Meta’s ambitious plan for AR/VR

By: Rohit Yadav

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Updated on: 02-Mar-2023

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To build its repertoire for this revolution, Meta plans to release not one, not two, but four different devices over the next four years. The company will showcase its first smart glasses in 2025, along with a smartwatch that carries a neural interface. These plans were shared with Meta employees during a presentation this week, as reported by The Verge.

This news is surprising, especially after Meta had recently undergone worldwide layoffs and budget cuts to delay various projects related to its hardware division. However, Meta hopes that its hardware focus, along with its Metaverse ecosystem, will help the company build a service that caters to both businesses and consumers.

In addition to AR, Meta also has immediate plans for its Quest lineup with the Quest 3 headset launch expected later this year. The headset is likely to cost over $400 and will be powerful yet two times thinner than its predecessor.

However, Meta is not the only player in the AR and VR market. Brands such as Google, Apple, Xiaomi, and Oppo are also in the mix. Apple, in particular, is rumored to bring the realityOS ecosystem to the WWDC 2023 later this year. Therefore, it all comes down to the full package, and Meta faces tough competition in this market.

Meta realizes the user's privacy concerns and ethical questions that come with these products. But the company has a full-fledged roadmap in place, and it remains to be seen whether its products will come out in the market or not. The development related to the smartwatch will also be interesting since Meta has had repeated attempts to make a wearable product that fits its goals but has either delayed the project or canned it altogether.

Musk's xAI Launches Beta Grok Chatbot App for iOS, Secures $6 Billion in Funding

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 24-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights:

• Elon Musk's xAI launches a beta version of its Grok chatbot app for iOS, expanding accessibility.
• The company has secured $6 billion in Series C funding with participation from major investors like NVIDIA, AMD, and Sequoia Capital.
• Grok offers AI features like real-time web browsing, image generation, and text summarization, now free for users on X and via the app.

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is making significant strides with the launch of its standalone iOS app for the Grok chatbot. Previously available exclusively on the Musk-owned app, the app brings Grok’s AI capabilities to iPhone users in Australia and select other countries, while offering the service free of charge.

The launch coincides with xAI’s announcement of a successful $6 billion Series C funding round, positioning the company as a major competitor in the AI space alongside OpenAI and Anthropic.

Grok Chatbot Goes Mobile

The Grok chatbot app, now listed on the Apple App Store, allows users to access xAI’s advanced AI model, Grok 2. The app offers features such as real-time web browsing, text summarization, image generation, and Q&A capabilities. Users can also upload pictures to receive detailed insights.

Promotional materials for the app showcase how Grok enables learning, productivity, and creativity, with capabilities such as:

• Generating text and images.
• Summarizing long articles.
• Accessing real-time information through X.

Grok remains free for users, offering 10 prompts and 10 image generations every two hours.

Massive Funding Secured

On December 23, xAI announced the completion of its $6 billion Series C funding round. Investors in this round include prominent firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, BlackRock, Fidelity, NVIDIA, AMD, and Sequoia Capital.

In total, 97 investors participated, with a minimum contribution of $77,593 each. The funding brings xAI’s total capital raised to $12 billion, which the company plans to use to develop a cutting-edge supercomputer in Memphis and scale its AI infrastructure rapidly.

Growing AI

Musk’s xAI aims to challenge established players like OpenAI, which Musk co-founded before leaving in 2018. OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model has sparked legal disputes and public criticism between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Meanwhile, xAI continues to innovate. Recent developments include:

• Grok 2 Update (Dec 14, 2024): An upgraded version of the chatbot, three times faster than before.
• Free Access (Dec 7, 2024): Grok was made free, increasing user engagement.

Oppo A5 Pro Appears on Geekbench Ahead of its Launch, Revealing Key Features

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 24-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights:

• Oppo A5 Pro has been spotted on Geekbench ahead of its official launch.
• Expected features include a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, 12GB RAM, and Android 15-based ColorOS 15.
• The phone may offer a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, a 50MP main camera, and a 6,000mAh battery.
• It will likely come in Quartz White, Rock Black, and Sandstone Purple colors.

The upcoming Oppo A5 Pro has surfaced on Geekbench, offering a glimpse into its potential specifications ahead of its anticipated launch in China. Oppo has already unveiled some details about the phone’s design, color variants, and operating system, with the Geekbench listing now shedding light on its performance and hardware.

Geekbench Performance

The Oppo A5 Pro, identified by the model number PKP110, scored 1,053 points in single-core and 3,052 points in multi-core tests on Geekbench. The listing reveals an octa-core chipset with four cores clocked at 2.50GHz and four at 2.00GHz, suggesting it could feature the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 or Dimensity 7300 Energy SoC.

The phone is confirmed to run Android 15-based ColorOS 15 and will support up to 12GB of RAM. It will also offer virtual RAM expansion of an additional 12GB and onboard storage options of up to 512 GB.

Oppo A5 Pro: Expected Specifications at a Glance

Design and Colors

Oppo has confirmed that the A5 Pro will be available in three color variants: Quartz White, Rock Black, and Sandstone Purple. The phone is expected to feature a patterned, glossy back panel and may come with an IP68 or IP69 rating for dust and water resistance.

Expected Features

Leaked details suggest the Oppo A5 Pro will sport a 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display. It is likely to be offered in two RAM configurations, 8GB and 12GB, paired with 256GB or 512GB storage options.

The phone is rumored to include a dual-camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor. A 16-megapixel front camera is expected for selfies and video calls. Other features may include an in-display fingerprint sensor for added security and a large 6,000mAh battery.

The device is said to measure 161.5 x 74.85 x 7.67mm and weigh approximately 186g.

