Google has announced that it won’t be deprecating third-party cookies in its ChromeBrowser after having getting it delayed multiple times in the past. Instead of discontinuing the feature, Google has introduced an “updated approach” where it will “introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing.”
Announced via a blog post, the announcement comes after Google recently delayed the update to third-party cookies in Chrome form sometime in 2025. It was first announced in 2020 where the initial plan to deprecate third-party cookies in Chrome was to finish by 2022, but it was postponed to 2023 and then 2024.
As per the updated approach, Chrome will “let people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and they’d be able to adjust that choice at any time.” “We’re discussing this new path with regulators, and will engage with the industry as we roll this out,” the blog post added.
Google further notes that it recognised that the transition from the earlier model to the newer one required “significant work by many participants and will have an impact on publishers, advertisers, and everyone involved in online advertising.”
The aim of the change is likely to find a middle ground between giving users the ability to opt-out from the experience while at the same time also giving advertisers tools for effective targeted advertising. After all, targeted advertising is made possible through third-party cookies on the web today.
Additionally, Google says that it will continue to make the Privacy Sandbox APIs available and invest in them to further improve privacy and utility. Google will also be offering additional privacy controls, such as IP Protection into Chrome’s Incognito mode. “IP Protection proposes to anonymise the user’s IP address, to help protect it from being used by third parties identified as potentially using IP addresses for web-wide cross-site tracking.”
”We’re grateful to all the organizations and individuals who have worked with us over the last four years to develop, test and adopt the Privacy Sandbox. And as we finalize this approach, we’ll continue to consult with the CMA, ICO and other regulators globally. We look forward to continued collaboration with the ecosystem on the next phase of the journey to a more private web,” Google added.
Samsung has long LED the foldable smartphone segment because of its first-mover advantage. However, that’s no longer a benefit for the brand as the competition has caught up fast, including the likes of OPPO, Xiaomi, Vivo, Tecno, and Motorola. As the competition heats up, Samsung is now working harder than ever to maintain its spot, and its latest attempt at doing that is the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which has some internal upgrades over its predecessor. However, these upgrades come at a cost, where the starting price has increased from Rs 99,000 of Z Flip 5 to Rs 1,09,999. Is the Flip 6 worth the new price tag, is it better than the Razr 50 Ultra, its closest competitor, and how much has it improved over its predecessor? We’ll be answering these questions in our detailed review of the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Design, Hinge, Haptics, Audio
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has minor but notable design improvements over the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The Flip 6 has a flatter frame than the Flip 5 and a matte finish. As we said, the change is minor but noticeable because it has considerably improved the handset’s in-hand feel. The frame also incorporates an improved Armour Aluminum material, which should ideally result in improved drop protection.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 not only feels more premium than the Galaxy Z Flip 5 but is also more comfortable to hold. Moreover, the glossy finish of the frame of Flip 5 was a home to fingerprints, but Flip 6 solves that too.
At the rear, the panel again has a matte finish, as does the hinge. Speaking of the hinge, it feels smoother than before and is also more stable at various angles. It closes shut well and is fluid to open. Unfolding the device with one hand is still a difficult task, but closing it shut with a hand isn’t.
The buttons on the right feel tactile when clicked, and the side-mounted fingerprint sensor works without any issues. It’s quick, accurate, and reliable.
While the shape and size of the cover display remains the same as the Flip 5, the camera design has been slightly changed as it now has the same coloured rings around each sensor as the colour of the phone, which looks funky yet attractive at the same time, while also creating a distinct look for Samsung’s flip.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is also IP48 rated, which makes it dust resistant for the first time in Samsung’s foldable smartphone history, apart from being water resistant.
The haptic motor is also stronger than the Flip 4 and Flip 5, both of which had similar motors. Haptics was also one of my major complaints with those two. While the haptics of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 still don’t match those of the Fold 6 or the Galaxy S24 series, they feel tighter than before, which is a welcome improvement.
Another major improvement I noticed was in speakers, as these sound much more fuller, are louder, and also have a decent amount of bass, matching those on my Galaxy S23 Ultra. We don’t know whether Samsung has used an improved set of stereo speakers on the Flip 6 but whatever it has with audio playback seems to be working exceptionally.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is built quite well, with a premium in-hand feel, lightweight design, and a much more polished and refined user experience overall.
