A recent report claims the brand might hold an in-person launch event for the device that everyone has been holding their breath for, come mid-July.
Rumoured Launch Timeline
OnePlus Nord 4 rumoured to launch in mid-July
This timeline also goes with the release pattern of the Nord series, as its predecessor, the OnePlus Nord 3, had made its debut in July of last year.
Price Expectations
Expected pricing between £350 to £410 (Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000)
One of the main reasons the Nord series managed to go popular with consumers is because of its aggression in pricing.
While there are no concrete leaks on what the OnePlus Nord 4 will cost, industry analysts speculate the device to fall between the price range of £350 to £410, which is around Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000.
Such a pricing strategy would help maintain a clear gap between the Nord 4 and the recently launched OnePlus 12R, which sports a price tag of £470 (Rs. 39,999).
Industry pundits are eagerly waiting for the official launch of the OnePlus Nord 4,which could likely set a new benchmark for mid-range smartphones based on its design, hardware specifications, and overall user experience.
Punch Hole 32 MP f/2 (Wide Angle) with Screen Flash
Front Video Recording
1080p @ 30 fps FHD
TECHNICAL
OS
Android v14
Custom UI
OxygenOS 14
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen3
CPU
2.8 GHz, Octa Core Processor
Java
No
Browser
Yes
MULTIMEDIA
Email
Yes
Music
MP3, AAC, APE, AMR, WAV, MID, OGG, FLAC, WMA
Video
AVI, 3GP, MP4, WMV, MKV, MOV, ASF, FLV
FM Radio
No
Document Reader
Yes
BATTERY
Type
Non-Removable Battery
Size
5000 mAh, Li-ion Battery
Fast Charging
Yes, 120W Supervooc Fast Charging
FAQs
When is the OnePlus Nord 4 expected to launch?
The OnePlus Nord 4 is rumoured to launch in mid-July, following the release pattern of the Nord series.
What is the expected price range for the OnePlus Nord 4?
Industry analysts speculate the OnePlus Nord 4 will be priced between £350 to £410, which is approximately Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000.
Why is the OnePlus Nord series popular among consumers?
The Nord series is popular due to its aggressive pricing strategy, offering a balance between performance and affordability.
What other mid-range smartphones will compete with the OnePlus Nord 4?
The OnePlus Nord 4 will face competition from notable devices like the iQOO Neo 9 Pro and the Poco F6 in the mid-range segment.
How does the OnePlus Nord 4 pricing compare to the OnePlus 12R?
The OnePlus Nord 4 is expected to be priced lower than the OnePlus 12R, which costs £470 (Rs. 39,999), maintaining a clear distinction between the two models.
Positive results of these price reduction promos have already been noticed, as Apple’s shipments in the Chinese market have increased by a significant 52% in April.
Looks like this big surge in sales indicates that the price reduction strategy may have been successful in rejuvenating consumer demand.
Long-Term Strategy or Temporary Fix?
Apple’s market share in China dropped due to a 19% sales decline in Q1
The price cuts have worked to lure customers and enhance sales in the short term, but how this will play out as a marketing strategy in the long term remains to be seen, or if this is merely a desperate attempt by Apple to make up for the dwindling sales in China.
This marks a huge milestone in the fast-changing world of foldable devices.
Foldable Shipments Surge
Other companies that showed impressive annual growth rates include Lenovo’s Motorola (+1260%), Honor (+480%), Vivo (+331%), and Xiaomi (+41%). Conversely, Samsung (-25%) and Oppo (-75%) saw a decline in market share
In comparison, Samsung’s market share fell from a dominant 58% to 23% year on year.
Another easily noticeable trend was a shift in demand toward book-style foldables, which accounted for 55% of global foldable shipment, exceeding clamshells for the first time since 2021.
Competitive Landscape
Honor’s Magic V2 has become Western Europe’s top-selling foldable phone, pushing for 12% market share in global competition
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will reportedly help Samsung regain share in the foldable market
FAQs
How did Huawei become the leading foldable smartphone producer?
Huawei achieved this by increasing its foldable shipments by 257% year-over-year in Q1 2024, largely driven by securing 5G processors and the success of the Mate X5.
What is Huawei’s market share in the foldable smartphone segment?
Huawei commanded a 35% share of the global foldable market in Q1 2024, up from 14% the previous year.
