November 22, 2024
Breaking News, Trending Topic, Sports and Pop Culture
Welcome to the era of mobile AI. Come see how Galaxy AI can empower you. Live on January 17, 2024.
00:00 Galaxy Unpacked
02:48 Opening Keynote: TM ROH
08:38 New way to get things done
21:50 Circle to Search with Google
35:08 New way to create
37:34 The Artful Awakening: The Wonder of Camera Innovation
49:29 New way to play
54:09 Design & Durability
59:50 Sustainability
64:20 New way to manage health
71:31 Closing
The biggest highlight of the event is Galaxy AI. Multitasking has never been easier thanks to Samsung’s collaboration and use of Google’s Gemini on the device.
Several keynote speakers introduced separate features for the phone. The first feature is a live translation option, allowing users of the Galaxy S24 series to instantly understand what their contacts are saying.
The Live Translate feature has long been available with Google Assistant, but it turns out that the Galaxy S24 series will be the first set of devices to take advantage of the feature without phone users having to switch between apps.
These are the supported languages for now:
There are better ways to encapsulate a response to a friend’s weekend getaway suggestion. Emojis, for example. The Photomoji feature on Samsung Galaxy S24 allows creation of stickers and emojis straight from their photos without the need for third-party apps.
If pictures aren’t your thing, the Galaxy S24 also makes it possible to rewrite your texts to a more appropriate tone. Say you want to communicate with a Gen Z male teen, the Galaxy S24 lets you choose from several text responses.
Recording meetings is a hassle since you have to identify different speakers. This hurdle is minimized by Transcript Assist’s ability to provide you with a transcript, all the while detecting who’s speaking at each turn.
A stylus is pretty to use with any Galaxy device, but it doesn’t exactly make your handwriting any better. That’s why Notes Assist is there to make your handwriting cleaner. Notes Assist also formats the content in whatever way you like. Formatting will become a thing of the past as AI does it for you.
There’s also a new way to search on the Galaxy S24 series. Circle to Search is Google’s first gesture operated search method, all without having to manually input it onto a search bar. You can simply draw on an existing image, text, or video, and results will be delivered on the same screen of the currently used app.
However, all this sounds intrusive. That’s why Samsung allows users to choose what information is being processed by AI online.
In their partnership with Instagram, Samsung Galaxy’s S24 series will be the first device to have HDR enabled by default. With regards to content creation and social media posts, it’s now easier to edit photos with the help of Generative AI. All edited pictures will have a watermark, though.
The camera is packed with more power, and a video demo by Mr. Beast shows the camera’s stunning clarity on a 10x optical zoom. Other features were also shown during the event.
If you’re still using Bluetooth to share files, you’re missing out on Samsung’s Quick Share function. The update is it’s compatibility with a multitude of devices so you only have to press one button to share to other phones. Or PC’s. or TV’s.
Gaming-wise, the Galaxy S24 series’ NPU can handle the heaviest. The addition of Ray Tracing make the experience more immersive, as told by guest and streamer Pokimane.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series will be available for pre-order starting January 17 until the end of the month. Check out the price list below.
Source: Samsung Newsroom
After leaking and being announced last year, the Lego Polaroid is now available for PHP 5,999.00.
The Lego Polaroid is made up of 516 pieces and includes many of the design features that made the original OneStep Camera so popular among fans, captured in a unique display model with functional features. Also included alongside the camera is a buildable Polaroid Time-Zero Land Film pack and three LEGO Polaroid illustrated ‘photos’.
If you’re a photographer, whether a professional or hobbyist, the Lego Polaroid is a addition to your collection. It is currently available in all Bankee Bricks retail stores in the Philippines and online.
After 7 months of waiting, Apple has finally launch the Apple Vision Pro, at least in the US, which will be available on Friday, February 2nd, pre-orders for the device will begin Friday, January 19th. The Apple Vision Pro is priced at $3,499 and is Apple’s first new major product category since the Apple Watch in 2015.