Displays, Cover Display Features
The Flip 4 and Flip 5 had great foldable displays, and the Flip 6 carries forward the legacy. It has one of the best folding displays we have seen on a Flip device. It’s not only brighter than its predecessor but also produces excellent colours with great viewing angles. It also supports HDR in the Netflix app, and viewing content on this screen was a treat to the eye.
The display is also highly responsive to the touch. The only quality issue we have faced with Flip displays is that the pre-applied screen protector begins peeling off within a year of use. While we cannot test that yet, we hope Samsung has improved on that front as well.
Samsung hasn’t worked majorly on the crease on the inside of the phone where the display folds for a while now, but this time, the Flip 6 shows changes on that front as well.
After a week of rough use, the crease still hasn’t appeared prominently like it used to on Flip 4 and Flip 5. While it’s still noticeable if you look at it from the right angle, it doesn’t show up as much in daily use, even on lighter backgrounds, and also doesn’t feel as intrusive as it used to if your finger went over it while scrolling. Again, this is a minor but noticeable improvement.
The cover display is the same size and specifications as the Flip 5 but with better protection, thanks to Gorilla Glass Victus 2. However, having the same specs as before isn’t entirely the best thing, as folding phones like the Razr 50 Ultra have a cover display with a higher Refresh Rate and a better design.
It’s bright and usable outdoors and responsive as well, but the 60Hz refresh rate is a disappointment. In comparison, Razr 50 Ultra gets an LTPO AMOLED cover display with a 165Hz refresh rate that should feel much smoother. Not being an LTPO panel and always running on 60Hz also means that if you turn on the Always-on display on the Flip 6, it drains a considerably high amount of battery because it constantly runs on 60Hz.
In addition, it cannot natively run many third-party apps unless you download the Multi-star GoodLock module. What it can run natively includes Netflix, WhatsApp, YouTube, Maps, and the Google Messages app. I wouldn’t recommend watching YouTube or Netflix on the cover panel, as it isn’t entirely pleasant. You’d be better off watching content on the inner display, which was an enjoyable experience for me during my review period of the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
However, widgets make up for the lack of App support. Those such as the contacts widget or the call log widget allow you to place a call to the contact of your choice instantly. There are a bunch of other widgets available, such as a recorder widget, calculator, gallery, clock, contacts, and many more.
Customisability isn’t an issue either, as you get a range of options to select from when you want to customise the lock screen of the cover display. There are interactive, animated, informative, graphical, and other types of lock screen available, including a “Create with AI” option where you can use generative AI to create wallpapers or use Photo Ambient mode, which applies weather effects to your lock screen photo.
You can also change the clock style of the cover screen with a variety of fonts and styles available, turn on or off battery percentage, or even change the notification style.
There’s also an option to use the rear cameras to click selfies quickly via the cover screen, or even use those to shoot videos or click portraits. You can even switch between the main and ultra-wide angle lenses via the cover screen.
Samsung is now using the cover screen for interpreter mode as well. It’s one of the intriguing and unique uses of the cover display where it is used to show you a real-time translation of your speech into a different language. For instance, if you speak in English, the cover display could show the person in front of you the same text in Hindi, allowing for easier understanding.
Finally, you can also do basic tasks via the screen, such as accept or decline calls, check maps while navigating, reply to WhatsApp messages via the full-screen keyboard, control music playback through a full-screen player, or check other notifications but only after unlocking the device via the fingerprint, face unlock, or the PIN or pattern input, depending on what locking method you have opted for.
Performance & Software
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 gets power from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor, whereas, for the first time, the Flip also gets the same RAM as the Fold, which is 12GB. The upgrades in RAM show up in real-world use, too, with more apps able to stay in memory for longer as per our usage time with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 during its review.
RAM management was not an issue on the older Flips, but it’s nice to see that Samsung is offering the same amount of RAM for the Flip as the other top-end devices from the brand.
There are 256GB and 512GB storage options. As we’d expect, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 doesn’t disappoint in terms of performance. From smooth animations to handling heavy-load tasks, it doesn’t break a sweat. I could switch between apps with ease, and there have been no lags either.
The Galaxy Z Flip series has taken a significant step forward in gaming performance by introducing a new vapour chamber, which is the first for the series. While the Z Flip 6 still heats up during intense action in games because of a smaller surface area for heat dissipation, the vapour chamber does help in sustained performance loads. Again, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 isn’t primarily meant for gaming, but it should be able to handle some of the most demanding games out there.
The thermals are well managed overall, as the phone doesn’t heat up easily and remains well under control during regular use.