Which Huawei model significantly contributed to its success?
The Mate X5, Huawei’s first 5G inward-folding, book-style foldable, played a crucial role in its growth and became a bestseller in China.
How has the global demand for foldable smartphones changed?
Global demand has shifted towards book-style foldables, which accounted for 55% of shipments, surpassing clamshell models for the first time since 2021.
Which other companies have made significant gains in the foldable market?
Honor and Motorola made notable advances, with Honor’s foldable shipments increasing by 460% and Motorola’s by 1473% year-over-year in Q1 2024.
As for the Vivo Watch GT comes in black, white (leather), pink, and blue colour options.
The eSIM+leather strap variant is priced at CNY 899 (Rs 10,330), while the eSIM+rubber strap model costs CNY 799 (Rs. 9,180).
It is available for order and will go on sale in China from June 14th.
vivo S19
vivo S19 Pro
CNY
USD (converted)
CNY
USD (converted)
8/256GB
CNY 2,500*
$345*
CNY 3,300
$455
12/256GB
CNY 2,600
$360
CNY 3,500
$485
12/512GB
CNY 3,000
$415
CNY 3,800
$525
16/512GB
CNY 3,300
$455
CNY 4,000
$550
The 8/256GB S19 has LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, higher capacity units use LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1.
Vivo S19: Key Specs
Vivo unveils S19 smartphone featuring Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC
Up to 16GB RAM, up to 512GB storage
50MP rear camera with OIS, 8MP ultra-wide
50MP autofocus front camera
5,000mAh battery, 80W fast charging
Android 14 with OriginOS 4
Vivo S19 Pro: Key Specs
Vivo S19 Pro come with a 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, with a 60° curved panel
6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz curved AMOLED display
MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ SoC
Up to 16GB RAM, up to 512GB storage
50MP main camera with OIS, 8MP ultra-wide, 50MP telephoto
50MP autofocus front camera
5,500mAh battery, 80W fast charging
Android 14 with OriginOS 4
Vivo S19 Series: Features
Vivo S19 has a 6.78” display with 1,260 x 2,800px resolution (20:9)
The Vivo S19 and S19 Pro come with a 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, with a 60° curved panel, peaking at up to 4500 nits in brightness, and a 50MP autofocus front camera.
The vivo S19 Pro is equipped with the Dimensity 9200+
The S19 Pro will have a triple rear camera setup: a 50MP Sony IMX921 sensor primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP telephoto portrait camera that supports up to 4x lossless zoom and extends to a maximum of 50x digital zoom.
The Pro has a 50MP 2x portrait camera too
The standard S19 houses a 50MP primary camera with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera.
The S19 Pro has a 5,500mAh battery, while the S19 makes do with a 5,000mAh one.
Vivo Watch GT: Features
ivo Watch GT debuts with 1.85-inch AMOLED display, eSIM support
Other products announced by Vivo include the Watch GT, which is a smartwatch made out of an aluminium alloy casing with a square dial design.
It will have a 1.85-inch AMOLED display, which is 2.5D curved, and the device will be available with silicone and leather strap options.
GT runs on Vivo’s Blue OS and has more than 100 sports modes, professional coaches, and courses.
It uses deep learning blood oxygen multi-channel fusion analysis technology and a longitudinal PPG sensor, promising an average accuracy of 94.58% in heart rate.
Other features include AI-powered voice assistance, a watch face workshop, rotating crown for navigation, and eSIM for cellular connectivity.
The Watch GT promises up to 9 days of battery life with eSIM enabled and up to 21 days of use with just Bluetooth on a single charge.
