28, 2022 16:59:28 IST

Xiaomi recently launched the Pad 5 to disrupt the personal tablet that Apple has been dominating. For years now, Apple has been ruling the tablet market with various versions of their iPad, and for good reason. No other tablet has been able to crack the niche little market that Apple has made for itself.

Android tablets have generally fared poorly against Apple’s offering. The only two players who have somewhat of a decent presence in the market are Samsung and Lenovo. Clearly, when it comes to tablets, people prefer to stick with Apple. The last tablet from Xiaomi themselves was released about three years ago.

Xiaomi hopes to revamp its tablet business in India with its Pad 5. The Pad 5 comes with a 10.9-inch WQHD+ display, with an aspect ratio of 16:10, as opposed to the usual 3:2 aspect ratio of most iPads. The display also supports a refresh rate of 120Hz.

Driving the device is a Snapdragon 860 chipset and 6GB RAM across all variants, and offers up to 256GB of storage. Powering the unit is an 8,720 mAh battery, which supports up to 22.5W charging. The Pad 5 runs on Android 11 with Xiaomi’s MIUI Global 12.5.2.

The tablet has been designed keeping content consumption in mind, hence the 16:10 aspect ratio. To make it friendlier for content consumption, the Pad 5 gets a quad-speaker set up that has been tuned by Harmon Kardon.

As for cameras, the Pad 5 comes with a 13MP main shooter at the back and an 8MP front-facing camera for video calling. Expecting these cameras to take breathtaking and stunning photos and videos wouldn’t be wise.

For connectivity, the Pad 5 carries a USB-C port. The device also supports WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and an IR Blaster for wireless connectivity.

Xiaomi is also bringing along the Xiaomi Smart Pen Stylus and Keyboard Case as a separate purchase.

There will be two variants of the Pad 5 available to the public, starting the May 3. The first variant will be a 6GB + 128GB which will be available for Rs 26,999. The second variant is a  6GB + 256GB unit, which will be available for Rs 28,999. Xiaomi is also be making the device available at an introductory discounted price of Rs 24,999 and Rs 26,999 till May 7. Potential customers can also expect a few bank deals to be available, depending on the outlets they go for.

In many sectors of modern life, technology has made things easier (we’re looking at you robot lawn mower). But when it comes to travel, it can be a little more complicated these days to get where you’re going without having to open multiple emails, scan multiple bar codes, and use your phone’s navigation feature to figure out how to get where you need to be. The TripIt app attempts to make all of this easier for you by aggregating your travel information in one place. And the free version of the app certainly does that. But to make TripIt really sing, you will likely want to upgrade. 

When you sign up for a free TripIt account, you’ll be asked whether or not you want to populate the app automatically as your travel confirmations hit your inbox, which you can do if you have a GMail, Yahoo or Outlook mail account. Say yes, and the app will scan your email box every 24 hours and add any flight, hotel or car reservations it detects. If you don’t want the auto-fill feature to work, all you need to do is forward any confirmations you receive to [email protected] and they will automatically be added to your itinerary. If that still feels too nosey, you can also enter trip details manually. 

You can access your itineraries from the main screen, and when you click into an upcoming trip, all your data will be displayed in a list organized by the time of the events involved in your travel. TripIt makes it easy to share your plans with a click or a tap and offers some fun additional features like integration with your maps app and a summary of how much your trip will cost.

While those are all handy features, upgrading to TripIt Pro juices things up a bit.

One of the biggest challenges to modern travel is the fact that schedules are often changed due to delays. In the basic TripIt app, you won’t be automatically alerted to these changes, so you’ll still have to monitor things through the individual providers’ apps or websites, which kind of defeats the purpose of having TripIt in the first place. 

Upgrading to Pro, which costs $49 per year integrates automatic schedule changes. 

The Pro level will also let you know if the price of your flight has changed after you book or even if a better seat becomes available, and it will send automatic schedule changes to your “Inner Circle,” a group of people you choose to share your plans with. It also sends check-in reminders, shows the wait times at security gates, tells you where to get your bags, helps you navigate the airport itself, and even gives you a bit of country-specific travel information.

