The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will be enhanced by new features on Disney+ Hotstar

October 4, 2023

With an array of comprehensive upgrades for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Disney+ Hotstar will boost the cricketainment experience for its mobile users. For the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the platform will provide its users with a seamless and immersive cricket-watching experience, including an enhanced live feed, data-saving video streaming capabilities, and AI-based video clarity enhancements.

As part of a collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC), the platform recently added MaxView – a technological innovation that enables cricket fans to watch games in vertical mode (9X14 portrait).

ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 features the following:

MaxView for non-stop Cricketing action on the move:

In collaboration with the ICC, Disney+ Hotstar is presenting users with the option of streaming cricket matches on the go in vertical mode for the very first time. One-handed viewing is facilitated by this feature, which aligns with the way most users consume content. This new, opt-in feature will be called MaxView. Along with vertical ads, other features, such as the Live feed tab and Scorecard tab, will also be available in vertical mode.

With the ICC TV-produced feed, Live Cricket is reimagined in a vertical format for mobile phones. There were some production techniques adopted, including single-player frames (which brought the user closer to their favorite player) and split views (which provided unique perspectives). As with other vertical video formats, the graphics are also designed to enable bespoke narrative storytelling.

Optimized Data Saving for Quality Streaming:

In order to ensure high-quality streaming with minimal data consumption, Disney+ Hotstar has optimized its video delivery. By making this improvement, all users can enjoy live cricket without worrying about excessive data charges.

AI-Based video clarity enhancements:

To enhance the user experience, Disney+ Hotstar also provides an uninterrupted and smooth cricket-watching experience. Our platform will have a new backend filter that will improve the viewing experience for our users on their mobile devices during hazy weather conditions during the World Cup.

Always-On Cricket Scorecard Pill for Uninterrupted Action:

By using this feature, users can stay up-to-date on live cricketing events while enjoying other content on the platform. With one-tap switching to the live Cricket game, viewers won’t miss a moment of the action in either portrait or landscape mode.

Live feed tab for a Deeper Understanding:

By enhancing viewers’ understanding and enjoyment of cricket, a unique commentator experience is created. This feature provides an in-depth view of action unfolding on the field, incorporating contextual information such as player stats and match updates.

Seamless Content Discovery:

Disney+ Hotstar is introducing a new content discovery feature called the Coming Soon tray as part of its commitment to innovation. Users can set reminders for upcoming content with this feature. Additionally, the platform will separate free content from paid content with Free Callouts on the homepage trays, making content discovery easier for free users.

As part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the platform will also introduce “free badges” so that non-subscribed customers can easily discover and enjoy tons of free content.

Starting on 5th October, 10 teams will compete for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. On Disney+ Hotstar, you can watch the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup LIVE, Exclusively and Free on Mobile. Star Sports Network will also broadcast the tournament LIVE.

Acer introduces new Chromebook Plus 515 and Plus 514 notebooks comes with military-grade durability

October 4, 2023

With Chromebooks Plus, Google is pushing Chromebooks hard. The Chromebook Plus 515 and Chromebook Plus 514 are among the new laptops announced by Acer.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515

Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is the larger model. It features a 15.6-inch IPS display with a Full HD resolution. You can choose between a touch-enabled or regular panel with anti-glare support. Intel’s 13th Gen and 12th Gen Core processors are offered, up to a Core i7. You may choose from 16GB LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB SSD storage. It even supports fast charging and promises a battery life of around 10 hours.

The laptop features military-grade durability thanks to its MIL-STD 810H compliance. Furthermore, it is made from eco-friendly materials and packaged sustainably. Acer Chromebook Plus 515 offers WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, HDMI, USB 3.2 Type-A, and dual USB 3.2 Type-C ports for connectivity. Additionally, it has a 1080p webcam, DTS audio, and AI-powered Google and Adobe features.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 features the same military-grade durability, environmentally friendly materials, and sustainable packaging as the Plus 515. Additionally, it boasts a 14-inch display with Full HD resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, anti-glare coating, and a touchscreen option. The device is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7520 C-Series processor and AMD RDNA 2 graphics. Up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of SSD storage are available with this chipset.

The device has WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, HDMI, USB 3.2 Type-A, and dual USB 3.2 Type-C ports for connectivity. On the front, it has a 1080p webcam, and the body is military-grade MIL-STD-810H7. There are also AI-powered Google and Adobe features, DTS Audio, and a minimalistic design that is energy-efficient. Moreover, this model supports fast charging and has a battery life of up to 12 hours.

Pricing:

In October, Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (CB515-2H/T) will be available in North America and EMEA. In the US, the laptop starts at 399 dollars, while in EMEA, it starts at 499 euros. A Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-3H/T) costs 399 US Dollars and 479 Euros in the US and EMEA, respectively. In both markets, the new Chromebooks will be available in October.

