You can already use hand gestures on your Apple Watch: Heres how

September 18, 2023 at 01:47PM

During the 'Wonderlust' event on September 12, Apple unveiled not only the most awaited smartphone series of the year, the iPhone 15 series, but also introduced the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2. The new Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 come with significant upgrades. Notably, Apple introduced a double tap gesture feature that enables a truly hands-free experience, utilising both the index finger and thumb. It’s worth noting that this feature is already available in older Apple Watch models -- sort of.

According to ZDNET, to use hand gestures, you need an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, Apple Watch SE, or Apple Watch Ultra, or newer running on the latest version of WatchOS. 

Also read: Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2: India price and new features

How to enable hand gestures in Apple Watch?

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.

Step 2: Find the Accessibility option by scrolling down and tap on it.

Step 3: After that tap on AssistiveTouch and enable it. 

Step 4: Then select the Hand Gestures option and enable it to turn on the feature.

Now, you will see a list of four hand gestures on the screen that the Apple Watch recognises. The four hand gestures that the AssistiveTouch capability recognises are: Pinch, Double-pinch, Clench and Double clench.

At Digit, we tested out these hand gestures on Watch Series 8, and they worked well.

Also read: Apple iPhone 15 Series: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

How is AssistiveTouch different from the new double-tap gesture feature?

AssistiveTouch originally emerged as an accessibility feature, designed to empower individuals who face challenges in physically interacting with their Apple Watch's touchscreen. This feature enables users to operate their wearable device using the same hand they are wearing it on. It extends its functionality beyond mere double-tapping, incorporating various hand gestures like a single tap using the pointer finger and thumb, and fist clenching once or twice.

Meanwhile, the double-tap feature on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 serves as a versatile control mechanism. This double-tap gesture allows users to manage the primary button in an app so it can be used to stop a timer, play and pause music, or snooze an alarm. The gesture can be used to answer and end a phone call, and even to take a photo with the Camera Remote on Apple Watch. This double tap gesture is enabled by the faster Neural Engine in Apple Watch Series 9, which processes data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart sensor with a new machine learning algorithm.

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Xbox Game Pass Core to feature 36 games at launch

September 14, 2023 at 05:30PM

Xbox Live Gold’s replacement ‘Xbox Game Pass Core’ is all set to launch this week. When Microsoft first announced the Xbox Game Pass Core, it shared that this membership would come with more than 25 games from the Xbox Game Pass library. Now, the tech giant has revealed that there will be 36 games available to play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One at launch. The games include Among Us, Fallout 4, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Vampire Survivors, and more.

Below is the full list of games coming with Xbox Game Pass Core 

Among Us Astroneer Celeste Dead Cells Descenders Dishonored 2 DOOM Eternal Standard Edition Fable Anniversary Fallout 4 Fallout 76 Firewatch Forza Horizon 4 Standard Edition Gang Beasts Gears 5 Game of the Year Edition Golf with your Friends Grounded Halo 5: Guardians Halo Wars 2 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Human Fall Flat INSIDE LIMBO Ori & the Will of the Wisps Overcooked! 2 Payday 2: Crimewave Edition Powerwash Simulator Psychonauts 2 Slay the Spire Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition Stardew Valley State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition Superliminal The Elder Scrolls Online Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Unpacking Vampire Survivors

The company noted that the Game Library may vary over time and by country.

Also read: Xbox now allows game streaming to Discord, VRR update and more cool features

The company further mentioned that it plans to update the Game Pass Core library 2-3 times a year. 

Xbox Game Pass Core will continue to provide the benefits gamers had with Xbox Live Gold, including the ability to play together with online console multiplayer, deals and discounts, and access to Free Play Days for select fully featured games.

Talking about the cost, the price isn’t changing from Live Gold to Game Pass Core. Xbox Live Gold costs Rs. 349 per month.

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Samsung Galaxy Ring: coming in 2024, alongside Galaxy S24 series

September 12, 2023 at 04:34PM

There have been numerous rumours and speculations that Samsung is planning to launch its own smart ring named ‘Galaxy Ring'. Now, a tipster has claimed that this Galaxy Ring is expected to launch next year, alongside the Galaxy S24 smartphone series.

Tipster @UniverseIce posted on the Chinese social media network Weibo that Samsung will reveal its smart ring alongside the Galaxy S24 series next year, reports SamMobile.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Rings in the advanced stage: Will it take on Oura or be something more?

Credit: SamMobile

Samsung is expected to launch its upcoming flagship smartphone lineup ‘Galaxy S24’ in January next year, and the first Samsung smart ring will likely be there on the same day.   The leaker claimed that the new Galaxy Ring is expected to steal the spotlight from the upcoming flagship smartphones.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Ring is getting closer to being a product you may wear close to your body

The Galaxy Ring is expected to offer health and fitness tracking features through Samsung Health, similar to a Galaxy Watch. However, it might not be as feature-rich as the wrist wearable. For instance, the smart ring won’t have a display.

Earlier this year, Samsung announced that it was working on an AR/VR headset in partnership with Google and Qualcomm. The Galaxy Ring could be used as a controller to detect hand gestures for the XR headset. The company also apparently filed a patent for the same. 