Vivo S19 Specifications
The vivo S19 is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
6.78-inch (2800×1260 pixels) 1.5K AMOLED 20:9 aspect ratio screen with HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, up to 4500 nits peak brightness
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4nm) Mobile Platform with Adreno 720 GPU 8GB / 12GB / 16GB RAM LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB / 512GB (UFS2.2 in select models, UFS 3.1 storage in top-end)
Android 14 with OriginOS 4
Dual SIM (nano + nano)
50MP camera with OmniVision OV50E sensor, f/1.88 aperture, OIS, LED flash, 8MP ultra-wide OmniVision OV08D10 sensor with f/2.2 aperture
50MP autofocus front camera with 1/2.76″ Samsung JN1 sensor, f/2.0 aperture
In-display fingerprint sensor
USB Type-C audio, Stereo Speakers, Hi-Res audio
Dimensions:163.62×75.68× 7.19mm; Weight:193g
5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.4, GPS (L1 + L5), USB Type-C, NFC
6000mAh (typ) battery with 80W fast charging
Vivo S19 Pro Specifications
The vivo S19 Pro has a curved display instead
6.78-inch (2800×1260 pixels) 1.5K curved AMOLED 20:9 aspect ratio screen with HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, up to 4500 nits peak brightness
Up to 3.35GHz Octa Core Dimensity 9200+ 4nm processor with Immortalis-G715 GPU
50MP camera with 1/1.56″ Sony IMX921 sensor, f/1.88 aperture, OIS, LED flash, 8MP with ultra-wide OmniVision OV08D10 sensor with f/2.2 aperture, 50MP 2x telephoto portrait camera with 1/2.83″ Sony IMX816 sensor f/1.85 aperture
50MP autofocus front camera with 1/2.76″ Samsung JN1 sensor, f/2.0 aperture
In-display fingerprint sensor
USB Type-C audio, Stereo Speakers, Hi-Res audio
Dust and splash resistant (IP68 and IP69)
Dimensions: 164.16×74.93×7.58mm; Weight:192g
5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS (L1 + L5), USB Type-C, NFC
The Vivo S19 series features a 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, up to 16GB RAM, up to 512GB storage, and a 50MP front camera.
The S19 Pro also includes a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ SoC and a triple rear camera setup.
What is the price of the Vivo S19 and S19 Pro in China?
The Vivo S19 starts at CNY 2,499 (approx. Rs 29,300), and the S19 Pro starts at CNY 3,299 (approx. Rs 38,700).
When will the Vivo S19 series be available for purchase?
The Vivo S19 series will go on sale in China starting June 7th.
What are the features of the Vivo Watch GT?
The Vivo Watch GT features a 1.85-inch AMOLED display, eSIM support, up to 21 days of battery life, more than 100 sports modes, AI-powered voice assistance, and a rotating crown for navigation.
How much does the Vivo Watch GT cost?
The Vivo Watch GT is priced at CNY 799 (approx. Rs 9,180) for the rubber strap model and CNY 899 (approx. Rs 10,330) for the leather strap variant.
“The need for energy efficient devices capable of multitasking continues to grow and we are committed to empowering students and teachers with tech devices and solutions that enhance learning in the classroom and beyond,” said Benny Zhang, Executive Director and General Manager of Chromebooks in Lenovo’s Global Innovation Center, Intelligent Devices Group. “Lenovo and MediaTek have a long-standing partnership focused on delivering performance and value, and we look forward to bringing the Kompanio series chips to our upcoming Lenovo Chromebooks.”
Kompanio 838 for Premium Chromebooks
MediaTek Kompanio 838 SoC for high-performance Chromebooks
“At this year’s COMPUTEX, we are highlighting our expanding leadership in exciting product categories, such as AI, automotive, IoT, TVs, Chromebooks, and wireless connectivity, among many others,” said Joe Chen, President and COO of MediaTek. “Through upgrading user experiences in our latest chipsets, this is a wonderful opportunity to show our growth in these critical segments of technology.”
This includes the high-performance Kompanio 838 SoC for Chromebooks.
This octa-core processor is intended for very good performance and multitasking capabilities, all at the bequest of all-day battery life for thin, lightweight Chromebook devices.
On this note, the Kompanio 838 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory standards, which triple the memory bandwidth compared to prior generations.
The chipset incorporates MediaTek’s Imagiq 7 series image signal processor (ISP)
“The finely tuned balance of power and efficiency the Kompanio 838 brings to Chromebook is a key point of innovation in our portfolio as we seek to bring powerful, affordable and accessible computing to more users around the globe,” said John Solomon, VP and GM, ChromeOS and Google for Education. “Together, we’re bringing thin and light Chromebooks with helpful AI features to even more customers.”
Additionally, the chipset incorporates MediaTek’s Imagiq 7 series image signal processor (ISP), offering improvements in HDR imaging, dual-camera support, and low-light capture.
It also supports hardware-accelerated AV1 video decoding, allowing seamless 4K content streaming and dual 4K display output.
