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One week ahead of WWDC, Apple adds Mac support to its Developer app

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Apple launched the Apple developer app in late 2019. The app was available only for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV users until now. Yesterday, Apple announced the redesigning of the app so that it can provide Mac support. This is for the first time that Mac users will be able to use the Apple Developer app. Last month, Apple announced that its WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) will take place online starting from 22nd June. So, did Apple plan to launch the updates just one week before WWDC? Including features to support Mac users is a very good decision especially when WWDC20 will be a virtual experience.

Redesigning and feature updates of the Developer app

Not only Apple added Mac support to the Developer app but also many changes took place for its user interface. Some new features have been added, regular updates of content for the discover section, etc. The changes that have taken place in the Apple Developer app have been mentioned below:

  • New UI for Mac OS: A new user interfaces for the Mac developers since Apple is launching it for them the first time.
  • Redesigning the Discover section: Staying updated around the clock is very important. This made Apple redesign the discover section of the app. So, from today onwards it will be easier for the users to stay informed about the latest stories, news, videos, etc. Apple will update the Discover section with “Actionable” content and Apple notes. And, to inspire the developers and users it will also post stories of successful engineers and designers.
  • A new browse interface: The browse tab has also been updated. It will help the users surf the existing articles, videos, news, sessions, etc.
  • The WWDC corner: Since WWDC20 will start on 22nd June, the company has taken a lot of time to design and update the WWDC tab. Over hundreds of videos can be found in this tab that is especially focused on the design and technical topics. In this tab, you will find everything you need to know about the live event of WWDC.

Apart from all these features, the users can also download or favorite any article they like for later. The same goes for videos as well. Apple has also added new iMessage stickers to make it more appealing and fun to use.

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Image source: Appleinsider.com

Importance of Apple Developer App

For a long time now, the developers around the world are working towards making their community stronger. Learning new techniques, reading stories of inspirational designers are always advantageous to the users. At the end of the day, they are creating apps that can serve many purposes for various fields.

Apple said that the Developer app helps the users stay informed, learn a new skill which further helps them to create better apps. When Apple introduced the Developer app in November 2019, it was an updated version of the WWDC app. It was mainly for Apple’s third-party developer’s community. Because Apple thought it is crucial to share key resources of assets with them. It will make them learn, grow, and get better.

The new app, that is, the Apple Developer app wants to target international developers as well. They want to extend the accessibility of the resources to developers in Brazil, India, and Indonesia.

Pandemic shifted WWDC online

The annual conference of Apple, WWDC is very prestigious and valuable in terms of the developer’s community, talking about new products, upcoming technology, etc. Every year the conference goes on for a week in-person. But, the pandemic has altered so many plans and events from our schedule.

Apple says WWDC20 is supposed to be the biggest one till now bringing 23 million developers together. The company has already declared that the conference will take place by online-only means from 22nd June to 26th June. The conference is the perfect tech hub for all the tech lovers to come and meet other developers and speak about the new software. Though the event will take place for five days like every other year, the impact is doubtful.

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Tesla Adds Wireless Smartphone Charger and USB-C Port to Its Model-3 Cars

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As per new reports, Tesla has decided to add a new wireless smartphone charger and USB-C port to its all-new Model 3 cars built in the USA. These new models are made in its Fremont factory in California. While these features were already a mainstay in the Model Y cars, Tesla has decided to add them to the Model 3 as well. Furthermore, they will also be available in the Model 3s being made in China. Here’s a look at all the updates you need to know about the new car.

Other Models              

The company’s new car, the Model Y, reached American customers in mid-March. The car came with a Qi wireless smartphone charger, whereas in Model 3, the same option came as an add-on, and not an in-built option. Also, the company recently lowered the prices for three of their cars in North America, namely the Model 3, Model X, and Model S. It also slashed prices of the Model X and Model S in China as a way to boost sales.

However, Chinese-produced Model 3 did not undergo a price reduction. Experts believe that these price cuts will prove beneficial in improving sales as the auto industry has suffered a significant downfall due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Demand for new cars witnessed a massive drop in the first quarter of this year, with most people being stuck at home. 

Flirting With Controversy

If that wasn’t enough, Tesla and its eccentric founder Elon Musk have been featuring in newspapers for all the wrong reasons in the last few weeks. Musk stirred up great controversy when he fought against and admonished the decision to shut down his factory in Alameda County. The order to cease all operations came out on March 23rd, and the company battled with officials to resume operations and keep building cars. CEO Elon Musk even threatened the officials by promising to move the factory somewhere else if they did not reverse the stay-at-home order. He also filed a lawsuit and tweeted aggressively against the decision taken by the county officials.