If you only travel occasionally, the free version of TripIt can certainly make things easier for you. Having an at-a-glance itinerary is certainly nice, and being easily able to share your plans is handy. If, however, you take more than a few trips a year, the Pro version seems worth the extra $50 per year – if for nothing else than having the peace-of-mind of knowing that you’ll get instant alerts to any changes in gates, flight times, or other glitches in your schedule. Both apps are available in desktop and mobile versions for Macs and PCs.

 Download TripIt Here

FP StaffApr 27, 2022 12:47:34 IST

People who follow the development of Google’s Android OS are in for a treat. A Beta version of the upcoming Android 13 was released to a handful of Pixel devices earlier this week, which showcased some of the new functionalities and features that are coming to the OS.

Users who were expecting some major changes will be a little disappointed. The changes and tweaks are mainly geared to provide quality-of-life additions to last year’s massive Android 12 overhaul, as expected.

A New Media Player Notification

The new media notification now has a unique playback bar. Instead of a basic line, which shows the progress, you see a squiggly line based on the eq levels of the song. The portion in front of the player’s head remains to be a flat line. This makes it a lot easier to see how much of a track, podcast or any other audio-based media has been consumed, making it easier for users to track.

Screenshot-like clipboard notifications

A new screenshot-like menu with all the options for a clipboard will now start popping up in the bottom-left corner of your display when you copy a piece of text, just like when you normally take a screenshot. Also, when you tap the new edit icon, a new menu will pop up that shows you what app or UI sections are available to use the copied text in.

Controlling smart devices from the lock-screen

The display section in the Settings app now, allows you to remove the need to unlock your phone to control your smart-devices home. This means that now, you can adjust your Google-home connected lights and other devices.

Pixel Launcher search reverts to the old Google app search

The Pixel launcher search bar now has reverted to an older version, in which it was just using the Google widget. This version included the Google Lens, a shortcut for the Google App, and the voice search button. Now, when you open up the app drawer, Google’s search bar will let you search for apps, but it will prioritize internet search results instead of apps and settings.

Increased Material You colour options

The overhauled Material You UI relies heavily on your wallpaper to set up a theme for your phone. You can also opt not to use your wallpaper’s colour for the theme, and instead go for a handful of available themes. Google has expanded the colour options that are available for the themes. You can choose from 16 different options within the two sections. These additions are multi-toned.

If you prefer using the default colour schemes, and even these have a lot of options, which are based on different hues.

Minor UI Tuning

There are several minor tweaks to the UI that enhance the user experience by a mile. 

Google Calendar, for example, now shows the correct date, just like the clock app, instead of the number “31.”

Priority Mode, which has been a source of contention for a lot of users, has now been renamed back to Do Not Disturb. The term ‘Priority Mode’ was a bit confusing, especially given how it functioned more like a slightly tweaked ‘Do Not Disturb Mode.’

We also see haptic feedback returning in the Silent mode. Users won’t feel vibrations when scrolling through the Recents menu. In all other areas, such as typing or tapping, you’ll get vibration-based feedback. You’re also able to access the sound and vibration menu to adjust the strength of haptics and vibrations for alarms, and touch feedback.

FP ExplainersApr 27, 2022 15:01:51 IST

As slim as they may be, there are some chances that Elon Musk might have to abandon Twitter’s takeover bid. The acquisition of Twitter is going to be a long drawn process, during which a lot of things can go wrong.

On the face of it, it seems all but certain that Elon Musk will be the new owner of Twitter, and that one of his companies, X Holdings, will be acquiring Twitter, by the 24th of October this year. However, between now and then, there are a number of hurdles that may trip Musk and derail his bid to take over Twitter. 

And if Musk or Twitter for that matter decide to pull out of the takeover bid under certain conditions, one will have to pay the other a withdrawal fee of $1 Billion. We a look at some of the biggest issues that Musk and his team might face.

Shareholders May Not Agree

We begin with the unlikeliest of scenarios. Yes, the board of directors have accepted Musk’s bud, but they still need the approval of their shareholders. If the majority of the shareholders agree with the proposal that the board of directors present them with, i.e. of $54.20 per share, then the company will be sold to Musk, and then delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. If the majority of the shoulders vote against selling their stocks, the sale of the company will not be going through. Given that Musk’s offer for each share contains a small but still significant premium, most shareholders are likely to sell their holdings.