Pentonic 800 for 4K Smart TVs and Displays
Mediatek Pentonic 800 SoC for 4K smart TVs and displays
The AI processor inside the Pentonic 800 offers 50% faster AI processing performance than the previous generation and lowers bandwidth utilization by up to 60%.
It supports a variable refresh rate up to 4K2K 165Hz for a perfect gaming experience
Supported are a host of AI-driven display technologies that include AI-Super Resolution 3.0, AI-Contrast 2.0, and AI-Picture Quality Scene Recognition 2.0+ for upscaled image quality and reduced noise.
The chipset also comes with a hardware video decoding engine, which supports general codecs, such as HEVC, AV1, AVS3 High Profile, and VVC.
It supports a variable refresh rate up to 4K2K 165Hz for a perfect gaming experience.
Computex Showcase and CEO Keynote
MediaTek to showcase its latest technologies across Chromebooks, IoT devices, smart TVs
In addition, there will be a keynote by MediaTek Vice Chairman and CEO Dr. Rick Tsai, explaining how AI will continue to transform mobility, transportation, smart homes, enterprises, and industrial environments.
FAQs
What is the Kompanio 838 SoC designed for?
The Kompanio 838 SoC is designed for high-performance Chromebooks, offering excellent multitasking capabilities and all-day battery life.
What are the key features of the Pentonic 800 SoC?
The Pentonic 800 SoC provides advanced AI-driven picture enhancements, including AI-Super Resolution 3.0, AI-Contrast 2.0, and AI-Picture Quality Scene Recognition 2.0+.
It supports a variable refresh rate up to 4K2K 165Hz for an optimal gaming experience.
How does the Kompanio 838 enhance media quality and efficiency?
The Kompanio 838 features the MediaTek NPU 650 for interactive media experiences and efficient power usage.
It also includes the Imagiq 7 series ISP for improved HDR imaging and low-light capture.
What is the significance of MediaTek’s presence at Computex 2024?
MediaTek is showcasing its latest developments in AI, automotive, IoT, smart TVs, Chromebooks, and wireless connectivity, highlighting its expanding leadership in these critical technology segments.
What advancements does the Pentonic 800 SoC bring to smart TVs?
The Pentonic 800 SoC offers 50% faster AI processing performance and reduces bandwidth utilization by up to 60%, enhancing video, audio, and cloud gaming experiences.
MediaTek to Unveil Products for Chromebooks, Smart TVs and Displays at COMPUTEX 2024, Highlighting Demonstrations in AI Processing. Details?
At COMPUTEX 2024, MediaTek will showcase new products and technology demonstrations, featuring highlights in AI, Smart TVs, Chromebooks, IoT and more, in addition to a keynote by Vice Chairman and CEO Dr. Rick Tsai about how MediaTek can enable ubiquitous AI.
At this year’s show, MediaTek will debut two new chipsets with powerful performance and support for the latest AI enhancements across multiple verticals: the Kompanio 838 SoC for premium Chromebooks, and the Pentonic 800 SoC for 4K premium smart TVs and displays.
Additionally, MediaTek Vice Chairman and CEO Dr. Rick Tsai will be giving a keynote at COMPUTEX 2024 to explore how AI will continue to transform mobility, transportation, the smart home, enterprises, and industrial environments.
Dr. Tsai will deliver his keynote speech on Tuesday, June 4 at 13:30 Taiwan time at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Does MediaTek Kompanio 838: Amplify productive working, learning and creativity ?
The octa-core Kompanio 838 packs outstanding performance and multitasking capabilities into a highly efficient SoC that enables all-day battery life for thin and light Chromebooks.
This new chipset supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X to meet a wider range of OEM requirements, and doubles memory bandwidth compared to previous generations to provide considerably more data throughput.
To support the latest AI enhancements, Kompanio 838 enables a dedicated AI processor, the MediaTek NPU 650, to offer more interactive and higher quality multimedia with unparalleled power efficiency.
MediaTek NPUs are designed for efficient image data processing, capable of quickly executing complex computations.
The built-in next-generation MediaTek Imagiq 7 series ISP upgrades professional quality HDR imaging, dual camera support, and low-light capture, improving photo and video quality even in challenging lighting conditions.
With hardware accelerated AV1 video decoding, the Kompanio 838 lets users seamlessly stream 4K content, while also enhancing picture quality.