In July, Gizmochina reported that the Galaxy Ring was being developed in collaboration with domestic and international component manufacturers to ensure its success before potential mass production. Also, a Reddit user discovered that the Samsung Health beta app includes a "Feature List" mentioning "Ring Support." This indicates that Samsung might want to add support for smart rings made by other companies. Or the company might be planning to do both, release the Galaxy Ring and bring support for third-party rings on the Health platform.

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Nothing CMF Watch Pro, CMF Buds Pro, CMF 65W GaN charger leaked: specs, price and launch date

August 30, 2023 at 06:29PM

Carl Pei, the CEO of Nothing, caught the tech world's attention earlier this month by introducing CMF, a sub-brand set to delve into the realm of affordable tech products. In line with this revelation, Pei revealed that a smartwatch and earbuds under the CMF umbrella are poised for a debut later this year, with further specifics yet to be disclosed. 

Also read: Nothing Phone 2 Review: Something special

However, fresh leaks from the Telegram channel @Alchimist_1 have now given us a sneak peek into the internal marketing materials detailing CMF's first offerings: the CMF Watch Pro, CMF Buds Pro, and the CMF 65W GaN charger. Let's dive into the uncovered details.

CMF Watch Pro specifications

The CMF Watch Pro will reportedly boast a vivid 1.96-inch AMOLED display capable of 600 nits of brightness, flaunting a 50 fps refresh rate and an Always-on Display feature. The watch will offer over a 100 watch faces and is powered by a 330mAh battery that is poised to reportedly keep the device running for 13 days.

Additionally, the CMF Watch Pro will come with 100 sports modes and health tracking sensors that include heart rate monitoring, SpO2 measurement, stress analysis, sleep tracking, and even a breath monitor. For connectivity you have Bluetooth 5.3 and multi-system GPS. The watch will reportedly come with an IP68 rating and a sleek aluminium alloy case measuring just 11.4mm thick and weighing in at 31.1 grams.

CMF Buds Pro specifications

The CMF Buds Pro will reportedly come with 45dB Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). 10mm dynamic audio drivers and intelligent dynamic bass features will reportedbly be present to further boost audio quality. Each bud has three HD microphones for calls, complemented by algorithms, and anti-wind noise reduction. 

Also read: Nothing Ear (2) Review: An incremental update in a competitive space

The CMF Buds Pro will reportedly offer 11 hours of music playback on a single charge, which extends to 37 hours with the charging case. Quick charging support will also be present, granting a commendable 3.5 hours of playback time with ANC deactivated. The CMF Buds Pro will also come with IP54 water resistance.

CMF Power 65W GaN Charger specifications

The CMF Power 65W GaN charger will feature a trifecta of ports – one USB-A and two USB-C. It's built to accommodate various devices. Supporting fast charging protocols like PD 3.0, QC 4.0+/3.0/2.0, SC, FCP, PPS, AFC, Apple 2.4A, Samsung 9V2A, and DCP, it caters to a wide range of gadgets. Multiple protective features, including short circuit, over-temperature, over-current, over-voltage, over-power, anti-interference, and under-voltage protection are reportedly available with this.

Price points and release date

According to the leaked information, the CMF Watch Pro is anticipated to retail for Rs 4,499 ($69), while the CMF Buds Pro is priced at Rs 3,499. Additionally, the 65W GaN charger might enjoy a promotional price of Rs 2,499 initially, later rising to Rs 2,999 during its general sale period. Mark your calendars for September 26, as both the CMF Watch Pro and Buds Pro are set to make their grand entrance on that day. While details regarding the charger's launch remain uncertain, the leaks have certainly set the stage for an exciting tech unveiling event

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Boat Smart Ring specifications tipped: Would you buy a Smarting over Smartwatch

August 27, 2023 at 10:19PM

Boat confirmed its new category of products a while back, which is Smart Ring. The Smart Ring is exactly what it sounds like. Just like smartwatches, it can be used to track your health status. You can also wear it to gear up your fashion game, and some people prefer to wear rings and not wrist watches, so this could be a great thing for them. Additionally, you can use it daily as it comes with 5 ATM water and sweat resistance.

Mukul Sharma, a known tipster, has provided some details of the boAt Smart Ring on X (formerly Twitter). The pictures in the tweet described its specifications. As I mentioned above, the Smart Ring is set to incorporate multiple health sensors commonly seen on smartwatches. It features a heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, sleep tracker, and even a period tracker. Intriguingly, there's a possibility that it might also offer compatibility with a body temperature monitoring feature.

Also read: Boat reveals Smart Ring wearable device, will it rule the market?

A few days back, Boat confirmed the Smart Ring and along with that, the brand also revealed some specifications. The Boat Smart Ring will come with a ceramic and metal body. It will also feature Smart Touch Controls that allows you to use the smartring single-handedly. You can pair your Boat Smart Ring with the Boat Ring App to get all the basic analytics and information of your body. 

Also read: Boat Wanderer Smart is a new kids' smartwatch with 5 features that keep children safe and connected

The Boat Smart Ring will be available for grab on the leading e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, and on Boat’s official website as well. The price information of Boat Smart Ring is still unannounced. We are expecting that to be revealed soon as well. Stay tuned for more updates and let us know in the comments how you like this ‘Smart Ring’ concept.