Speaking of software, Samsung has been a strong advocate of foldables, and One UI 6.1.1 on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 isn’t an exception. While we are still running on the June 2024 security patch, Samsung claims the foldable will receive seven years of AndroidOS and security updates.
Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1 packs a plethora of features you’d get tired of exploring. And its foldables take it a notch above with additional features tailored specifically for the form factor. While all the regular One UI features are present, such as call recording, AI-based wallpaper generation, auto blocker, multi-window, Video call effects, secure folder, and much more, there are a few features that are built for the flip, including the flex mode panel.
Flex mode allows you to open the app in the top half of the device while additional controls are provided at the bottom when your phone is partially folded upright. While the feature itself has been present for a while now, Samsung is now providing a Scroll Wheel alongside the touchpad (first image above) that was previously available, where you can use the wheel solely for scrolling, such as while viewing a webpage or scrolling through Instagram Reels. The feature worked well during our review period of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and has been neatly implemented.
The Always-on Display feature is also available but it doesn’t support the ability to show lock screen wallpaper, as it does in Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Galaxy S24 series.
Then, aside from the Galaxy AI features that were made available earlier this year with the Galaxy S24 series, there are some new ones, including the Interpreter mode, which I talked about earlier. Next up, the Chat Assist feature, which allows you to do chat translation, change the tone of your text, or check for Grammatical errors, can now also compose text for you.
You can use the Composer anywhere across the system using the Samsung keyboard. The tone of the text can be set according to your preference, and you can also choose which format you are generating the text in, such as for E-mail or social media. The feature worked well and was also quick to generate text. It’s also quite useful in case you quickly want to generate an email or maybe a message.
Next up is the Portrait Studio, where in the Gallery app, if a photo is detected to have a face, a Portrait Studio button shows up that allows you to transform those images into various styles using AI, such as 3D cartoon images, sketches, and more. The generated photos aren’t the most accurate when compared to the original photo, but they are acceptable. However, the utility factor of the feature is low, as I didn’t find myself often using it.
Then there’s a drawing assist feature where Galaxy AI can transform your handmade sketch within the Notes app into “captivating works of art.” In other words, it gives those sketches a real-world look. Again, the feature worked as it should during our review of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 but it isn’t the most useful on this device. It would be more useful for artists who have a Galaxy Fold, an Ultra phone from Samsung, or a Galaxy Tablet, as these devices support an S-Pen that helps in better drawing of the content.
Photo ambient wallpaper has also emerged from the beta phase. Finally, the new Health assist feature integrated with Samsung Health provides personalized insights and guidance based on your health metrics. This feature is useful for those who workout regularly and want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The handset’s connectivity performance remained optimal, including Wi-Fi, 5G, Bluetooth, Wireless Android Auto, and NFC.
Overall, the software experience on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 remains unmatched compared to our use of other foldables. It’s smooth, quick, practical, and feature-rich, making for an all-arounder experience.
Battery backup
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 packs the biggest battery ever in a Samsung Galaxy Flip, a 4000mAh cell that matches that of the Galaxy S24. If we go model by model, the Flip 3 had the worst battery backup, followed by Flip 4, which became usable, and then Flip 5, which had the best backup until now.
During our review, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 could easily last a day even with heavy use, something the previous Flips couldn’t do. I couldn’t kill the Galaxy Z Flip 6 within a day unless you go berserk with your usage, which could include wireless Android Auto, hours of navigation and gaming, and more.
The Flip 5 couldn’t last me a day with heavy use, but the Flip 6 did. With casual use, including a lot of typing, watching videos, browsing the internet, scrolling through social media, and more, the Flip 6 gave me a screen-on time of 6 hours with total usage just shy of a day, which is excellent for a battery of this size. I could even get past 6.5 hours in some cases, which finally made me appreciate the battery life of a Galaxy Flip foldable phone.
The charging speeds are still on the lower side, with 25W fast wired charging and 15W fast wireless charging. The device easily takes 1.5 hours to charge from 20% to 100%, while wireless charging takes painfully more time. While the battery life has been improved considerably over last year’s model, we’d like to see Samsung improve on the charging speed front next year.
Cameras
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has also received an upgrade in terms of optics. The 12MP main sensor from past Flips has been replaced by a newer 50MP sensor paired with the same 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor as its predecessors. The front has a 10MP sensor for selfies and video calls. Both the front sensor and the main primary sensor on the back support 4K 60fps video recording.