FTC, SEC Or Other Regulatory Agencies Intervening

This wouldn’t be unprecedented. Several government agencies have blocked mergers and takeover bids in the past, citing a variety of issues. These agencies have the power to shut down the takeover bid, even if they get just a hint of misappropriation or fraud.

Musk anyway has a tumultuous relationship with the SEC, or the Securities and Exchange Commission, and has been charged with fraud before.

Twitter Getting A Better Offer

Another unlikely, but still plausible scenario, is that the board of directors at Twitter, get a better offer. In such a scenario, they will have to allow Musk to make a counteroffer. However, if the board finds the counteroffer not satisfactory, they can pull out of the deal. In such a scenario, Twitter will have to pay Musk a withdrawal fee of $1 Billion.

Surprising Discoveries During Due Diligence

The reason why the takeover will take a long time is that Musk and his team will be going over Twitter’s finances, business dealings, and a number of other aspects, with a fine-toothed comb. In case they find any irregularities that may come to haunt Musk and X Holdings, they have the right to pull out of the deal.

The Platform Undergoing A Massive Shift

This is where things get a little tricky. The platform will obviously be undergoing a massive change, with several users leaving and several other users coming back to the platform. Just the announcement of Musk buying up Twitter saw hundreds of thousands of account deactivations which have been all organic, according to Twitter.

Plus, there is also the issue of bots. In case during discovery, it is found that the number of real users that Twitter claims it has is significantly bloated, Musk can step away from the deal, without any consequences. 

Tesla’s Performance

Ever since news broke that Twitter’s board of directors had accepted Musk’s bid to buy Twitter, Tesla’s stock has dropped by 10 per cent. Now, given the volatility of the US market, a movement like this can be expected. The issue is that it hasn’t been able to rally upwards ever since the fall, not in any significant manner at least.

Invariably, if Tesla’s stocks continue to fall, Musk may have to revisit his bid to take over Twitter. In such a scenario, Musk will have to pay the withdrawal fee.

It will be interesting to see how the takeover process plays out. What will be more interesting, is whether Musk continues to tweet details about the acquisition, as it goes along.

FP ExplainersApr 27, 2022 16:55:26 IST

One of the best uses of smartphones on Android is the ability to record calls. Many people will attest to the fact that the ability to record calls has saved their lives on a number of occasions. This is especially true for journalists or people in similar professions, for whom taking notes on a simple paper with a pen, wasn’t an option.

The Crackdown
Now, though, all that is about to end for Google is updating its policy that ensures third-party call recording apps will longer be supported by the Play Store, by denying access to its Accessibility API, starting from May 11.

The reason that Google gave for this policy update, was that the Accessibility API was only meant to be used by developers to build apps for people with disabilities to access their devices.

Has Been Restricting Call Recording Capabilities For Years
Ever since 2015, Google has been restricting Android’s ability to record calls. With Android 6, Google blocked access to real call recording, by removing Android’s call recording API. With Android 10, Google disabled the ability to call records over the microphone. This took place back in 2019.

Using the Accessibility API was basically a loophole, which Google had ignored for some time now, Well, that is until this year.

Google Protecting Itself
The main reason why Google needs to shut down any system that allows a user to record a call on his or her Android device is because of the laws and regulations of various states in the US, where it is based. 

In the US, Federal law only requires one party (generally the recorded) to consent to a conversation being recorded. However, there are several state laws that contradict this. Google has decided to play it safe, and stay on the side of the law in all jurisdictions.

As per the policy update, Google will be targeting apps that record calls without alerting the person on the other end of the call (i.e the person being recorded). However, even if an app does notify all parties before recording, it still will not be able to use the Accessibility API, they will have to go about it some other way.

Grey Areas
Having banned all third-party apps, Google will still allow users to record calls if the phone has a native call recording feature. In other words, if you have been using the Google Phone app, you will still be able to record calls.

This opens up another pandora’s box for users who need to use the feature rather regularly. The only viable alternative option in such a scenario is that a user uses an app that uses three-way calling. Here, an app adds a third party to the call, usually a bot, which records the conversation. Not only are such apps expensive, but they also cannot be trusted to store your audio data in a legitimate manner.

The ConversationApr 27, 2022 10:48:02 IST

Elon Musk is the planet’s number one billionaire. If anyone can turn cyberspace into a heaven – or hell – of free speech “absolutism” via a US$44 billion (£35 billion) Twitter takeover, then surely he’s the man. Right?