It supports up to two 4K displays simultaneously to give users more display real estate.
The Kompanio 838 also supports MediaTek Filogic Wi-Fi 6 and 6E technology to offer dual-band and tri-band connectivity options to Chromebooks with speeds up to 1.9Gbps, while also offering more reliable connectivity thanks to the 2×2 antenna and enhanced security with WPA3 support.
Is MediaTek Pentonic 800 a Powerful AI Engine with Industry-leading Image Enhancement ?
The MediaTek Pentonic 800 delivers best-in-class video, audio, and cloud gaming experiences. The SoC is ideal for a variety of 4K displays, including smart TVs, smart monitors, commercial displays, and embedded large displays.
Compared to the previous generation chip, MediaTek’s AI processor offers 50% faster AI processing performance and reduces up to 60% bandwidth usage.
The powerful NPU supports a variety of MediaTek AI-powered display technologies, including AI-Super Resolution 3.0, AI-Contrast 2.0, AI-Picture Quality Scene Recognition 2.0+, and AI-Picture Quality Object Recognition 2.5+.
These technologies significantly improve upscaling, enhance picture quality, and eliminate noise, among many other enhancements for streaming and gaming.
To further optimize gaming, Pentonic 800 supports variable refresh rate (VRR) up to 4K2K 165Hz.
Also, the Pentonic 800’s hardware video decoding engine supports popular key codecs such as HEVC, AV1, AVS3 High Profile, and VVC (H.266) for high quality 4K video playback.
The chip also supports MEMC, TCON, and high-resolution audio.
OEMs have the flexibility to add MediaTek’s Filogic Wi-Fi connectivity solutions to provide reliable high-speed connectivity with low latency.
Additionally, MediaTek’s Filogic Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo solutions provide seamless connectivity between screens and peripherals, such as game controllers and wireless headsets.
During Computex, MediaTek will be exhibiting at a private booth, demonstrating how the company is bringing intelligence everywhere from Chromebooks to IoT devices, smartphones, smart TVs, routers, tablets, vehicles, and beyond.
A recent Mailsuite analysis reveals the worrying prevalence of these weak passwords.
Common Popular Culture Passwords to Avoid
Avoid using pop culture passwords like “Superman” and “Eminem” due to high breach rates
Mailsuite analyzed over 300 million passwords disclosed in data breaches and cross-referenced them with a collection of 2,612 pop culture phrases and variants.
The results are disturbing.
“Superman” emerged as the most-often-broken pop culture password, with 584,697 data breaches.
In the category of music, “Eminem” showed up in 286,263 breaches, so a weak choice.
Using “Zac Efron” as a password is a bad idea, since it has been used in 24,268 security breaches.
Video game enthusiasts will want to steer clear of “Minecraft,” which turned up in 215,934 breaches.
Sports enthusiasts with die-hard passion should also avoid using names of clubs like “New York Yankees” which appeared in 170,412 breaches.
Creating Stronger, More Secure Passwords
Create strong passwords with at least 14 characters, including upper/lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters
The prevalence of these breached pop culture passwords emphasizes even further the need for strong password practices:
Use passwords at least 14 characters long. Use upper and lowercase characters, numbers, and special characters.
Avoid using words from the dictionary, your personal information, or easily guessable dates.
Use a different password for every different account.
Change your password every three months for extra security.
Responsible Password Management
Regularly update passwords and use different passwords for each account for enhanced security
Pop culture passwords are considered weak because they are commonly used and easily guessable, making them prime targets for hackers.
What are some examples of commonly breached pop culture passwords?
Examples include “Superman,” “Eminem,” “Zac Efron,” “Minecraft,” and “New York Yankees,” all of which have been involved in numerous security breaches.
How can I create a strong password?
Create a strong password by using at least 14 characters, mixing upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like names or common words.
Should I use the same password for multiple accounts?
No, using the same password for multiple accounts increases the risk of multiple breaches. Always use unique passwords for each account.
How often should I change my passwords?
It’s recommended to change your passwords every three months to maintain optimal security.
The new online interface seems to take into consideration long-held calls from power users for a much more advanced, customisable experience similar to Twitter’s TweetDeck.
What new features does the Threads desktop interface offer?
The new interface offers customizable home screen columns, real-time updates, improved search capabilities, and the ability to see more posts at once.
