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Free Fire

Reliance Jio to Host JioMart Gameathon Free Fire Esports Tournament from October 30

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Reliance is a multinational company mostly famous in the field of the oil industry. As one of the biggest conglomerates in Asia, Reliance is gradually expanding in the area of technology as well. To build digital India, Reliance is playing a big role by strengthening connectivity, collaborating with big tech giants like Qualcomm to bring a huge wave of technical revolution, investing in e-commerce, and the latest launching an online gaming event JioMart Gameathon starting this month. Online gaming events can bring huge publicity especially when the entire world is wrapping itself with the virtual mode of entertainment and communication.

This is the perfect timing for Reliance Jio to host an esports event while simultaneously working to launch a 5G-enabled smartphone. The first tournament of this Gameathon is called the Free Fire tournament and many more events will eventually follow this into the JioGames platform. The tournament will start from 30th October till 1st November.

The Free Fire tournament

The company will hold the Free Fire tournament and the following events on the JioGames platform which the company announced last year at the company’s 42nd Annual General Meeting. The JioGames platform was announced along with JioFiber set-top box. The app is still in its beta version available in Google Play Store. The three-day event of the Free Fire tournament will be live broadcasted on YouTube and JioTV. The news and updates related to the events are posted on a support page created especially for this tournament. This event also comes with lucrative cash prizes to lure as many audiences as possible. The first prize is worth Rs 16,000 which is followed by the runner-up prize money, that is, Rs 12,000 and Rs 1,000 for the most valuable player. The prize money will be credited in the JioMart’s wallet of the winners. This is also a very clever step as the prize money won will be spent on the company’s service itself. The first-ever gaming esports launched by JioMart is going to be a mobile-only tournament. So, buckle up and prepare for the game.

Free Fire
Image Source: assets.mspimages.in

Registration for JioMart Gameathon

JioMart is reaching out to more people with the #GetSetGame for the first-ever Gameathon. The registration for the tournament has started from 26th October and it will open till the 29th of this month. You can register for the event through the JioGames portal. The Free Fire tournament is a four-stage competition where the qualifying stage will be held on 30th and 31st October at sharp 11 am. The qualifying round will be followed by quarter-finals scheduled for these two days from 11 am to 3 pm. The semi-finals will take place from 1 pm to 4 pm. The grand finale of the tournament will take place on 31st October, that is, Sunday from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Details about the tournament 

You should hurry up for registration if you haven’t as a total number of 576 teams will enter the first stage (qualifying stage) of the tournament. The total number of teams will be divided between 48 lobbies. In the quarter-finals, the top two teams from each lobby will participate, which means 96 teams will compete to reach the semi-finals. In this stage, teams will be divided into 8 lobbies and the top three from each lobby will make it to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, 24 teams will be competing with each other in two lobbies. Six participants from each lobby will make it to the grand finale. In the grand finale, there will be one single lobby and three maps will be played to declare the winners. The registration page of the tournament has every necessary detail from the scoring system to the general rules of the game.

Reliance Jio and Gaming

Mukesh Ambani has bigger plans for online gaming pushing the company deeper into the tech world. Apart from the oil industry, Reliance will emerge out as one of the successful tech giants of our country very soon. At the beginning of this year, Mukesh Ambani, in an interview with Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, gaming has the potential to be bigger than any other aspects of entertainment put together. And, it seems like Reliance Jio has been marching in the direction to make it come true.

Facebook

Facebook Locks Horns with NYU Over Ad-Targeting Data Collection

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Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic ballooned out of proportion, tech companies have been feeling the heat. Most countries around the world, with the EU in particular, have started holding them accountable for information shared online. As a result, there have been a lot of discussions and debates regarding how to ensure such companies use their power wisely. The world is still debating on the data tax bill, and Google and Facebook have been asked to fact-check the information they share. Amidst all of this, Facebook has now asked NYU to stop a study they were conducting on political advertisements. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about Facebook’s stand, and how the world is reacting to it.

Facebook Blocks the NYU

New York University seems to be in a lockdown contest against Facebook. The tech giant has asked NYU to stop collecting data for a study it is doing on political ads propagated by Facebook. However, journalists, lawyers, academics, and First Amendment activists have come to the support of NYU. The study essentially focuses on how the tech giant micro-targets specific individuals with their political ads. While Facebook has asked the university to shut down its data collection tool, researchers believe that the tool is integral to their study. In essence, the tool helps the academics track how Facebook serves as a source of misinformation and manipulation by several extremist political groups.