The Apple Vision Pro is a compact pair of glasses that lets you navigate, interact, and enjoy content in a spatial way. It features a custom micro-OLED display, a 3D camera, Spatial Audio, and a dual-chip (M2 and new R1 chip) system with advanced technology and design. The device is designed to blend digital content with the physical world, using visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system. It offers an infinite canvas that transforms how you use the apps you love, allowing you to arrange apps anywhere and scale them to the perfect size, making the workspace of your dreams a reality. You can browse the web in Safari, create a to-do list in Notes, chat in Messages, and seamlessly move between them with a glance. The device also has augmented reality capabilities, but can also switch to virtual reality seamlessly by using the dial on the headset.
The Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s first 3D camera. You can capture magical spatial photos and spatial videos in 3D, then relive those cherished moments like never before with immersive Spatial Audio. Your existing library of photos and videos looks incredible at remarkable scale. And panoramas wrap around you — making you feel like you’re standing right where you took them. You can also take spatial videos with iPhone 15 Pro, then view them on Apple Vision Pro.
Apple Vision Pro will be available starting at $3,499 (U.S.) with 256GB of storage. Pre-orders for Apple Vision Pro will begin on Friday, January 19, at 5 a.m. PST, with availability beginning Friday, February 2.
Apple Vision Pro will be available at all U.S. Apple Store locations and the U.S. Apple Store online.
ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers will be available for $99 (U.S.), and ZEISS Optical Inserts — Prescription will be available for $149 (U.S.).
Apple Vision Pro comes with a Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band — giving users two options for the fit that works best for them. Apple Vision Pro also includes a Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions, an Apple Vision Pro Cover for the front of the device, Polishing Cloth, Battery, USB-C Charge Cable, and USB-C Power Adapter.
Ahead of the CES 2024, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi announced the Xiaomi SU7 and Xiaomi SU7 Max, the company’s entrant to the EV market. The EV sedan looks like the Porsche’s Taycan and will be available in two model, the rear wheel drive SU7 and SU7 Max, which features a dual motor AWD.
#XiaomiSU7 and #XiaomiSU7Max, what's your preference?#XiaomiEVTechnologyLaunch pic.twitter.com/kiIIAIIYDw
— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) December 28, 2023
Here are the notable features of the Xiaomi SU7;
At the pinnacle of performance, the ultimate driving experience is our starting point in crafting vehicles.#XiaomiEVTechnologyLaunch pic.twitter.com/tSBthJbZcn
— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) December 28, 2023
Xiaomi did not provide any details regarding the price and with an availability this 2024.
Checkout some of the shots that Xiaomi released via their social media accounts.
You can watch the SU7 launch event below;
Join the #XiaomiEVTechnologyLaunch LIVE now!https://t.co/ls7b4FCeHC
— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) December 28, 2023
Samsung and Hyundai just announced that signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 3 to develop solutions for future lifestyles that fully integrate the smart home and connected cars.
The two S.Korean-based company are developing “the next-generation smart home” to connect Samsung’s SmartThings with Hyundai and Kia’s connected cars, including EVs, to develop the “Home-to-Car” and “Car-to-Home” services as well as an integrated home energy management service.
This means that the “Home-to-Car” and “Car-to-Home” services connect the smart home with in-vehicle infotainment systems, allowing for remote control in both directions. Using Samsung’s SmartThings platform, users will be able to perform a variety of actions pertaining to their cars while at home, like remote starting them, controlling air conditioning, opening and closing windows and checking their battery charging status. And from EV cars, users can control of home appliances such as TVs, air conditioners and EV chargers will also be possible.
“This is an opportunity to make the connected car’s Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services more convenient in various fields,” said Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President of Hyundai and Kia’s Infotainment Development Center. “We plan to accelerate our technology development to continuously make global Hyundai and Kia customers’ journeys meaningful.”