How can users customize their Threads homepage on desktop?
Users can configure different columns for their main feed, saved articles, profiles, search results, and more, allowing for a personalized content layout.
What is the benefit of real-time updates on the desktop interface?
Real-time updates allow column feeds to refresh with new content automatically, providing instant access to the latest posts without needing to reload the page.
How does the new desktop interface improve user experience?
The new interface allows users to browse multiple streams of content simultaneously, see more posts at once, and focus on specific interests with customized columns.
Why did Threads introduce these desktop enhancements?
The enhancements were introduced in response to user feedback, aiming to provide a more advanced, customizable experience similar to Twitter’s TweetDeck.
What is the goal of Threads with these new desktop features?
The goal is to attract power users, boost user engagement, and provide a more versatile and user-friendly platform for desktop users.
Instagram Enhances User Control with New 'Limits,' 'Restrict,' and 'Notes' Feature
Highlights
Expanded “Limits” feature to mute messages from everyone except close friends.
Enhanced “Restrict” function to block tagging, mentioning, and suppress comments from restricted accounts.
New prompts and interaction options in the “Notes” feature for engaging conversations.
Improved safety measures to protect users from harassment and unwanted interactions.
Instagram has announced a series of updates aimed at giving users more control over their interactions and facilitating increased conversation among friends on the platform.
The changes span Instagram’s limits, Resrtict, and Notes features.
Expanded “Limits” for Harassment Protection
Expanded “Limits” feature to mute messages from everyone except close friends Credit: Instagram
This restriction can be set by anyone who receives any type of unwanted message, remark, or abuse, just to reduce incoming noise without disappearing totally from their community.
You can restrict specific accounts (without blocking them) so they won’t see when you’re online or when you’ve read their messages Credit: Instagram
These additional controls provide consumers more options for managing unwanted encounters.
The changes come as Instagram is under growing scrutiny over the safety of its practices—especially those related to keeping younger users out of harassment, hate speech, and other risky content.
You can also choose to only limit interactions from recent followers and/or accounts that don’t follow you. Credit: Instagram
Users can post thought-provoking prompts on anything from weekend getaway recommendations to new movie debates.
Following this conversational trend, Notes now allows users to double-tap to ‘like’ each other’s notes, which instantly recognizes the opinions of friends.
The @ mention feature furthers interactivity by letting one loop chosen friends directly into the note’s conversation.
Blurring the Line Between Image and Text
Mention friends directly in your Notes.Credit: Instagram
Instagram Notes upgrades give a new twist to traditional image or video-based communication mixed with text-based discourse.
While Instagram provides users with more management options, the platform extends the functionalities of interactive discussions, so it remains to be seen how well the new tools will be used by the app’s global users.
Notes first launched nearly 18 months ago, with the following intro by Instagram: We’re beginning to roll out Notes, a new way to share your thoughts and see what your friends are up to. Notes are short posts of up to 60 characters using just text and emojis.
During testing, we learned that people liked having a lightweight, easy way to share what’s on their mind and start conversations. From asking for recommendations to sharing what they’re up to, Notes give people a casual and spontaneous way to express themselves and connect with each other.
FAQs
What is the new “Limits” feature on Instagram?
The expanded “Limits” feature allows users to mute incoming messages from everyone except their close friends, helping reduce unwanted interactions and harassment.
How long can I enable the “Limits” feature?
Limits can be enabled for up to four weeks at a time and can be extended further if needed.
What enhancements have been made to the “Restrict” function?
The enhanced “Restrict” function now blocks restricted accounts from tagging or mentioning users and suppresses their comments.
What new interaction options are available in Instagram’s “Notes” feature?
The “Notes” feature now includes prompts for questions, polls, and open-ended statements, as well as the ability to ‘like’ notes and mention friends directly in the conversation.
How does the updated “Notes” feature benefit users?
The updated “Notes” feature facilitates engaging, two-way discussions among friends and mutual followers, blending text-based and image-based communication.
Why has Instagram introduced these updates?
Instagram introduced these updates to enhance user control over interactions, protect against harassment, and foster more meaningful conversations on the platform.
What are the latest moves to address mental health concerns ?
The company has been facing growing concern over the impact of Instagram on the mental health of teenage users, with particular concerns about online bullying.
