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Posts published in “Technology”

Apple announces “It’s Glow Time” iPhone 16 Event this Sept 9th

Apple has announce their iPhone 16 Event this 9th of September at at 8 p.m. Riyadh Time. The company is expected to announce the next generation of iPhone 16 as well as provide more information on the Apple Intelligence as well as Apple Silicon, Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4.

The event will be held at the Apple Park and you can watch the live stream of the event from Apple’s website, the Apple TV app and Apple’s official YouTube channel. You can also come back here and watch the live stream from the embedded video below.

Instagram now allows you to add music to your profile

Instagram just added the “ADD MUSIC TO YOUR PROFILE” feature, an option that will give users the ability to add a 30-second portion of your favorite song.

To add music to your profile, you can go to EDIT PROFILE then go down to ADD MUSIC TO YOUR PROFILE section, from there you will be able to search for and select a track from the available licensed music on Instagram’s library which is also available for Reels or posts. Once you have selected your music, you can select which 30-second-long portion of the song you want to add. Once done, you will see the music that you added with the play button on your profile.

Instagram’s “ADD MUSIC TO YOUR PROFILE” feature is reminiscence of the early days of the social media networks where you can “hack” the CSS and even add music of your profile even if the feature is not available. This feature is not available to the web version of Instagram.

Asus ROG Ally X now in the Philippines

Asus has finally launch the ROG Ally X in the country. Asus ROG Ally X is the company’s (2nd) entry to the handheld gaming PC market.

The Asus ROG Ally X is a handheld gaming console with a 7-inch, 1920×1080 120Hz IPS LCD touchscreen, powered by an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and AMD Radeon RDNA 3 graphics. Its 7-inch display features a 120Hz refresh rate, 7ms response time, and 500 nits brightness. The console also has a 1TB M.2 SSD (2280), 24GB of RAM (LPDDR5) and a 80Wh (4-cell Li-ion) battery.

The Asus ROG Ally X comes with a controller and a power brick, and is pre-installed with Windows 11. The ROG Ally X also has a Zero Gravity thermal system and dual fans to keep it cool and quiet while gaming. You can checkout the full specs of the ROG Ally X here.

The Asus ROG Ally X will retail for ₱56,995 and available in all ROG official store partners nationwide.

HONOR to officially launch the Magic V3 at the IFA 2024

Honor will officially launch the Magic V3, their upcoming foldable phone at this year’s IFA in Berlin, Germany on the 5th of September. Aside from the Magic V3, Honor will also be announcing the MagicPad 2 and the MagicBook Art 14, a tablet and a notebook, respectively.

The Honor Magic V3 is the sucessor to the company’s Magic V2, claim to be the “thinnest and lightest AI foldable smartphone” in the market. It features a 7.92 inches (unfolded) and 6.43 inches (folded) OLED screen. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and Adreno 750 GPU. The Magic V3 will have 12GB ram and 512GB storage, running MagicOS 8.0.1 (Based on Android 14).

It’s triple rear-camera system of 40MP Ultra Wide Camera, 50MP Wide Camera and 50MP Telephoto Lens Camera will support up to 4K video recording while its two front camera of 20MP Wide Camera, one while folded and another while folded, will support 5120×3840 pixels image resolution and up to 4k video recording as well.

The whole device will be powered by a 5150mAh lithium polymer battery with HONOR 66W supercharge charge and support for 50W wireless HONOR supercharge. As for the nitty gritty specs of the phone, you can checkout the full specs here or the table below;


HONOR Magic V3 Specs;

  • Display: 7.92 inches (inner)/ 6.43 inches (outer) OLED, 2344×2156 Pixels (inner)/ 2376×1060 Pixels (outer), 1.07 billion colors, DCI-P3 wide color gamut
  • Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Octa-core
  • GPU: Adreno 750
  • RAM:12GB
  • Storage: 512GB
  • OS: MagicOS 8.0.1 (Based on Android 14)
  • Rear Camera:
  • 40MP Ultra Wide Camera (f/2.2)
  • 50MP Wide Camera (f/1.6, OIS)
  • 50MP Telephoto Lens Camera (f/3.0, OIS)
  • Front Camera:
  • 20MP Wide Camera (f/2.2) (Interior screen)
  • 20MP Wide Camera (f/2.2) (Exterior screen)
  • Battery: 5150mAh Lithium polymer battery with HONOR 66W SuperCharge Charger and support for 50W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge
  • Cellular Network: 5G/4G+/4G/3G/2G
  • Dual SIM Support for nano SIM and eSim each
  • Connectivity and Location: Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3, IR Remote Control, GPS(L1+L5) /AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou(B1I+B1C+B2a)/Galileo(E1 + E5a) /QZSS (L1 + L5)
  • Sensors: Gravity Sensor, Infrared Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyroscope, Compass, Hall sensor, Barometer sensor, Color temperature sensor, NFC, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor
  • Water and Dust Resistance: IPX8
  • Dimensions HxWxD: 156.6 mm x 74.0 mm (fodled)/145.3 mm (unfolded) x 9.2 mm (folded)/4.35mm (unfolded)
  • Weight: 226g (Black) / 230 g (Others)
  • Colors: Reddish Brown, Green and Black

Putting the hardware aside, the Honor Magic V3 will also feature a number of AI features, which the company have summarize in this video that they released;

The Honor Magic V3 is available in three colors; Reddish Brown, Green and Black. Honor is hinting that will it will be on sale on the 5th of Sept but it’s unclear on how much the phone will be.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G now in Saudi Arabia

Xiaomi Saudi Arabia has announced that the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G is now available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The two new tablets was officially announced earlier this week. Both the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G have identical specs except for the Wifi and 4G capabilities.

