Tag: android

WhatsApp Rolls Out Chat Lock Feature for Keeping Conversations Hidden, Secure

WhatsApp has rolled out new Chat Lock feature to help its users keep their messages and conversations private and secure. While WhatsApp already provide an end-to-end encryption on the app, the new feature act as an added layer by letting users select the conversations that they want to keep hidden from access to anyone else. One can open these conversation only through correct passcode, fingerprint, or Face ID authentication. The feature has been globally launched and will be rolling out to all WhatsApp users on Android as well as iOS.

In a blog post on Monday, Meta announced rolling out a new security layer for WhatsApp chats with the new ‘Chat Lock’ feature. Using this feature will move locked chat threads to a different folder. Any notifications regarding these chats will neither show the sender’s name, nor the message preview. Moreover, the media files shared in these chats will not be saved in the phone’s gallery automatically.

These chats can be locked using several security options like passcode, fingerprint, or Face ID authentication. The Chat Lock feature is available on both WhatsApp for Android and iOS.

To get the feature, users will need to download the latest version of WhatsApp available on App Store, or Google Play Store. The feature is available with WhatsApp for Android version 2.23.10.71 and WhatsApp for iOS in version 2.23.9.77.

To move any conversation in the locked folder, one needs to simply tap on the thread and click on Chat Lock feature. As stated in the blog, Meta is working to introduce several new updates to the feature, such as creating customised passwords which are different from already existing passwords for unlocking the phone. The social media company is also working to make the Chat Lock feature work across all companion devices in which a WhatsApp account is active.

OnePlus recently launched its first tablet in India, the OnePlus Pad, which is only sold in a Halo Green colour option. With this tablet, OnePlus has stepped into a new territory that’s dominated by Apple’s iPad. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Infinix Note 30 5G Specifications, Colour Options Leaked; Tipped to Come With 6.78-Inch Display



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Google Being Probed in India for In-App Payment Breaches After Complaints From Match, Local Startups

India’s competition watchdog has begun an inquiry into Google after some companies alleged the service fee the US firm charges for in-app payments breaches an earlier antitrust directive, a regulatory order seen by Reuters showed on Friday.

Tinder-owner Match Group and Indian startups have asked the watchdog to investigate Google’s new User Choice Billing (UCB) system, which they alleged was anti-competitive.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Friday issued an order stating “it is of the opinion that an inquiry needs to be made.”

The order is not public and Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In October, the CCI imposed a $113 million (nearly Rs. 930 crore) fine on Google and said it must allow the use of third-party billing and stop forcing developers to use its in-app payment system that charges commission of 15 percent – 30 percent.

Google later began offering UCB to allow alternative payments alongside Google’s when purchasing in-app digital content, but some companies complained the new system still imposes a high “service fee” of 11 percent – 26 percent.

This, Match and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation argued, meant Google had not complied with the earlier antitrust directive that ordered it not to impose any such “unfair and disproportionate” conditions.

In its order, the watchdog asked Google to explain certain provisions related to the in-app payment system before and after UCB and provide details of policies related to sharing of user and app developer data.

Google needs to respond in four weeks, the order said.

Google has previously said the service fee supports investments in the Google Play app store and the Android mobile operating system, ensuring it distributes it for free, and covers developer tools and analytic services.

The company, which counts India as a major growth market, faces other regulatory challenges, including a setback that forced it to change how it markets its Android system.

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Google Pixel Devices May Get Bard AI as a New Homescreen Widget, Tips APK Teardown

Bard, Google’s ChatGPT-esque chatbot could soon find its way to Pixel smartphones and tablets. Google is reportedly preparing to expand the reach of its generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot by adding it to the company’s devices through a widget. A recent APK (Android Package Kit) teardown of Bard’s code indicates the arrival of the chatbot as a homescreen widget. Bard could be either integrated into the Google Search app or arrive as a standalone app. Bard can now code in 20 programming languages including Java, C++ and Python.

As per an APK teardown by 9to5Google, Google is working to implement Bard AI on Pixel phones and tablets. As per the report, the search giant is planning to add a dedicated widget for its Bard AI right on the homescreen, exclusive to the company’s devices. Bard could be either integrated into the Google Search app or come as a standalone app. It is likely to include suggested prompts for conversations, opening directly into the corresponding app.