Sony Playstation are currently on Sales in the Philippines for a limited time, they offer discounted price for PS5 Console, Peripherals and Game Titles. The offer will be available at participating retailers, which you can find by going to https://www.playstation.com/en-ph/local/retailers/.
| PS5 Consoles | Original SRP | Promotion SRP |
| PlayStation®5 Console | PHP 30,790 | PHP 23,990 |
| PlayStation®5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Bundle | PHP 33,890 | PHP 27,090 |
| PlayStation®5 Console – Two DualSense™ Wireless Controllers Bundle | PHP 33,990 | PHP 27,190 |
| PlayStation®5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle | PHP 36,290 | PHP 29,490 |
| Peripherals | Original SRP (Local Currency) | Promotion SRP (Local Currency) |
| PULSE 3D™ Wireless Headset | PHP 5,590 | PHP 4,990 |
| PULSE 3D™ Midnight Black Wireless Headset | PHP 5,590 | PHP 4,990 |
| PULSE 3D™ Gray Camouflage Wireless Headset | PHP 5,590 | PHP 4,990 |
| DualSense® wireless controller | PHP 3,990 | PHP 3,190 |
| DualSense® wireless controller – Midnight Black | PHP 3,990 | PHP 3,190 |
| DualSense® wireless controller – Cosmic Red | PHP 4,290 | PHP 3,190 |
| DualSense® wireless controller – Nova Pink | PHP 4,290 | PHP 3,190 |
| DualSense® wireless controller – Galactic Purple | PHP 4,290 | PHP 3,190 |
| DualSense® wireless controller – Starlight Blue | PHP 4,290 | PHP 3,190 |
| DualSense® wireless controller – Gray Camouflage | PHP 4,290 | PHP 3,190 |
| DualSense® wireless controller – Metallic Red | PHP 4,290 | PHP 3,190 |
| DualSense® wireless controller – Metallic Blue | PHP 4,290 | PHP 3,190 |
| Game Title | Original SRP (Local Currency) | Promotion SRP (Local Currency) | |
| PS5 | PlayStation®5 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut | PHP 3,490 | PHP 1,990 |
| PS5 | PlayStation®5 God of War™ Ragnarök | PHP 3,490 | PHP 1,990 |
| PS5 | PlayStation®5 The Last of Us Part I | PHP 3,490 | PHP 2,490 |
| PS5 | PlayStation®5 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales | PHP 2,490 | PHP 1,490 |
| PS5 | PlayStation®5 Horizon Forbidden West™ Complete Edition | PHP 2,990 | PHP 1,990 |
| PS4 | PlayStation®4 Horizon Zero Dawn PlayStation Hits | PHP 1,099 | PHP 550 |
Sony PlayStation also have deals available in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. If you’re from these country, check out the source link to know the
Source: playstation.com
Apple just published the top downloaded apps and games on the App Store this year. In their announcement, Apple even emphasis that “App Store is the world’s safest and most vibrant app marketplace.”
Below are the top apps and games on the App Store this year in the United States;
Top Free iPhone Apps
Top Paid iPhone Apps
Top Free iPhone Games
Top Paid iPhone Games
Top Free iPad Apps
Top Paid iPad Apps
Top Free iPad Games
Top Paid iPad Games
Top Apple Arcade Games
Here’s something for the gamers, the Sony PlayStation Portal Remote Player is now available for pre-order in Saudi Arabia.
First announced last August, The Sony PlayStation Portal Remote Player is more of an accessories to the PS5, since you can use the device to stream and play PS5 games from your console to the PlayStation Portal. The Portal connects to the PS5 via Wi-Fi and supports all PS5 games that are compatible with Remote Play. This includes both first-party and third-party games, as well as VR games. The Portal also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio.
You can pre-order your Sony PlayStation Portal Remote Player from Extra and Sony World, for SAR 949 or around ₱14,000.00. Customers who will pre-order the Sony PlayStation Portal Remote Player will receive their devices by February 2024.
It’s that time of the year again, where a lot of company release stats regarding their service. I actually posted the one from Spotify, since I use the service. Today, Google release their annual YEAR IN SEARCH and if you’ve been paying attention, the list is not really surprising since its became the trending topic for a period of time.