In a nutshell, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is a mid-level tablet that’s perfect for first time tablet buyers and looking for the perfect balance of performance and entertainment. Here are the pricing for the two tablets from Jarir;

Redmi Pad SE 8.7 (Wifi)

  • 6GB + 128GB – SAR 549.00

Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G

  • 6GB + 128GB – SAR 599.00

You can checkout the specs comparison for the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G;

Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G
Display 8.7″ LCD, 1340×800 resolution, 5:3 aspect ratio, up to 90Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits (Outdoor) brightness, 84.41% screen-to-body ratio. 8.7″ LCD, 1340×800 resolution, 5:3 aspect ratio, up to 90Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits (Outdoor) brightness, 84.41% screen-to-body ratio.
Processor MediaTek Helio G8512nm process, octa-core Arm Cortex-A75 @ 2.0GHz/ Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz MediaTek Helio G8512nm process, octa-core Arm Cortex-A75 @ 2.0GHz/ Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
GPU Arm Mali-G52 MC2 Arm Mali-G52 MC2
Storage 64GB, 128 GB EMMC 5.1, expandable up to 2TB via microSD 64GB, 128 GB EMMC 5.1, expandable up to 2TB via microSD
RAM 4GB, 6GB 4GB, 6GB
OS Xiaomi HyperOS, Android U Xiaomi HyperOS, Android U
Rear camera 8MP (wide), f/2.0 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording 8MP (wide), f/2.0 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
Front camera 5MP (wide), f/2.2 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording 5MP (wide), f/2.2 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
Audio 1 mic, dual speakers, Dolby Atmos® supported, 3.5mm headphone jack 1 mic, dual speakers, Dolby Atmos® supported, 3.5mm headphone jack
Network & Connectivity Wi-Fi5 dual-band (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.3, FM band Dual SIM + microSD, 2G (GSM)/3G (WCDMA)/4G LTE (FDD/TDD), Wi-Fi5 dual-band (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.3, FM band
Sensors Accelerometer, Electronic compass, Hall sensor, IR blaster, Virtual proximity sensor, Virtual light sensor Accelerometer, Electronic compass, Hall sensor, IR blaster, Virtual proximity sensor, Virtual light sensor
Dimensions (HxWxT) 211.58mm x 125.48mm x 8.8 mm 211.58mm x 125.48mm x 8.8 mm
Weight 373 gm 375 gm
Battery 6650mAh battery supports 18W fast charging (USB Type-C) 6650mAh battery supports 18W fast charging (USB Type-C)
Colors Graphite Gray, Aurora Green, Sky Blue Graphite Gray, Aurora Green, Sky Blue

Xiaomi officially announce the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G

Xiaomi has officially announce the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G. As the name suggests, the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G will have a 8.7″ LCD display with 1340×800 resolution with up to 90Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 600 nits (outdoors mode). It is powered by MediaTek Helio G8512nm CPU and a ARM Mali-G52 MC2 for GPU. There will have up to 6GB RAM and up to 128 GB for storage, which is also expandable up to 2TB using the microSD card slot.

The Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G will have a redesigned rear camera module that has a 8MP sensor with f/2 aperture and 1.12μm pixel size, while the front camera will have 5MP sensor with f/2.2 aperture and 1.12μm pixel size. Both the front and rear camera supports up to 1080P, 1920×1080, 30fps video recording. The The Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G will use a 6650mAh battery with 18W fast charging support.

Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G Specs:

  • Display: 8.7″ LCD, 1340×800 resolution, 5:3 aspect ratio, up to 90Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits (Outdoor) brightness, 84.41% screen-to-body ratio.
  • Processor: MediaTek Helio G8512nm process, octa-core Arm Cortex-A75 @ 2.0GHz/ Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
  • GPU: Arm Mali-G52 MC2
  • Storage: 64GB, 128 GB EMMC 5.1, expandable up to 2TB via microSD
  • RAM: 4GB, 6GB
  • OS: Xiaomi HyperOS, Android U
  • Rear camera: 8MP (wide), f/2.0 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
  • Front camera: 5MP (wide), f/2.2 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
  • Audio: 1 mic, dual speakers, Dolby Atmos® supported, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Network & Connectivity: Dual SIM + + MicroSD, 2G (GSM)/3G (WCDMA)/4G LTE (FDD/TDD), Wi-Fi5 dual-band(802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.3, FM band
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Electronic compass, Hall sensor, IR blaster, Virtual proximity sensor, Virtual light sensor
  • Dimensions (HxWxT): 211.58mm x 125.48mm x 8.8 mm
  • Weight: 373 gm
  • Battery: 6650mAh battery supports 18W fast charging (USB Type-C)

The Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G will be available in three colors; Graphite Gray, Aurora Green and Sky Blue. It will be running Xiaomi HyperOS (Android U) right out of the box.

The device is available for preorder to those are in UK and in Europe in general. Its starting price in UK will be £149.00 for the 4GB + 64GB model, while the 4GB + 64GB model is priced at £169.00. No word yet when will the tablet be release here in Saudi Arabia.

Procreate issue “No generative AI” stance

Procreate, the popular iPad design app, has issue a “No generative AI” policy, the announcement came after most of its competitor are developing their own generative AI or some kind of AI tool for their products/services.

The company said on its AI section their website;

AI is not our future.

Creativity is made, not generated.

Generative AI is ripping the humanity out of things. Built on a foundation of theft, the technology is steering us toward a barren future. We think machine learning is a compelling technology with a lot of merit, but the path generative AI is on is wrong for us.

We’re here for the humans. We’re not chasing a technology that is a moral threat to our greatest jewel: human creativity. In this technological rush, this might make us an exception or seem at risk of being left behind. But we see this road less travelled as the more exciting and fruitful one for our community.

At the same time, Procreate CEO James Cuda published a 40 sec video on the official X/twitter account of @Procreate reinforcing their stance on generative AI.

Here’s the full video below;

Here are some of the reaction that Procreate receives regarding their “NO AI” stance;

Generative AI technology is an amazing technology but this technology is trained using other artists’ content and artwork, to the point that their copyrights are violated and without any compensation.

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 now in the Philippines

Xiaomi Philippines has officially launch the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 in the country. The smartwatch will have an SRP of ₱1,999, but for those ordering before August 21st, there will be an early-bird offer of ₱1,699 and a free watch strap at Xiaomi’s official Shopee store.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 will be available in all authorized Xiaomi stores nationwide by August 29th.