The main sensor of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 definitely takes better shots than last year’s Flip 5 which we can claim on the basis of our review of both the devices. The photos have a higher amount of detailing while the dynamic range has also been improved. The colours look vivid and likeable as well. We’d say the camera performance definitely matches that of the S24 and the S24+, and is also worthy of its price tag.
The ultra-wide angle shots, however, now look odd. At this price point, one would expect impressive camera performance on all fronts but ultra-wide angle photos from Flip 6 lack the detailing the main sensor provides. While the colours are maintained well, the edges of the photos have noise and the photos are also slightly softer than the ones clicked via the main sensor.
Portrait photos exhibit excellent crispness with high sharpness and detail. Colors are exceptionally well-handled, and the bokeh effect feels natural. EDGE detection is also quite accurate.
Shots under artificial lighting also have sufficient details and decent colours. The cameras neatly handle the exposure, and the overall photo seems impressive. As for low-light photos, these photos do have some noise, but the colours remain intact.
With Night mode turned on, night photos are highly de-noised, and sharpness and dynamic range are also improved. The exposure slightly increases for a brighter-looking photo, and the colours look good, too.
Finally, the selfies aren’t the best, in my opinion, as the skin tones look oversaturated. While the detailing is good, the colours look average at best.
Xiaomi debuted a set of new products including the Redmi 13 5G a couple of weeks back in India but its launches aren’t coming to a stop anytime soon, as the brand has now announced the launch of the Redmi Pad Pro in India. Here’s what we know about the tablet.
Redmi Pad Pro: India Launch Details
The Redmi Pad Pro comes in Mist Blue and Graphite Grey colours and is priced at Rs 21,999 for the sole 6GB + 128GB model. The Redmi Pad Pro 5G comes in Quick Silver and Graphite Grey colours and is priced at Rs 24,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model while the 8GB + 256GB model costs Rs 26,999.
The Redmi Smart Pen and Pad Pro Keyboard cost Rs 3,999, while the Redmi Pad Pro Cover is priced at Rs 1,499. The tablets will be available from mi.com, Flipkart, Amazon.in and Xiaomi Retail starting from August 2nd. In addition, there’s a Rs 2000 discount available when purchasing the tabket with ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank credit cards and EMI.
Redmi Pad Pro: Specifications
The Redmi Pad Pro sports a 12.1″ 2.5K(2560 x 1600 pixels) display at 249 ppi with support for 120Hz AdaptiveSync refresh rate, 600 nits peak brightness, 12-bit, 68.7 billion colors, 1500:1 contrast ratio, TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification, and Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
The Redmi Pad is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage which is expandable up to 1.5TB. The tablet has an 8MP f/2.0 rear camera and an 8MP f/2.28 front-facing camera for selfies. The device further gets quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
It runs on Xiaomi HyperOS based on Android 14. For connectivity, there’s optional 5G support, Wi-Fi 6, GPS, and Bluetooth v5.2. It is backed up by a 10,000mAh battery with 33W fast wired charging. As for accessories, it supports the Redmi Pad Pro Keyboard and the Redmi Smart Pen which has 4096-level pressure sensitivity and 240Hz touch sampling rate.
OPPO is all set to launch a new smartphone in India under the K-series, dubbed the OPPO K12x. The K12x has already debuted in the China and the Indian variant of the handset is expected to retain the same specifications as the Chinese counterpart. Here’s what you can expect from the device.
OPPO K12x 5G: India Launch Details
The OPPo K12x will launch in India on July 29, according to a Flipkart microsite which also confirms availability of the handset on the e-commerce platform. Alongside, the OPPO E-store will also be selling the handset where the design of the device is confirmed. The device will be available in two colours, including Breeze Blue and Midnight Violet. It has two rear cameras joined by a ring shaped flash. The front has a punch-hole for the selfie camera while the buttons reside on the right spine.
The handset comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED Display with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate, 480Hz PWM dimming, 2100 nits peak brightness, 100% sRGB and 100% Display P3 support. The Nord device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 Processor paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage which is expandable up to 2TB as well.
The OPPO handset runs on Android 14 OS based ColorOS 14 out of the box. As for the cameras, the handset has dual cameras on the back, with a 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor and a 2MP lens for depth shooting. There is a 16MP f/2.4 selfie shooter.
The phone has an in-display fingerprint sensor for security. The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite packs a 5500mAh battery with 80W fast wired charging support. Connectivity options include Dual-Band Wi-Fi, 5G, Bluetooth v5.2, GPS, a 3.5mm Audio Jack and a USB-C port as well. The device has stereo speakers and is IP54 rated also.