For news;
Actors;
Movies
Recipes
and last but not the least… Songs
If you like to the complete list from Google, you can go to here – Year in Search 2023
Google unveiled its latest and most ambitious artificial intelligence project: Gemini. Touted as the “largest and most capable AI model ever created,” Gemini promises to push the boundaries of what’s possible with machine intelligence, potentially impacting every aspect of our lives.
Gemini’s capabilities are truly impressive. It boasts superior performance on massive multitask language understanding (MMLU) tests, surpassing human experts in areas like math, history, medicine, and ethics. This means Gemini possesses not only vast knowledge but also the ability to reason and solve problems effectively.
Beyond its intellectual prowess, Gemini shines in its multimodal capabilities. It can seamlessly process and understand information from different sources, including text, images, and code. This allows it to perform tasks like explaining complex scientific concepts through interactive simulations or translating languages with nuanced understanding of cultural context.
One of the most exciting aspects of Gemini is its potential to democratize AI. Google plans to offer various sizes and capabilities of the model, making it accessible to a wider range of users and developers. This democratization could lead to an explosion of new AI-powered applications across various industries, transforming fields like education, healthcare, and even creative arts.
Google’s Gemini 1.0, will be available in three different sizes:
Google acknowledges the ethical concerns surrounding powerful AI and emphasizes its commitment to responsible development. The company has implemented safeguards to ensure Gemini’s safety and prevent misuse.
The launch of Google Gemini marks a significant milestone in the evolution of artificial intelligence. Its capabilities promise to revolutionize the way we interact with technology, solve problems, and understand the world around us. While challenges remain, one thing is clear: the future of AI is bright, and Google Gemini is poised to illuminate the way.
In a surprising announcement, Amazon-owned streaming platform Twitch has announced that it will shut down operations in South Korea effective February 27, 2024. The company cited a “prohibitively expensive” operating costs and network fees as the primary reasons for this decision.
Twitch has been operating in Korea for several years, but it has faced ongoing challenges due to the country’s high network usage fees. These fees, which are significantly higher than in other countries, have made it difficult for Twitch to operate profitably in the country.
In an effort to reduce costs, the company experimented with peer-to-peer streaming and also limiting stream quality to 720p, but Twitch’s financial burden of operating in Korea is still 10 times more expensive than in most other countries.
This decision is a significant blow to the Korean gaming community, which has relied on Twitch as a platform for streaming and watching esports competitions. Twitch has also been a valuable source of income for many Korean streamers, who will now need to find alternative platforms to broadcast their content.
The shutdown of Twitch in Korea is a reminder of the challenges faced by global technology companies operating in countries with high network usage fees. It also highlights the importance of Korea’s internet service providers in ensuring that the country remains an attractive destination for technology companies.
I wanted to quickly send my thoughts out to the Korean streamers that are impacted by the decision we have announced today. As I stated in the blog and in the live stream, this was a very difficult decision that we delayed for some time. I just wanted to send out my thoughts to…
— Daniel Clancy (@djclancy999) December 6, 2023
The closure of Twitch in Korea is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s gaming community. Twitch has been a popular platform for Korean gamers to stream their gameplay and watch esports competitions. With Twitch gone, Korean gamers will need to find alternative platforms to watch and participate in the gaming community.
There are several alternative streaming platforms exist for Korean gamers, including YouTube Gaming, AfreecaTV, and Kakao TV. However, these platforms do not have the same global reach as Twitch, and they may not be as popular among Korean gamers.
It is unclear what will be the future of Twitch in Korea. The company has not ruled out the possibility of returning to Korea in the future, but it is unclear when or if this will happen.
In the meantime, Korean gamers will need to adapt to a new streaming landscape without Twitch. It is possible that the closure of Twitch could lead to increased popularity for other streaming platforms in Korea. However, it is also possible that Korean gamers will simply watch and participate in the gaming community less often.