Here are the specs of Xiaomi Smart Band 9

  • Display: 1.62-inch AMOLED Touch Display, 192 x 490 pixels resolution, up to 1200 nits, adjustable
  • Battery: 233mAh with mmagnetic charging
  • Sensors: Accelerometer sensor, Gyroscope sensor, Optical heart rate sensor, Ambient light sensor
  • 5ATM water resistant
  • Linear motor
  • Supports smartphones with Android 8.0 or iOS 12.0 and above
  • Dimensions (HxWxD): 46.53 x 21.63 x 10.95 mm
  • Weight: 15.8g (without strap)

Band Strap

  • Size: 135–210 mm
  • Material: TPU
  • Color: Midnight Black, Glacier Silver, Mystic Rose, Arctic Blue

Apple Podcasts now accessible on the Web

You can now listen to an Apple Podcast on the web. Apple just launch Apple Podcast on the web, this allows podcast listners to stream full Apple podcast using any modern web browser, using any device, in more than 170 countries.

Apple Podcasts on the web offers a full streaming experience for listeners with its dedicated interface that includes personalization, recommendations, and notifications.

Listeners can sign in with their Apple Account to access their Library, Up Next queue, and subscriptions. The responsive design ensures a consistent experience across all devices. Sharing shows and episodes is easier than ever, and playback will appear as a download in your hosting provider’s dashboard.

Apple Podcasts is not the only web-based podcast players, since music streaming giants YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify have been offering web version of their service for a long time, as well as start-ups and indie podcasts players.

The introduction of Apple Podcasts on the web could be Apple’s way of growing its userbase and offering its service to other platforms like Android, Linux or any device with a browser.

Users can go to https://podcasts.apple.com, to start listening.

Primate Labs launches Geekbench AI 1.0 to benchmark AI Performance

Primate Labs Inc. creator of Geekbench, has launch the Geekbench AI, an AI benchmarking tool that measures AI performance. The app measures our devices CPU, GPU, and NPU to determine if it is ready for A.I. and machine learning applications.

Previously called “Geekbench ML,” Geekbench AI 1.0 is the first benchmarking application that will attempt to measure AI performances. Geekbench AI runs ten AI workloads, each with three different data types, giving you a multidimensional picture of on-device AI performance. Using large datasets that mimic real-world AI use cases, both developers and consumers can measure on-device AI performance in just a few minutes with Single Precision, Half Precision, and Quantized scores.

Geekbench AI 1.0 will be available on Android, iOS, Linux, MacOS and Windows. It supports multiple AI Framework like TensorFlow Lite, CoreML, TensorFlow Lite, ONNX and OpenVINO. You can checkout Geekbench AI Workloads documentation to know the tests Geekbench AI uses to measure AI performance.

To use use Geekbench AI 1.0 you can download it from here.

Google announces Pixel Watch 3 with Loss of Pulse Detection feature

Another product that Google announced at the “Made by Google” event is the newest Pixel Watch 3. The Pixel Watch 3 will now be available on two sizes; 41mm and 45mm size. In addition to its impressive hardware, the Pixel Watch boasts the first-of-its-kind “Loss of Pulse Detection” feature, is the watch’s ability to detect loss of pulse and automatically place a call to emergency services if the wearer is unresponsive to provide potentially life-saving care.

Google even created a 2-min video explaining how the “Loss of Pulse Detection” feature works;

On the hardware side, the Pixel Watch 3 will be powered by Qualcomm SW5100 chipset with Cortex M33 co-processor and running Wear OS 5.0. The displays for both models will feature an AMOLED LTPO (actua) display with DCI-P3 color at 320 ppi with up to 2000 nits (peak brightness) and an always-on responsive display (1–60 Hz). The watch will be protected by Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It also boasts an IP68 rating – water resistant in fresh water to a maximum depth of 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes.

The case is crafted from 100% recycled aluminum. The bands feature fluoroelastomer with a soft-touch coating. It will support Wifi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bbluetooth 5.3 for for the Wifi/Bluetooth model and 4G LTE and UMTS for the cellular model.

The Pixel Watch 3 will have built-in 307 mAh lithium-ion battery with up to 24 hours with always-on display and up to 36 hours with Battery Saver mode turned on. It will have a 2GB RAM and 32GB for internal storage. There will be two versions of the Pixel Watch 3; Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and the LTE model.

You can checkout the product page for the full specs.

Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm and 45mm)

The 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will be available in 4 color combinations;

  • Matte Black Aluminum case / Obsidian Active Band
  • Polished Silver Aluminum case / Porcelain Active Band
  • Champagne Gold Aluminum case / Hazel Active Band
  • Polished Silver Aluminum case / Rose Quartz Active Band

As for the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, there will be three color combinations;

  • Matte Black Aluminum case / Obsidian Active Band
  • Polished Silver Aluminum case / Porcelain Active Band
  • Matte Hazel Aluminum case / Hazel Active Band

The pricing for each model will be $349.99 for the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi version of the 41mm and the LTE version for $449.99, while the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi model of the 45mm will retail for $399.99 and $499.99 for LTE model. The Pixel Watch 3 is now available for preorder at the Google Store, Google Fitbit.com and select retailers worldwide on September 10, 2024.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 powered by Tensor A1 chip

Aside from the new smartphones, Google also announced the new Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. The new Pixel Buds Pro 2 is powered by Google’s Tensor A1 chip for better audio performance, helpful Google AI, and improved noise cancellation.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and its twist-to-adjust stabilizer.

Design-wise, the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 is 24% lighter and 27% smaller than its predecessor, the Pixel Buds Pro. Google claim that it is the most comfortable and secure fitting earbuds, thanks to the new twist-to-adjust stabilizer.