Google introduces new Chromebook Plus laptops with AI Capabilities and Built-in Google Apps

October 4, 2023

Chromebook Plus is a new category of Chromebook introduced by Google today. Chromebook Plus offers double the performance, built-in Google apps, and powerful AI capabilities. The Chromebook Plus devices are also equipped with Google Photos Magic Eraser and Adobe Photoshop to enhance productivity and make everyday tasks easier.

In addition to announcing the Chromebook Plus category, Google also announced eight new Chromebook Plus laptops from ASUS, Acer, HP, and Lenovo. The newly introduced Chromebook Plus laptops are equipped with Intel Core i3 12th Gen or above processors or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 series or higher processors, according to Google. Moreover, Chromebook Plus devices come with at least 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Chromebook Plus laptops feature a 1080p webcam with temporal noise reduction and a Full HD IPS display.

In addition to Google apps, the Chromebook Plus also includes Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Express, and LumaFusion creative apps. With the purchase of the new Chromebook Plus, customers will receive three months of Adobe Photoshop on the web and Adobe Photoshop Express for free.

A Magic Eraser-powered AI editor will also be integrated into Google Photos, so users can easily remove unwanted distractions from their photos. Also included are editing features such as the HDR effect that enhances brightness and contrast, as well as the ability to add portrait blur to existing photos.

Additionally, Google has included a File Sync feature in the new Chromebook, so users can access files stored on Google Drive’s My Drive folder offline. The Google Assistant also enhances clarity and lighting, cancels background noise, and blurs backgrounds with just a few taps. Similarly to the Chromebook, Google will continue to add new features to Chromebook Plus.

Pricing:

Chromebook Plus laptops will be available at major U.S. retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and Target starting October 8 for $399 (roughly Rs 33,200). Starting on October 9, Chromebook Plus laptops will be available in Canada and Europe. Lastly, Google also mentioned that Chromebook Plus devices will qualify for an OS update with the enhanced features found on Chromebooks.

Oppo India starts teasing the new Oppo Find N3 Flip, camera & display details revealed.

October 4, 2023

In India, Oppo has just teased its upcoming foldable smartphone, the Find N3 Flip. Before the official announcement, the teaser hints at some of the smartphone’s key camera specs.

A new teaser from the Chinese tech giant reveals details on the Find N3 Flip’s triple camera setup. It will be equipped with a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary camera with a large 1/1.56-inch sensor. With this camera, you get a 32MP IMX709 telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and 50mm focal length. Hasselblad optimized the sensor to achieve bokeh effects.

This sensor produces portrait shots similar to Hasselblad’s XCD65mm lens. Lastly, we have the 48MP Sony IMX581 ultra wide-angle camera. This camera has a field of view of 114 degrees and supports autofocus. For selfies and video calls, the front features a 32MP IMX709 RGBW punch-hole camera. The camera can record 4K videos at 30 frames per second.

Besides the cameras, Oppo teased the Find N3 Flip’s design and display as well. It features a 3.26-inch cover display and Gorilla Glass 7 on the back. TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care certification is also provided on the primary display, which is 6.8 inches tall. Featuring a new Flexion hinge design and a first-ever alert slider, this device is available in Cream Gold and Sleep Black colors.

Google working on new foldable smartphone might be Pixel Fold 2.

October 4, 2023

Only a few months ago, Google released its first foldable phone, the Pixel Fold. 9to5Google, however, reports that the company is already working on its next foldable phone.

According to 9to5Google, the latest Google Pixel Buds app contains a reference to a device codenamed “Comet.” It may be a successor to the Pixel Fold or a new clamshell foldable phone.

It is believed that Comet’s codename doesn’t fit into Google’s typical naming scheme for Pixel phones. As an example, the Pixel Fold was originally codenamed “Passport,” but it was later renamed “Felix” because it uses the same Tensor G2 chip as the Pixel 7 series.

A similar codename is expected for the Pixel 9 series, such as “Komodo” and “Caiman.” On the other hand, the upcoming Pixel 8 series bears dog breed codenames: “Shiba” for Pixel 8, and “Husky” for Pixel 8 Pro.

In addition, 9to5Google discovered that Comet is lumped in with Pixel Fold in the Pixel Buds app, referred to as a “fold” there. Further evidence suggests that Comet is a foldable phone.

The Pixel Fold was launched in May 2023, so it’s still early for Google to work on a successor. Comet might be a clamshell foldable phone, which Google has previously considered releasing.

Until Google reveals more about Comet, we’ll have to wait and see. The company is preparing to launch the Pixel 8 series and Pixel Watch 2 tomorrow.

Realme announces Realme Festive Days Sale offers discount on its smartphone & AIOT range in India

October 4, 2023

With the festive season just around the corner, Amazon and Flipkart are holding their yearly festive sales. On October 8, 2023, Realme is kicking off its sale fiesta with discount details on its smartphones and other AIOT products. Electronics giant Realme is offering discounts on its popular smartphone lineups – Realme 11 Pro Series 5G, Realme 11 Series 5G, Realme C Series, Realme GT Series, and Realme AIOT.