OPPO K12x 5G: Expected Price in India
The Nord CE 4 Lite 5G begins in India at Rs 19,999 so we can expect OPPO to price its K12x 5G along similar lines. However, keep on mind that this is purely a speculation and nothing has been officially confirmed from OPPO’s side.
Update 05/08/2024: iQOO has announced some of the key specifications of the iQOO Z9s series, including a 3D curved AMOLED Display that’ll have an FHD+ resolution, along with brightness levels of 4500 nits and 1800 nits respectively for Z9s Pro 5G and the Z9s 5G. The Z9s Pro 5G will be powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor while the standard model will get the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset. Both iQOO Z9s Pro 5G and iQOO Z9s 5G feature a50 MP Sony IMX882 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), 4K video recording with OIS, and Super Night Mode. The iQOO Z9s Pro 5G additionally includes an 8 MP ultra-wide lens.
Original Story Below
iQOO is all set to launch a new set of smartphones in lower-end mid-range segment, which will be dubbed the iQOO Z9s series. While there have been no details confirmed regarding the devices, it is expected that the devices could be more powerful than the existing the iQOO Z9 5G.
Confirmed by iQOO India CEO Nipun Marya on X, the iQOO Z9s series is coming this August. The term “series” confirms that there would be more than one device that’ll launch under the Z9s moniker. It can be assumed that these could be termed as iQOO Z9s and the iQOO Z9s Pro. However, an official confirmation from the brand is awaited.
Meanwhile, a recent MySmartPrice report shed light on an iQOO Z9 Pro listing on the BIS website with model number I2305. Moreover, because the publication assumed that this is the iQOO Z9 Pro, it is possible that the BIS listing could be for one of the iQOO Z9s series smartphones.
Although this listing did not provide any handset specifications, another entry in the Camera FV-5 database indicated that the primary camera might feature optical image stabilization (OIS). The report states that the device will have a 12.5MP primary camera on the back, which will be marketed as 50MP with pixel-binning. It will be a 26.6mm f/1.8 sensor.
The primary sensor will have a 68.2-degree horizontal field of view and support 1x magnification. Additionally, it will produce photos in JPEG/DNG format with a resolution of 4096×3072.
If correct, the rumours state that the Z9s Pro could come in a single 12GB + 256GB version in White and Orange colours. More details about the devices are yet to be leaked, such as their display specs, processor and battery information, and more. However, whenever they do, we’ll be updating you.
Google Gemini was first introduced earlier this year in February with an aim to replace Google Assistant. While it surely is smarter than Google Assistant, Gemini didn’t get all the features of Assistant, one which was the ability to speak in multiple voices, and that’s now changing. Google Gemini is now getting a new female voice.
The report that comes from 9to5Google says that Gemini on one of their devices suddenly began speaking in a female voice, departing from the older male voice. The publication also shared some examples of each of the Gemini’s voice types, where the newer female one not only has a distinct accent but a different tone of speaking too.
Further, the publication confirmed that it was only seeing the new voice for Gemini in Android, while the iOS app and the web client remain unchanged. Furthermore, Google is also not offering the ability to change the voice back to the male one in settings, like it does for Google Assistant.
Google has coded the voices to different types of colours for Assistant and it is expected that a similar approach may be adopted for Gemini’s voices too. However, as Google isn’t offering any option as of now, it is possible that the company could be testing the new voice of Google Gemini ahead of a broader launch.
Meanwhile, Google could offer a 1-year free Gemini Advanced subscription to the upcoming Pixel 9 series buyers. An APK teardown of the latest Google App beta (version 15.28) shed light on a string that states, “Your Pixel Pro gives you access to a 1-year subscription to Gemini Advanced, our most capable AI model with priority access to new features, at no cost to you.”
Update 3:30PM IST: The Indian government is also in touch with Microsoft. Meanwhile, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued an advisory which says, “It has been reported that Windows hosts related to Crowd strike agent Falcon Sensor, are facing outages and getting crashed due to recent update received in the product. The concerned Windows hosts are experiencing a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), related to Falcon Sensor. The issues occurred in the latest update of CrowdStrike and the changes have been reverted by the CrowdStrike Team.”
Original Story Below
A significant malfunction in Microsoft’s cloud service, Azure, has resulted in extensive disruption, impacting individuals and companies worldwide. The problem seems to stem from a critical software error, causing significant operational difficulties and financial setbacks. The outage has affected various airlines, leading to grounded planes and disrupted flight operations. Additionally, the technical glitch has adversely impacted TV channels globally, including those in Australia and the UK.