Disable Tools Collecting Data

A Facebook executive order that came out on October 16 demands that researchers disable their data collection tool. The University depends on a special plug-in for both Firefox and Chrome browsers to collect data regarding the ads. The University has signed on over 6500 volunteers across the US to help with the data collection. Facebook’s new order demands that the University halt its data collection and delete the information obtained. The plug-in essentially allows the researchers to see what ads each volunteer views, helping them understand how Facebook targets users. The researchers claim that Facebook’s algorithm for tailor-made ads depends on a lot more than gender, race, age, and political afflictions. 

Facebook

Facebook’s Side of Things

Allison Hendrix, the executive from Facebook, states that the tool violates Facebook’s rules. She also noted that the social media giant does not allow the automatic collection of bulk data from it. The letter also warned of enforcement action in case the NYU did not comply with November 30th. Also, Joe Osborne, who serves as Facebook’s spokesperson, stated that the tech giant had informed NYU months ago to not move forward with their study. He claims that the company had warned them that doing so would be a violation of their terms. Furthermore, he also stated that Facebook works extensively to ensure the privacy of its users’ data. However, researchers at NYU claim that their tool does not violate any terms as it collects data from volunteers anonymously.

Reaction to the Threat

The public seems to be rallying against the social media giant with several prominent personalities calling out the social media giant. Ever since the Wall Street Journal broke the news on Friday, public sentiment seems to be on the side of the researchers. The WSJ quickly pointed out that NYU’s Ad Observer tool may shine some much-needed light on Facebook’s policies on advertisements. The tool has been in effect since September by volunteers from Utah to Florida to Wisconsin. Ramya Krishnan, who works as a lawyer with Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, represents the researchers. She was quick to point out that it was unfortunate that Facebook is attaching a tool that will help identify gaps within the current framework. Since the study aims to expose disinformation related to the American elections, Krishnan believes the paper should not be halted. She also pointed out that the public deserves to know how they are being targeted and that Facebook cannot serve as a gatekeeper to information. 

Julia Angwin, who serves as an editor of The Markup, which is a tech news website, also tweeted in disappointment after Facebook’s statement. Since the NYU’s Ad Observatory was the only way researchers could explore micro-targeting of political ads, she deemed this move extremely controversial and disappointing. In a statement released by NYU, researcher Damon McCoy stated that the study focuses on how Facebook profiles citizens. After profiling, the company sends them misinformation regarding policies and candidates to influence their votes.

While 2016 witnessed social outcry over Facebook’s political ad-running algorithm, history seems to be repeating this time around. Ads on traditional media are accounted for as they have to create an ad archive that lists who paid for the ad and how long it ran. However, social media companies do not have any such rules in place, making it difficult to see their political biases. With right-wing content trending in the last few weeks on the platform, the move to block the study will only further hurt Facebook’s public standing. Last year, over 200 researchers asked Facebook to lift bans on the collection of data. It will be interesting to see if Facebook’s terms hold in a court of law and whether the study ends u exposing the company’s biases.

Twitter

Government issues warning to Twitter; conveys strong disapproval over map misrepresentation

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Geotagging manipulation is a very serious threat and disrespect towards the sovereignty of a country. A very important matter regarding the map representation in Twitter which involves Leh, headquarters of the Union Territory of Ladakh has come up this week. Twitter has caused map misrepresentation of Leh showing its location in China. India has warned Twitter with very strong disapproval as it insults the integrity of a nation. Twitter has received heavy criticism from Indian people which it might have seen coming. Social media users have raised a very strong voice against this map manipulation. The question of this act whether it was a genuine mistake of the location setting or done purposely is secondary. Since the relationship between India and China has already got on the wrong foot; this is the worst time to commit a blunder like this by a major-micro blogging platform.

India’s response to this map misrepresentation 

India has sent a letter to Twitter where Ajay Sawhney, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has asked the CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey to respect the sensitivities. A small yet such an intense mistake can cost both the nation and its people. This act of Twitter can be seen as triggering a sleeping volcano. The geotagging feature of Twitter displayed “Jammu & Kashmir, People’s Republic of China” in a live broadcast. It was taking part in Leh’s Hall of Fame, a war memorial to respect the soldiers of Union Territory of Ladakh those who sacrificed their life. A war memorial is a very sensitive and respectful place of a nation where people pay homage to the fallen soldiers. Showing that this part of India belongs to the People’s Republic of China is disrespecting the entire foundation of the country.