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5 discounted smartwatches selling under 5000 in Amazon Great Freedom Festival 2023

August 07, 2023 at 08:32PM

Amazon is hosting its Great Freedom Festival 2023 sale to celebrate India’s Independence Day. It started on August 4 and will continue until August 8. During the sale, Amazon is offering great discounts on various electronics and gadgets including smartwatches. If you're in the market for a budget-friendly smartwatch, now is the perfect time. Check out these 5 top smartwatch picks you shouldn't miss considering during the Amazon Freedom Day Sale.

Fire-Boltt Ninja Call Pro Plus

The Fire-Boltt Ninja Call Pro Plus was launched in India at a price of ₹1,398. Now it is available for ₹1,297. 

It comes with a 1.87-inch HD display. It can run up to 8 days on a single charge, Fire-Boltt claimed. It comes with such features like SpO2 tracker, heart rate tracker, notifications from social media platforms, call notifications and sports tracking. 

Buy the Fire-Boltt Ninja Call Pro Plus

Also read: 5 gaming laptops starting at ₹53,000 in Amazon Great Freedom Festival 2023 sale

  Noise ColorFit Vivid Call

The Noise ColorFit Vivid Call is available on Amazon at a price of ₹1,199. It can be bought from the sale with a steal of ₹200. However, the MRP listed on Amazon is ₹4,999. 

It features a 1.69-inch display. The smartwatch comes with features like bluetooth calling, Blood oxygen monitor, Sleep monitor & 24x7 heart rate monitor, AI voice assistant. It is packed with a 260mAh battery which can be charged in two hours. 

Buy the Noise ColorFit Vivid Call

Boat Wave Leap Call

Boat Wave Leap Call can be purchased with a discount of ₹200. It was launched at a price of ₹1,499 but available on Amazon at just ₹1,200. 

It is equipped with a 1.83-inch HD Display. The smartwatch features an oxygen tracker, heart rate monitor, bluetooth calling and dial pad.

Buy the Boat Wave Leap Call

AmazFit Bip U Pro

The AmazFit Bip U Pro is available at a discounted price of ₹3,799. The smartwatch was launched in India at a price of ₹4,999. So you are getting a good ₹1,200 steal on this smartwatch. 

It has a 1.43-inch display and apart from that it comes with SpO2, Built-in GPS, Built-in Alexa, Sleep and Stress Monitor. 

Buy the AmazFit Bip U Pro

Also read: Amazon Great Freedom Festival Sale 2023: Save the most on these TV offers

Boat Xtend

The Boat Xtend is listed on Amazon at a discounted price of ₹1,797. The original price of this smartwatch is ₹3,499. 

It comes with a 1.69-inch HD display and features Stress Monitor, Heart & SpO2 monitoring, 14 sports modes, Sleep Monitor and up to 7 days of battery life on a single charge.

Buy the Boat Xtend

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Poco M6 Pro launched: New budget phone has Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 90Hz display

August 07, 2023 at 11:32AM

Poco has rolled out a new budget smartphone in the Indian market, namely Poco M6 Pro 5G. This smartphone comes with the latest Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 and more. It will be available for purchase from August 9. The Poco M6 Pro 5G launched with two storage options that are 4GB 64GB and 6GB 128GB. Let’s get forward with the specifications.

First and foremost, let’s talk about the performance. The Poco M6 Pro 5G is powered by a 4nm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset. The chipset is pretty powerful for this segment, which is a good thing. The Poco M6 Pro has scores over 4,37,000 on AnTuTu, Poco claimed. A 5000mAh battery is integrated in Poco M6 Pro 5G with a support of 18-watt fast charging. 

Also read: These POCO, Redmi, Mi phones get free 1 extra year warranty: Does your phone qualify?

It comes with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. However, there’s virtual RAM as well which can expand up to 6GB. It runs on Xiaomi’s MIUI 14 skin that is based on Android 13 OS. 

Talking about the display, the Poco M6 Pro features a big 6.79-inch IPS LCD display. The display offers you 90Hz of refresh rate and up to FHD+ resolution. 

Moving to the camera, this smartphone boasts a 50-megapixel primary camera on the back, along with a 2-megapixel depth sensor for portrait shots. On the front, it features an 8-megapixel selfie shooter.

Also read: POCO's Himanshu Tandon talks about the new Poco F5 5G, expansion plans for India and more

That’s all about the specification of Poco M6 Pro 5G. Now if you are interested in buying this affordable yet powerful smartphone, you can grab it from Poco’s online store. It is launched at a starting price of ₹10,999, but can be bought for ₹9,999. There will be a ₹1000 launch discount available on the smartphone.

Poco M6 Pro 5G is a proper value for money smartphone. About the Poco M6 Pro 5G, the brand seems like it is offering you more than it is taking from you. Tell us in the comments what do you think about it?

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Apple Watch Series 9 will have S9 chipset: How will this improve the smartwatch

July 31, 2023 at 05:52PM

As September comes closer, we are all awaiting the Apple event. But prior to that, a lot of rumours and leaks have been surfacing on the internet. And now we spotted an exciting leak on the upcoming Apple Watch Series 9. The Apple Watch Series is expected to launch with three models. 

Mark Gurman revealed in his PowerOn Newsletter that tech-giant Apple might launch three wearables under the Series 9. We can expect a 41-millimetre variant, a 45-millimetre variant as well as the successor to the Apple Watch Ultra.

