Android tablets in the recent past have seen a resurgence. Most brands that had abandoned the affair or never even got into the space have now launched or are soon going to launch a new tablet. One major example is Google, which has already showcased its upcoming Pixel Tablet, which is going to launch next year. Now a new rumour suggests that OnePlus is also working on a tablet of its own.
A new leak by Max Jambor states that OnePlus is currently developing its first tablet, which is scheduled for launch next year. It is not farfetched considering that its sister companies Oppo and Realme both have tablet offerings in the market.
OnePlus has a tablet in development.
Launch is scheduled for next year! #OnePlusPad
In his tweet, Jambor has also used the hashtag, #OnePlusPad, hinting at the fact that the company could be looking to name its upcoming tablet, the OnePlus Pad However, we recommend that you take this with a pinch of salt, as companies keep changing the names for products internally till they are launched.
Earlier reports suggest that the upcoming OnePlus tablet could just be a rebranded Oppo Pad. If this turns out to be true, we will not be surprised, considering that the company as already done that multiple times with its earlier products. Especially now, that the company has sort of merged with Oppo.
Apart from the above-given information, Jambor has not revealed any specifications, features, or design and more about the upcoming tablet. However, we do expect more leaks and rumours to follow soon, especially with the upcoming January launch of the OnePlus 11.
Vivo sub-brand iQOO is currently working on its iQOO 11 Pro smartphone, which is said to be amongst the first devices to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.
According to a new report by GSM Arena, the upcoming smartphone will be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. This was also confirmed by a prototype benchmark run a few days ago. Apart from this, the report claims that the smartphone will feature, Vivo's V2 image processing chip, which was just made official last week.
Vivo at the launch of its V2 image processing chip claimed that it comes with better low light optimisations and faster processing.
According to the report, the iQOO 11 Pro will sport a 6.78-inch E6 AMOLED touchscreen. It will also feature a BMW M Motorsports inspired design.
The device will run Google's upcoming Android 13 operating system from the moment it launches.
The report further states, that this device will launch in India in January. It does not specify, if the smartphone will first launch in the company's home country of China or not.
Apart from this, past leaks have shown that the iQOO 11 Pro will be backed by a 4,700mAh battery with support for 200W fast charging. They have also specified that the device will sport a QHD+ resolution display with support for 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1440Hz PWM dimming for flicker avoidance.
We recommend that you take this news with a pinch of salt, as the company could decide to change any aspect of the device or the launch at any given time between now to then.
Google has been rumoured to be working on a foldable smartphone for a while now. While a lot of names, design details, and specifications have been thrown out, a new leak by FrontPageTech, claims that the upcoming device will be called Pixel Fold.
The report claims that the device is one of "Google's most secretive projects ever," and will allegedly launch next year in May alongside the Pixel Tablet at the company's annual developer conference, I/O. The company is expected to launch the device in two colour options: Chalk White and Obsidian Black.
A number of renders have been leaked for the device in both colourways. These renders have been recreated based on 3D renders of "other stuff". The report does not bring along any specification details. However, it does add that the device will come with the "usual Pixel-esque performance" and a flagship camera worthy of the Pixel name.
One of the sources that made this report possible did mention that the device was pretty heavy. However, he did not answer the question, "compared to what?"
Google Pixel Fold: Rumoured Price
According to the report, the Pixel Fold will be priced at $1,799 (approximately AU$ 2,686.66; Rs 1,45,800). This is the same price at which the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 launched in the US back in August.
While the Galaxy Z Fold4 will be the Pixel Fold's main competitor in most countries, by the time it launches, the Galaxy Fold4 will have got a lot of discounts to become the better option.
As seen in the renders, the Pixel Fold's camera bar will not be as large as the one on the Pixel 7 series. But, it will still be of a substantial size. It will apparently consist of two 9.5-megapixel sensors. The front screen will consist of a hole-punch camera module, and the foldable display will feature a camera sensor inside the top bezel headlining the display.
The fingerprint sensor will be located on the side, integrated into the power button. The device will come with two speakers, one on the top and one on the bottom.
Meta has released a new WhatsApp Web feature, which will allow users to filter their unread chats. With this feature WhatsApp Web users to filter out all other messages and view only unread chats. The feature is now live on iOS, we could not spot the feature for Android devices.
