Category: All News

February 11, 2024
OpenAI achieves $2 billion revenue milestone, stimulating ambitious Chip-making project
OpenAI, backed by tech giant Microsoft, has achieved a monumental revenue milestone, surpassing $2 billion in December 2023. The achievement, first reported by Reuters and later corroborated by The Financial Times, signifies a remarkable trajectory for the San Francisco-based company, driven by burgeoning interest from corporate clients in its generative AI tools.
Innovative Products Drive Revenue Surge
The surge in revenue is attributed to OpenAI’s innovative products, particularly its ChatGPT offering, which has witnessed substantial adoption in various industries. The company’s annualized revenue soared to over $1.6 billion by December, a significant leap from $1.3 billion reported just two months earlier, as noted by The Information.
Market Enthusiasm and Funding Talks
Market enthusiasm for OpenAI is evident, with investors valuing the startup at a staggering $80 billion. Riding on this momentum, CEO Sam Altman has been actively engaged in discussions with potential investors, including prominent figures like Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan from the UAE, to secure funding for a transformative initiative.
Altman’s ambitious vision involves establishing a chip-making company, aiming to bolster global chip-building capacity and advance AI capabilities. Reports from Bloomberg indicate that Altman’s plan entails constructing modern manufacturing facilities, necessitating funding in the tens of billions of dollars and spanning several years for completion.
Key players in these funding talks include TSMC from Taiwan and Softbank, underscoring the global significance of OpenAI’s endeavors. Sheikh Tahnoon’s involvement, given his strategic role in managing significant investment funds in the UAE, further underscores the international interest in OpenAI’s initiatives.
Exploring Chip-Making Venture
While the specifics regarding the structure of the new chip-making venture remain undisclosed, sources suggest that OpenAI will serve as its initial client. This move aligns with previous reports hinting at OpenAI’s exploration of manufacturing its chipsets to address the increasing demand for AI chips, catalyzed by the widespread adoption of AI applications like ChatGPT.
The shortage of AI chips, exacerbated by increased demand, has prompted OpenAI to diversify its chip suppliers beyond Nvidia and explore collaboration opportunities with other manufacturers. The strategic move underscores OpenAI’s commitment to fostering innovation and meeting the evolving needs of its clientele.
Tags: OpenAI, revenue milestone
February 11, 2024
Introducing Philips’ New Power Bank: 140W Two-Way Fast Charging, Display, and Massive 27000mAh Capacity
A new Philips-branded power bank has launched in China. We have no information on the manufacturer but the accessory is probably a licensed product like most Philips consumer electronics goods.
Compact Design with High Power Output
The battery pack resembles a chocolate bar. It is comparatively smaller for the capacity it offers. It also supports higher power output and sports a display.
Introducing the Philips 140W Two-Way Fast Charging Power Bank
The accessory is officially called Philips 140W Two-Way Fast Charging Power Bank. It bears model number DLP2303G/93.
Powerful Charging Capabilities
As the name suggests, the product can output up to 140W from two of its USB Type-C ports. There’s also a USB Type-A port, which is limited to 22.5W.
Even while using two Type-C ports simultaneously, they can deliver 65W output each. When one of them is used alongside the Type-A port, they retain their top speed of 140W.
Compact and Convenient
The accessory houses a 27000mAh battery and supports USB PD (Power Delivery) 3.1 protocol. Despite featuring a large battery, it measures only 154.6 x 52.8 x 49.5mm in dimensions due to its shape.
Additionally, the power bank has a TFT LCD screen. This display shows the battery remaining and the current power output from all three ports.
Unlike most power banks on the market, this one is not only suitable for smartphones but also laptops. Given its size, it can be also easily carried anywhere, including on flights. But unfortunately, it comes in a single black color option.
Pricing and Availability
As far as price is concerned, the Philips 140W Two-Way Fast Charging Power Bank retails at ¥599 (~$85) in China. It ships with a 140W capable USB Type-C cable.