Twitter
Twitter CEO: Jack Dorsey
Image Source: cbsnews.com

The angry netizens have heavily insulted Twitter and they demand strict action in response to such an audacious act. On the other hand, Twitter has accepted that it was a technical issue from their side and that it has been resolved. But, the degree of damage it has already caused by wrong geotagging in a live broadcast is immeasurable. The entire world has witnessed a map misrepresentation which is enough to build theories and wage a war on social media and outside.

A warning to Twitter

The letter that was sent to Twitter by Mr. Sawhney on behalf of India clearly mentioned that any sign or attempt to disrespect the sovereignty and integrity of India will not only result in dispute but also questioning the neutrality and fairness of this micro-blogging platform. Even if it was a technical glitch from Twitter’s side, they should be extra cautious and take proper measures to prevent such “mistakes”. The damage it has caused to the reputation of Twitter will also take days to mend. Apart from the gentle warning, India has also reminded Twitter that Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir are integral and inalienable parts of India, governed by the Indian Constitution. In response to this mail, Twitter has immediately mailed back saying “Twitter is committed to working with the Government of India. We respect the sensitivities involved and have dully acknowledged the letter.”

Was it just a glitch?

Nitin Gokhale, National Security Analyst has pointed out the anomaly in the first place which was followed by sending out a warning to Twitter. Moreover, this is not the first time a nation is facing difficulties due to the technical glitches of Twitter. So, it is high time that the platform fixes all the platform before any other nation is hurt. Gokhale said that he went live on Twitter to share his journey to Ladakh from Himachal Pradesh and after the broadcast was ended, he saw the location of Leh showing as a part of China. First, he thought if it was an isolated incident or a glitch so he conducted another experimental live broadcast and the same thing happened yet again. So, has it been a technical glitch, why was a part of India was constantly showing as a part of another nation? Twitter in response to this issue said that investigation teams are trying to resolve the matter as it seems to be a geotagging issue.

JioPages

Reliance Jio launches Made-in-India web browser, JioPages

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Reliance Jio has launched its web browser called JioPages which is specially made in and for India. JioPages uses the Chromium Blink engine which is indeed very powerful as it provides a very efficient search experience with faster engine migration. Jio while making a statement yesterday also said that this engine provides faster page loads, efficient media, streaming, encrypted connection, etc. The Chromium Blink engine was first launched in 2013 and it was created by the contributions from Google, IBM, Samsung, Facebook, Microsoft, and many other tech giants.

Since the new web browser is designed entirely in India, this is expected to attract a healthy number of users. With many other features of the JioPages, the company keeps privacy as its prime goal thus establishing an encrypted connection. The new JioPages web browser can be downloaded from the Play Store for Android users while the company didn’t mention any launch date about the iOS variant. Since the web browser is created for Indian users, JioPages will be available in eight different Indian languages, focusing more on localized news content creation, etc. So, let’s have a detailed look at the features of JioPages.

Features of JioPages

From personalized regional content to an advanced download manager, JioPages have started with a handful to give to its customers.

JioPages
Image Source: jio.com
  • Personalized content is a huge advantage for the users as they might only be interested to read content about the domain of their choice. So, JioPages let the users customize the content feed based on region, language, and topic. And, once you choose your interested fields you will receive notification exclusively for the content important to you.
  • A personalized home screen with a theme makes an intense appeal to the users as it gives them the liberty to choose for themselves. JioPages lets you choose any leading search engine as your default such as Google, Bing, Duck Duck Go, Yahoo, or MSN. There is also an option to pin websites which saves time as you may want to pin the most visited websites. Users are also given an option to choose from beautiful themes and not to mention the hyped dark mode.
  • JioPages is providing content in eight different Indian languages. The languages are Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Apart from regional languages, you can also set content priority based on your geographic region. Once you do that, the top sites of your location will start appearing.
  • The Advanced Download Manager automatically separates the downloaded files based on image, video, documents, and others.
  • Incognito Mode is one of the best features of JioPages. By turning on the Incognito mode you can enable private browsing as the web browser’s surfing history will not be saved in the system. The Incognito Mode is made safer in JioPages as you can put a 4-digit code or fingerprint scan to enable the mode. 
  • Ad Blocker and Informative Cards also added in the features of the JioPages. While the former blocks the random ad pop-ups the latter captures the headline of a given topic and displays on the screen as a compact clickable option. 

