Technology – TheNewsHub

Reliance and Disney Complete Merger to Create a Rs. 70,352 Crore Joint Venture

Ashish Singh — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:22:27 +0000

Reliance Industries Limited announced the completion of a merger with the India business of global media house Walt Disney on Thursday. With this, Viacom 18 Media Private Limited, Reliance Industries Limited, and The Walt Disney Company announced the formation of a joint venture. The joint venture was formed after the approval by the National Company Law Tribuna (NCLT) Mumbai, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and other regulatory authorities. Reliance also announced that the transactional value of the joint venture was evaluated at Rs. 70,352 crores on a post-money basis.

Reliance, Disney Complete Merger

In a press release, Reliance announced the completion of the merger with Disney following approvals from regulatory bodies. This comes after the two entities announced a strategic partnership to form a joint venture in February. Reliance Industries has invested Rs. 11,500 crores into the joint venture and holds 16.34 percent of the stake in the company. Reliance’s step-down unit Viacom 18, which is also a partner in the joint venture, holds a 46.82 percent stake in the venture while Disney holds the rest of the 36.84 percent.

The joint venture will combine Star and Colors channels on the television side, while it will bring together JioCinema and Hotstar on the digital front. The joint venture will be headed by Nita Ambani, who will act as the Chairperson of the entity.

Highlighting the size of the joint venture, the press release claimed that it holds a combined revenue of approximately Rs. 26,000 crores for the fiscal year that ended in March 2024. Further, the joint venture will now operate more than 100 television channels that produce more than 30,000 hours of content annually.

On the digital front, Reliance claimed that JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar have an aggregate subscription base of more than 50 million, however, this does not account for any overlaps where a user subscribes to both platforms. Additionally, the joint venture also holds digital sports rights across cricket, football, and other sporting events.

Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries said after the merger, “Our deep creative expertise and relationship with Disney, along with our unmatched understanding of the Indian consumer will ensure unparalleled content choices at affordable prices for Indian viewers.”

India's CCPA to Probe E-Scooter Maker Ola Electric Over Service, Product Standards

Ashish Singh — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:25:32 +0000

India’s top product certification agency will investigate e-scooter maker Ola Electric’s deficiency in service standards and product issues, India’s consumer affairs secretary told Reuters on Thursday.

Last month, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) sent Ola Electric a notice seeking an explanation from the SoftBank-backed company after the consumer rights agency received an unusually high 10,000 complaints.

Ola, India’s top e-scooter maker, responded that it had resolved 99.1 percent of the complaints.

After reviewing that response, the CCPA has now asked the Bureau of Indian Standards to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter, consumer affairs secretary Nidhi Khare said on Thursday.

Ola Electric did not immediately respond to a Reuters email seeking comment.

The complaints were mostly for “minor” issues, Ola’s founder Bhavish Aggarwal said on an earnings call last week.

“Two-thirds of it actually are just minor issues like loose parts or customers unfamiliar with the software used,” Aggarwal said.

The rising complaints and ensuing regulatory scrutiny have cast a shadow on the e-scooter maker, following its stellar market debut in August.

Ola Electric’s shares are down about 7.6 percent from their listing price of 76 rupees. On the day, its shares were down about one percent, while auto stocks had risen 0.5 percent.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Gemini in Gmail Gets Integration With Google Calendar App, Lets Users Ask Date-Based Queries

Ashish Singh — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:24:24 +0000

Gemini in Gmail is getting support for more artificial intelligence (AI) functionalities. On Wednesday, Google announced the integration of the Google Calendar app with its native AI model Gemini. This way, eligible users can use Gemini within Gmail to ask Calendar-based queries to users. The feature is available to those Google Workspace users who have one of the Gemini add-ons. This feature is currently only available on the web. Notably, last month the Mountain View-based tech giant expanded the AI-powered ‘Help Me Write’ and ‘Polish’ features on the web.

Gemini in Gmail Gets Google Calendar Integration

In a blog post, the tech giant detailed the new feature. Gmail already has several Google apps integrated with the mail client. Google Calendar is one of them. Users can use the Calendar integration to add tasks on a future date, set up meetings, and check the day plans of coworkers.