When free-market elephants like Musk or Jeff Bezos (who bought the Washington Post in 2013) take charge of major mass-media outlets, concerns are raised about the direction of free speech, which remains the essential ingredient of democratic participation.

This feeds into wider concerns around the ever-increasing privatisation of public spaces. In the online age, the fact that we spend so much of our time in private spaces earning advertising revenues for billionaires is seen by many as an affront to human dignity. The Twitter deal may only move ownership from one set of private hands to another, but the fact that the world’s richest (and controversial) billionaire is involved seems to make it worse.

Also read: ELON MUSK’S PLANS FOR TWITTER COULD MAKE ITS MISINFORMATION PROBLEMS WORSE

But the reality is more complex. The nostalgic idyll of free speech is that once upon a time there was a “town hall” or “public square”, where citizens would come together as equals to debate the issues of the day. Every idea could be freely aired because an enlightened citizenry would sift truth from falsehood, good from evil.

The people’s elected representatives would then proceed to reach conclusions faithful to the “will of the people” and would frame wise laws accordingly. Those images of a town hall or public square are assumed to be public in the full sense – they are freely open to all, and no private citizens own them.

In fact, no such arenas have ever existed, at least not in modern democracies. In years gone by, blasphemy laws in many western nations placed restrictions on people’s abilities to speak with candour about what was, at the time, far greater church influence over public policy. More importantly, women, ethnic minorities, colonised people and others often enjoyed nothing like the prerogatives to speak out without fear in the public forum, let alone as equal citizens.

Yet myths often contain a grain of truth. There can be no question that protest and dissent which used to take place in public spaces has now largely shifted to online media platforms that are owned and operated by private companies. (We do still have street demonstrations, yet even they rely upon online publicity to swell their numbers.)

Public power

Yet if we should not underestimate the power of private media interests, neither should we overestimate it. Almost the same day as Musk’s Twitter deal broke, the European Union announced it would adopt a Digital Services Act.

This will vastly increase the bloc’s powers to restrict content that promotes terrorism, child sex abuse, hate speech (which the EU has tended to define in broad terms), disinformation, commercial fraud, and other speech that poses problems for individual safety or democratic society.

I should say, as I have written elsewhere, that I disagree with several elements of the EU law, and of similar UK rules, but that is not the point here. The point is that even Musk’s billions will not shield him.

He can go ahead and fire all Twitter’s speech monitors if he wants to, but it will not be long before he needs to rehire them. For each of the categories of content that are covered in the EU law, hefty fines can be levied for breaches, so the only way to avoid the fines would be to continue doing monitoring.

In fact, why were these monitors ever hired in the first place? It was not because Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other online platforms started out with a profound social conscience.

Quite the contrary: they started out very much as the supposed free speech absolutists that Musk now fancies himself to be. As American companies, they assumed they would follow free speech law as set down under the first amendment to the US constitution.

Since the 1960s, the US supreme court has construed the first amendment to allow more provocative speech than other nations have allowed. Nonetheless, and contrary to popular belief, even US law is by no means absolutist about free speech and never has been. Loads of speech is regulated, such as restricted military data, professional confidentiality agreements and details of jury proceedings, to cite only a few among many examples.

As I explained in my 2016 book, Hate Speech and Democratic Citizenship, no society has ever permitted absolute free speech, and nor is that something that any legal system would ever have the means to sustain. Our arguments about regulation are always about degree, and never all or nothing.

Unsurprisingly, the first-amendment bubble of the big US online media platforms quickly burst. Given their global reach, they are subject to the laws of all nations in which they operate.

Once the EU started cracking down, these companies were suddenly hiring legions of online monitors. And the new EU laws – completed before Musk’s takeover was even in the works – show that countries hosting key markets can bear down even harder.

The coming showdowns will therefore not be between dictatorial censorship in the one corner and free speech absolutism in the other. They will be between business and governments. And as Elon Musk will soon be aware if he is not already, plenty of governments seem up for the fight.

Eric Heinze, Professor of Law, Queen Mary University of London. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Mehul DasApr 26, 2022 16:56:23 IST

With Elon Musk acquiring Twitter for $44 Billion and stating that there will be a whirlwind of changes coming to the micro-blogging site, several prominent users of the platform have expressed their interest to see how Musk goes about running the social media platform. Many of these users have hailed this to be a great moment for freedom of speech, and believe Musk will revolutionise how people think of social media.