Google Pixel Buds Pro 2

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, LE Audio, Super Wideband
  • Processor: Tensor A1
  • Audio: Custom-designed 11 mm dynamic speaker driver, Active Noise Cancellation with Silent SealTM 2.0
  • Sensors: Three microphones, Capacitive touch, IR proximity sensor, accelerometer and gyroscope (motion-detection), Hall Effect sensor (case)
  • Charging: USB-C charging port, Qi-certified wireless charging
  • Battery
    • (Active Noise Cancellation off) up to 12 hours of listening time, and up to 48 hours total listening time with the charging case.
    • (Active Noise Cancellation On) up to 8 hours of listening time, and up to 30 hours of total listening time with the charging case.
  • Compatibility Requirements: Compatible with any Bluetooth® 4.0+ devices, including Android 6.0 or newer, iOS, tablets, and laptops.
  • Sweat and Water Resistance:
    • Earbuds: IP54
    • Case: IPX4
  • Dimension
    • Each earbud (with medium eartip): 22.74mm x 23.08mm x 17.03mm
    • Charging case: 49.9 mm x 63.3 mm x 25.00 mm
  • Weight
    • Each earbud: 4.7 g (with medium eartip)
    • Charging case: 65.0 g (with earbuds)
  • Colors: Porcelain, Hazel, Peony , Wintergreen

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 is available for pre-order today for $229, and the new Pixel buds Pro 2 will be available at the Google Store and US retail partners on September 26th.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Announced

Together with the Pixel 9 series, Google also announced the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the company’s newest foldable phone. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a 6.3-inch that fold out to a 8-inch tablet. Its hinge is made out of an aerospace-grade high-strength aluminum alloy and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The device is certified IPX8 rating for water resistance of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes of submersion.

It’s specs and features is similar to that of the Pixel 9 Pro. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be powered by Google Tensor G4 with its Titan M2 security coprocessor. It also be running Android 14 with a promised 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates. The Google AI features are also coming to Pixel 9 Pro Fold, this includes the Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, Circle to Search, Summarize and Gemini, plus some world-class photography features including Magic Editor, Best Take, Video Boost, Add Me and Pro Controls.

The rear and front camera supports 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS, 20x digitla zoom, it will also feature night sight video, 10-bit HDR video, cinematic pan and more. On the entertainment side, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will feature multiview on YouTube TV, where you can watch up to four preselected video at once on its large 8-inches screen and its stereo speakers.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

  • Display (External Cover): 6.3-inch Actua display, 1080 x 2424 OLED at 422 PPI, 20: 9 aspect ratio, Smooth Display (60-120Hz), HDR support, Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass
  • Display (Internal Cover): 8-inch (204 mm) Super Actua Flex display1 (LTPO), 2076 x 2152 OLED at 373 PPI, up to 120 Hz refresh rate, Ultra Thin Glass, HDR support, Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors
  • Hinge: Multi-alloy steel with an aerospace-grade high-strength aluminum alloy cover
  • Finish and protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 polished back with satin metal frame, Fingerprint-resistant coating, IP68 dust and water resistance
  • CPU: Google Tensor G4 and Titan M2 security coprocessor
  • GPU: Mali-G715 MC7
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 125GB/ 256GB
  • OS and software updates: Android 14 with 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
  • Rear Camera:
    • 48 MP Quad PD wide camera, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 82° field of view, 1/2″” image sensor size
    • 10.5 MP Dual PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 127° field of view, 1/3.4″ image sensor size
    • 10.8 MP Dual PD telephoto camera, ƒ/3.1 aperture, 23° field of view, 1/3.2″ image sensor size, 5x optical zoom, Super Res Zoom up to 20×10, Multi-zone LDAF (laser detect auto focus) sensor, Spectral and flicker sensor, Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide and telephoto
  • Front Camera: 10 MP Dual PD, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 87° ultrawide field of view
  • Inner Camera: 10 MP Dual PD, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 87° ultrawide field of view
  • Materials & DurabilityScratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back with satin metal frame, IPX8 water resistance, Fingerprint-resistant coating, Aerospace-grade high-strength aluminum alloy
  • Authentication and security: Fingerprint Unlock, Face Unlock, Pattern, PIN, password
  • Safety: Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Crisis Alerts, Car Crash Detection, Safety Check, Emergency
  • Location Service: Emergency Contacts & Medical Info, Android Earthquake Alerts System
  • Sensors: Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Magnetometer, Barometer and Hall effect
  • Buttons and Ports: USB Type-C 3.2, Power button, Volume controls
  • SIM: Dual SIM (Single Nano SIM and eSIM)
  • Audio : Stereo speakers, 3 microphones, Noise suppression, Spatial audio
  • Connectivity and Location: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11/be) with 2.4G+5GHz + 6GHz, 2×2 + 2×2, MIMO, Bluetooth® v5.3 with dual antennas for enhanced quality and connection, Ultra-Wideband chip for accurate ranging and spatial orientation, NFC, Google Cast, Dual Band GNSS, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
  • Cellular: 5G mmWave + Sub 6GHz Model GGH2X26, GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA Band, LTE, eSIM
  • Battery: 4650 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 72-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver, Fast charging and wireless charging. Wireless charging (Qi-certified)
  • Dimension (H x W x D):
    • 6.1 in x 3 in x 0.4 in (folded)
    • 6.1 in x 5.9 in x 0.2 in (unfolded)
  • Weight: : 9.1 oz
  • Colors: Porcelain, Obsidian

Price for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at $1,799 for its 256GB model and $1,919 for the 512GB variant. It’s available for pre-order today and will be US retail stores on September 4th.

Opera Browser now on iOS

Opera has unveil the iOS version of their browser – the Opera One. The company said that the Opera One browser will have the same features as its desktop browser like the redesigned interface optimized for one-handed use with a bottom search bar that can be activated by swiping down.

Opera One includes a revamped search experience with QuickType suggestions, a new “Carousel” for news, scores, and product information, AI image generation capabilities, and various general improvements. The AI features will be powered by the company’s Aria AI, a free, unlimited built-in browser AI that features image generation, text to speech, image recognition and more. The new iOS browser will also feature free VPN, Ad blocker, and Flow file sharing.

You can download the new Opera One here and it will be compatible with iOS devices running iOS 14.0 or later, iPadOS 14.0 or later and visionOS 1.0.

A Closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition

Samsung have been giving Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition to athletes at the Paris Olympics, while its unclear if the S. Korean company will sell these phones, Samsung it more than generous to provide additional details of the said phones.