Now, the tech giant is rolling out the integration of Gemini to the Calendar app available on the side panel of Gmail. With this, users can tap on the ‘Ask Gemini’ icon present on the top right corner of Gmail’s web interface and ask several queries that require the Calendar functionality.

Gemini in Gmail gets integrated with Google Calendar
Photo Credit: Google

For instance, users can ask about their own upcoming calendar events or ask Gemini to create a one-time and repeating calendar event. Highlighting an example, the post said users can ask Gemini to “Create a [30 min] calendar event for my weekly [yoga class] every [Monday and Wednesday] at [9 AM]”, and the AI will add it immediately.

However, there are several limitations to what the AI can do currently. Gemini cannot add or remove guests from events, create events by extracting information from an email, pull up attachments from calendar events, or add or manage meeting rooms. Further, the AI tool also cannot perform complex tasks such as finding the best time to meet another person in the organisation.

Notably, Google Calendar integration for Gemini in Gmail is available to Workspace users with Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Education, Gemini Education Premium, or the Google One AI Premium add-ons.

Jeff Dunham’s Scrooged-Up Holiday Special Reimagines A Christmas Carol on Prime Video

Ashish Singh — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:43:19 +0000

Prime Video will soon launch a new holiday comedy special from ventriloquist and stand-up comedian Jeff Dunham, titled Scrooged-Up Holiday Special. The special is said to be inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It will premiere worldwide on November 19, 2024. This latest work will showcase Dunham’s iconic characters, each playing a unique role in the reimagined holiday classic.
The special marks Dunham’s 13th stand-up release, with past successes including Controlled Chaos and Minding the Monsters on Comedy Central. His 2008 Very Special Christmas Special still holds Comedy Central’s top ratings. Produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Levity Entertainment Group, this special brings Dunham’s creative take on Scrooge with beloved characters like Walter, Peanut, and Achmed.

When and Where to Watch Jeff Dunham’s Scrooged-Up Holiday Special

The one-hour special, Jeff Dunham’s Scrooged-Up Holiday Special, will be available for streaming on Prime Video starting November 19. The release will be accessible to audiences in over 240 countries and territories, allowing fans around the world to join in on the festive humour.

Official Trailer and Plot of Scrooged-Up Holiday Special

The trailer gives audiences a glimpse into Dunham’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol. His well-known character Walter is cast as the infamously grumpy Scrooge, while Dunham’s other characters, including Bubba J, Peanut, Little Jeff, and Achmed, take on additional roles. However, the casting doesn’t go as planned, leading to a comedic twist as the characters attempt to perform their parts in a hilariously chaotic manner.

Cast and Crew of Scrooged-Up Holiday Special

Dunham, known for his role as both comedian and ventriloquist, serves as the show’s creator and lead. He is joined by executive producers Matt McNeil, Robert Hartmann, Judi Marmel, and Stu Schreiberg. The special is produced by Amazon MGM Studios in collaboration with Levity Entertainment Group.

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Red Magic 10 Pro+, Red Magic 10 Pro With Snapdragon 8 Elite 'Extreme Edition' Chip Launched: Price, Specifications

Ashish Singh — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:04:10 +0000

Red Magic 10 Pro+ and Red Magic 10 Pro were launched in China as the latest gaming-focused smartphones from ZTE sub-brand Nubia. Both models have similar internals, aside from the battery and charging speeds. They run on a Snapdragon 8 Elite “Extreme Edition” version paired with up to 24GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage. Both handsets sport a 1.5K resolution display and feature a triple rear camera setup. The Red Magic 10 Pro+ has a 7,050mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging, while the Red Magic 10 Pro has a smaller 6,500mAh battery that can be charged at 80W.

Red Magic 10 Pro+, Red Magic 10 Pro Price and Availability

RedMagic 10 Pro+ pricing starts at CNY 5,999 (roughly Rs. 72,000) for the 16GB + 512GB version, and it is available in a Dark Knight colourway. The Deuterium Front Transparent Dark Night and Silver Wing colour variants (translated from Chinese) are priced at CNY 6,299 (roughly Rs. 74,000) for the same RAM and storage configuration. The 24GB + 1TB variant is priced at CNY 7,499 (roughly Rs. 88,000).

The special edition Red Magic 10 Pro Golden Saga model with 24GB and 1TB of storage and a golden finish is priced at CNY 9,499 (roughly Rs. 1,11,000).