Having said that, there have been a few naysayers as well, who believe that it will be difficult for Musk to do anything meaningful with Twitter. One of the most prominent names among the naysayers has been Jeff Bezos, who believes that because of Tesla’s proximity to China, Twitter may now be censoring anti-Chinese news and speech.

However, Twitter’s co-founder and former CEO, Jack Dorsey believe that if there is one individual who can take Twitter back to its glory days, it is Elon Musk. 

Jack believes that although Twitter should be owned by the people who use it, of late it had been taken hostage by Wall Street and advertisements. He also believed that Twitter was never supposed to be a company, but a service that was rendered to the people. He took to Twitter, saying that taking it back from Wall Street and advertisers, is the first step in the right direction

The idea and service is all that matters to me, and I will do whatever it takes to protect both. Twitter as a company has always been my sole issue and my biggest regret. It has been owned by Wall Street and the ad model. Taking it back from Wall Street is the correct first step.

— jack⚡️ (@jack) April 26, 2022

Jack further added, that if indeed Twitter was supposed to be run as a company, Elon Musk was the ‘Singular Solution’ that he trusts.

In principle, I don’t believe anyone should own or run Twitter. It wants to be a public good at a protocol level, not a company. Solving for the problem of it being a company however, Elon is the singular solution I trust. I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness.

— jack⚡️ (@jack) April 26, 2022

Earlier in the thread, he said that “Twitter is the closest thing we have to a global consciousness.” A significant part of Twitter’s user base had been wondering over the past month whether or not Musk will actually buy the company, and if he indeed did, what would that entail.

Dorsey also took the moment to thank both, Elon, and Parag Agrawal, Twitter’s current CEO, for steering Twitter out of “an impossible situation,” and setting the company up on the “right path”

Elon’s goal of creating a platform that is “maximally trusted and broadly inclusive” is the right one. This is also @paraga’s goal, and why I chose him. Thank you both for getting the company out of an impossible situation. This is the right path…I believe it with all my heart.

— jack⚡️ (@jack) April 26, 2022

Musk surprised the world when on the 14th of April, he announced to the world that he would like to take over Twitter, and offered $43 Billion as his “final & only” offer. He eventually bought the company for $44 Billion.

FP ExplainersApr 26, 2022 17:37:21 IST

It’s official! Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, is buying Twitter. He has used the social media platform, where he has more than 84 million followers, to shape his public persona – he riles people up, and when he wants to he gets all jokey. Now he wants to transform Twitter.

Musk has big plans for the site, which he believes is not living up to its potential as a free-speech platform. “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” said Musk in a statement when the deal was announced Monday.

The billionaire who calls himself a “free speech absolutist” wants his worst critics to continue tweeting on the micro-blogging website which he believes is extremely “important for the future of civilisation”.

He wants to make Twitter a friendlier place for free expression by “being cautious about” permanent bans. “A social media platform’s policies are good if the most extreme 10% on left and right are equally unhappy,” he tweeted Tuesday.

A social media platform’s policies are good if the most extreme 10% on left and right are equally unhappy

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 19, 2022

But it’s one thing to tom-tom about free speech and another to take criticism in your stride. We take a look a Musk’s track record.

Firing employees

If the Tesla CEO’s employees and critics are to be believed his “free speech” claims are nothing but a farce. Leave aside defending their right to speak up, Musk has in the past stifled it, slapping people with lawsuits and finding a way to punish them for their condemnation. He has fired employees who have disagreed with him.

John Bernal, a former Telsa employee was sacked, after he posted YouTube reviews of the car’s autopilot function on his channel. The video showed his Tesla hitting a billboard.

Before the dismissal, Bernal was told by his managers that he “broke Tesla policy” and that his YouTube channel was a “conflict of interest”. However, the written separation notice did not specify a reason for his firing.

“Seems @elonmusk is a free speech absolutist… unless it involves safety concerns IMO,” he wrote on Twitter on Monday.