Packaging

The black box of the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition features a gold line that represent the track lines of the Track and Field. The Olympic rings, Paralympic symbols, and Samsung logo can be seen at the bottom of the box highlighting Samsung’s partnership with the Olympic Committee.

Olympic Gold

Samsung’s welcome message dedicated to Athletes will appear when Olympians turn on the device.

A personalize Flipsuit Case is also included with the device, it includes a NFC-equipped Flipsuit Card that can be attached to the case and display an automatically synchronized animation of the card’s image on the cover screen.

NFC-equipped Flipsuit Card
Animated Cover Screen and Main Display in the colors of the Olympic flag. The theme on the cover screen (FlexWindow) depicts a running track from an athlete’s perspective to celebrate the significance of competing in the Olympics.

Specs of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6;

Galaxy Z Flip6
Display Main Screen 6.7-inch FHD+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
120Hz Adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)
Infinity Flex Display (2640 x 1080, 22:9)
Cover Screen 3.4-inch Super AMOLED 60Hz Display
720 x 748
306 PPI
Dimension & Weight Folded 71.9 x 85.1 x 14.9mm
Unfolded 71.9 x 165.1 x 6.9mm
Weight 187g
Camera Front Camera 10MP Selfie Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 85˚
Rear Dual Camera 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚
50MP Wide-angle Camera
Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 85˚
AP Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory & Storage 12GB Memory with 512GB internal storage
12GB Memory with 256GB internal storage
Battery 4,000mAh (typical) dual battery
Charging Wired Charging*: Up to 50% charge in around 30min. with 25W Adapter and 3A USB-C cable
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
Wireless PowerShare
Water Resistance IP48
OS Android 14
One UI 6.1.1
Network & Connectivity 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth® v5.3
Sensors Capacitive Fingerprint sensor (side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Security Samsung Knox with Samsung Knox Vault
SIM Card One Nano SIM and Multi eSIM
Colors Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint
Crafted Black, White, Peach

It’s official realme 12 4G price starts at ₱13,999

RealMe Philippines has officially launched the realme 12 4G and the starting price will be ₱13,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage model, at a realme Official Store or partner stores.

In a nutshell, realme 12 4G is a mid-range smartphone equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 processor, a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz. The device offers 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. In terms of camera features, the realme 12 4G has a dual rear camera system with a 50MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor.

For selfies, it has a 16MP front camera. Powered by a 5000mAh battery with 67W fast charging, the device runs on realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14. The realme 12 4G comes in two color options: Skyline Blue and Pioneer Green.

Specs

  • Display: 6.67-inches E4 AMOLED (FHD+), 2400×1080 resolution, 92.65% Screen-To-Body Ratio and 120Hz Refresh Rate
  • CPU: Qualcom Snapdragon 685, Octa-Core; 2x ARM Cortex-A73 Cores at up to 2.8GHz; 6x ARM Cortex-A53 Cores at up to 1.9GHz
  • GPU: Adreno 610
  • RAM: 8GB (Up to 8GB Dynamic RAM Expansion)
  • Storage: 26 GB (expandable via up to 1TB via microSD)
  • OS: realme UI 5.0, Android 14
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 67W SUPERVOOC Charging Adapter (80W SUPERVOOC Adapter Included in the Box)
  • Rear camera: 50MP Sony LYT600 OIS Portrait Camera, f/1.88, 4096×3072 (Standard); 8192×6144 (High Resolution Mode)2MP Mono Camera, f/2.4, 88.8° field of view (FoV)
  • Front: 16MP Selfie Camera, f/2.45,4640×3844 resolution
  • Connectivity: 4G LTE, GSM, WCDMA
  • Wireless: Wifi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.0
  • Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo and QZSS
  • Sensors: Flicker, Magnetic Induction, Dual Light, Proximity, Gyrometer, Acceleration and In-Display Fingerprint scanner
  • Audio: Hi-Res Dual Stereo Speakers, Dual Microphones (Noise Cancellation)
  • Ports: 3.5mm Headphone Jack, 2 nano SIM Cards OR 1 nano SIM Card + 1 microSD Card (Hybrid SIM Tray), USB Type-C Port
  • Dimension: 162.95mm x 74.75mm x 7.92mm (LxWxD)
  • Weight: 187 grams
  • Colors: Pioneer Green, Skyline Blue

Here’s the unboxing video the the company has published on their Youtube channel;

realme C61 now in the Philippines

Realme Philippines has officially announce the C61 smartphone, a new member of realme C-series.

realme C61 is a 6.74″ HD+ LCD display (720×1600) with a 90.3% screen-to-body ratio and a refresh rate of 90Hz and up to 180Hz touch sampling rate. It is powered by Unisoc T612 Processor and ARM Mali GPU. It will have up to 6GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage that is expandable up to 2TB via microSD card slot. It will have 5000mAh battery with 15W quick charging adapter.

It has a dual rear camera with a 50MP AI Camera and a 0.08 MP, f/3.0 auxiliary lens. As for the front camera, it will have a 5MP selfie camera that supports CIF@ 30fps.

For coverage, the realme C61 will support 4G dual standby and support for Wifi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. Not supporting 5G connectivity could be a deal breaker for some but it could also be the reason why the phone has a low price tag.