How to activate WhatsApp Web 'filter by unread' feature
Open WhatsApp and click on the three-line option, next to the "Search or Start new chat" button, located inside of the left side bar.
Once you click the button, it will filter all the unread chats.
The option shows up on both Windows and Mac operating system users.
This feature will come in handy for users who receive a lot of messages during the day. It will help them easily catch up with the day and get things done, while not accidentally ignoring any messages.
This is also a clean and less distracting way to view WhatsApp messages. It will reduce the time that a user will have to spend a lot of time scrolling up and down trying to find all unread messages.
How to use WhatsApp Web
Open up web.whatsapp.com on a web browser, which will bring up a web page with a QR code.
Open the WhatsApp app and go into its Settings panel.
Tap on the 'Linked Devices' option.
Tap on the 'Link a Device' option.
Scan the QR code on the phone.
This will now link your WhatsApp to the web interface and bring up the full WhatsApp Web interface.
In related news, WABetaInfo recently reported on a new WhatsApp Android beta update, which adds a new feature that allows users to send messages to themselves on other linked devices. According to the report, the feature is currently under development and is currently not been released to early beta testers. It does state that the feature will show up in a future version of the WhatsApp Desktop beta.
An Australian regulator has sent out legal letters to Meta Platforms, Apple Inc, and Microsoft Corp, demanding they share the strategies that they use for stamping out child abuse material. If they are unable to do so, then they will be facing heavy fines.
The e-Safety Commissioner, an Australian regulatory body that has been set up to protect internet users states that it has used laws that came into effect in January to compel these tech giants to provide details on the measures that they use to detect and remove abusive material within 28 days. It further states that if these companies fail to comply then they will each face a fine of A$555,000 (approximately $383,000) per day.
This step follows Australia’s hardline approach to regulating Big Tech firms since 2021. The country so far has introduced laws to force the Big Tech firms to pay media outlets for displaying their content and laws that require them to provide the government with the details of anonymous accounts which post defamatory material.
Apart from this, all of these Big Tech firms have been facing pressure across the globe for finding a way to monitor encrypted messaging and streaming services for child abuse material without encroaching on user privacy.
"This activity is no longer confined to hidden corners of the dark web but is prevalent on the mainstream platforms we and our children use every day," said commissioner Julie Inman Grant in a statement.
"As more companies move towards encrypted messaging services and deploy features like livestreaming, the fear is that this horrific material will spread unchecked on these platforms," Grant added.
A Microsoft spokesperson has responded to media queries stating that the company has received the letter and plans to respond within the 28-day deadline.
A spokesperson for Meta has also responded stating that it has also received the letter and is currently reviewing it. They also added that the company continues to "proactively engage with the eSafety Commissioner on these important issues."
The Australian regulator has referred to the figures provided by the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The US National Center has reported that this year it has received 29.1 million reports of child abuse material from internet companies. It states that 160 were from Apple and 22 million were provided by Meta.
Sony Group Corp is one of the key players in the gaming industry with its PlayStation brand. While it has the lion's share in the console gaming market, it has been expanding its avenues in the gaming industry. Now, it has announced its plan to acquire Savage Game Studios for an undisclosed amount.
The company in an announcement post on its PlayStation blog stated, "we have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Savage Game Studios."
Savage Game Studios will be joining the newly created PlayStation Studios Mobile Division. The company claims that this new mobile division will operate independently from its console division.
Savage Game Studios was established only two years ago and has ever since been working on developing a live-service action title for mobiles. This title will now be released under the PlayStation Studios Mobile division.
With this acquisition, the Japanese conglomerate hopes to tap into the consumer base, which is spending on gaming via other platforms apart from the console business.
"PlayStation Studios must continue to expand and diversify our offering beyond console, bringing incredible new games to more people than ever before," said Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios.
Sony has been committed to expanding beyond the console market for some time now. Besides its acquisition charts, the company recently also started releasing some of its AAA titles like God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on PC. It has also announced that its Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is also going to come to PC.
2022 is going to be a big year for the company considering that it has had major hits like Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, MLB The Show 22 and soon it will also be releasing God of War: Ragnarök. It is soon also going to launch its highly anticipated PlayStation VR2.