Model 3 and Model Y

Tesla is planning to upgrade the Model 3 vehicles by introducing features that were a mainstay in the Model Y. Both the Model 3 cars, American and Chinese-made alike, will get new wireless chargers and USB ports. Model 3 and Model Y also share similar-looking interiors, with the newer version having more cargo space and third-row seats. When the Model Y hit the market in March, experts were surprised to see that the company had added Qi wireless phone chargers to all their cars. Bryan Finnegan, who got a new Model 3 last week, confirmed that the car comes in-built with these new features. This is a rare hardware upgrade for Tesla cars, as Model 3 has not seen any such upgrades since its launch in 2017.

Current Model 3 Owners

If the current Model 3 owners or people with an older model want a wireless charger in their car, they can order it online. However, in such cases, most car owners go for the Jeda wireless charger as it is cheaper by around $25. Furthermore, this charge allows your phone to be charged while in a landscape position. Tesla offers a wireless charger for $125 upgrade, whereas Jeda Products, an aftermarket company, has the same product for $99.However, such owners cannot make use of the USB-C port as it cannot be added. The next best thing possible is to add a Jeda Model 3 USB Hub to your car, which will allow access to more ports, including a C port and storage space for Sentry Mode or Teslacam. The additional space will help clear up your center console when using all these features.

In the first quarter, the electric-car giant delivered 88,400 vehicles suffering a 21% fall when compared to the previous quarter. However, this surprised experts, as most other automakers were left with steeper declines. During this period, the company put together 103,000 electric vehicles, which was 2% lower than the previous period. These upgrades will help make the car more attractive to customers. By proving backward compatibility, Tesla is ensuring that even the older models regain interest. It will also help make their assembly more efficient by making all these standard across models. These changes will also help some of the customers they lost due to the COVID-19, and it will be interesting to see if the move leads to more orders and customers.

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A Look at the New Sony PlayStation 5

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All the gamers around the world will finally have something to get excited about now. Sony has just released details about its new PlayStation 5, including how the console will look, and what features it will have. The newly unveiled next-gen console will feature an all-new controller named DualSense. This new controller is a huge departure for Sony, as it introduces a massive design change. They are innovating and coming out with a completely new controller design after 25 odd years. Here’s a look at the new PS5 console and its features.

Playstation
Image source: givemesport.com

Controller Design

The new controller comes with several changes and upgrades, both in terms of looks and hardware. It features a new haptic feedback, which will replace the Rumble technology, and it also comes with adaptive triggers. These new triggers will help gamers control and adjust the resistance they feel on the triggers during gameplay. The new controllers also come with a first-time integrated microphone and USB-C port. When it comes to design, the controller will feature a two-tone color scheme that resembles the PSVR. Furthermore, Sony has changed the shape of the controller, giving it a more rounded shape.

The share button has become the “create” button, which will allow players to share their gameplay content with the world. Further details regarding how this button works will be released nearer to the actual launch of the console. The PlayStation button will resemble the actual PS logo, and the triggers will get an angled design, unlike past controllers. The center-mounted touchpad, symmetrical layout, and matching analog sticks will remain in place. Another change is the position of the light bar, which has been moved to either side of the touchpad. Further details regarding the cost and color options will come out shortly.

Hardware Design

Sony also recently revealed how the console will look, and they have gone with a white-and-black design to match the controller. Like the Xbox X, the PS5 will also be a vertical machine and will come in 2 versions. One will carry a 4K Blu-ray drive, and the other is a pure Digital Edition that is a lot thinner. As the Digital Edition does not contain the drive, it should be cheaper than the 4K. However, Sony has not released information regarding the pricing yet. Sony will also release a stand that works whether you keep the console horizontally or vertically. The unit has vents to allow heat dissipation and comes with both USB-A and USB-C ports in front.

All these reveals come right after Microsoft revealed Xbox X specs in December 2019. The console will have an eight-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and custom AMD GPU, based on RDNA 2. These custom chips will provide a power of up to 10.28 teraflops to both the CPU and GPU.

Accessories

Additionally, accessories for the PS5 include a controller charging station, media remote, HD camera, and a Pulse 3D headset. The new HD Camera will support dual 1080p lenses, replacing the old camera that came along with the PS4. The new camera will allow gamers to stream live gameplay footage, making it easier than ever before to tape themselves playing. The new Pulse wireless headset will replace the PS Gold headset and offer support for 3D Audio. The PS5 will also come with dual noise-canceling microphones, which help gamers with in-game communication. The media remote comes with a built-in microphone that allows voice commands. The controller charging station can charge up to two controllers at the same time. However, it seems to use a separate accessory dock to connect the controllers, rather than relying on the USB-C port. However, they have not released information regarding the pricing of these components.