Tags: fast charging, Philips, Power Bank
February 11, 2024
Play Protect’s real-time update effectively combats financial fraud
Since its launch, Google Play Protect has been scanning installed apps for malware, however this still does not guarantee that customers’ banking apps are 100% safe. Hackers merely need to gain access to the one-time password (OTP) that users received through SMS, enter the right verification code, and they can easily access the victim’s bank account.
Fraud protection on Google Play Protect
Play Protect will now check on the permissions an app requires, the ones that hackers most frequently abuse: RECEIVE_SMS, READ_SMS, BIND_Notifications, and Accesibility. This is a brand-new functionality that Google revealed for the Play Protect. Hackers can view incoming SMS messages and notifications with these permissions, and they can even use the device without the user’s awareness with accesibility permission.
Fraud protection on Play Protect
Since this functionality was developed in collaboration with Cyber Security of Singapore, Google only makes it available in Singapore for now. Users in Singapore will be the first to receive this fraud prevention tool from Google. This is a new feature from Google that always keeps an eye on what apps are doing in the background regarding permissions.
Google states that this allows users to use banking apps safely. Play Protect fraud protection kicks in when users install a third-party application, such as an APK file downloaded from the internet. If the app requests all 4 permissions, a report will be provided to the user.
It’s a really smart move to check these four permissions: RECEIVE_SMS, READ_SMS, BIND_Notifications, and Accesibility. This stops hackers from spying on SMS and notifications coming into the user’s phone, thereby limiting users’ data given to the app so hackers can’t access the user’s bank account.
Tags: cybersecurity, finance, Play Protect
February 11, 2024
Google One Achieves Over 100 Million Subscribers
Google One, Google’s cloud storage subscription service, has reached a major milestone by exceeding 100 million paying subscribers. CEO Sundar Pichai underscores the company’s plans to boost future expansion with its recently launched AI Premium Plan.
Pricing Plans
Google One offers a way for users to increase their storage capacity beyond the free 15GB provided with services like Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the pricing plans:
- Basic (100GB): $1.99/month or $19.99/year. Includes sharing with up to five users, additional photo editing features like Magic Eraser, VPN access, and dark web monitoring.
- Standard (200GB): $2.99/month or $29.99/year. The primary difference is a 3% reward on Google Store purchases.
- Premium (2TB and up): Starts at $9.99/month or $99.99/year, offering larger storage, Google Workspace premium features (for tools like Meet and Calendar), and a 10% reward on Google Store purchases. There are higher tiers than 2TB for those needing even more storage.
Apart from this, the company recently launched the AI Premium plan ($19.99/month) that introduces powerful tools built on Google’s Gemini AI model.
AI Premium Features
These features offer advanced capabilities like generating drafts in Gmail, organizing content in Slides, and providing data visualizations within Sheets. Subscribers on plans with 5TB or more storage currently have a limited-time trial of AI Premium features until July 31, 2024, for free.
Google intends to make AI Premium available to other subscriber groups, including Google Fi Unlimited users and those who pay for Google One through third-party billing providers.
Pichai emphasizes that the addition of these AI features is pivotal to the service’s continued growth. This subscriber milestone for Google One interestingly coincides with YouTube Music + Premium also reaching 100 million users.
Tags: Google One, subscription services
February 11, 2024
Check out the camera samples of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro
iQOO recently held a media briefing in Mumbai, offering attendees a firsthand look at the impressive camera features of the upcoming iQOO Neo 9 Pro. The event provided an opportunity to explore the device’s photography and videography capabilities with the Neo 9 Pro, which is set to debut in India on Feb. 22.
Camera Features
The two-day event showcased the main camera, portrait mode, and night mode capacities of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro. For those who don’t know, the device features a 50-megapixel Sony IMX920 main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and OIS support. It is the same primary camera that is available on the Vivo X100. The main snapper is joined by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens with a 116-degree FOV.
Camera Samples
In portrait mode, the Neo 9 Pro allows users to switch between 1x and 2x focal lengths. For an enhanced photography experience in night or low-light conditions, users can make use of the Super Night Vision mode, which enhances the details when there is less light.