The 5G connectivity

Before the launch of JioPages, the company has also entered the realm of connectivity by collaboration with Qualcomm. Emerging out as one of the biggest companies in the energy conglomerate, Reliance is now holding its roots firm in tech as well. India is the world’s second-largest mobile market in terms of users. So, by collaborating with Qualcomm, Reliance is bringing effective 5G solutions for the Indians. Radisys Corp. is working along with Qualcomm Technologies to roll out 5G network services in India at the earliest.

Reliance is also preparing the largest network connectivity, Jio for the fifth-generation wireless service with an in-house technology to provide for 400 million of its users. Ambani believes that this will keep his network away from political disputes thus leaving his rivals behind. Honestly, this is a very strategic move by the company as they don’t need to switch to a new system if the company develops its wireless technology. The company is always interested in selling this in-house tech to other carriers if it becomes successful.

Qualcomm

Reliance JIO and Qualcomm Join Forces to Bring 5G to India

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India is all set to receive superfast internet soon enough. Making this dream a reality will be a partnership between India’s Reliance JIO and US-based Qualcomm. The two technology and communication giants are joining hands to build and develop 5G technologies in India. Reliance will be leveraging its subsidiary Radisys Corporation, which it wholly owns to help build the necessary 5G infrastructure. In this article, we will take a look at how this deal works out, and by when we can expect super-fast internet in India.

Jio and Qualcomm partners for the Better

Chipset manufacturer Qualcomm and Radisys Corporation will develop a virtualized RAN. Such a Radio Access Network will help boost the development of 5G architecture in India. With the help of this partnership, we can expect a faster roll-out for such services within the country. The companies also announced that they achieved speeds eclipsing 1 Gbps over their 5GNR network. Reliance Jio’s 5GNR software leverages Qualcomm’s RAN platform to obtain these high speeds. Furthermore, Qualcomm announced that this platform allows it to enter the Gigabit 5G NR portfolio.

Faster Internet for all

The usage of 5G will allow mobile phone users to receive higher data rates. Furthermore, 5G also offers lower latency communication and enhance the overall digital experience. The network supports a slew of devices, including AR and VR gaming products, smartphones, and laptops. The announcement which occurred on Tuesday will fast-track the much-awaited 5G roll-out in India. The indigenous network infrastructure for 5G will help in streamlining network services for millions in India. Also, the 5G RAN product has become a part of the Gigabit throughput clock. Furthermore, a Tier-1 American carrier has already tested and verified the product for its quality and high-speed performance. This move will also help India join the 5G club. Presently, only a few nations, including Australia, Germany, the US, South Korea, and Switzerland have produced 1 Gbps speeds over 5G.

Qualcomm
Image Source: qualcomm.com

What the Companies Had to Say

Mathew Oommen, who serves as the President of Jio Infocomm, stated that the company was looking forward to the partnership. While speaking at the Qualcomm 5G Summit, he noted that the development of new-gen 5G RAN will be a revolutionary technology. The cloud-native software will help both companies scale their operations tremendously. Qualcomm Technologies, while working with Jio Platforms, will help make India a genuinely 5G inclusive nation. It will provide a vital boost to local manufacturing and help accelerate the achievement of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Meanwhile, VP of Qualcomm India Rajen Vagadia stated that they were delighted to take their partnership with Jio to the next level. Both companies have now been working together for quite some time now and enjoy a great relationship. By creating a shared 5G vision for India, the partnership will help in supporting India’s digital transformation. As per the needs of the day, India requires a better and more powerful mobile experience. Rajen noted that very soon more and more consumers will want 5G services, leading to a massive spike in demand. Such services will be of great help to healthcare, retail, and manufacturing industries. Since Jio is a game-changer when it comes to the delivery of cost-effective 4G services, this partnership will help both companies drastically. Jio already enjoys massive network coverage and a large user base, which will be ready to switch to 5G once the roll-out is complete.