Bard’s potential integration into Pixel phones could set the groundwork for a broader rollout of AI to all Android devices in the future. Since this has not yet been confirmed by Google, the information should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Google started the public release of Bard in March this year to gain ground on Microsoft in a fast-moving race on AI technology. Currently, Google’s in-house competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT can be accessed by a small set of users. Bard can code in 20 programming languages including Java, C++ and Python, and can also help debug and explain code to users.

Google is expected to make AI-related announcements at this year’s I/O conference. The annual event that is set to begin on May 10 will see the launch of Pixel 7a and the much-anticipated Pixel Fold.

OnePlus recently launched its first tablet in India, the OnePlus Pad, which is only sold in a Halo Green colour option. With this tablet, OnePlus has stepped into a new territory that’s dominated by Apple’s iPad. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Production to Continue Amidst Writers’ Strike



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‘India Is at a Tipping Point,’ Says CEO Tim Cook as Apple Stakes Future Growth on Emerging Markets

When Apple surprised investors this week with a rise in iPhone sales despite a slump in the global smartphone market, Chief Executive Tim Cook credited emerging markets like India where the company is luring away Android phone users.

Cook is betting that those markets will provide more opportunities for growth, with their youthful populations and relatively few iPhones.

Apple said iPhone sales rose 1.5 percent to $51.3 billion (roughly Rs. 4,19,100 crore) for its fiscal second quarter even as global smartphone shipments fell 13 percent in January to March, according to research firm Canalys, whose data showed Apple gained market share from Android phones.

Apple said it set sales records in several countries across South Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

“We’re putting efforts in a number of these markets and really see, particularly given our low share and the dynamics of the demographics, a great opportunity for us in those markets,” Cook told investors during a conference call.

India is perhaps Apple’s biggest focus. The company recently opened its first two retail stores there, in Mumbai and Delhi, and while Apple does not disclose revenue for the country, Cook told investors that it set a quarterly record and percentage growth was in very strong double digits year-over-year.

“There are a lot of people coming into the middle class, and I really feel that India is at a tipping point, and it’s great to be there,” Cook said on the conference call.

Apple was the second biggest revenue generating brand in India in 2022, second only to Samsung as it gained 18 percent of the total value of smartphone shipments, according to research firm Counterpoint.

For Apple, selling an iPhone in an emerging market represents more than just the sale of one device – it represents the chance to get consumers hooked on Apple devices and services over time. Customers who start with an iPhone might later add an Apple Watch or AirPods or sign up for subscription services.

Cook said he saw opportunities for Apple in India in services but said that average revenue per user – a metric known as ARPU in the subscription business – would take time to catch up to Apple’s other markets.

Used iPhone boom

Part of the reason that Apple has been able to gain market share in both emerging and developed markets is the emergence of a booming market for used iPhones.

Sales of refurbished iPhones rose 16 percent in volume globally during 2022. India led the growth with a 19 percent jump, according to Counterpoint, with iPhones accounting for 11 percent of secondary smartphone sales in India.

In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Apple’s Cook said little of Apple’s direct iPhone revenue comes from refurbished devices. However he said the company has tried to bolster the used iPhone market by offering trade-in deals on its iPhones and building them sturdy enough to last several owners.

“We encourage the market and it provides us an opportunity to hit some price points that we would not otherwise play in,” Cook said in the interview.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

OnePlus recently launched its first tablet in India, the OnePlus Pad, which is only sold in a Halo Green colour option. With this tablet, OnePlus has stepped into a new territory that’s dominated by Apple’s iPad. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Mighty Quest Rogue Palace Is a Hack-and-Slash Roguelite With Corny Characters and Silly Dialogue

Mighty Quest Rogue Palace, the sequel to The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot, is out now on Netflix Games on iOS and Android mobile devices. Part of Netflix’s significant expansion plans for gaming in 2023, Mighty Quest Rogue Palace has been developed by Ubisoft and is exclusive to the Netflix Games platform on iOS and Android, for now. The game is a hack-and-slash action and adventure title that puts you in charge of a band of heroes tasked with freeing the sleeping and nightmare-ridden mind of a king. The game can be downloaded now on supported devices.