Specifications
In terms of other specs, the company has already confirmed that it will feature a 6.78-inch AMOLED LTP panel that offers a 1.5K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the device will feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and the iQOO Q1 Supercomputing chip. It will arrive in two variants, such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. The phone will offer up to 12 GB of virtual RAM and a 5,160mAh battery with 120W fast charging. It will be available in shades, such as Fiery Red and Conqueror Black.
The above specs show that the iQOO Neo 9 Pro will be a performance-driven phone. But the camera samples will not disappoint in the photography department.
Tags: camera samples, iQOO Neo 9 Pro, Sony primary camera
February 11, 2024
Enhanced Security: WhatsApp to Sync Chat Locks Across Devices
WhatsApp, the widely-used messaging application owned by Meta, is working on a new security feature to further strengthen user privacy. The new feature will synchronize chat locks across all devices connected to your account.
Improved User Privacy
In simpler terms, if you decide to lock a conversation on your smartphone, that lock will also be applied to the same conversation when accessed through WhatsApp on your computer, tablet, or any other linked device.
WhatsApp Beta Update
This nifty upgrade was first noticed by WABetaInfo, a reliable source for WhatsApp updates. It was found in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.4.14 update, available to download for all the enrolled beta testers via the Google Play Store.
Enhanced Security Options
WhatsApp introduced the ability to lock specific chats last year. They later introduced another feature called Secret Lock, allowing users to set a unique password different from their device password. This password hides the Locked chats folder, making it invisible to anyone who doesn’t know the code.
Synchronization Across Devices
However, a downside to these features is that they are device-specific settings. This means that these locks must be set up separately on each device—your computer and phone—rather than being synchronized automatically.
The upcoming change will streamline this process, automatically extending your security choices across all platforms where you use WhatsApp. This improved chat lock feature will likely be rolled out in the upcoming WhatsApp update.
Tags: chat locks, enhanced security, WhatsApp update
February 11, 2024
Leaked Before Launch: Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro Image, Key Specifications, and Launch Timeframe
Several reports suggest that Xiaomi will be hosting a launch event in China this month to introduce the Xiaomi Ultra smartphone for the Chinese market. Additionally, it is expected that the event will also witness the unveiling of a new tablet. While there has been some uncertainty regarding whether this tablet would belong to Xiaomi’s Pad 6 lineup or a potential Pad 7 series, an image discovered on Xiaomi’s global website indicates that the upcoming tablet will be named the Xiaomi Pad 6s Pro.
Xiaomi Pad 6s Pro Design and Key Specifications (Rumored)
The image of the Xiaomi Pad 6s Pro reveals that it will have a design language similar to the existing Pad 6 products, which include the Pad 6, Pad 6 Pro, and Pad 6 Max. Reports suggest that the Pad 6s Pro has been designed to seamlessly integrate with Xiaomi’s upcoming car, the SU7, with the help of HyperOS.
The tablet is expected to feature a 12.4-inch LCD display with a 144Hz refresh rate. It is rumored to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. While there is no information available about the battery size, it is expected to support 120W fast charging.
Expected Features and Specifications
Since the Pad 6s Pro belongs to the Pad 6 series, it is likely to inherit many of its specifications from the existing Pad 6 Pro and Pad 6 Max. This suggests that the tablet might come with a dual-camera system on the back, consisting of a 50-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor. On the front, it may sport a 20-megapixel camera for selfies. The tablet is also expected to house a large 10,000mAh battery and a quad-speaker setup.
Pricing and Availability
As of now, there is no information available regarding the price or the markets that will receive the Xiaomi Pad 6s Pro. However, it is speculated that the tablet might be officially announced on February 22.
Tags: Pad 6S Pro, Xiaomi
February 11, 2024
Tipped: Key specifications and price range of the Vivo Y200e
Vivo is reportedly gearing up to launch the Vivo Y200e 5G in India. A recent report not only revealed the main features of the device but also claimed that it will break cover this month. Now, a new leak, courtesy of tipster Abhishek Yadav, has revealed the key specifications and price range of the device.