Moving Forward

As you can see, the partnership between Qualcomm and Reliance Jio will help catalyze the adoption and implementation of 5G in India. The adoption of this technology will finally put an end to lousy streaming, never-ending buffering, and frequent voice cuts over calls. It will also give a push to the adoption of vertical IoT solutions and other smart devices across the nation. Such an indigenous network will prevent India from having to depend on Chinese systems for their infrastructure. Not only will this help reduce our dependence on them, but it will also help improve security on our national infrastructure. Also, earlier this year Qualcomm picked up a 0.15% stake in Jio for a whopping INR 730 crores. Hence, this venture may be the start of many more such partnerships between the communication-industry legends.

Micromax

Micromax to Make a Comeback With ‘In’ Phones before Diwali

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There have been quite a few gadget launches in recent months with smartphone manufacturers trying to revive their sales. With the coronavirus closing stores around the world, the tech industry is trying to get back on its feet. With sales returning to pre-COVID levels, things have been looking up, and Indian users have even more news to celebrate. Micromax announced on Friday that it was making a comeback to the Indian market. Company CEO Rahul Sharma announced that the new series would launch in time for Diwali. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about the release and why it is crucial.

Homecoming for Micromax

According to CEO Rahul Sharma, the new line will offer customers a value-for-money product that assures competitive performance. The device will also enable an almost stock Android experience, with the company hoping to reclaim market share. The Indian smartphone manufacturer based in Gurugram last had a launch in October 2019. However, the last major smartphone launch hosted by the company took place in December 2018. Rahul Sharma teased the release of the new device through a short video wherein he highlighted the patriotic sentiments behind the phone.

Independence and Nationality

The company announced that the news of skirmishes at the border was the primary reason for launching the new devices. The phones will most likely hit the market before the start of the festival season, in time for Diwali purchases. The new series was in full-on R&D mode when the India-China border tussle was happening, and these issues propelled and accelerated the development. Those skirmishes have led to a vocal demand for more Indian-origin products, which will work in Micromax’s favor. While the Gurugram-based manufacturer imports components from foreign countries, it was one of the first ones to start assembly in India. Doing so helped reduce prices and also add a homely touch to their devices, which might help motivate more Indians to buy from them now. 

With many Indian consumers calling for a ban on Chinese products, such a nationalistic approach might do wonders for the company and its sales. However, experts believe that such a sentiment would not help the company revive itself as the smartphone market is highly competitive. Some of them went as far as to say that while such emotions were strong in July, they have faded by now. As a result, while it might give the brand a publicity boost, it might not help them boost sales as expected. So, we will have to see whether the nationalistic approach will help the company regain its market position. 

‘In’ to the Market

Micromax In Series
Image Source: centralviral.com

Micromax’s new series titled In will have a price range between INR 7000, and INR 25,000, making them fall in the semi-budget phone space. While Micromax initially gained popularity for its incredibly affordable phones, the company is looking to expand. They made it clear that the new lineup will not feature anything below the INR 7,000 mark. Sharma stated that since the sub-INR 5000 markets were shrinking in India, the company would not release such phones for now. Since people now prefer higher-performance products, the decision to stick to the said budget makes more sense. While the video introduced the Micromax In series, it contained no details regarding hardware or software specifications.

No more ads

Micromax has also addressed that the In series will offer a fantastic Android experience. Such a statement seems to be taking a shot at Chinese competitors within the space, such as Realme, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Vivo. All these companies often face criticism for adding bloatware to their devices, sometimes at the expense of fluid customer experience. Similarly, OnePlus faced flak for pre-installing Facebook onto their phones. While the company promised to avoid such an addition, the latest OnePlus 8T comes with an in-built Amazon integration. Rahul Sharma promised that Micromax would not take this route opting instead for a near-stock Android experience. He also said that the phones would not feature any bloatware, ads, or even attempt to download, store, and process users’ data.

Journey Ahead

Sharma is optimistic that Micromax can put up a tough fight against its Chinese counterparts. The market has changed since Micromax’s glory days, with Xiaomi having gained immense popularity in recent years. Also, rising consumer awareness has led to users demanding better refresh rates, fast charging, and updated features. However, Sharma believes that Micromax can still break through the ceiling and regain its popularity within the Indian market. While the company has missed Amazon’s and Flipkart’s festive sales, they will be launching in time for Diwali. Also, the choice to enter the INR 20,000 and higher market has puzzled experts. Both Samsung and OnePlus are strong competitors within this segment, has grown immensely in recent years. But many of them feel that the company’s brand value will help it attract pan-India customers.