Song: Love Is A Long Road
Artist: Tom Petty
Written by Thomas Earl Petty and Michael W. Campbell
Published by Universal Music Works on behalf of Wild Gator Music (GMR) and Wixen Music Publishing, Inc. as agent for Gone Gator Music (ASCAP) and NotoriousJBPSongs (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The trailer confirmed a number of rumors surrounding the game, first is that it confirmed the first female protagonist ala Bonnie and Clyde, then the release of the game which will be in 2025 and that the game will be available in both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The GTA VI is the eighth main Grand Theft Auto game, following Grand Theft Auto V, and the sixteenth entry overall. The game have been in development for 10 years.
Apple is once again partnering with (RED) to raise awareness and funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS. In line this with this, Apple has release the new Apple Watch Series 9 (PRODUCT) RED, it’s the new Apple Watch Series 9 but everything in RED.
The Apple Watch Series 9 (PRODUCT) RED will include a new palette and solar analog watch faces in red, joining Metropolitan, World Time, Numerals Mono, Gradient, Stripes, and Typograph in a collection of specially customized watch faces celebrating World AIDS Day.
Aside from the portion of the sales of (PRODUCT) RED that goes in goes directly to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS. Apple also said that the starting December 1 to 4, App Store will donate all proceeds from select, exclusive in-app purchases for three amazing games — MONOPOLY GO!, Gardenscapes, and EA Sports FC Mobile — to the Global Fund, including playful avatars, cool shields, and star soccer players.
Additionally, starting on December 1st until December 8, Apple will donate $1 for every purchase made using Apple Pay on apple.com, through the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store location.
Source: Apple
A study by the Global Alliance Against Software Piracy (GASA) and Gogolook found that 35.9% of Filipinos have been victims of a shopping scam. This is the highest rate of any of the 11 Asian countries surveyed. The report was issued by the Office of CICC Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos and published on CICC website.
The 2023 Asia Scam Report released at the 1st Anti-Scam Asia Summit in Taipei was published by GASA and Gogolook and was based on data collected from nearly 20,000 respondents across 11 countries in Asia including the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China and Indonesia.
The study revealed that Filipinos are particularly susceptible to scams involving fake sellers and phishing websites. These deceptive tactics lure unsuspecting individuals into purchasing fraudulent products or revealing sensitive personal information.
To combat this growing threat, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is issuing a stern warning to the public, urging them to exercise extreme vigilance when engaging in online transactions. The CICC emphasizes the importance of adopting protective measures to safeguard against shopping scams.
CICC Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos reiterated his appeal to the public to be careful when they do their online shopping, especially during the yuletide season.
“Based on our observation, shopping scams usually increase during the Christmas season,” he said. “Scammers take advantage of the high volume of online shopping and people’s vulnerability during this period,” Ramos explained. The mindset and immediate response of Filipinos, when confronted with scams, make them vulnerable to falling into traps, according to Ramos.
“Some people easily believe in false promises even if they are too good to be true,” he said.
Based on the Asia Scam Report; 24.8% of Filipino victims respond too quickly to scammers’ demands and 21.1% of victims chose to take a risk despite uncertainty about the risk. Other reasons for vulnerability include being enticed with incentives and over-trusting with friends and family members.
Here are some tips that you can take to avoid falling for shopping scams:
Exercise Caution with Links: Approach links embedded in emails or social media posts with skepticism. Avoid clicking on suspicious links, as they may lead to phishing websites designed to steal personal information.
Protect Personal Information: Refrain from sharing sensitive details, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or home addresses, with anyone you don’t trust implicitly.
Beware of Unrealistic Deals: Exercise discretion when encountering deals that appear too good to be true. Such offers often mask fraudulent schemes.
Report Suspected Scams: If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a shopping scam, promptly report the incident to the authorities.
Here are additional measures that you can take to protect yourself from scammers;
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has announced that the ‘Free Wi-Fi for All’ is now available in 93 sites in Zamboanga City.
DICT’s Free Wi-Fi for All, is a Free Public Internet Access Program aims to provide the Filipino people access to opportunities, education, and information, and the ability to participate in the growing digital economy through free Internet in public places nationwide.
To date, DICTS has listed a a total of 2,594 Live Sites where Filipino can use free wifi. You can go here to check the live sites in your area.