Also read: Apple addresses Watch Series 8 and Ultra microphone issues: Here's what Apple has to say

The three watches might be packed with the new S9 chipset. It will allow for improved and smoother performance when compared to the Apple Watch Series 8. We are also expecting a dark titanium colour option with these series.

Apple might skip on the Apple Watch SE 3 this year, according to the Apple Watch SE timeline. Apple released its first Watch SE in 2020, and the next arrived in 2022. So, technically Apple will launch the third variant only in 2024.

Speaking of the new Apple releases, Mark Gurman even revealed that we can see the arrival of a new technology called the  “LIPO” (low-injection pressure overmolding).

This new feature will be limited to the premium iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max variants. This will allow for an almost bezel-less viewing experience. It will further reduce the bezel size to 1.5-millimeters from 2.2-millimeters on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. It is even expected that the same technology will be used in iPads too by 2024.

Also read: How To Watch YouTube On Apple Watch: Two Methods

As the launch month comes soon, we are excited about what Apple will present. But for now, that’s all we know. We can expect the official announcements from the brand soon.

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Samsung Galaxy Ring is getting closer to being a product you may wear close to your body

July 31, 2023 at 04:59PM

Samsung is just one of the many brands that are working on smart rings, a new kind of wearable. Well, rings have been in the market for a while now but they haven’t gotten mainstream yet. Well, things could change earlier than you may think.  

Samsung Galaxy Ring production updates

As per the South Korean publication The Elec, Samsung has apparently procured the resources required for making the Galaxy Ring. It is now looking for a timeline to begin mass production.

Also Read: Samsung foldables will get more affordable, and this is good news for everyone

The chances are that this could start as early as next month.

Samsung ring patent

However, the launch is supposedly slated for next year. Once the product is ready, Samsung will also have to acquire regulatory approvals and medical certifications to position it more than a regular ring and other smart rings in the market. If the product development takes 7 to 8 months, the approval process could take up to 8 to 10 months.

This brings us to:

Other smart rings on the market

One way Samsung seems to be planning to differentiate its ring is by making it a controller for the Galaxy mixed reality headset that’s purportedly in the pipeline. 

Apple ring patent

The Apple ring that’s in the making is also said to have this functionality for manoeuvring the Apple Vision Pro headset. 

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S24+ appears more powerful than its precursor as per alleged Geekbench scores

But both these products are far too away from being a real product. Much closer to availability seems to be the Noise and Boat rings. These will be entry-grade alternatives that offer features like heart rate tracking, SpO2 count, sleep health analysis, etc. But they could have an early mover advantage as neither Samsung and Apple nor the Oura and Movanos of the world are available in India yet.

However, in a couple of years, we expect to have plenty of options in the smart ring space. 

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Samsung Galaxy S24+ appears more powerful than its precursor as per alleged Geekbench scores

July 31, 2023 at 04:27PM

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Geekbench scores have seemingly leaked and this suggests the phone could be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The Galaxy S24+ Geekbench scores are also ahead of its precursor. This suggests the upcoming phone could be more powerful. Here is what we know about it for now.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Geekbench scores

It is the US variant of the Galaxy S24 Plus that has reportedly surfaced on the Geekbench website. The listing shows the device model number to be SM-S926U which is said to be the Galaxy S24+.

This appears to be powered by a Qualcomm processor codenamed Pineapple. This is believed to be Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The chip in question is shown to be running with a prime core at 3.30GHz, three performance cores at 3.15GHz, two performance cores at 2.96GHz, and two efficiency cores at 2.27GHz.

Also Read: Samsung foldables will get more affordable, and this is good news for everyone

From the Geekbench appearance, we also see that the phone is having Android 14 software and 8GB of RAM. It could also come in up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage SKU.

The Geekbench scores are 2233 in single-core performance and 6661 in multi-core performance. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23+ scores are about 1866 in single-core and 4945 in multi-core performance.

That’s about all we learn from this Geekbench listing.

Samsung Galaxy S24 series: What we know so far

22 pic.twitter.com/L8GIdSBeR6

— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) July 30, 2023

Like clockwork, Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S24 series in Q1 2024 and we already have some hints about the device that we shall share here. 

Just the other day, a chronic Samsung tipster Ice Universe implied the S24 series to get Titanium chassis. 

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy M34 5G Review: Good bang for your buck

He claims the S24+ would bring a 6.65-inch screen and Android 14 software with One UI 6.0 skin.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra, meanwhile could come with a 144Hz display, a new EV charging technology and a 200MP camera with better zooming capabilities.

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Boult Striker Pro looks striking in metal, but what are its pro features

July 27, 2023 at 10:12PM

Boult Striker Pro brings a metallic build under ₹2,500. For the price, you also get Bluetooth calling, 750 nits of brightness, a blood pressure tracker, a SpO2 sensor, and 120+ sports modes. Here are the complete details.

Boult Striker Pro specs and features

Boult has outfitted a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen on the front. This has 750 nits of brightness, 466×466 pixels resolution, and a 60Hz refresh rate. You can customize the watch faces with 150+ options, many of which you will have to download from the cloud.

Also Read: Noise launched Luna smart ring in India

On the base, there are health monitoring sensors to track 24x7 heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen count. Female users can also keep track of their menstrual health with this watch. 

Besides the health features, you get to measure 120+ sports activities.

You also get Bluetooth calling support, access AI assistants, get weather stats, sedentary reminders, and smart notifications from the phone. 