Microsoft has reported that its outage began around 6 PM ET on Thursday, affecting a subset of its customers who experienced issues with multiple Azure services in the Central U.S. region, but the impact is creating havoc globally. Azure is a cloud computing platform offering services for building, deploying, and managing applications and services. Separately, Microsoft announced it investigated an issue impacting various Microsoft 365 apps and services.
Airline operations disrupted in India
Some of Akasa Airlines’ online services are temporarily unavailable at the Mumbai and Delhi airports due to infrastructure issues with their service provider. Passengers have been advised to check in at the airline’s counters. “Due to infrastructure issues with our service provider, some of our online services, including booking, check-in, and manage booking services, will be temporarily unavailable,” Akasa Airlines said in a statement on X.
“Currently, we are following manual check-in and boarding processes at the airports and hence request passengers with immediate travel plans to reach the airport early to check in at our counters. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and want to assure you that our teams are working with our service provider to resolve the same as soon as possible,” the airline added.
#TravelUpdate: Due to infrastructure issues with our service provider, some of our online services, including booking, check-in and manage booking services will be temporarily unavailable. Currently we are following manual check-in and boarding processes at the airports and hence…
Then, SpiceJet is facing technical issues in providing updates on flight disruptions, while the airline is actively working to resolve the issue. “We’re currently facing a technical issue in updating flight disruptions. Our team is actively working to resolve this issue. We regret for any inconvenience caused and will update you once the issue is resolved. Thank you for your patience and cooperation,” said the airline.
IndiGo posted a Travel advisory on its X account stating that “Our systems are currently impacted by a Microsoft outage, which is also affecting other companies. During this time, booking, check-in, access to your boarding pass, and some flights may be impacted. We appreciate your patience.”
Delhi Airport posted on X that some of its services were temporarily impacted by the global IT outage. “We are closely working with all our stakeholders to minimise the inconvenience to our flyers,” the airport said.
Airlines Impacted Globally
American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and Allegiant Air grounded flights less than an hour after Microsoft announced it had resolved a cloud services outage that had affected several low-cost carriers, as per Reuters.
The impact of the outages extended globally. In Spain, a “computer incident” was reported at all airports. Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, warned passengers of potential disruptions, stating that the issues would affect “all airlines operating across the Network,” although it did not provide specific details about the nature of the disruptions.
According to some reports online, Berlin Airport will also be suspending all its flights due to IT problems. However, an official confirmation is awaited.
Singapore’s Changi Airport, also one of the busiest in the world, says that the check-in process is being switched over to the manual method. “Due to a global outage affecting IT systems of many organisations, the check-in process for some airlines at Changi Airport is being managed manually,” the airport shared on X. “Changi Airport ground staff are providing assistance to passengers, especially those with an impending departure.”
Prague Airport has been affected by the check-in system outage, leading to delays for some departures from the Czech capital.
German airline Eurowings is reporting issues with its online check-in system, which is currently not working.
In Northern Ireland, Belfast International Airport is experiencing impacts from the outage, although flights remain operational.
Switzerland’s largest airport in Zurich has reported that planes are currently not allowed to land due to the outage.
Thank you crowdstrike/microsoft I love being stuck in the SLC airport for 9 hours w no end in sight
Passengers at Airports worldwide are frustrated by flight delays. Monitors at Airports that update the status of flights are showing errors, as shown in videos and photos shot by people at the Airports. Some passengers claim to have been stuck at the Airports for over nine hours.
Windows Users Affected
Those who have laptops running on Windows OS have reported of sudden shutdown or rebooting of their machines due to the Microsoft glitch. Some are getting the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), disrupting their flow of work.
As per Microsoft’s Service Health Status updates, the root cause of the issue determined so far is “a configuration change in a portion of our Azure backend workloads (that has) caused interruption between storage and compute resources, and which (has) resulted in connectivity failures.” This has affected “downstream (and dependent) Microsoft 365 services”, the company said.
The issue has been caused due to a CrowdStrike update that is related to the Falcon Sensor, due to which the BSOD appears. Microsoft has also mentioned some workaround steps to fix the glitch which are as follows:
Boot Windows into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment
Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike directory
Locate the file matching “C-00000291*.sys”, and delete it.
Boot the host normally.