Ayaneo has officially launched their latest handheld gaming PC – the Ayaneo Slide, the first handheld gaming PC from Ayaneo to feature a full keyboard.
The Ayaneo Slide is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U cpu. with 6-inch 1080p IPS display, It also has a full QWERTY (RGB) keyboard, a QWERTY physical RGB keyboard will appear when you sliding the display up, similar to the Sidekick. The Ayaneo Slide also features a touchpad, and a hall-sensing joystick with up to 64 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD for storage.
Here are the notable specs of the Ayaneo Slide;
The Ayaneo Slide will allow you to access and download games from various game platforms, including but not limited to Steam, Xbox, Origin, Epic, and Ubisoft Connect. The Ayaneo Slide is available for pre-order now on Indiegogo. The starting price is US$899 for the 16GB + 512GGB model and US$1,5999 for the 64GG + 4TB variants. A special discount will available to those who will preorder the Ayaneo Slide.
Microsoft just release the preview version of Windows App, an app that acts as a central hub to access Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, Remote Desktop Services, and remote PCs, securely connecting you to Windows devices and apps. Aside from macOS, iOS and iPadOS, the Windows app is also available for Windows OS and web browsers. Windows app is not currently available for Android.
The Windows app support multiple monitor, custom display resolutions, dynamic display resolutions and scaling, with device redirection, such as webcams, audio, storage devices, and printers. Windows app also supports Microsoft Teams optimizations. Windows App is available to when you have an active Microsoft business account, features to use a personal account is not yet available.
If successful, Windows app could signal’s Microsoft ambitions to move Windows as a cloud service than an OS that’s installed locally in our devices. To learn more about the Windows App, you can head over to the Windows App documentation page.
Valve just announced the new Steam Deck OLED, a update to the 2 year old Steam Deck. Like what the name suggest, the new Steam Deck OLED will feature a 7.4” HDR OLED Touch screen and up to 1,000 nits in brightness.
Spec-wise the new Steam Deck OLED will feature a 7.4-inch OLED Display with 1280 x 800 x RGB resolution with 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR) and up to 90Hz; a new 6 nm APU,
16 GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (6400 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and a 50Wh battery that will last for 12 hours of gameplay. You can checkout the full specs of the new Steam Deck OLED here.
The new Steam Deck OLED will be available this Nov. 16th with a $549.00 price for the 512GB model and $649.00 for the 1TB variant.
Nintendo has announced that they are developing a live action adaption of The Legend of Zelda.
The film will be produced by Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, who co-created The Legend of Zelda and Avi Arad, former head and CEO of Marvel Studios, now the Chairman of Arad Productions Inc., who has produced many mega hit films like ‘Iron Man (2008),’ that started the MCU; ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ and ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ as well as ‘Venom’ and its sequel, just to name a few.
Nintendo also announced that Wes Ball, will be the director of the film. Ball is known for directing all three Maze Runner film and the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
The film will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., with more than 50% financed by Nintendo. The theatrical distribution of the film will be done worldwide by Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
I have asked Avi-san to produce this film with me, and we have now officially started the development of the film with Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production. It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it. [2]https://t.co/2H9lzzS5Pv
— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) November 7, 2023
With the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it’s not surprising that Nintendo will be looking at their other IP and developing them into film franchise.
Sony has once again raised the bar with the release of the Alpha 9 III, its latest flagship mirrorless camera. The Alpha 9 III is the world’s first full-frame camera with a global shutter, which enables the camera to shoot at burst speeds at up to 120 fps with no distortion or camera blackout. The camera also boasts a newly developed 24.6MP stacked CMOS sensor, with the latest image processing engine BIONZ XR®, and an improved AI assisted autofocus system.
The most significant feature of the Alpha 9 III is its global shutter. Unlike rolling shutters, which read the image sensor from top to bottom, global shutter full-frame image sensor enables the camera to shoot at burst speeds at up to 120 fps with no distortion or camera blackout. This eliminates rolling shutter distortion, which can occur when shooting moving subjects. It also allows for blackout-free shooting, which means that the viewfinder does not black out during continuous shooting.