Mighty Quest Rogue Palace: How to play

As with other Netflix Games titles, Mighty Quest Rogue Palace is free to play – if you have a valid Netflix subscription. The popular international streaming platform has been working to establish itself as a provider of not just movies and TV shows, but also mobile games, in a bid to establish itself as an entertainment hub for all kinds of recreational content. Netflix Games titles can be downloaded as separate apps on iOS and Android, but will need you to log in to your Netflix account or be already logged in through the main Netflix mobile app on the same device.

Mighty Quest Rogue Palace: First impressions

Developed by Ubisoft, Mighty Quest Rogue Palace puts you in charge of hero Lord Logan, returning to the palace of the king. Unfortunately, the palace has been overrun by a ‘void’ of sorts, which has swallowed the entire kingdom save for the palace and a few of its occupants, which interestingly includes a royal cat and an entirely useless non-playable character with a wooden bucket on his head, whose only job is to crack silly jokes.

I did have a chance to play Mighty Quest Rogue Palace for a bit ahead of its public release. The game starts off a bit confusing, especially if, like me, you aren’t familiar with the series’ previous instalment, The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot. The learning curve isn’t difficult in itself, but you might spend a few minutes initially just aimlessly slashing away at enemies without properly understanding the point of it all.

Fortunately, the core gameplay is quite easy to get the hang of, since Rogue Palace is, at its heart, a hack-and-slash action game with Roguelike elements that involves attacking and dispatching numerous enemies. That said, you’ll have to keep an eye on your own health, build up your skillset, learn when it’s best to use particular skills, and upgrade your gear and abilities along the way.

The actual action takes place in the mind of the king, as he is locked in an endless slumber while the ‘void’ surrounds his palace. The objective of Mighty Quest Rogue Palace is to enter the king’s mind, free all the heroes, defeat all the monsters and bosses occupying parts of the mind, and eventually banish the void to wake the king and rescue the kingdom. Trips into the king’s mind don’t eliminate the heroes even after all health is drained; you simply return to the palace in the ‘real’ world to upgrade your abilities and gear, and go again.

While the gameplay of Mighty Quest Rogue Palace is fun, I found the long room-clearing procedures a bit repetitive. You’ll find yourself often going through the same rooms and fighting the same bosses as you attempt to progress, and defeat sends you back to the beginning to try again. Apart from improving the Hero’s skills, you’ll also find yourself learning and improving along the way, but that doesn’t let you save progress often enough, unfortunately. Although, that is to be expected with the Roguelite tag that comes with the game.

Is Mighty Quest Rogue Palace worth a try?

Netflix Games are notably free of in-app purchases and are positioned as premium games as part of your Netflix subscription. That makes Mighty Quest Rogue Palace a worthwhile game if you already have a valid Netflix subscription, since you aren’t paying anything extra and are getting a top-notch mobile game for it. Expectedly, there are no in-app purchases, so you can enjoy the entirety of the game from the get-go.

The platform also recently brought Raji: An Ancient Epic to Android and iOS and is working closely with developers to build on the catalogue of mobile games for its subscribers. After Valiant Hearts: Coming Home and Mighty Quest Rogue Pałace, Ubisoft is also working on an Assassin’s Creed title for Netflix Games, although no release date for that has been announced yet.

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Android Malware Infecting 60 Apps With Over 100 Million Downloads Discovered on Google Play Store: Details

A new Android malware has been discovered by a team of security researchers at McAfee. The malware, dubbed ‘Goldoson’, has infected 60 apps that have a total of over 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store. It can collect data on installed apps, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-connected devices, and track location. Also, it can perform ad fraud by clicking ads in the background without the consent of users. Android users in South Korea are said to have been affected by the latest malware. Apps like Swipe Brick Breaker, Money Manager, and GOM Player have been affected by the malware.

Researchers at security software firm McAfee have identified the Android-based Goldoson malware. Once installed, it collects sensitive data including lists of applications installed, details about the devices paired through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and nearby GPS locations. McAfee also claims that the malware can perform ad fraud by clicking advertisements in the background without the user’s consent.

The infected apps on the Google Play Store have a total of over 100 million downloads. Applications from South Korea’s ONE store are also affected by the malware and they have been installed around 8 million times. These include L.POINT with L.PAY, Swipe Brick Breaker, and Money Manager Expense & Budget which have 10 million downloads on Android app stores.