The realme C61 will be running realme UI (Android 14) out of the box. The C61 will be available in Sparkle Gold and Dark Green colors and the starting price will be ₱6,299.00 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage model.

realme C61 Dark Green

realme C61 full specs;

  • Display: 6.74″ HD+ LCD, 720×1600 resolution, 90.3% screen-to-body ratio and 90Hz refresh rate
  • Memory: 6GB (Up to 12GB Dynamic RAM Expansion) ; 8GB (Up to 18GB Dynamic RAM Expansion)
  • Storage: 128GB; 256GB (Up to 2TB expandable via microSD)
  • Processor: Unisoc T612 chipset, Octa-Core; 2x ARM Cortex-A75 Cores at up to 1.8GHz; 6x ARM Cortex-A55 Cores at up to 1.8GHz
  • GPU: ARM Mali-G57
  • OS: realme UI, Android 14
  • Battery: 5000mAh Battery with 15W Quick Charging Adapter (USB Type-C)
  • Dual-rear Camera: 50MP AI Camera, f/1.8, 80° FoV and 0.08 MP, f/3.0 ,(auxiliary lens)
  • Selfie Camera: 5MP camera with 2592×1944 resolution, f/2.2 apperture and 77° PoV
  • Connectivity: 4G LTE, WCDMA Bands 1/2/4/5/8 and GSM 850MHz/900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz
  • Wireless: Wifi802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 4), Bluetooth 5.0, SBC, AAC, LDAC
  • Navigation: AGPS/GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo
  • Audio: single downward-firing speaker and single microphone
  • Ports: 3.5mm Headphone Jack, USB Type-C Port
  • Sensor: Magnetic Induction, Light, Proximity, Gyrometer and Acceleration
  • Dimension: 167.26mm x 76.67mm x 7.84mm (LxWxD)
  • Weight: 188 grams
  • Colors: Sparkle Gold and Dark Green

There will be a free TechLife Power Bank S101 (10,000mAh) and 2 years of realme Care support if you order on or before Aug 18th from realme tiktok shop you can also go to Shopee to buy the phone.

HONOR Pad X8a now available for Preorder in Saudi Arabia

Honor Arabia latest tablet is now available for preorder in Saudi Arabia. The HONOR Pad X8a is available for preorder for SAR 599.00. The tablet is discounted from its original price of SAR 749. Plus if you preorder before Aug 14th, you will get a free HONOR Pad X8a Cover and a 12 Months Screen Protection Service-Pad X8a, both are worth SAR228.

You can preorder the HONOR Pad X8a directly from HONOR KSA website.

HONOR Pad X8a

Here’s the specs of the HONOR Pad X8a;

  • Display: 11 inches TFT LCD (IPS) display, 1920 x 1200 resolution 16.7 million colors
  • CPU: Snapdragon 680 4G Mobile Platform, Octa-core 4*Cortex-A73@2.4GHz + 4*Cortex-A53@1.9GHz
  • Storage: 64GB/128 GB
  • OS: MagicOS 8.0 (Android 14)
  • Rear camera: 5MP camera (Fno2.2 AF)
  • Front camera: 5MP camera (Fno2.2 FF)
  • Connectivity: Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz, 5GHz), BT5.1 Supported BLE, SBC, AAC, LDAC, OTG and USB Supported
  • Sensors: Accelerate, Ambient Light and Gravity sensor
  • Audio: 1xmicrophone, 4xspeaker, (HONOR Histen)
  • Dimension: 256.97mm x 168.46mm x 7.25mm (WxHxT)
  • Battery: 8300 mAh lithium ion battery
  • Weight: Approx. 495g (with battery)
  • Colors: Space Gray

Google TV Streamer Announced

Together with the discontinuation of the Chromecast, Google announced the new Google TV Streamer as the Chromecast’s replacement and a smart home hub for your Google Home and Matter devices.

Google did not provide much information on the device’s specifications, but we know it supports “up to 4K HDR @60 fps” videos with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. It will have Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4 GHz/ 5GHz) connectivity with Bluetooth® 5.1. It will have 4GB of RAM but only 32GB of storage, which is surprising considering it’s a streaming device.

Google TV Streamer Ports
The device will have a USB-C port for power/data, HDMI 2.1 (Type A), and ethernet for a more stable and reliable connection. Unlike the Chromecast, the new Google TV Streamer will be powered by the Android TV OS.

As a smart home hub, Google TV Streamer supports Matter and has a built-in Thread border router, enabling quick and secure connections for smart home devices like locks and motion sensors. Google TV Streamer is available in two neutral colors: Porcelain and Hazel (exclusively available on the U.S. Google Store). Its low-profile design allows it to fit neatly between your TV and media console, while still providing access to the handy ethernet port.

Beyond hardware, the new Google TV Streamer is AI-powered to personalize and curate content across all your subscriptions in one place. The device can also access your Google Photos to create unique screensaver art using generative AI.

Google TV Streamer is available for pre-order today, August 6, and will be available on September 24 for $99.99 from the Google Store and other third-party retailers.

Google to discontinue Chromecast after 11 years

Google, in a blogpost, announced that the company will be ending the production of Chromecast after 11 years and more than 110 million devices sold. The company explained that when they first launched the Chromecast, most, if not all, TVs were not as smart or integrated as today’s models, and they had few to no apps. The connectivity of these TVs was also limited.

Despite discontinuing production, Google said that Chromecast will still be available while supplies last. The search giant will also continue to provide software and security updates for the newer Chromecast models.

I still own the 2nd-gen Google Chromecast, and it still works perfectly. It’s the best, easiest, and most affordable way to convert a “dumb” TV into a smart TV and connect it to a smartphone.

Current Model: Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD)

When we launched Chromecast, most TVs had few (if any) apps, streaming was unreliable and complicated and connecting your TV to your phone, tablet or laptop was clunky and hard. Chromecast was our answer to this problem, a simple and affordable way to cast your favorite online content right on your TV screen. It was as easy as plugging in the device and hitting play. Chromecast’s small dongle form factor made it easy to hide behind a TV, and the affordable price made it accessible to millions and the perfect gift for many.

Since then, technology has evolved dramatically. Streaming and smart TVs abound. We invested heavily in embedding Google Cast technology into millions of TV devices, including Android TV. Android TV has expanded to 220 million devices worldwide and we are continuing to bring Google Cast to other TV devices, like LG TVs. Thousands of apps support casting, making it easier than ever to watch your content from your phone and tablet on the big screen. So we are taking the next step in evolving how streaming TV devices can add even more capabilities to your smart TV, built on top of the same Chromecast technology.

Ford announces Mustang and Bronco branded eBikes

Ford is partnering with N Plus North America Corp to manufacture and develop the Mustang and Bronco branded eBikes. Both eBikes are basically the same, except for some branding and minor aesthetic differences. Both eBikes will be using the Ford branded suspension system called G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain).