Among other features, there is IP67 dust and water resistance too.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 launched: 6 things beyond specs that are worth knowing

Boult Striker Pro price and availability

Boult Striker Pro’s black metallic strap variant is priced at ₹2,499. You can also grab the watch’s silicone strap model in blue and grey colours. You can buy the watch from Flipkart as well as Boultaudio.com. You can grab the watch at an introductory price of ₹2,499 from July 27 at 12 PM.

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We used Llama 2 to ask it how its different from ChatGPT: Heres the answer

July 19, 2023 at 09:52PM

Llama 2 is the new LLM in the market. Meta launched it today and you can try it now. We have used the AI chatbot and asked it how it compares to ChatGPT. Let’s see what the new ChatGPT rival has to say.

First, let’s see how you can try it out.

Steps to use Llama 2

1. Go to the Llama 2 demo page on the Huggingface website. 

2. Scroll down till you see the Demo section and click on the “in this space” hyperlink. This will take you to the Llama2 70B Chatbot. Or else, you can chat within the small chat box in the Demo section.

Also Read: Google Bard gets a desi touch: 2 new features Indians will find useful

3. Enter your query or prompt and hit Submit button (or enter button on your keyboard). It can even solve HTML codes.

4. You can click on Retry, Undo, or Clear the prompt/query.  

It takes some time to respond. Perhaps, with time, it will improve both in speed and quality of responses.

For now, it looks very basic. But it is fine as it is a demo only. 

Still, we decided to take it out for a spin.

We asked what it thinks of ChatGPT and here’s its answer

Before we start, know that Llama 2 doesn’t have personal opinions or beliefs, and if it doesn’t know the answer to any of the questions, it says it will tell you “where you might be able to find the answer”.

Whence asked about ChatGPT, it praised the potential of an LLM-powered chatbot like this and also warns the ethical implications.

Also Read: Google Bard should address these 5 concerns against generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT

It suggests ChatGPT has a wider scope and is capable of “generating coherent and contextually relevant text, especially when given a prompt that requires a creative or imaginative response”. 

However, as a smaller model, it claims to be “able to respond faster and can handle more conversational dialogue”. It says it can be more “empathetic and emotive” in its responses.

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Valve adds de_overpass to CS2, and it looks phenomenal

July 18, 2023 at 12:29PM

Counter-Strike 2's release is right around the corner. Valve had set the release date to be in the Summer of 2023, and as we get closer and closer to the full release of the game, the Counter-Strike 2 limited test beta has been getting some exciting new updates. In the latest update to the beta, Valve has added the first fully overhauled map to the game – de_overpass. 

At the time of the announcement, Valve had mentioned that the new Source 2 upgrade would bring along three categories of maps to the game – touch stone maps, upgrade maps, and full overhaul maps. Touch stone maps, for example - de_dust2 would get some slight changes but will remain to be the primary testing ground for the beta testers. 

Upgrade maps, for example - de_nuke would make use of Source 2’s lighting and materials. And, full overhaul maps, for example - de_overpass would be, in the words of Valve, “fully rebuilt from the ground up, leveraging all of the new Source 2 tools and rendering features.”

 

pic.twitter.com/F90qWmbYNd

— CS2 (@CounterStrike) July 17, 2023 Well, we can’t deny it - de_overpass was worth the wait

The Counter-Strike 2 beta had released with de_dust2. Since then, in the subsequent updates, players have received a look at touch stone maps, in the form of de_nuke. Now, gamers will get a chance to have thier first look at what the game would look like in its full Source 2 glory with the release of de_overpass.

From the early gameplay footage that has been released, the de_overpass looks phenomenal with every shader and texture being something that we hadn’t seen before in Counter-Strike. All of this, while remaining true to the quintessential CS spirit, is something that few people expected Valve to be able to pull off, but they have done it!

In the release notes for July 17, Valve has also announced the addition of Wingman mode. Players can play Overpass in Deathmatch, Casual, Wingman, and Competitive game modes. And, de_vertigo, has been added to Deathmath and Casual game modes. With the addition of the new maps, Nuke and Office, which had been added in an update earlier, have been removed.

As things stand right now, Valve looks to be on the right path. Fans and experts alike also took to Twitter after the announcement of the new update to express their excitement for what lies ahead –

Overpass looks beautiful, vertigo no comment. https://t.co/DkWNjnVC3i

— Jacob “Pimp” Winneche (@PimpCS2) July 17, 2023

Big CS2 update is out with overpass and vertigo, but this is what I'm most excited about: Glove patterns and wear now more closely align with CS:GO versions Various improvements to foil stickers Various adjustments to the size of stickers applied to weapons pic.twitter.com/Y5TlWwSDuC

— hobshy (@hobshytv) July 17, 2023

Overpass in CS2 pic.twitter.com/1YwgToqzHl

— HEROIC (@heroicgg) July 17, 2023

it's beautiful pic.twitter.com/gzJjDcOa1G

— Team Liquid CSGO (@TeamLiquidCS) July 17, 2023

We are excited to ship our first overhauled map into the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test, de_overpass, alongside de_vertigo. Vertigo is playable Casual and Deathmatch modes. Overpass is available to play in Casual, Deathmatch, Competitive, and Wingman (new!).