Seems @elonmusk is a free speech absolutist… unless it involves safety concerns IMO ‍ https://t.co/QWV5JFukOc

— Aiaddict (@Aiaddict1) March 25, 2022

In a video posted earlier this month, Bernal said, “I was fired from Tesla in February with my YouTube being cited as the reason why. Even though my uploads are from my personal vehicle off company time or property with the software I paid for.”

Bernal is not the only one who has paid a heavy price for censuring Tesla. Cristina Balan was fired from the company after she raised alarms about the safety of vehicles. That’s not all. The company also started leaking misinformation about her to the press. Balan, who has filed a defamation suit against Tesla, told The Times, “Musk is an absolutist about absolutism, which is the exact opposite of free speech.”

The Tesla Motors CEO has fired employees who have been critical of the company. AFP

Going after journalists, critics

Those who are not working with Telsa but are engaging with the company as customers or journalists are far from safe.

It requires customers testing the full self-driving technology to sign nondisclosure agreements that say they should “selectively” choose what they post to YouTube because “there are a lot of people that want Tesla to fail”, reports LA Times.

A journalist, who did not give rave views to the Tesla Model X launch event, was called by Musk and had their order for the vehicle cancelled.

Things didn’t go well for an unnamed investor, who goes by the moniker “Montana Skeptic”, when he predicted that Tesla’s stock would tank. Musk found out who he was, called his company, and threatened to sue.

Skeptic decided to deactivate his Twitter account and stopped writing about Tesla. “My response to his [Musk’s} threats was simply to protect my employer and preserve my employment,” he wrote in a blog.

‘Not a guy you want to cross’

Musk’s alleged intolerance extends beyond Tesla. After cave rescue driver Vernon Unsworth said that Musk sending engineers and subamarine to rescue stranded children in Thailand was a “PR student”, the entrepreneur called the man a “pedo” (paedophile) on Twitter. He hired a private investigator to prove his accusation and called the man a “child rapist” in an email to a BuzzFeed reporter.

Unsworth sued Musk but lost the case. His lawyers argued that a reasonable person should not take his tweets seriously.

Musk “is willing to go to great lengths to punish or retaliate against people who speak ill of him,” Ed Niedermeyer, who struggled to find sources to talk to him, even off the record, for his book on Tesla, told LA Times. Sources who did contact the writer told him “Elon Musk is not a guy you want to cross”.

Elon Musk is one of Twitter’s most-followed personalities with more than 84 million followers. AP

The malicious MuskBros

Musk has vowed to “defeat the spam bots or die trying”. Ironically, many of his and Tesla’s millions of followers are bots.

If our twitter bid succeeds, we will defeat the spam bots or die trying!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 21, 2022

He also has a dedicated fan base that is known to viciously attack and troll people online, and even run dedicated campaigns against them if they have anything unsavoury to say about Tesla or its owner. They often dox people for having views that are not favourable to either.

Musk’s fans who revere him are “known for haranguing people they believe have crossed him, journalists especially, with relentless fervour,” writes The Verge in an article titled ‘The Gospel of Elon Musk, According to his Flock’.

If Musk hits out at the media over negative publicity, his fans follow. They continue to attack those singled out by the entrepreneur for days. Some of the toxic fan base do not hesitate to target women.

“…there is an army —mostly young, mostly white, almost entirely men—that marches behind him. These MuskBros, as we call them, make it their mission to descend on women who criticise Musk, and tear them to pieces. I know, because it has happened to me. More than once,” wrote journalist Erin Baba in The Daily Beast.

Musk might call himself the poster boy of free speech but evidence suggests otherwise.

With inputs from agencies

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FP TrendingApr 26, 2022 11:20:01 IST

Tesla CEO Elon Musk struck a deal on Monday to buy social media giant Twitter for $44 billion. In a statement released on the microblogging platform, the world’s richest man stated that he wants to make Twitter “better than ever”.

Twitter’s sale to Musk will see the company become private. The shares of the social media giant had reportedly halted for a while on Monday, amid reports of the deal. NASDAQ ended higher after the announcement. Shares of Twitter also jumped 5.6 percent after the news broke.

As the news about Musk’s takeover of Twitter dominates the headlines, let’s take a look at mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector that shook the world:

Elon Musk buys Twitter ($44 billion):

The deal is expected to be one of the biggest mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector, with Musk acquiring Twitter for $54.20 a share. The price is 38 percent over the company’s stock close on 1 April this year.