GOM Player, Live Score, Real-Time Score, Pikicast, Compass 9: Smart Compass, GOM Audio, Lotte Word Magicpass, Bounce Brick Breaker, Infinite Slice, SomNote, Korea Subway Info: Metroid are some of the other apps impacted by Goldoson.

McAfee has also confirmed that the discovered apps were reported to Google, and the tech giant notified the developers that their apps affected by the malware. Many of the affected apps were said to be cleaned up by the developers while some were removed from Google Play for violating the company’s app store policies.

Android users with any of these apps on their phones should update them to the latest version. Users are also advised to avoid installing any unknown or suspicious apps on their smartphones. They should also re-check app permissions to limit access of third parties to their device hardware.

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Microsoft Adds Bing AI Chatbot to SwiftKey Keyboard on Android and iOS: All Details

Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard app is getting the new AI-powered Bing chat search engine based on the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) technology. With this latest integration, users can chat with the bot directly from their mobile keyboard, customise their texts and search for things without swapping between apps. Bing offers three new key features on SwiftKey — Chat, Search, and Tone. With the Chat feature, users can go for detailed queries and the Search allows them to quickly explore the Web from the keyboard. The Tone functionality aims to improve communication and lets users tailor texts with AI to fit any situation. Microsoft earlier released Bing and Edge browser apps for smartphones

On Thursday, Microsoft announced the addition of AI-powered Bing to the SwiftKey keyboard app, via a blogpost. With this update, Android and iOS users will get access to the unique features of Bing Chat. The latest Microsoft SwiftKey 3.0.1 update is rolling out via App Store. Also, Bing is available via the Microsoft Start app for select users as well.

As mentioned, Bing comes with Chat, Search, and Tone options and they can be accessed from the Bing icon displayed on top of the keyboard. The Chat feature can be put in to make detailed queries. For instance, Microsoft says it will be useful to respond with a clever pun to someone’s message and text some new friends to propose a good local restaurant.

SwiftKey’s Tone feature can be used to communicate more effectively by using AI to customise the in-progress text to fit any situation. It will help users to frame their sentences to sound more professional, casual, polite, or concise enough for a social post.

The Search functionality allows users to quickly search the Web from their keyboard, without switching apps. This can be useful when a user is chatting with a friend and mid-conversation, they want to look up relevant information like the weather, restaurants nearby, or stock prices.

Search is open for all users, but to access the Tone and Chat sections, users will have to sign up to their Microsoft account. To avail of the latest functionality, SwiftKey should be set as the primary keyboard on Android and iOS.

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Microsoft Adds Bing Chat AI to SwiftKey Keyboard for Android: All Details

Microsoft has now introduced the Bing chatbot to the SwiftKey keyboard on Android devices. This will let users chat with Bing on any app that uses SwiftKey. The new feature is rolling out to SwiftKey beta users. With the latest integration, users will be able to rewrite any text right within the keyboard as well as search the Web to find what they need. Microsoft SwiftKey beta for Android can be downloaded from the Play Store. Notably, the update is available for Android users only.

The integration of Bing Chat AI to SwiftKey has been announced by Microsoft’s chief technology officer, Pedram Rezaei, via a Tweet. He has shared that the new AI tool is “slowly rolling out” to users and can be accessed by downloading the SwiftKey beta app from Play Store. Once installed, SwiftKey beta users will be able to use Microsoft’s Bing chatbot with a single tap in any app using SwiftKey.

According to details shared by The Verge, the Bing Chat AI integration to SwiftKey comes with a chat mode and a tone mode. The chat mode lets users access the chatbot while the tone mode allows users to rewrite text directly from the keyboard.

Notably, the feature is currently available only for Android, and there are no words on when it might arrive on iOS. It is likely to appear on the iPhone soon.

Microsoft dropped SwiftKey support for iOS last year, however, it brought back the app to the App Store later with a promise to “invest heavily in the keyboard.” For the unversed, Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard for Android and iPhone are keyboards that adapt to the way a user types including words, phrases, and emojis, and correct typos as well as misspellings accordingly.