Meta has introduced a number of protective features specifically for teens, two of them introduced earlier this year.
In January, Meta started blocking DMs to teenagers from adults they don’t follow. Parents and guardians also got more powerful parental controls at the same time.
Last month, Meta began blurring nude photos in Instagram DMs – a move aimed at addressing the growing problem of ‘sextortion’ on the platform.
What is the new Close Friends options for teens ?
TechCrunch reports that teenagers are now being offered additional options for further limiting interactions.
The feature has now been tuned for teens with the “Close Friends” setting by default, and Instagram says it is specifically meant to protect people from bullying and harassment.
Accounts that aren’t part of a person’s “Close Friends” group can still interact with them, but their activity won’t show up in the feed.
Teens can limit interactions with recent followers — accounts that started following them in the past week or accounts that they don’t follow.
In addition, the company is adding new functionality to its “Restrict” feature that lets you limit interactions from specific accounts without blocking them.
Instagram will hide all comments from restricted accounts, and they won’t be able to tag or mention you.
This phone is going to pop out of its class, thanks to its lightweight build, with only 175 grams and 7.8mm in thickness, making it one of the thinnest and lightest phones available.
Of course, it is available in Marshmallow Blue, Forest Blue, and Hot Pink with vegan leather on the back, making it more stylish, and it leaves no smudges at all—something I was very grateful for.
Ergonomic design makes the phone easy to use.
The right-hand side is home to the power button and volume rockers.
On the bottom, you will find the USB Type-C port, the SIM card slot, and the speaker grille, while at the top, there is the secondary mic and Dolby Atmos branding.
Moto Edge 50 Fusion: Design
It comes with a 6.7-inch FHD+ 10-bit P-OLED Curved Endless Edge screen, featuring a crisp display of 2400 x 1080 pixels and an ultra-smooth 144Hz refresh rate.
It’s a 10-bit color depth panel with 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut that peaks at 1600 nits brightness and maintains 1200 nits in high brightness mode.
Additionally, it features a 360Hz touch sampling rate, Aqua Touch for operation under water, and 720Hz PWM dimming.
However, the curved display makes for great immersion but sometimes allows for unwelcome reflections and accidental touches that detract from the viewing experience.
Further, the vegan leather back may not be up to everyone’s taste and could wear out over time.
This is further bumped up to 2.0µm with Ultra Pixel Technology for better low-light performance.
OIS ensures blur-free photos and videos.
The secondary 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture offers a 120-degree field of view for that added versatility.
The 32MP selfie camera comes with an f/2.4 aperture and 0.7µm pixel size, increasing to 1.4µm when using Quad Pixel technology.
Dual-pixel PDAF is present for fast and accurate focus locking.
The main camera takes bright, detailed photos, particularly in Ultra-res mode. Portrait mode is really good at edge detection, though the boosted colors will not be to everyone’s taste.
The 13MP ultrawide lens takes great wide-angle shots, and the front-facing 32MP camera does a good job of selfies, with accurate skin tone and good detail.
But the selfie camera has a bug.
It always fails to capture portrait pictures in landscape orientation—either it won’t apply the bokeh effect or crash the app.
Hopefully, it will be fixed with some software update.
The phone handles multitasking and demanding applications with efficiency, which is all that matters, anyway.
The GPU score of 1795, though decent, suggests that for heavy gaming, some graphical settings may need to be adjusted for optimal performance.
Now, speaking of gaming, the Edge 50 Fusion will do a little just fine with games somewhat demanding, thanks to the Adreno 710 GPU and the Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 chipset.
Hunting for one striking feature, the app Ready For lets users either mirror the phone’s display or create a virtual phone screen on a PC.
This feature makes video calls using the camera of the phone, further allowing one to launch apps directly on a Windows PC or laptop for various purposes, including checking messages and receiving calls.
File transfers are easy between the phone and PC with simple swipe or drag-and-drop actions.
What is the price of the Moto Edge 50 Fusion in India?
The Moto Edge 50 Fusion is priced at Rs 20,999 in India.
What are the key specifications of the Moto Edge 50 Fusion?
Key specs include a 6.7-inch FHD+ P-OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, 5,000mAh battery, and a 50MP primary camera.
Does the Moto Edge 50 Fusion support fast charging?
Yes, it supports TurboPower 68W fast charging and features a Charge Boost mode for even faster charging times.