To recall, Sony gaming chief Jim Ryan had announced the company's plan to broaden its game portfolio beyond the PlayStation console and its focus on single-player games.
Twitter is currently rolling out a list of new features for Spaces. One of the most important features is iOS and Android device users getting access to Spaces analytics. With this new feature hosts and co-hosts will now get access to the information on how many total live listeners tuned in to the broadcast. Apart from this, they will also get to know how many times the Space was replayed and how many people spoke.
The social media giant started testing out the analytics feature back in March, and will now be made available to all hosts and co-hosts. This feature will help the host and the co-hosts know the reach of their audio content.
learn more about your Space ✍️
Hosts and co-hosts on iOS and Android will now have access to analytics like total live listeners, total replays, and speakers — take a look and let us know what you think! pic.twitter.com/OrCDKJXOhx
Apart from the analytics feature, Twitter is also testing out a new feature, which will tweet out a Space card once a Space is kicked off. According to the company, the feature will help users engage with and share Spaces. It also adds that the feature will make it easier for users to see and participate in conversations. Once live, the hosts will no longer have to manually share the Space to promote it.
It is also testing a new feature on Android, which will allow users to see more information on the Space bar.
wanna learn more about the Space you see at the top of the tl?
Starting today, some people on Android will see more info on the Space bar like who’s hosting, Topics, who’s shared a Tweet and more. Tell us what you think! pic.twitter.com/Oqhc6XqOBT
Google just released Android 13 Beta 1 for select Pixel devices globally. The company has stated that the beta will also be available as an update for developer preview versions. The company has been primarily focussing on privacy and security features with Android 13 with all of its developer beta versions. With the latest beta version, the company has introduced new security features including selective media file access permissions and improved error reporting.
Apart from the security features, the company has also introduced a number of developer-oriented features including new notifications permissions, photo picker, themed app icon designer, per-app language support, and more. It has also added support for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio and MIDI 2.0 over USB.
Google first announced the release of Android 13 Beta 1 via an official blog post. With the new beta build, Google has added support for apps to ask for storage permissions to grant access to all media files. It has also improved Keystore and KeyMint error reporting, which will now provide detailed and accurate reports. Other features also include new audio route APIs.
Android 13 Beta 1: Eligible devices
Pixel 4
Pixel 4 XL
Pixel 4a
Pixel 4a 5G
Pixel 5
Pixel 5a
Pixel 6
Pixel 6 Pro
Apart from these smartphones, the beta build will also work inside of the Android emulator.
How to download and install Android 13 Beta 1
Android 13 Beta 1 is currently available on the company's official developer site. You can simply follow the instructions there to install the operating system on a supported device.
If you are already running the previous developer preview version, then the update will be made available over the air (OTA).
Android 13 roadmap
Apart from the Beta 1 rollout update, the company has shared the development roadmap for Android 13. According to the roadmap, the company expects to roll out the stable build by June 2022.
The company has also confirmed that it will be sharing more details about the upcoming operating system at its Google I/O 2022 developers conference event.
Micromax just launched its latest Micromax In 2c smartphone in India. The device is similar to the In 2b, which was launched last year, in terms of specifications. Key features of the device include a Unisoc T610 SoC, a 5,000mAh battery, dual rear cameras and more.
Micromax In 2c: Price in India
Micromax In 2c is priced at Rs 8,499 for the sole 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant. As a launch offer, the smartphone will initially sell for Rs 7,499. The company is yet to reveal details as to how long the introductory pricing will remain in place.
The smartphone will be made available on sale starting May 1 via Flipkart and the company's official website. It has been launched in Brown and Silver colour options.
Micromax In 2c: Specifications
Micromax In 2c sports a 6.52-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1600x720 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by the octa-core Unisoc T610 SoC. The device comes with 3GB of RAM along with 32GB of internal storage expandable up to 256GB via a microSD card via a dedicated slot.
The display and the SoC remain the same as the In 2b. The device runs Google's Android 11 operating system with the stock skin. All of this is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging.
Coming to the camera details, the In 2c sports a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of an 8-megapixel primary sensor and a secondary depth sensor. At the front, the device features a 5-megapixel sensor for capturing selfies.