— CS2 (@CounterStrike) July 17, 2023

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Top smartwatch deals on Amazon Prime Day Sale 2023

July 13, 2023 at 03:10PM

Amazon’s Prime Day Sale is just round the corner and will go live on July 15th and it extends till July 16th. As we excitedly await the sale to go live, it is also the best time to buy smartwatches. Amazon is offering some crazy deals on the smartwatches and you should look out for them. So, here are some unmissable deals that you can grab during the sale.

Fire-Boltt Infinity Luxe smartwatch:       

You can grab the Fire-Boltt Infinity Luxe smartwatch at just ₹3,499 during the said sale. The watch features a 1.6-inch round HD display offering 600 nits of peak brightness. It even has 300+ sports mode for all your moods and comes along with bluetooth calling and voice assistant. You’ll even get a 3.7V to 5V adapter.

Also read: Check out the deals on 4 TVs in the upcoming Amazon Prime Day 2023 Sale

boAt Wave Call 2:

During the sale, you can get your hands on the boAt Wave Call 2 starting at just ₹1,499 along with certain bank offers. Not just this, you can pre book this smartwatch for just ₹1 before 15th July. The watch runs on Crest+ OS and comes with a DIY watch face studio. It has 700+ active modes and comes with bluetooth calling. It has great health tracking algorithms.

 NoiseFit Halo Plus Elite Edition:   

The NoiseFit Halo Plus Elite Edition will be available starting at ₹4,499. This comes with bank offers and you can pre-book for just ₹1 before the sale goes live. The watch will feature a 1.46” super AMOLED display and also a drain less steel finish metallic straps. It has a 4-stage sleep tracker too. 

Also read: 5 attractive smartphone deals of Amazon Prime Day 2023

beatXP Unbound nova:  

The beatXP Unbound Nova can be bagged at a price range starting at ₹2,499 along with bank offers. This can be pre-booked too at ₹1. Speaking of the watch, it has a 1.96” AMOLED display and comes with over 100 in-built sports modes. It will have bluetooth calling and promises an uninterrupted battery life of 7 days.

These are some great smartwatches that are being presented at great prices during the sale. Be on time so that you don’t end up missing the deals. The Amazon Prime Day sale is available for prime users between 15 and 16th July.

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Passkeys wont replace passwords because of key implementation flaws

June 25, 2023 at 10:49AM

I remember the first email account I had created back in 1997 or 1998. Hotmail was the hottest service, albeit with a rather quirky name, and everyone who had the privilege of accessing the Internet wanted to have a mail account for themselves. My brother had an account and I wanted one too, even though there was barely anyone I knew whom I could send emails to. When the time came to create the password, I was told to make it as hard as possible to guess. Being a smart cookie, I cooked up an alphanumeric pattern-based password which was easy to remember and was nine characters long. That password served me well for a decade, until I started refreshing passwords on a cyclic basis.

Computers were getting more powerful and breaking passwords was getting easier. And users had to think of unique passwords for each service and refresh them regularly. For the internet-savvy, it is a task unto itself. Last year, we saw a lot of news around passkeys and how tech companies around the world were scampering to quickly implement passkeys.

Passkeys were intended to replace passwords and provide a single, standardised method of authentication across various browsers and operating systems. Users would no longer need to remember and manage multiple passwords or rely on weak, easily compromised SMS or app-based one-time passwords. Instead, they could use biometric sensors, PINs, or patterns for secure and convenient access to apps and websites.

The introduction of passkeys as an alternative to traditional passwords is a move that has gained significant attention, with proponents arguing that it is a safer and more convenient solution for user authentication. However, the recent implementation of passkeys by major tech companies has demonstrated that they are not being standardised across different operating systems, resulting in a disappointing vendor lock-in scenario and an unsatisfactory user experience. In fact, rather than solving problems, passkeys may be creating new ones.

Regrettably, the way passkeys are being rolled out does not align with this vision. Major tech companies have opted to implement passkeys in a manner that ensures seamless functionality with their own ecosystems. And using passkeys across different ecosystems requires the use of QR codes or some other work around. This approach creates a vendor lock-in system, where users are limited to using passkeys only on devices with the same operating system. For example, a Windows-based passkey will only work on other Windows devices, while an Apple-based passkey will only function seamlessly across other Apple devices. You can use the passkey across ecosystems but it will be a pain. 

Such a twisted implementation is problematic for several reasons. Firstly, it runs contrary to the idea of standardisation, as users still have to rely on different authentication methods depending on the device they are using. This defeats the original purpose of passkeys, which was to simplify and streamline the authentication process across all devices and platforms.

Secondly, vendor lock-in can lead to a negative user experience, as it restricts users' freedom of choice when it comes to their devices and software. For instance, a user with a Windows-based passkey may find it difficult to switch to an Apple device, as their passkey will not work seamlessly across the two operating systems. This limitation discourages users from exploring different platforms and products, ultimately hindering competition and innovation in the tech industry.

Furthermore, the current implementation of passkeys is not going to replace passwords anytime soon. The widespread adoption of passkeys will take years, if not decades, to become a reality. Until then, users will still have to rely on traditional passwords, negating the supposed benefits of passkeys. This slow transition could potentially create confusion and increase security risks, as users juggle between passwords and passkeys.