Both eBikes will also have a 750W Motor that offer a top speed of 28 MPH and 85Nm of torque. The motor will also have 4 modes; Eco, Normal, Sport, and Track (Mustang)/Baja (Bronco). With the 48V, 15Ah battery both Mustang and Bronco eBikes are capable of reaching 60 miles of range on a full charge. Both will also have a Aluminum alloy 6061 integrated handlebar with full color display and front light (2000Lm output, 180Lux). The frames of both eBikes are also made from Aluminum alloy 6061.

Ford Bronco eBike

As for the difference between the two; you will immediately notice the motocross-style rear linkage and trailing arm of the Bronco and the moto-style saddle, while the Mustang eBike will feature the Mustang’s iconic LED Sequential Taillights, “carbonized gray” paintwork, red “start” button, and distinctive pony badges. Mustang eBikes will be using  2.25″ Pirelli Angel Urban GT tires, while the Bronco eBike be sporting a 27.5″x2.6″ Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M Hardwall Tires.

Ford Mustang eBike

Neither eBikes will not come cheap; the Mustang eBikes will have a pricetag of $4,000.00 (USD) and the Bronco eBikes will be on the expensive side of $4,500.00 (USD). It’s unclear if Ford will be sell these two eBikes outside the United States but considering the high price of both ebikes, I’m not entirely sure if people will go and buy these new ebikes as soon as they become available in their market.

This article was first published on electrified.blog.

Realme Philippines to launch the realme 12 4G this Aug 10th

RealMe Philippines is set to launch the realme 12 4G this 10th of Aug. The realme 12 4G will join the already-available realme 12 Series 5G in the country. The phone was first announced last June and Pakistan.

Spec-wise the realme 12 4G is a mid-range smartphone that’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 685 4G chipset and a Adreno 610 GPU. It features a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate protected by a tempered high-strength glass. The display offers a 1080 x 2400 pixels screen resolution with 120Hz refresh rate and a 2,000 nits (peak brightness). The realme 12 4G will have a 8GB RAM and will be available in 128GB and 256GB internal storage.

The realme 12 4G will have a dual rear-camera system that’s compose of a 50MP f/1.88 Sony LYT-600 OIS camera sensor and a 2MP mono camera with f/2.4. It will have a 16MP f/2.45 selfie camera that supports up to 1080P 30fps video recording.

The realme 12 4G will have a 5000mAh (typ) battery that supports 67W SUPERVOOC charge. It will be running realme UI 5.0 (Based on Android 14) right out of the box. The realme 12 4G will be in two colors; skyline blue and pioneer green.

Realme 12 4G in Pioneer Green.

No pricing have been announced and we’ll get more details this Aug 10th. You can checkout the full specs of the realme 12 4G here.

Smart offers Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Galaxy Z Fold6 on the Signature Plan+ 1499

Just like Globe, Smart Telecom is also offering the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 via their postpaid plans. But compare to Globe, Smart is offering to not just for its postpaid subscribers but also for prepaid.

Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and the Z Flip6 will be available to Smart’s Signature Plans+, Signature Device Plans and for Prepaid users.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

The Signature Plans+ for the 256GB model of Galaxy Z Fold6 will start at Plan 999 that will have 3 options; option 1 is a one-time cashout of ₱89,560, option 2 will be 0% installment for ₱96,200 and option 3 will be a down payment of ₱46,100 and a monthly installment of ₱2,000. Both option 1 and 2 will be a 12-months lock-in contract, while Option 3 will be a 24-month lock-in plan.

As for the Signature Device Plans for the 256GB model of Galaxy Z Fold6, it will also start with the Plan 999 but it will only have one option of a ₱82,800 one-time cashout.

For those planning to get the 256GB model of Galaxy Z Fold6 Prepaid plan, there will be two options; a one-time cashout of ₱100,699 and a 0% monthly installment for ₱105,990.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB model. You can checkout the other Signature Plans+ and Signature Device Plans for the Z Fold6 by going to https://smart.com.ph/Postpaid/GalaxyZSeries6.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

Just like with the Galaxy Z Fold6, the 256GB model of the Galaxy Z Flip6 will start with the Plan 999 that will also be available in 3 options;

  • Option 1 – One-time cashout of ₱58,200
  • Option 2 – O% Installment of ₱62,300
  • Option 3 – down payment of ₱30,000 and a monthly installment of ₱1,300

Both option 1 and 2 will be have 12-months lock-in contract, while Option 3 will be a 24-month lock-in plan.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 (256GB model) under the Signature Device Plans will also be available in the Plan 999 and will have a one-time cashout of ₱53,000.

With the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 Prepaid, there will be two options; the one-time cashout of ₱67,499 and the 0% monthly installment for ₱70,990.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is available in 256GB and 512GB model. There are other plans that you can available for the device by going to https://smart.com.ph/Postpaid/GalaxyZSeries6.

Source: @LiveSmart

Globe now offers Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 on Postpaid Plans

Globe telecom just announced that Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 is now available thru their postpaid plans.

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 will be available thru their GPlan 1799; a device cash-out of ₱40,600 for the 256GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and ₱47,600 for the 512GB variants. If the cash-out is too big for you, you can available of the 0% installment for the device, which will be spread throughout the 24 months lock-in period of the plan in addition to the ₱1,799 price of the plan;

  • ₱1,692 per month for 256GB model
  • ₱1,983 per month for 512GB model

For the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, this will be under the GPlan 2499 and Platinum GPlan 4999.

Under the GPlan 2499 there will be a device cash-out of ₱63,700 for the 256GB model, ₱70,700 for the 512GB and ₱83,700 for the 1TB model. Just like with the Z Flip6, you can also available of the 0% installment (in 24 months) for the device in addition to the ₱2,499 price of the plan.

  • ₱2,654 per month for the 256GB model
  • ₱2,946 per month for the 512GB model
  • ₱3,488 per month for the 1TB model

As for the Platinum GPlan 4999, the device cash-out will be much smaller; ₱49,200 for the 256GB model, ₱56,200 for the 512GB and ₱69,200 for the 1TB model. If you will go to the 0% installment (in 24 months) route for the device in addition to the ₱4,909 price of the plan.