Other Specs

Sony will also use a proprietary SSD to boost their load times for PlayStation games, and the SSD comes with 825GB of storage. The SSD also provides a performance power of 5.5GB/s, making it super-efficient. If fans can go by Epic Game’s recent demonstration of Unreal 5, the console looks great when it comes to performance. The game reveal showed off the console’s ability for loading cinematic 8K components and dynamic lighting effects. The console also supports 4K graphics and 3D audio.

Furthermore, Sony revealed that the PS5 will support a majority of the existing 4000 PS4 titles. All the backward compatible games will run with boosted frequency on the new console. This will allow gamers to benefit from more stable frame rates and better resolution. Also, Ubisoft has announced that the new addition to the AC family, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will launch on Sony’s PlayStation 5 during the holiday season.

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Apple Files New Patent On Software That Allows Socially-Distant Group Selfies

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As the novel coronavirus continues its aggressive march around the world, it has had a massive impact on all spheres of our lives. Most experts believe that we will look at the time, in two periods, before and after corona. The global pandemic will have massive and long-lasting changes in the way we interact and communicate with people. With social distancing still being active in many zones, people socialise differently now. Another change that will be put in place will be how people meet and greet others. These changes seem to be verified by Apple’s new patent. Let us look at what the new patent is on and how this software will impact the world of technology.

software
Image source: theverge.com

New Software

Apple’s new patent is for a software that will allow users to take synthetic group selfies. This could be the future for group selfies as more people become aware of the need for social distancing. Also, this generated group selfie might become a viable alternative when you post pictures on social media during such times. Discovered by Patently Apple, the new patent application allows users to invite others to be a part of their selfies. The software will then generate a single image that captures all the participants and arrange them into a memorable group photo. The selfie can have in it photos, video images, and even live-streamed images. Also, users get to keep both the original and group selfie, and the recipients can modify it, and even put themselves in different positions within the group.

Not So New A Concept

While the idea of a socially-distant selfie seems bizarre right now, it is definitely a need of the hour. However, while it seems relevant now, due to the pandemic, it was not something born out of coronavirus. Instead, Apple first filed for such a patent long before, way back in 2018. It gained popularity now as the patent was granted only a few days back, on June 2. However, like with all patents, there is no guarantee that Apple will use this software or materialise it into a real product.

Product For the Future

The patent is essentially a way for Apple to envision and explore the possibility of such a product. However, it is in no way a roadmap for a specific product, which we may or may not see. Also, the pandemic makes the likelihood of such a product hitting the market higher. People are looking for innovative ways to reach out and stay connected with their loved ones. Such remote group selfies will serve as a perfect way to get people together safely and healthily. The app would allow people to invite friends, and friends can arrange their position in the selfie. Once all the invited people are in the frame, the software generates a group photo with everyone in place.

It looks like Apple is looking at a new avenue. With people having to spend time away from each other due to different reasons, such software might become a hit with the crowd. While there is no clarity regarding whether Apple will soon roll out such an app, the idea looks very promising indeed. It sure looks like Apple wants to be at the forefront when it comes to changes in the post-pandemic world.

Mukesh Ambani

Reliance Finds a New Investor in the Mubadala Group

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Abu Dhabi-based firm Mubadala has just become the newest investor in India’s telecom giant, Reliance Jio. The firm joins five other American companies, including the likes of Facebook and Silver Lake, as partners to Reliance Jio. It is interesting to note that such high-stake deals are happening at the height of a global health pandemic. Read on to find out more about the agreement and what it means for India’s largest telecom operator.

New Player On the Block

Mubadala will invest almost $1.2 billion in Reliance Jio Platforms in exchange for a 1.85% equity stake in the firm. The deal sees the Indian giant gaining a valuation of close to $65 billion, which is huge as it launched only in 2016. Reliance Jio is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, which is India’s most valued firm. Reliance has its heart in the petrochemical and oil refining business. Its telecom counterpart, Reliance Jio, has raised close to $11.5 billion by giving away a 19% stake within the last seven weeks.

What Mukesh Ambani Has to Say

Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani, released a statement saying he is happy to have Mubadala on board. He explains that through his ties with Abu Dhabi, he has had the fortune of seeing the impact the company has had on the UAE economy. Mubadala, he claims work for diversifying and connecting UAE’s knowledge-driven economy to a global workforce. He goes further to say that the company is looking forward to making use of Mubadala’s experience and insights.