Sales will begin on October 8 at 12:00 AM on Flipkart.com, Amazon.in, and realme.com and end on October 15 at 11:59 PM. On October 7, Amazon.in and Realme.com will have an “Early Access Sale”.

There are some deals exclusive to Flipkart and some that are exclusive to Amazon.

Flipkart, Amazon & Realme Website:

The Realme Buds Air 5 and Realme Buds Air 5 Pro will be on sale for Rs 2,999 and Rs 4,699. Realme Pad 2 will retail for Rs 16,999, which is also an interesting deal.

On 3rd October, the Realme Narzo 60 5G and Realme Narzo N53 6GB +12GB variants will go on sale.

Oppo Find N3 aka OnePlus Open specs sheet leaked ahead of the official launch.

October 4, 2023

It’s been rumored for a while that Oppo will release the Find N3 foldable phone. Tipster Digital Chat Station has revealed some of its key specifications.

According to the leak, the Find N3 will feature an internal screen measuring 7.82 inches and with a resolution of 2268 x 2440 pixels. It’s a nice upgrade over the Find N2’s 7.1-inch display. Also, the cover screen will be larger, measuring 6.31 inches rather than 5.54 inches. The resolution will be 2484 x 1116 pixels. With a refresh rate of 120Hz, both the cover and main screens will use OLED panels.

Additionally, Digital Chat Station revealed some details about the device’s camera. It is rumored that the Find N3 will come with a triple-lens rear camera system with a 48MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide sensor, and a 64MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. Additionally, there will be a 32MP and 20MP sensor for selfies.

Moreover, a dual-layer stacked Sony camera sensor was mentioned in a previous report. This technology separates the transistor and photodiode layers with a two-layer design. Even in challenging lighting conditions, larger photodiodes can capture more light and reduce noise.

With 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the Find N3 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The device will be powered by a 4805mAh battery that supports 100W fast charging.

Oppo Find N3 launch date and price haven’t been announced yet. It is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Google will soon roll out an OTA update to Pixel Buds Pro which brings features like Clearer Calls & More.

October 3, 2023

A new update for the Pixel Buds Pro adds Conversation Detection, Hearing Wellness, and Clearer Calls. The screenshots below are from @Nail_Sadykov, who first heard of this update via @Za_Raczke. In addition to the features mentioned here, @Za_Raczke will share more details about this update soon.

Conversation Detection: When you talk, the media is paused and switched to transparency.
Hearing Wellness: Check out the current level of loudness and the accumulated exposure report.
Clearer Calls: Your calls will be clearer with Bluetooth super wideband. ( SWB uses the LC3 codec over HFP, as previously reported.)
There’s also a new feature for mobile gamers: “The Pixel Buds Pro’s low-latency gaming mode cuts latency in half when you open a compatible game from your Pixel phone.”
Last but not least, you can now manage your PBP from ChromeOS: “The Pixel Buds app for Pixel Buds Pro is now available for Chromebooks. It lets you change your earbud settings, switch noise control modes, and install firmware updates right from your Chromebook.”

All of these features require firmware version 5.9, which is not yet available. You can expect the rollout to begin after the October 4th event.

Xiaomi 14 Pro to arrive with world’s brightest display on smartphone, details leaked.

October 3, 2023

It is expected that Xiaomi will be one of the first brands to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip in its Xiaomi 14 Pro smartphone. The design and specs of the smartphone have already been leaked. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s display has now been revealed online in new details.

Xiaomi 14 Pro’s display is expected to be 6.7 inches with a 2K Micro Quad Curved and a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, according to Indian leaker Kartikey Singh. It features an ultra-thin 1mm bezel and a screen protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

In addition to HDR 10+, Full Link Dolby Vision, and Pro Colour Tuning, this display offers a peak brightness of 3000 nits. In addition, 2K+Hz PWM dimming reduces eye strain.

Additionally, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. With LPDDR5x technology, it has a RAM capacity of up to 24GB and a storage capacity of up to 1TB. A 4,860mAh battery will power the device. According to a 3C listing, the phone will support 120W fast charging.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to feature satellite connectivity and run MIUI 15, based on Android 14.

Google to start pushing stable Android 14 OS update right from this date.

October 3, 2023

The last we heard about Google’s delayed release of Android 14, it was rumored to arrive on October 4, the day after the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro announcement. There was only a rumor then. As of today, it seems to be confirmed.

It’s kind of an announcement, but Google won’t announce anything official until the day is here. Canadian carrier Telus has listed when it will begin rolling out software updates for its devices. “Android U” was listed as going out on October 4 for all Pixel devices starting with the Pixel 4a.

The internal codename for Android 14 is Android U, which is short for Android Upside Down Cake. All of the aforementioned Pixel listings said this update would be available on October 4, but it’s not there anymore.

Google probably found this being reported online and asked Telus to remove the information, which the carrier promptly did. There’s still a chance, however slim, that the information itself was incorrect, but that’s just our speculation on the matter.

In less than 48 hours, we’ll find out. We’re sure Google will announce Android 14 at its October 4 event, so stay tuned for that and we’ll let you know what happens.