Smartphone companies have launched many compelling devices over the first quarter of 2023. What are some of the best phones launched in 2023 you can buy today? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Vivo X Fold 2 Alleged Promotional Images Leaked; Tipped to Feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, 4,800mAh Battery



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Google Nearby Share Feature to Allow Transfer of Files Between Windows PC, Android Devices

Google’s Nearby Share feature, already available on Android phones and Chromebooks, has now been extended to Windows PC in a beta version. The feature, which works like Apple’s Airdrop, will sync Android phones and other Android devices to Windows PCs to make file sharing seamless and quick. The app is available to download from Google’s Android website. It is compatible with PCs running the 64-bit version of Windows 10 and up.

To use the Nearby Share feature, both the devices sharing and receiving the file need to be logged into with one Google account to automatically accept file transfers.

“Nearby Share Beta works with your Windows PC whether the app is open on the desktop or running in the background. Sending a photo, video or document from your PC to a nearby Android device is as easy as dragging and dropping it into the app, or by selecting ‘Send with Nearby Share’ in the right-click menu. Just select which Android devices you want to share with from the list that pops up,” said an official blog posted by Google.

Google first introduced the Nearby Share feature in 2020. Earlier, the feature allowed Android users to share files and links with their contacts (on an Android device) only. With a later update, users were allowed to simultaneously transfer files with multiple Android users around them.

It is only now that the beta version of the feature is being launched for Windows PCs.

For now, this Beta is rolling out only in select regions including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Donbass, Estonia, Finland, France, and Germany among others.

India is not on the list for now.

Google, meanwhile, has said that it will continue to expand official support to share content with other Google ecosystem devices in the times to come.

Smartphone companies have launched many compelling devices over the first quarter of 2023. What are some of the best phones launched in 2023 you can buy today? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Asphalt 9: Legends Adds the Lamborghini Revuelto to Coincide With Real-World Release

Asphalt 9: Legends has added the brand-new Lamborghini Revuelto to its already impressive roster of supercars. The Italian manufacturer’s newest flagship V12 hybrid car was introduced on Thursday, March 30, making Asphalt 9: Legends the first and only video game for now to feature it. Starting today, players can participate in an exclusive challenge to add the new sports car to their in-game garage, simply after completing the first stage. The event ends on April 27 and promises additional liveries and rewards to those who continue playing long after unlocking the Lamborghini Revuelto. Developer Gameloft has also noted chances of winning ‘surprise real-world prizes’ from Lamborghini as well.

“The launch of a new flagship Lamborghini is always an exciting time for car lovers around the world. We couldn’t be more excited by yesterday’s announcement since we’ve also been able to launch a digital version of the Lamborghini Revuelto in Asphalt 9: Legends,” Ignacio Marín, Asphalt 9 Game Manager, Gameloft said in a prepared statement. “Our longstanding partnership with the company gave us unprecedented access to internal documentation to prepare for this reveal, and we’re confident players are going to love getting behind the digital wheel of this incredible — and faithfully recreated — vehicle.” To celebrate the release, studio Gameloft also dropped a cinematic trailer featuring glamour shots of the vehicle, as it cruises through the streets. After the event, players can look forward to an ‘official Lamborghini eSports competition’ as well — details for which will be revealed in time.

Keeping in tune with the Lamborghini Revuelto’s arrival, Asphalt 9: Legends will feature a new tutorial, a themed splash screen, a new app icon, and more. The Asphalt series has set a benchmark for mobile racing games, boasting a diverse car lineup and an autopilot mode called ‘TouchDrive’ that takes some work off your fingertips as you merely worry about timing left and right swipes. There are plenty of customisation options as well, letting you swap out wheel rims, paint jobs, and spoilers to compete in solo and online multiplayer across several in-game locations around the world — be it the landslides of the Himalayas or the tornadoes in the American wilderness.

A Career Mode is included as well, spanning 60 seasons across 900 events, in addition to some story-driven scenarios that pit you against skilled racers in Asphalt 9: Legends or have you compete against racers from your Club to dominate the leaderboard. The game also features excellent immersion, thanks to HDR rendering, realistic reflection and particle effects, and a suave soundtrack.

Asphalt 9: Legends is available to download for free on the App Store, Google Play Store, Microsoft Store, and Steam on PC. The new Lamborghini Revuleto will be available on the Nintendo Switch at a later date.

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