What the Investment Shows

This announcement, when coupled with the similar ones that came out in the last few weeks, shows just how eager foreign investors are to fund Jio. Most of these large corporations are looking to gain a slice of what is the world’s second-largest market for internet services. Furthermore, media reports have claimed that Amazon is looking to invest over $2 billion in Bharti Airtel, the country’s third-largest telecom operator. Meanwhile, Google is vying for a similar deal with Vodafone Idea, India’s second-largest telecom operator. India has a massive population of over 1.3 billion people and a huge market for internet and telecom service providers. Therefore, the country has grown to become a global battleground for both Silicon Valley and Chinese firms.

What Mubadala Has to Say

Managing Director and Chief Executive of Mubadala, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, said that watching Jio transform the communication sector in India inspired them to go for this deal. He also said that the company is committed to helping India move further along its digital journey. By partnering with Jio, Mubadala hopes to help the country further its digital economy development. Mubadala is a famous investor, with over $229 billion in assets. The company also has stakes in AMD, Alphabet’s Waymo, and SoftBank.

The infusion of this new capital will help Ambani, cut Reliance’s debt to zero. Reliance’s net debt runs to about $21 billion, and Ambani aims to cut this down to zero by 2021. Also, Reliance Industries has been hit by the global pandemic as its core business has suffered a 37% decrease in net profit. Both the oil refining and petrochemicals are seeing a slump due to the novel coronavirus, and this investment will be a breath of fresh air for the company.

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Only the paid users of Zoom can now enjoy end-to-end encryption

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The beginning of the lockdown period marked the rise of the videoconferencing app, Zoom. During the initial days of quarantine, Zoom seemed to make a fortune out of it. Every single meeting starting from attending online classes to professionals attending business conferences took place on this platform. But, after a month or so, the security system of Zoom was compromised. It became vulnerable to uninvited guests joining random meetings and causing disputes. To make Zoom’s videoconferencing platform secure enough, the company paused launching any new features thus devoting all time for its security. A few weeks back, Zoom announced about end-to-end encryption for its users. But, the company declared yesterday that the advantage is only for the paid users.

End-to-end encryption scheme of Zoom

After a bunch of meeting with investors, civil liberties groups, and child-sex abuse fighters, CEO of Zoom, Eric Yuan confirmed that the company will only provide end-to-end encryption for the paid customers. He says that it is important for the community to enforce the law for free calls. The users who just signed in with an email id didn’t go through a proper identity verification thus making Zoom vulnerable in the first place. So, the company finally announced and confirmed today about its new policy.

Eric also said that it is better to work along with the FBI as many users sign in with an abusive motive. After the pandemic spread across the world, Zoom became the most important video conferencing app. But, the business backfired as encryption became the main topic of concern. Jon Callas, a technologist said that Zoom’s compromise to get rid of the troublemakers is reasonable. Every one of us witnessed how the breach in the security system caused chaos among Zoom users.

Encryption plan and end-to-end model

The main reason behind lifting off end-to-end encryption for all users is that the criminals can easily get away with their illegal activities. But, there still exist controversial perspectives as some think it will affect the non-paid customers. Every cybercriminal is usually a non-paid user but not the other way around. But, the filtration process is tough when Zoom allowed millions of users to host and attend meetings only by singing with email id.

Zoom also hired Stamos, a former Chief Security Officer at Facebook. He says that apart from providing end-to-end encryption to paid users the platform is also upgrading its existing safety. The current end-to-end encryption is for paid customers and enterprise accounts as their profiles are highly scrutinized and verified.

The end-to-end model will reduce illegal activities to a large extent and make the platform more sophisticated and secure. But, the free participants will fall at a sharp rate which is not flattering from the business viewpoint. The end-to-end encryption is mainly provided in case of charged business or for the nonprofits. An outside spokesperson of the company has said that the encryption model is still in progress and it still hasn’t decided the final customer base.

Preventing child pornography and child sex abuse

Many videoconferencing platforms have faced shortcomings in its way. But, Zoom’s reputation got crushed when the degree of child-sex abuse increased via its platform. Many complaints have been launched that the sexual predators live steam abuse threatening child safety. So, strong encryption for every user will make it difficult for the police to find the culprits and easier for abusers to carry on their filthy work. It also threatens the security and privacy of users who exchange sensitive content. This might lead to harassment and future blackmailing.

Eric also focused on the fact that no user can simply dial into an encrypted meeting. So, there are high chances that many business clients will stop using the app as well. But, no matter what, Zoom will make law enforcement its top priority.

Conclusion 

Amidst the stricter law enforcement, Zoom also announced that they don’t share information with law enforcement unless and until it is necessary, like child abuse. It still not possible for any random users to get into a meeting and get unnoticed. The end-to-end model is important to ensure child safety and protect future victims.