⚡ THE FUTURE IS HERE ⚡ Meet the next-generation Alpha 9 III – the world's first full-frame camera with a global shutter image sensor.
The next-generation Alpha 9 III revolutionises the industry with its new global shutter image sensor, unlocking burst speeds up to 120fps, pic.twitter.com/FVBgppC1o9
— Sony Middle East (@SonyMEA) November 8, 2023
The Alpha 9 III’s 24.6MP stacked CMOS sensor is designed to deliver high-quality images with excellent low-light performance. The sensor is paired with a new Bionz XR image processor, which is eight times faster than the processor in the Alpha 9 II. This allows for faster continuous shooting, as well as improved image quality and dynamic range.
The new Alpha 9 III is equipped with high-density focal plane phase detection AF. A Designated AI processing unit uses Real-time Recognition AF (autofocus) to recognise a wide variety of subjects with high precision. By combining high-speed performance of up to 120 frames per second with highly accurate subject recognition performance, it is possible to easily photograph decisive scenes and moments that cannot be captured with the naked eye4. The AI processing unit in the Alpha 9 III supports movies as well as stills with accurate subject form and movement recognition, providing a significant improvement in human eye recognition performance with Real-time Recognition AF and Real-time Tracking automatically recognising, tracking, and focusing on the eyes of a specified subject. The Alpha 9 III is equipped with 8.0 stops[v] of optical 5-axis in-body image stabilisation, allowing for high-quality image rendering.
The Alpha 9 III is also packed with other features, including:
You can find the full specs of the Alpha 9 III here. The Alpha 9 III camera will be available in selected countries in Asia Pacific from Q1 2024 with a retail price of $5,999.
Arm announced that it had acquired a minority stake in Raspberry Pi. This investment is a significant development in the partnership between the two companies, which has been ongoing since 2008. Raspberry Pi has used Arm-based CPUs in all of its single-board computers (SBCs), and the two companies have collaborated on a number of initiatives, including the development of the Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller.
The acquisition of a minority stake in Raspberry Pi is seen as a strategic move by Arm. Raspberry Pi has sold over 40 million SBCs to date, making it one of the most popular platforms for IoT development.
The partnership will benefit to both companies; Arm gains access to Raspberry Pi’s large and active community of developers, which can help to accelerate the adoption of Arm-based chips in IoT devices, Raspberry Pi, in turn, benefits from Arm’s expertise in chip design and its global reach.
“Arm and Raspberry Pi share a vision to make computing accessible for all, by lowering barriers to innovation so that anyone, anywhere can learn, experience and create new IoT solutions,” said Paul Williamson, SVP and GM, Internet of Things Line of Business, Arm. “With the rapid growth of edge and endpoint AI applications, platforms like those from Raspberry Pi, built on Arm, are critical to driving the adoption of high-performance IoT devices globally by enabling developers to innovate faster and more easily. This strategic investment is further proof of our continued commitment to the developer community, and to our partnership with Raspberry Pi.”
“Arm technology has always been central to the platforms we create, and this investment is an important milestone in our longstanding partnership,” said Eben Upton, CEO, Raspberry Pi. “Using Arm technology as the foundation of our current and future products offers us access to the compute performance, energy efficiency and extensive software ecosystem we need, as we continue to remove barriers to entry for everyone, from students and enthusiasts, to professional developers deploying commercial IoT systems at scale.”
The acquisition of a minority stake in Raspberry Pi is also seen as a sign of Arm’s commitment to the open-source community. Raspberry Pi is a popular platform for open-source software development, and Arm has stated that it will continue to support the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s commitment to open source. Financial details of the deals was not disclose.
Disney Plus, the popular streaming service, has announced a price increase for its subscription fee in the Middle East. The new pricing will take effect starting 21 November 2023. This means all the existing users signed up on or before 17 October 2023 and set to renew every month, will be charged at the revised subscription prices starting 21 November 2023. If the payment fails, the billing retries that happen on or after 21 November 2023 will be billed at the new price.