Emergency Services Affected
“Due to a nationwide technology-related outage, many 911 and non-emergency call centres are not working correctly across the State of Alaska. If you have an emergency and 911 is not working in your area, you can call the following phone numbers directly,” Alaska Police wrote in a post on Facebook. There are several other states in the USA whose emergency services have also been adversely affected by the Microsoft glitch.
Banking Services Are Down
The Microsoft outage has also affected bank servers across the globe. “Due to an unexpected issue with an international service provider, we are currently experiencing nationwide service disruptions,” Capitec, South Africa’s biggest bank wrote on X.
State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, said that it remains unaffected by the Microsoft glitch. “We are all fine,” SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara told PTI when asked about the impact of the global outage.
In addition, National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday said it has also not been impacted by the global outage of Microsoft systems.
Microsoft’s Response
Microsoft365 posted on X that the company was “working on rerouting the impacted traffic to alternate systems to alleviate impact in a more expedient fashion” and that they were “observing a positive trend in service availability.” “Multiple services are continuing to see improvements in availability as our mitigation actions progress,” it said in a separate post.
Infinix is rumoured to be working on a Flip foldable smartphone dubbed Infinix Zero Flip 5G. The new handset was first spotted to be in development earlier this year in April and as the launch closes in, new information is being uncovered about the Infinix Zero Flip 5G, such as its price range for India.
According to a new leak by PassionateGeekz on X, the Infinix Zero Flip 5G is all set to debut in India soon. Further, he describes it as the “premium version of Galaxy Z flip 4 and a cheap version of Xiaomi Mix Flip.” In addition, he says that the handset will launch only in a single variant with 512GB storage. As for its price, the tipster claims that the Infinix Zero Flip 5G could be priced between Rs 50,000 and Rs 55,000.
This would make the Infinix Zero Flip 5G the cheapest foldable smartphone in the country. Back in April, it was found that an Infinix model named X6962 had passed EEC certification, and a publication’s internal sources revealed that this model number belonged to the Infinix Zero Flip.
Infinix’s sister brand, Tecno, is the only brand under Transsion Holdings that has already launched a foldable in the market. It is also possible that Infinix’s Zero Flip may be highly inspired by the Tecno Phantom V Flip. As of now, the Phantom V Flip is the cheapest flip foldable device in India.
The Phantom V Flip 5G sports a 6.9-inch full-HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) flexible LTPO AMOLED inner display that supports 1000 nits peak brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate. The circular AMOLED cover display is 1.32 inches and has Always-on display functionality.
Multiple brands in India have launched a slew of new Smart TVs, including those from Kodak, Sony, and Hisense. All of them have one thing in common: They run on a smart operating system. Some of them feature the Google TV platform, which gives them access to Google Assistant for hands-free control, access to thousands of apps built for TV, and much more. Here are all the TVs that have been newly launched by the three brands.
Sony BRAVIA 3 Series
The new Sony BRAVIA 3 TV series is available in 108 cm (43”), 126 cm (50”), 139 cm (55”), 164 cm (65”), 189 cm (75”), and 215 cm (85”). The 55-inch model costs Rs 93,990, while the 65-inch model costs Rs 1,21,990. The pricing and availability details for the other models are yet to be announced. They’ll be available across all Sony Centers, major electronic stores, and e-commerce portals in India.
The new Smart TVs incorporate the 4K HDR Processor X1 and delivers vibrant colours with TRILUMINOS Pro, producing a broader palette of natural shades. The Object-Based HDR Remaster feature adjusts colours and textures for a more lifelike picture, while Super Bit Mapping reduces colour banding. The TVs also have support for Motionflow XR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, along with X-balanced speakers, which offer Dual Bass Reflex.
It further gets Google Assistant Hands-Free Voice Search, allowing users to control their TV with simple voice commands. In addition, the TVs include SONY PICTURES CORE, a movie service offering a selection of Sony Pictures’ latest releases and classic blockbusters. The TVs also have an HDMI 2.1 port for gamers and offer specific features such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Auto HDR tone mapping, a game mode for PS5, and the Remote Play app.
It also has Sony’s Proprietary Ambient Optimization, Light Sensor, Acoustic Auto Calibration technologies, and XR Protection Pro technologies.
Hisense has unveiled its new lineup of Smart TVs for 2024, which includes the Q7N, U7N, U6N Pro, and E68N models. These models feature technologies such as Mini LED, Full Array Local Dimming, Quantum Dot colour, Dolby Vision and Atmos.