Vivo Y200e 5G Specifications (Rumored)
The specs revealed in the leak suggest that it will be a tweaked version of the Y100 5G, which recently debuted in Indonesia. In India, the device will rival the likes of the Oppo A79, the Samsung Galaxy A15, and the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite.
- 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display with up to 1200 nits of brightness
- Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset
- 6 GB / 8 GB of RAM
- Up to 8 GB of extended RAM
- 128 GB of storage
- FunTouch OS 14-based Android 14
- 5,000mAh battery with 44W fast charging support
- Dual speakers with 300 percent audio booster support
- 16-megapixel selfie camera
- 50-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel depth sensor, and flicker sensor
- Leather back with a thickness of only 7.79mm
- Diamond Black variant weighs 185 grams, Saffron Delight model weighs 191 grams
Pricing and Availability
The leak also states that the device will be priced at under Rs 20,000.
Tags: Key specifications, Vivo Y200e
February 10, 2024
TSMC Responds to Escalating Demand by Expanding 3nm Chip Production
TSMC, the world’s leading chipmaker, is reportedly ramping up production of its advanced 3nm chips. The expansion is said to be done due to the increased demand from tech giants seeking cutting-edge processors for their products.
Increased Demand for 3nm Chips
In 2023, Apple was TSMC’s primary customer for 3nm chips, utilized in its iPhone 15 Pro smartphones. However, major players like Qualcomm, MediaTek, NVIDIA, and Intel have since expressed interest and placed orders.
Meeting the Demand
To accommodate this influx, TSMC is reportedly eyeing to boost its monthly 3nm wafer production to 100,000 units by 2024. The company is also making efforts to improve its production yields for higher efficiency.
Improved Second-Generation Process
The initial version of TSMC’s 3nm process (N3B) reportedly faced yield challenges and carried a high cost. These factors may have deterred some companies from adopting the technology in its early stages. However, TSMC’s improved second-generation 3nm process (N3E) will offer better performance while being affordable. This has likely led to an increase in client interest, which in turn means demand.
This year will likely see heightened competition in the semiconductor market as major tech companies begin releasing their first 3nm-powered devices.
Whether TSMC can successfully meet this surging demand, while addressing potential production challenges, will significantly impact the success of these upcoming devices and the companies behind them.
Tags: 3nm chips, mass production, TSMC
February 10, 2024
Huawei’s Paris Office Raided by French Authorities Over Allegations of Unethical Conduct
French authorities have launched a raid on Huawei’s Paris office as part of a preliminary investigation into allegations of improper behavior. The raid, conducted by prosecutors, follows suspicions of breaches of integrity, encompassing potential offenses like corruption and influence peddling. This development marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny faced by the Chinese tech giant in France.
Huawei Denies Wrongdoing
Huawei has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, asserting its longstanding commitment to compliance with French laws and regulations. The company, which has maintained a presence in France since 2003, operates several research centers and a global design hub in the country. Additionally, Huawei is constructing its first production facility outside of China, located near Strasbourg, aimed at catering to the European telecommunications market.
Collaboration with French Mobile Carriers
Despite facing setbacks such as revenue declines in recent years, Huawei has continued its collaboration with French mobile carriers for the deployment of 5G networks. However, the company has encountered obstacles, including restrictions imposed by the French government on its participation in critical parts of the country’s wireless infrastructure.
International Scrutiny
The raid on Huawei’s French offices underscores the broader international scrutiny faced by the company. Amid tensions between China and the United States, Huawei has been at the center of allegations regarding potential state espionage, allegations that the company vehemently denies. The European Commission has also raised concerns about the security risks that Huawei and other Chinese tech firms pose, prompting calls to exclude their equipment from European mobile networks.
Cooperation and Implications
In response to the raid, Huawei emphasized cooperation with the investigation and expressed confidence in the probe’s conclusions. The nature of the alleged improper behavior remains unspecified, but it carries implications that could significantly impact Huawei’s operations in France and beyond.
Tags: French authorities, Huawei