The monthly subscription fee for Disney Plus in the Saudi Arabia increase from SAR 29.99 to SAR 39.99. The annual subscription fee will now be SAR 354.99. The price increase appears to be part of the company’s plan to “accelerate profitability for the business.”
Below will be the new price plan of Disney Plus subscriptions in the Middle East;
Compare to Netflix’s Standard plan of SAR 43/month, the new SAR 39.99/month price of Disney is still low.
Together with the new iMacs, Apple also announce the 14‑inch MacBook Pro with M3 chips, the 16-inch Macbook Pro will also be updated with the new M3 Processors. Aside from the refreshed Macbook Pros, Apple also release a new Space Black color for both the 14‑inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Both the 14‑inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro will share the following parts;
There are also a number of differences that buyers needs to consider when choosing between the 14‑inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro; The 14‑inch MacBook Pro will be available in M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max processors while the 16-inch Macbook Pro will only support the M3 Pro and M3 Max CPU.
The 14‑inch MacBook Pro with M3 CPU;
The 14‑inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max CPU;
The 16‑inch MacBook Pro with M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max CPU;;
Both the 14‑inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro are now will be available with the follow prices;
After announcing the new CPUs, Apple announces the new 24-inch iMac powered by the M3 chips.
The new iMac with M3 is up to 2x faster than the prior generation with M1.1 And for those upgrading from an Intel-based iMac, the new iMac is up to 2.5x faster than the most popular 27-inch models,2 and 4x faster than the most powerful 21.5-inch model.3 It also features an expansive 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels and over a billion colors, faster wireless connectivity, and a seamless experience with iPhone. Combined with its best-in-class camera, speakers, and mics, along with macOS Sonoma, iMac with M3 is better than ever — perfect for everyone, from families to small businesses, aspiring creatives, students, and gamers. Customers can order the new iMac starting today, with availability beginning Tuesday, November 7.
The new iMacs will be available in 7 colors; Blue, Green, Pink, Silver, Yellow, Orange, Purple with a starting price of $1299 for the iMac with 8-core GPU and $1499 for the iMac with 10-core GPU and 256GB SSD model.
Here are the key specs of the new 24-inches iMac.
You can checkout full specs of the new iMacs here.
In an event called ‘Scary Fast,’ Apple officially unveil the next general M-series processors; M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max.
The M-series processors based on a 3nm manufacturing process, which will allow Apple to pack more transistors onto a smaller die. This will lead to significant performance and efficiency.
The M3 is expected to be a direct successor to the M2 chip, which is currently used in the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac. The M3 feature an 8-core CPU, offers up to 35% faster than M1 for CPU performance, and a 10-core GPU, which is 65% faster than M1 for graphics. The M3 CPU supports 24GB of unified memory.
As powerful as the M3 CPU, the M3 Pro and M3 Max are expected to be even more powerful than the M3. The M3 Pro will feature a 12-core CPU and a 18-core GPU while the M3 Max will have 40-core CPU and a 16-core GPU. Both the M3 Pro and M3 Max will support up to 36GB and up to 128GB of unified memory, respectively.
In addition to the performance and efficiency improvement, the M3 family is also expected to bring a number of new features to the Mac. The M3 family will support AV1 decoding, which would allow users to watch high-resolution AV1 videos without using much battery life.
As more performance gains, the new M3 Processors also have an enhanced Neural Engine to accelerate powerful machine learning (ML) models. The Neural Engine is up to 60 percent faster than in the M1 family of chips, making AI/ML workflows even faster while keeping data on device to preserve privacy.
“Apple silicon has completely redefined the Mac experience. Every aspect of its architecture is designed for performance and power efficiency,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies. “With 3-nanometer technology, a next-generation GPU architecture, a higher-performance CPU, faster Neural Engine, and support for even more unified memory, M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max are the most advanced chips ever built for a personal computer.”
The M3 family will be powering new MacBook Pros and iMacs, which was also announced at the event, and is expected to be in the next generation MacBook Air and Mac minis, as well as future generations of Macs.