Starting today, July 19th, customers can seize special introductory prices for a limited period. The Q7N will be exclusively available on Amazon at a starting price of Rs 53,999, and the U6N Pro will be exclusively available on Flipkart at a starting price of Rs 59,999. The other models will be available on both Flipkart and Amazon. The 55-inch U7N will be available at Rs 79,999, and the E68N for Rs 31,999.
Hisense Q7N and U7N
The Q7N features QLED technology and IMAX certification. It also uses the easy, fast, and secure VIDAA operating system and is available in 55, 65, 85, and 100-inch sizes.
The U7N utilizes Mini LED technology for precise lighting control, offering a vibrant visual experience. It includes Quantum Dot colour technology, full array local dimming, and 1200+ nits brightness. It is available in 55 and 65 inches.
Both models have the VIDAA operating system, featuring enhanced AI, a convenient interface, and universal search functionality. They are bundled with a premium voice remote and feature subwoofers for impactful sound.
Hisense U6N Pro
The Hisense U6N Pro is available in 55 and 65-inch sizes. The U6N Pro uses Mini LED technology, Full Array Local Dimming, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Game Mode Plus (ALLM and VRR), and AI Sports Mode.
Hisense E68N
The Hisense E68N is a 4K Google TV offering Dolby Vision, Game Mode Plus (ALLM and VRR), and Far Field Voice Control for effortless navigation. Available in 43 and 55 inches, it integrates with Google Assistant, allowing users to find and access content easily.
Kodak AI 32-inch, 43-inch QLED Smart TVs
Kodak has launched the AI-enabled Kodak 32-inch QLED TV in India during the Amazon Prime Days Sale, which starts on 20th July 2024. The TV has various features such as DOLBY DIGITAL PLUS, Google Assistant and a speaker output of 48W. The company has also introduced the Kodak 43-inch QLED TV during the Flipkart GOAT Sale, which starts on 19th July 2024.
The 32-inch model (32MT5077), priced at Rs 11,499, is powered by Google’s Android TV operating system. It offers seamless access to a variety of streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ Hotstar, and Prime Video. Equipped with three HDMI ports and two USB ports, it also gets built-in Wi-Fi.
The TV features DOLBY DIGITAL PLUS sound technology with 48W RMS output from its dual box speakers, offering multiple sound modes. It has DVB-T2 digital TV reception and a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees. In addition, it includes screen mirroring functionality and a wall mount.
The new 43-inch QLED model, available for Rs 21,999, gets DTS TruSurround, a QLED 4K display showcasing 1.1 billion colours, and supports DOLBY ATMOS, DOLBY VISION, HDR 10+. It includes advanced features such as support for multiple user profiles, manual and voice control options for smart home devices, and a personalized home screen tailored to individual users.
The flagship KODAK 43-inch 4K QLED TV further features 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. With a Bezel-less design and Airslim profile, these TVs offer built-in CHROMECAST & Airplay support for over 1000+ Apps.
Samsung concluded its Galaxy Unpacked event earlier last week but didn’t unveil any Galaxy Tablets. However, reports suggest that the Galaxy Tab S10 series is still coming later this year and one of the major changes it is expected to feature is a MediaTek Dimensity chip and not Qualcomm’s Snapdragon.
A report from known tipster IceUniverse claims that Samsung will use MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ SoC across the Galaxy Tab S10 range, which means the standard, Plus, and the Ultra model will get the same Dimensity chip. This is a significant move from Samsung, considering it has been sticking to Snapdragon flagship processors for its Tablets for the past couple of years.
However, Samsung has chosen to opt for a Dimensity processor, which is not necessarily a bad move considering the chip in concern is actually quite a powerful one and beats the latest top-end Snapdragon processor, the 8 Gen 3, in Benchmark scores, too. While the tipster didn’t mention the reason for making the switch, it is expected that using MediaTek’s chip is a cheaper business for Samsung which will ultimately benefit the consumer as well.
As for the launch timeline of the tablets, the Galaxy Tab S10 series may make their debut in October this year. MaxJmb on X posted that the series will launch in the fall of 2024 along with a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE smartphone. Some reports claim that Samsung has also dropped the standard Galaxy Tab S10 model from the lineup this year but nothing has been confirmed so far.
In related news to Samsung, TM Roh, Samsung’s mobile head, recently confirmed that the company will launch an upgraded AI-powered Bixby experience later this year. Not only that, the AI technology behind Bixby will be Samsung’s own, meaning it will take advantage of the brand’s Large Language Model (LLM) and not ChatGPT or Google Gemini, like how Apple is playing it out with its Siri.