It is worth noting that the concept of passkeys is not inherently flawed. If implemented correctly, it could provide a more secure and convenient authentication solution than passwords. However, the current approach taken by major tech companies is detrimental to both the user experience and the broader technology ecosystem.

To truly reap the benefits of passkeys, it is crucial for tech companies to work together and establish a standardised implementation that is compatible across different operating systems and devices. This would allow users to enjoy a seamless and secure authentication experience, regardless of their choice of device or platform. By prioritising collaboration and interoperability over competition, the tech industry can create a more inclusive and innovative digital landscape.

This column was originally published in Digit magazine's May 2023 edition

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NoiseFit Crew Pro smartwatch launched at 2199: Is it specced to heat up the competition

June 20, 2023 at 07:45PM

Noise has launched the NoiseFit Crew Pro smartwatch in India. It is priced currently at ₹2,199 which is a hotly contested segment. So, what does this watch offer besides the obvious round dial, metallic finish, and leather strap? 

NoiseFit Crew Pro: Specs and features

1. Noise has equipped the watch with a 1.4-inch round display with 240x240 resolution and 550-nits of brightness. In this price range, we have smartwatches with 1.7-inch (Fire Boltt Ring), 1.83-inch (Fire Boltt Jaguar) and even 1.91-inch (BoAt Xtend Call Plus) screens. But, 1.4-inches would be a good place to start.

As for brightness, it is outsmarted by the Maxima Nitro with 600 nits of brightness. But, even 550 nits should be legible enough for most environments and is far more than 220 nits on the Fire Boltt Ring.

In the renders, the bezels don’t appear that thick either. You also have 100+ watch faces to customize the screen appearance.

2. The screen is engulfed by a polycarbonate case/bezel with a metallic finish. There are watches like the ​Zebronics Zeb-Fit7220CH in this segment which offer both metallic case and strap, just so you know.

You can pick the Crew Pro in several colours. The silver bezel of the Brown variant looks more glossy in the promo images. Some may prefer the subdued demeanour of the black variants.

Another assuring feature to talk about in the design department is the presence of an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

3. Coming to performance, it claims to track 120+ sports activities, which is several modes more than its main rivals.

You are also being promised 7-day endurance out of this thing. It takes about 2 hours to fully charge up.

4. This is Bluetooth calling smartwatch backed by the brand’s TruSync tech which is another name for single-chip BT calling.

This should be good for battery life and a smoother calling experience.

5. The list of health features includes 24x7 heart rate tracking, SpO2 monitoring, stress measurement, sleep monitoring, breath practice, and female cycle tracking.

You can buy the NoiseFit Crew Pro on Flipkart and gonoise.com at ₹2,199. 

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WWDC 2023: 5 watchOS 10 features that will supercharge the Apple Watch

June 05, 2023 at 06:01PM

The most anticipated tech event of the year is here to leave you overwhelmed with the new improvements and announcements in the Apple hardware and software lineups. The Apple Annual Conference WWDC 2023 is to take place today at 10:30pm where CEO Cook will be inaugurating the event. 

The event is expected to release multifolds of announcements with new MacBook models, iOS 17, macOS 14, tvOS 17, watchOS 10 and the highly anticipated first ever augmented reality headset for the brand along with xrOS. 

The Apple watchOS 10 is anticipated to reset a lot of settings with multi facet improvements in the Apple watch system. It is claimed that the system will see the biggest upgrades in a long time and would not just be a refreshed version of the previous system. Let’s take a look at what new features the new watchOS system has to offer.

Also read: WWDC 2023: What time and how to watch Apple’s event tonight?

Expected upgrades on watchOS10 1) Multiple Device Pairing 

Uptil now the Apple watch with watchOS 9 could only be paired with an iPhone, however with the arrival of watchOS 10 the watch is now anticipated to be connected with iPad, Mac, and of course, iPhones as always. 

2) Centralised Health Updates 

The tech giant is taking the baton forward with AI incorporation in the devices where an AI coach will be linked with the Apple watch and the Health App on the iPhone giving suggestions to the user based on the collected data. The project is apparently named ‘Quartz’. The initiative is primarily built in for wellness and health support and is anticipated to operate efficiently on the iPhone as well as the Apple watch.  

3) User Interface

Mark Gurman at Bloomberg suggested that the tech giant is narrowing the focus down on the Apple Watch Series 9 as there are very few anticipated hardware releases this WWDC and having said that the brand wants to have notable changes in the user interface for the series. The brand is primarily working on widgets for activity tracking, weather, stock tickers, calendar among others. 

Also read: Apple WWDC AR teaser hints at the Reality Pro announcement: Here’s how to try it

4) Digital Crown

The apple watchOS may also bring in new features for the Digital Crown, where watchOS 9 used the setting for taking the system back to the home screen, the new upgrade might use the function for accessing the new widgets in the system. It can be said that the feature is similar to Apple watch’s ‘Glance’ feature. 

5) Journaling App Connection iOS17 and watchOS10

There have been speculations that the iOS17 might get a new journaling app, the features are still under the veil. However, there are reports that this app can be linked with the Apple watchOS 10 and clearly this app was not available for watchOS 9. These were the changes that can be expected for the watchOS 10 compared to watchOS 9 however, the information is to be validated at the WWDC conference and should be, just for a few hours now, taken with a grain of salt. What announcements are you excited about let us know at editor@digit.in.