Every day we scroll through social media sites to watch exciting videos. Often, we go gaga over an appealing video on a social media site. Video creators use a variety of tricks and effects to catch the viewer’s attention. From stroboscopic effects to 3D animations, video creators use various effects to make their videos appealing. One may think adding advanced editing effects to social media videos is tricky. However, with the right editing tools, one can edit social media videos in quick succession. Read on to know how to edit videos for social media sites like a pro in 2022.
Think before you shoot social media videos
Social media is a place for marketers to promote their products or services. Be it fresh video content or a repurposed one; the ultimate aim is to promote the products/services. You never know the organic traffic you can find on your social media videos. Social media videos should be appealing and relatable to social media users. The same goes for social media influencers trying to build a vast digital community.
Video creators need to be proactive to create appealing content for social media sites. The work begins even before you start using a video editor to make videos. Before you start shooting/editing videos, you need to think about the video content. What are you going to include in your video content to catch the attention of social media viewers? Proactive thinking can help video creators get the most out of social media videos. Anything done with proper planning offers a better result. Get into the right mind frame before creating social media videos. If you are working with an in-house video creator, ask him to create a video script before shooting/editing.
Focus on editing intentions for social media videos
To boost brand affinity, you need to focus on the target audience’s interests. The same goes for social media influencers looking to attract an audience on numerous platforms. Video creators need to have marketing goals and edit videos accordingly to achieve better results. Some editing intentions needed to create engaging social media videos are as follows:
Focus on enhancing brand awareness
How will you make your brand/product recognizable to the audience? To enhance brand awareness, you need to create high-quality social media videos that can catch the viewer’s attention. People should be able to recognize your brand whenever they see the brand logo or punchline anywhere. While editing social media videos, brands have to include their brand logo and other entities to boost awareness. Similarly, social media influencers can add personal elements to their videos so the audience can easily recognize them.
Focus on engagement level while editing social media videos
Video creators need to focus on elements that can drive engagement. First, you need to know the things preferred in a video by your target audience. One can then incorporate the video elements liked by the audience during the video editing process. For example, if your target audience prefers funny videos, then incorporate some funny moments in your videos. Similarly, if the target audience prefers short videos, you need to give them that. Next, you need to write down all the video elements that can drive engagement on social media platforms. Finally, you must include those elements while editing videos for social media platforms.
Focus on generating ROI via social media videos
Many social media influencers earn by offering subscriptions for premium content that isn’t accessible by everyone. Similarly, brands and marketers want their product-related videos to boost sales and ROI (Return on Investment). Finally, one may think about how editing is related to driving ROI via video content. Consider an example where you want people to subscribe to premium content on social media. You can create an end screen for your video during the editing process. The end-screen will contain placeholders for including actionable CTAs. Your viewers can click on CTAs and help you generate income via video content. Similarly, brands can place a ‘Shop Now’ or ‘Visit Website’ button at the end of their video to boost ROI.
Leverage the power of advanced editing effects
How are you going to create social media videos with advanced editing effects? If you aren’t a video expert, adding advanced editing effects to your social media videos can be trickier. For example, creating 3D animations isn’t easy for every video creator. In addition, due to a lack of the right tools, many video creators face issues even with basic editing effects. For example, many novices in video-making find it hard to cut video or add transitions. However, if you have access to a video tool, you can easily cut video for creating the perfect social media videos. You can include advanced effects with a simple button click. They offer a better learning curve for video-making novices. One can quickly learn how to edit social media videos via an intuitive video editor. Not to forget, the pre-made templates for making social media videos offered by editors are a blessing for novices.
Start your social media videos with a blast
Everyone knows that including an actionable CTA at the end of your social media video can drive engagement. However, most video creators ignore the introduction part of social media videos. If the intro of your social media video isn’t appealing, viewers might skip it after the first 4-5 seconds. To avoid such a scenario, you need to make the introduction part of your video more appealing. Hit the social media users with a visual or high-graphic punch right at the start of the video. By doing so, viewers will become interested in the video and might watch it till the end.
Conclusion
Video editors need to optimize their video content according to the target social media site. The video dimension, aspect ratio, and length can differ from one social media platform to another. Choose a video editor to create optimized videos for social media sites in 2022!