Yahoo buys Tumblr ($1.1 billion):
In 2013, Yahoo bought social media platform Tumblr for $1.1 billion. However, six years later, the blogging social network was sold to the owner of WordPress for an undisclosed amount, according to reports.

Microsoft buys Yammer ($1.2 billion)  
Social media platform Yammer was purchased by Microsoft for $1.2 billion in 2012. The platform is now part of Microsoft 365 enterprise suite and is only accessible to business users who have access to a Microsoft 365 Enterprise plan.

Twitter buys Vine ($970 million):
The social media giant acquired the short video making website for $970 million in 2012. According to A TechCrunch report, the platform became the number 1 app on the iTunes app store six months after it was acquired by Twitter. At one point, Vine boasted of over 200 million active users. However, the platform soon declined due to stiff competition from other social media platforms.
It was shut down by Twitter in 2016.

Facebook buys WhatsApp ($19 billion):

The social media giant acquired messaging service Whatsapp for a sum of $19 billion in 2014. According to a Reuters report, the company paid WhatsApp $12 billion in stock, $4 billion in cash and $3billion in restricted stock that vests over several years.
The messaging app is still owned by the social media giant.

Facebook buys Instagram ($1 billion):

Facebook (now Meta) bought the photo and video sharing platform for $ 1 billion. An email exchange between Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and former Chief financial Officer David Ebersman revealed that the company was acquired as it was seen as a ‘threat’. Instagram is part of Meta, Facebook’s parent company.

Google buys YouTube ($1.65 billion):

Google purchased YouTube way back in 2006. The video sharing platform is one of the most popular social media applications now and remains one of the most visited websites.

Google buys Fitbit ($2.1 billion):

Google bought Fitbit for $2.1 billion in an all-cash deal in 2019. According to TechCrunch, the move was part of Google’s entry into the wearables sector, which was dominated by rival Apple.

Apple buys Beats by Dre ($3 billion):

Apple acquired Beats Electronics (maker of popular headphones) and subscription streaming music service Beats Music for $3 billion, including $400 million in restricted stock. Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre also joined Apple, according to a press release by the company.

Google buys Nest ($3.2 billion)

Google purchased Nest in 2014 for $3.2 billion in cash. The acquisition of the smart thermostat maker was part of Google’s efforts to boost its own range of smart devices.

Microsoft buys Nokia ($7.2 billion)

Microsoft bought Nokia’s phone business in 2013. But the $7.2 billion deal failed and two years later, the company wrote off the business and cut down several thousand jobs.

PayPal buys Honey ($4 billion)

The payments company brought the online shopping deal service for $4 billion in 2019. This remains Paypal’s biggest acquisition to date.

Microsoft buys GitHub ($7.5 billion)

Github, the open-source software development and code hosting platform was acquired by Microsoft in 2018. The deal, which cost $7.5 billion, was made by Microsoft to “strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation,” according to a press release.

Microsoft buys Skype ($8.5 billion)

Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion back in 2011. The video conferencing platform saw a huge rise in users after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, before it was overshadowed by the popularity of Zoom.

Microsoft buys LinkedIn ($26.2 billion)

Microsoft also bought LinkedIn for an all-cash deal in 2016 for $196 per share. The $26.2 billion deal saw the tech giant acquire one of the biggest professional networking and job search websites.

FP StaffApr 25, 2022 14:21:37 IST

Apple has decided to remove “older and outdated” apps from App Store. In an email titled ”App Improvement Notice”, which was delivered to iOS & macOS developers, Apple has stated that they will be removing apps that haven’t been updated by developers “in a significant amount of time.”

Ever since they received the email, developers have been taking to Twitter to call out Apple about this new policy, and why it can be harmful to small scale developers. The main reason why Apple wants developers to update their app, is so that they can port their apps to Apple’s latest APIs. Their reasoning is, that the newer versions of the apps based on the new APIs would improve the user experience on its newer devices.

Apple has been dealing with several allegations and cases of anti-competitive behaviour, with the most renowned of all of them being the Epic vs. Apple case. Several app developers have complained that although Apple has given some developers to port their apps to the new API,  certain app developers who have been vocal about their disdain of Apple’s policies have had their apps removed without any warning. 