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Google Pixel Watch 2 will help you manage your stress better: Check expected price

May 31, 2023 at 06:16PM

The rumours of Pixel Watch 2's announcement with Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro was confirmed earlier this month. Now a report by 9to5Google has given some clarity as to what we can expect from the watch and how it is going to be different from its predecessor. 

Let's have a look at everything the Pixel Watch 2 has to offer. 

Also Read: Google Pixel Watch 2 may arrive in different sizes: 3 things we know about it

Stress sensor in Pixel Watch 2

We have gathered from the report that the Pixel Watch 2 can feature the same sensors as the Fitbit 2’s health sensors. 

The continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor which tracks the day’s stress and helps manage it and the skin temperature sensor are some of the major features that are expected to feature in the Pixel Watch 2.

Chip upgrade in the Pixel Watch 2

From the report we come to know that the Pixel Watch 2 will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset from the latest “W5” generation. We aren’t really sure about what changes or customisations the chipset would bring in for the new Google wearable. 

Google has always used the Samsung Exynos for its watches, so the sudden shift came as a shock. It was expected that for Pixel Watch 2, Google will be relying on 5nm W920 which has been used in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and 5. 

Also read: Pixel Fold, Pixel 8 Pro renders reveal major design details of the two Google phones

The change in chipset of the wearable can also lead to change in the chipset of future Pixel phones. But, it's too early to speculate anything as of now and we should wait to experience the changes once the watch is out. 

Battery changes in Pixel Watch 2

Google is aiming towards a better battery life for the Pixel watch 2. As mentioned in the report, they are looking forward to over a day’s usage while the AOD is enabled.

But apart from that, people can also look forward to a better life by making some changes in the settings and taking precautions for power conservation. 

Expected price of Pixel Watch 2

From everything we can gather online, the Pixel Watch 2 should be priced around the ₹30,000 price mark, might get priced a bit cheaper as well if Google wants to undercut the competition from Apple and Samsung in a big way.

These are the expected major upgrades that are likely to feature on the Google Pixel Watch 2 and as previous rumours have stated, this would be launched alongside the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro later this year.

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BGMI server status: Is Battlegrounds Mobile India available to play

May 24, 2023 at 05:03PM

The much-awaited battle royale game, Battlegrounds Mobile India has officially made a comeback in the country. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology gave a green signal to the South Korean game developer, Karfton to go ahead with the relaunch of the game on a 3 month trial condition to observe how the company handles the data and servers.

However, as of today, the game’s servers are not active yet. So, when can you expect to play the game. Let’s see what we know.

Also read: BGMI Limits Game Time For Players Under 18 Years But Is It Too Heavy-Handed?

The game can now be downloaded again in India, in case you haven't already done it. As of today, May 24, the game servers when tried to login in read; 

“BGMI servers will be unavailable for a while to come up with a better and bigger experience. While we are working to give you a seamless experience, your account will be safe, and your progress till now will be retained. We will keep you informed of further developments and the release date through our social media platforms.”

The game servers have not been updated for the game yet however there have been multiple speculations in the community for the 2.6 update of BGMI and its features. 

Also read: BGMI Limits Game Time For Players Under 18 Years But Is It Too Heavy-Handed?

Recently, BGMI streamer Ankit Kumar "AnkiiiBOT" Pandey conducted a livestream suggesting that the gamers do not have to wait any longer as the game servers will be open for gaming on May 27. He said that, “All I am saying is that you have to wait until the 27th. It's not a leak. I am saying it openly. Maximum. We will not have to wait beyond the 27th. That's what I am saying. If you want, I can write it down.”

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Boat Wanderer Smart is a new kids smartwatch with 5 features that keep children safe and connected

May 21, 2023 at 07:47PM

Boat has launched a new smartwatch for kids named Wanderer Smart. It is priced at ₹5000 and for that price, it brings a host of specially curated features like built-in calling support, parental controls, and a location tracking facility to ensure your child stays safe and connected. Let’s have a look at all of this Boat watch’s features.

Boat Wanderer Smart features: What makes it wanderer-friendly and smart?

1. Boat Wanderer Smart has got in-built 4G Sim connectivity, a mic, and a speaker setup. This means your kid can make voice calls and text messages over the LTE network. 

2. As part of its parental controls, you can block calls from unknown numbers on the watch. There is even an option to enable auto-answering and hear background noises and voices. These features should let you quickly talk to them and know their whereabouts.  

3. Thanks to cellular connectivity and built-in GPS, you can triangulate the child’s real-time location. You can set geofencing boundaries, and crossing which sends a notification to the Boat Wanderer app. The same app lets you locate the watch using GPS tracking. 

Also Read: 5 best smartwatches for kids in 2023

4. In case of emergency situations, kids can press a dedicated SOS button on the watch to alert selected contacts. Kids can also make video calls to you through the 2MP camera on the watch.

5. All of these comes packed in a rugged build that’s IP68 water and dust resistant. The watch claims to run for up to 2 days on its 650mAh battery. It is rated to last 68 Hrs on standby.

Among other things, the Boat smartwatch also sports a 1.4-inch touchscreen, a step-tracking feature and a multi-purpose clock.

Boat Wanderer Smart price and availability

You can buy the Boat Wanderer Smart watch from Amazon or the official Boat website at an introductory price of ₹5,000. The smartwatch is available in Aqua and Coral colours.

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