Apple Nears Historic $4 Trillion Valuation Surpassing Nvidia and Microsoft

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 24-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights:

• Apple is nearing a historic $4 trillion valuation, boosted by advancements in AI and rising iPhone sales expectations.
• Its shares have jumped 16% since November, adding $500 billion to its market cap.
• Despite past criticism for being slow in AI, Apple is now integrating ChatGPT and AI across its apps.
• Analysts predict stronger iPhone demand and revenue growth in 2025.

A $4 trillion market capitalization is about to be achieved by Apple, making it the first business to do so. Thanks to optimism for its artificial intelligence (AI) breakthroughs, the tech giant's stock has risen 16% since November, increasing its market value by $500 billion.

Investors are encouraged by the company's recent AI advancements, such as the incorporation of OpenAI's ChatGPT into its devices and app suite. According to analysts, these improvements might trigger a significant "supercycle" of iPhone updates, which would increase sales in the future.

Currently valued at $3.85 trillion, Apple surpasses the combined stock market values of Germany and Switzerland. While its growth pace has lagged behind AI-focused companies like Nvidia, which saw an 800% stock increase in the past two years, Apple is catching up by bringing more AI-powered features to its products.

Challenges and Outlook

Apple has faced criticism for being slower than competitors like Microsoft and Alphabet in adopting AI. However, analysts expect iPhone revenues to bounce back in 2025 as Apple broadens AI features and increases availability in new regions.

Despite concerns over high valuations, many investors remain optimistic about Apple’s growth. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has reduced its Apple holdings this year, citing valuation concerns, but others believe the company's long-term prospects justify its current price.

Potential risks include global trade tensions and economic factors like tariffs, but analysts expect Apple to navigate these challenges effectively, as it has in the past.

Looking Ahead

Apple’s dominance in the tech world and its ability to innovate are key reasons it is approaching this historic milestone. The company’s focus on AI could play a pivotal role in shaping its future growth.

OnePlus Open 2 and OPPO Find N5 Launch Timelines Revealed

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 23-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights

• OnePlus Open 2, the second-gen foldable, may launch in the second half of 2025, delayed from Q1.
• OPPO Find N5 could launch after Chinese New Year 2025 (January 31), possibly in February or later.
• Both foldables might feature Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, 50MP cameras, and 2K+ foldable displays.

OnePlus and OPPO are preparing to launch their next-generation foldable phones with some exciting features. However, the timelines for these launches differ. The OnePlus Open 2, the successor to the first OnePlus Open launched in October 2023, is now expected in the second half of 2025, delayed from its initially rumored Q1 2025 release.

Meanwhile, the OPPO Find N5, a foldable that shares many similarities with the Open 2, is anticipated to launch earlier. According to leaks, the Find N5 could debut in February 2025, shortly after the Chinese New Year on January 31.

Expected Features of OnePlus Open 2 and OPPO Find N5

Both foldables are rumored to share identical hardware and cutting-edge features, making them among the most advanced foldable smartphones of 2025.

Performance and Camera Enhancements

The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is expected to power both devices, offering significant improvements over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in their predecessors. These phones may feature 50MP triple cameras, including a periscope zoom lens for enhanced photography. The predecessors offered 3x optical zoom, so users can expect further advancements in zooming capabilities.

Design and Build

Both devices are rumored to sport a thinner and lighter design, with premium materials like plain leather and glass. The foldable may come with 2K+ resolution displays, providing a high-quality viewing experience.

Launch Timeline Details

• OnePlus Open 2: Expected in the second half of 2025, making fans wait longer than initially anticipated.
• OPPO Find N5: Likely to debut in February 2025, following the Chinese New Year, with a global rollout soon after.

With improved cameras, a new powerful processor, and sleek designs, both foldables aim to set benchmarks in the foldable phone category.

WhatsApp to End Support for Old Android and iOS Devices in 2025

By: Bhumika

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Updated on: 23-Dec-2024

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Key Highlights

• WhatsApp will stop working on Android devices running KitKat or older versions starting January 1, 2025, due to outdated software limitations and security concerns.
• Affected devices include models from Samsung, LG, Motorola, HTC, and Sony released over a decade ago.
• Support for older iOS versions will also end by May 2025, requiring iOS 15.1 or higher for uninterrupted access.

Starting next year, WhatsApp will discontinue support for several out-of-date iOS and Android devices to improve security and roll out new features. The messaging app will no longer be available on Android phones running KitKat or earlier as of January 1, 2025. Likewise, as of May 5, 2025, iPhones running iOS versions lower than 15.1 will no longer be supported.

Why the Change?

Launched in 2013, Android KitKat is already more than ten years old and does not have the features required to cope with WhatsApp's latest updates. In the same way, outdated iOS versions present security threats and are becoming less compatible with contemporary software features. WhatsApp intends to concentrate on improving user experience and guaranteeing optimal safety for devices running contemporary operating systems by ending support for these platforms.

Affected Android Devices

Here are some of the Android devices that will no longer support WhatsApp:

Changes for iOS Devices

WhatsApp will require iOS 15.1 or later for both its normal app and WhatsApp Business as of May 5, 2025. Older iPhone models that are only compatible with iOS 12.5.7, such as the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, will be the primary targets of this. To keep using the app, users are urged to update their handsets or move to newer models.

What Users Should Do

• Android Users: Upgrade to a device running Android 5.0 or later.
• iOS Users: Ensure their iPhones are updated to iOS 15.1 or newer.

Looking Ahead

The choice made by WhatsApp is indicative of its emphasis on security and innovation. To ensure that users have a seamless and safe experience, the company regularly updates the necessities for its app to keep up with the most recent developments in technology.