How is the camera performance on the Moto Edge 50 Fusion?
The 50MP primary camera delivers vibrant and detailed images, with excellent low-light performance and a versatile 13MP ultrawide camera.
What operating system does the Moto Edge 50 Fusion run on?
The Moto Edge 50 Fusion runs on Android 14-based Hello UI, offering a near-vanilla Android experience with additional Motorola features.
Are there any notable design features of the Moto Edge 50 Fusion?
The phone has a sleek and lightweight design, weighing just 175 grams and measuring 7.8mm in thickness. It features a vegan leather back and is available in three colors: Marshmallow Blue, Forest Blue, and Hot Pink.
This wearable, dubbed the ‘Fitbit Ace LTE,’ is forming part of Fitbit’s Ace lineup and is aiming to help parents keep track of their children’s whereabouts.
Unlike its predecessors, the Fitbit Ace LTE stands out with its built-in LTE connectivity, which allows parents to monitor their kids’ location even without a smartphone.
Availability and Pricing
Fitbit Ace LTE priced at $229.95 with a required data plan
The Fitbit Ace LTE is commanding a price of $229.95, and it requires the Fitbit Ace Pass data plan to enable its built-in LTE connectivity for calling, messaging, and location sharing.
The Fitbit Ace Pass costs $9.99 per month or $119.99 for an annual subscription.
Google announces Fitbit Ace LTE for kids with Wear OS
The Fitbit Ace LTE is becoming available for purchase at the Google Store and Amazon starting June 5, but initially, it is launching in the US market only.
Key Specs
Google Unveils Fitbit Ace LTE: A Smartwatch for Kids with Built-in LTE and Interactive Games
Available in two size variants: 4.8-inch and 7.8-inch displays
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection and water resistance up to 50m
Stainless steel chassis with glass on top and a polyester yarn band
LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
328mAh battery with over 16 hours of battery life and fast charging support
One of the unique features of this smartwatch is its interactive 3D games.
Kids unlock more game time by increasing their activity, as the watch tracks their movement levels and Fitbit Arcade is set to introduce new games monthly.
There are currently six bands with fun names like Strange Arcade, Moovin’, Spooky Pubs, Glitterbomb Skate, Camp Nightmare, and Courtside
Features will entail viewing real-time location and making voice calls, sending and receiving text or voice messages, adding trusted contacts, and settings such as School Time to remove distractions during class.
Security-wise, Google is announcing a number of features to ensure the safety and privacy of the child.
Only parents are ever able to view their child’s location or activity data in the app, while this data is deleted after 24 hours for location and a maximum of 35 days for activity.
Also, there are no ads or third-party apps on the watch, and only parents can add contacts for their kids to call or message.
Soon, Google will be introducing a Tap to Pay feature that will enable kids to access their pocket money through the smartwatch.
Pixel Watch 2
Fitbit Ace LTE
320 ppi AMOLED
333 ppi OLED
Gorilla Glass 5
Gorilla Glass 3
24 hours with always-on display
16+ hours with gaming/LTE, AOD off
306 mAh
328 mAh
30 minutes to 50%
43 minutes to 80%
75 minutes to 100%
30 minutes to 60% (11 hours)
70 minutes to 100% (16+ hours)
Housing: 100% recycled aluminum
Housing: Plastic, stainless steel, glass, and recycled materials
$399.99
$229.95 + subscription
FAQs
What is the price of the Fitbit Ace LTE?
The Fitbit Ace LTE is priced at $229.95 and requires a Fitbit Ace Pass data plan costing $9.99 per month or $119.99 annually.
When will the Fitbit Ace LTE be available for purchase?
The Fitbit Ace LTE will be available starting June 5 on the Google Store and Amazon, initially launching in the US market only.
What connectivity options does the Fitbit Ace LTE offer?
The Fitbit Ace LTE offers LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, allowing calling, messaging, and location tracking without a smartphone.
What are the key features of the Fitbit Ace LTE?
Key features include calling and messaging, location tracking, an emergency contact feature, and interactive 3D games that encourage physical activity.
How does the Fitbit Ace LTE ensure the safety and privacy of children?
Google ensures safety and privacy by allowing only parents to view their child’s location and activity data, deleting location data after 24 hours, and not displaying ads or third-party apps on the watch.