  • ₱2,050 per month for the 256GB model
  • ₱2,342 per month for the 512GB model
  • ₱2,883 per month for the 1TB model

Globe will be giving freebies worth up to ₱33,765 to those who will order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and up to up to ₱15,889 for Galaxy Z Flip6. To know more about Globe’s offering of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6, you can go here.

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Officially Announced

Nothing has officially announced the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, a larger and more powerful version of the Nothing Phone 2a.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus features a flexible 6.7” AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 1084 x 2412 (@395 PPI) and 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. The display is protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G SoC and ARM Mali-G610 MC4 GPU. The phone will only have 12 GB + 256 GB configuration and will be available in two colors; black and grey.

The phone will be running the company’s Nothing OS 2.6, which is powered by Android 14. Nothing also said that their mobile OS will have 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches.

MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G

For its camera, the Phone (2a) Plus will sport a dual rear-camera system of 50 MP for the main and 50 MP Ultra-wide camera (F2.2, 1/2.76″ sensor and 114° FOV). As for the front shooter, it will also have a 50 MP camera with f2.2, a 1/2.76″ sensor and 81.2° FOV.

The Nothing Phone (2a) plus will have 2 high-definition mics and dual stereo speakers. It will be powered by a 5,000 mAh with 50W of wired fast charging. To checkout the full specs, you can head to Nothing.Tech.

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Closeup

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus starts at $399/£399 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage trim. The company will launch the phone at their Nothing Store Soho on 3rd August. Nothing will provide further details regarding the market availability of the Phone(2a) Plus in September. The availability of the phone in Saudi Arabia is yet to be announced.

Source: GSM Arena

Esports World Cup Draws Large Crowds

Esports World Cup is still on going and will not conclude until 25th August, so the numbers are still under wraps but as of today, the Saudi Press Agency is reporting that Esports World Cup, which is currently being hosted in Riyadh Boulevard City, saw a large number of “guests and visitors from Gulf and other countries.”

There are a total of 500 clubs from different countries and more than 1,500 players participating in the Esports World Cup, the largest event in the history of the gaming and esports sector.

via SPA;

Amer Al-Marri, a visitor from Qatar, expressed his fondness for the distinguished and global organization of the tournament, indicating that coming from Doha along with a group of friends was specifically to attend this global event. He praised the professional level of competitions thanks to the participation of skilled players and qualified teams around the world. The visitor also expressed his admiration for the atmosphere in the Boulevard Riyadh City, through various entertainment activities and events that fit everyone’s taste.

Mohammed bin Mubarak, a visitor from Bahrain, explained that he came with his brothers and other relatives to attend the Esports World Cup. He hailed the great efforts of the Kingdom in receiving the participants and the professional and wonderful organization of the tournament, noting that Riyadh has become a global destination for tourism, entertainment, and sports.

Aside from the usual spots in Boulevard Riyadh City, tourists also explored historical and tourist sites in Riyadh.

Apple Maps on the Web in Public Beta

Apple Maps is now available on the web. Users can access Maps using their web browser to get directions, find places, order food, and explore cities. The service is currently in beta and available in English on Safari, Chrome, and Edge.

Apple also said that developers using MapKit JS, can link out to Maps on the web, so their users can get driving directions, see detailed place information, and more. Support for additional languages, browsers, and platforms will be expanded in the future.

OpenAI launched SearchGPT, an AI-powered Search Engine

OpenAI has announce the launch of SearchGPT, a prototype search engine designed to revolutionize the way we interact with information online. This new tool aims to combine the strengths of OpenAI’s advanced AI models with real-time internet data to provide users with fast, accurate, and contextually relevant answers.

SearchGPT is an AI-powered search engine desgined to leverages the capabilities of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, to deliver timely and precise information. Unlike traditional search engines, SearchGPT is designed to respond to queries in a conversational manner, allowing users to ask follow-up questions and receive answers that build on previous interactions.

Unlike the traditional search form, SearchGPT uses a large textbox asking users “What are you looking for?,” this is similar to what Facebook “What’s on your mind?” and X’s “What’s happening?” asks its users. But instead of the usual plain text and links on the search result, SearchGPT will try to organize the summarizes the result then provide a short description with the attribution links.

You can watch the video below for the demo as published by OpenAI;

We’re testing SearchGPT, a prototype of new search features designed to combine the strength of our AI models with information from the web to give you fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources. We’re launching to a small group of users and publishers to get feedback. While this prototype is temporary, we plan to integrate the best of these features directly into ChatGPT in the future.

OpenAI has partnered with various news publishers, which include organizations like the Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Vox Media, to ensure that high-quality content is highlighted and easily accessible. SearchGPT is currently being tested by 10,000 test users.

Source: The Verge

Nothing CMF Phone 1 Now Available in Saudi Arabia, starts at SAR 799.00

Nothing CMF Phone 1 is now available in Saudi Arabia, just 10 days after the company officially announced the device.

Nothing’s CMF Phone 1 is a mid-range smartphone powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) and Mali-G615 GPU. The 6.67” Super AMOLED display boasts a 1080 x 2400 resolution at 395ppi and has a peak brightness of 2000 nits. It also includes an under-display optical fingerprint scanner.

The CMF Phone 1 features a dual-rear camera setup: a 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide) lens and a 2 MP, f/2.4 (depth) lens. It can capture up to 4K video recording at 30 FPS and 1080p recording at 30 or 60 FPS. The front-facing camera is a 16 MP, f/2.0 (wide) lens that can record 1080p video at 30fps.

The CMF Phone 1 packs a 5000 mAh non-removable battery with 33W fast charging and supports 5W reverse wired charging. It runs Nothing OS 2.6 (powered by Android 14) and comes with 2 years of major Android updates and 3 years of security updates. You can find the full specs of Nothing CMF Phone 1 .

The phone measures 164 mm x 77 mm x 8 mm (HxWxD) and weighs 197 g. You can choose from light green, black, or orange colors.

The CMF Phone 1 is available at Jarir and Extra. It comes in two variants: 8GB RAM + 128GB storage for SAR 799.00 and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage for SAR 1,099.00.