One developer, Protopop Games, who has the username “protopop” on Twitter, has pointed out that between the various different platforms and different APIs, it becomes almost impossible for independent app developers to develop and maintain the app on so many different platforms.

I feel sick. Apple just sent me an email saying they’re removing my free game Motivoto because its more than 2 years old.

It’s part of their App improvement system.

This is not cool. Console games from 2000 are still available for sale.

This is an unfair barrier to indie devs. pic.twitter.com/7XNcLfiEcR

— Protopop Games (@protopop) April 23, 2022

He also pointed out that even a yearly update has the potential to disrupt and break an app so badly that it fails to run, which would basically mean users stop using the app for good.

Now I am expected, along with Google’s new program, to update all of my games every 2 years even if nothing is wrong with them.

Even yearly Unity updates break project so badly they won’t run. This is not an insignificant challenge and adds undue stress.

— Protopop Games (@protopop) April 23, 2022

Another user, “erasmolbj” has pointed out that some of Apple’s own apps haven’t been updated for years.

https://t.co/vYGd9pIPs3

— EBellumat #useVPN (@erasmolbj) April 23, 2022

Independent app developers work on a tight budget and obviously, cannot upgrade their machines every year, when Apple announces a new MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro. One other devious thing that Apple has implemented here is the programme that developers need in order to port their older apps into the newer API, which can only run macOS 10.12.6, or newer. Any system that cannot be upgraded to this version of the OS, cannot be used.

Mehul DasApr 25, 2022 16:08:01 IST

At one point or the other, everyone has thought of installing a security camera inside their houses. What puts off many people is the cost associated with setting up a bunch of CCTV cameras and then keeping all the footage that they record.

Well, you don’t need to buy an expensive home surveillance system and a bunch of CCTV cameras to keep your house secure. Thanks to a ton of free apps on both, the App Store and the Google PlayStore, you can actually use your old phones as a makeshift CCTV camera, and install them yourself using a few simple, DIY tricks.

Step 1: Choose A Security Camera App & Install It.

There are a ton of options to choose from, but ideally, you should go for something that supports cross-platform functionality, has features like local and cloud streaming, recording and storing footage locally or over the cloud, and can detect motion and send alerts.

We chose to go with “Alfred DIY CCTV Home Camera” because it has over 500,000 reviews, has over 1 Crore downloads and is highly rated. Also, setting up the phone with Alfred is super easy.

1. Download the app on both the devices, the phone you intend to use as a camera, and the phone that you carry with you.
2. On your daily driver, complete the introduction and tap “Start.” Then, select “Viewer” and tap “Next.”
3. Here, you’ll need to sign in. We suggest you sign in using your Google Account, as it makes things easier.
4. On the old phone that is supposed to be the CCTV camera, repeat the entire process. But, instead of tapping the “Viewer” option, tap on “Camera.” Ensure that you’re logged in using the same Google account. 

You’re all done now. You can play around with the settings to turn on motion sensors, audio recording, and whether to send you a notification if something suspicious happens. No matter what app you use, the setup process is similar and can be dealt with in a jiffy.

Step 2: Positioning Your Camera

Now that you have your security stream running, you’ll have to set the camera up, physically, at a place that gives you the best vantage point. Choose a shelf that is placed at a height, which can show you the view of most of your room. Ensure that the field of view includes the entrances to your room, and where you keep your valuables. Keep on checking your new device to see just what view are you getting exactly. Ensure that the camera doesn’t stand out Also, see to it that the phone is securely connected to the WiFi, and has a strong connection.

Step 3: Mounting Your Device & Powering It

There are literally a ton of ways you can go about this. You can use one of those suction cup phone mounts that are used in cars, or, you can use mini-tripods that are designed for phones. 

To power your device, ensure that you have a long charging cable for your phone. Ideally, it would be best if you use something that has a removable battery. That way, you can power the device using just the power cable. If you don’t have a phone with a removable battery, you will have to switch the device and power the device off, whenever it is not being used.

You can also use a shorter cable, and power your device using a power bank. Make sure that it has at least 3-4 times as much as the rated capacity as your phone’s battery, as streaming footage is a power-intensive activity.

That’s it. That’s how you set up a very effective security system using a few DIY tricks, under a tight budget. You can actually set up a number of different mobiles on the same WiFI network and account, and can get a pretty comprehensive coverage of your house.