Meanwhile, the Red Magic 10 Pro price starts at CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 58,000) for the 12GB + 256GB model. It is priced at CNY 5,499 (roughly Rs. 64,000) for the 12GB + 512GB version. It also comes in Dark Knight, Deuterium Front Transparent Dark Night and Transparent Silver Wing colours.

Both models are currently up for pre-orders in China and deliveries are slated to begin on November 18.

Red Magic 10 Pro+, Red Magic 10 Pro Specifications

The dual-SIM (Nano) Red Magic 10 Pro+ and Red Magic 10 Pro runs on Android 15-based Redmagic AI OS 10.0 and sports a 6.8-inch 1.5K(1,216×2,688 pixels) BOE Q9+ AMOLED display with up to 144Hz refresh rate, a 960Hz touch sampling rate, up to 2,000nits peak brightness, and 2,592Hz PWM dimming. The new handsets run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite ‘Extreme Edition’, paired with up to 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

RedMagic 10 Pro
Photo Credit: Nubia

For optics, the Red Magic 10 Pro+ and Red Magic 10 Pro feature a triple rear camera setup, comprising a 50-megapixel OmniVision OV50E40 sensor, a 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. Selfies and video calls are handled by a 16-megapixel under-display front-facing camera.

The Red Magic 10 Pro series is equipped with the company’s ICE X cooling technology that comprises a 5,200 sq mm superconducting copper foil and has a 12,000 sq mm 3D vapour chamber for thermal management. Both handsets have a dual X-axis linear motor for haptics. Connectivity options on the smartphones include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. They have 520Hz gaming shoulder keys, three microphones and stereo speakers.

Nubia has equipped the Red Magic 10 Pro+ with a 7,050mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging, while the Red Magic 10 Pro has a 6,500mAh battery with 120W charging support.

Google Expands AI-Based Flood Forecasting Coverage to 100 Countries, Improves Forecasting Model

Ashish Singh — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:46:59 +0000

Google recently announced the expansion of its flood forecasting system that is based on artificial intelligence (AI). The search giant will now cover 100 countries and offer riverine flood forecasting to a global population of 700 million people. The company is also offering researchers and partners its datasets to better understand its systems and benefit from the forecasting system. Additionally, Google has also developed a new application programming interface (API) for them to access the data in a seamless way.

Google Improves Forecasting Models, Expands Rollout

In a blog post, the tech giant detailed the flood forecasting system’s expansion plans. The model now covers 100 countries and a population of 700 million people up from the previous 80 countries and a population of 400 million people.

The company says that this expansion was possible due to its research advancement that allowed it to access more labelled data to train the AI models, a new forecasting model that acts as the input to its frontier forecasting system, as well as a new model architecture.

Additionally, Google also announced the decision to make its flood forecasting model forecasts available to researchers and partners. This will be done in two ways — via its existing datasets from the Google Runoff Reanalysis & Reforecast (GRRR) and a new API which is currently under development.

With the API, users can access the company’s hydrology forecasts and expected flood status in both urban areas as well as regions where local data is limited. Google’s partners and researchers can now sign up and join its waitlist to express interest in the AI-based model.

The Flood Hub in the forecasting system now has an additional data layer which includes 2,50,000 forecast points using “virtual gauges”. Virtual gauges are Google’s simulation-based prediction system that uses various geological and atmospheric factors to gauge the possibility of riverine floods. While the company can use the system to provide discharge prediction across the globe, it will only show the areas where the data can be verified using historical data from reliable sensors.

Further, the company claimed that compared to previous systems which could offer predictions for the next five days, the new system can now show flood forecasts for the next seven days with accuracy. Google believes its AI-based forecasting system can be used by public authorities in affected areas to develop crisis response plans and better manage people’s lives and infrastructure.

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India’s Web3 Ecosystem Has Over 400 Firms, Karnataka Emerges as Industry Hub: Report

India’s Web3 Ecosystem Has Over 400 Firms, Karnataka Emerges as Industry Hub: Report

Ashish Singh — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:34:19 +0000

The government has yet to announce new rules or modify its approach towards the Web3 industry, after it mandated registrations with the Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) for crypto firms last year. Despite the country’s gradual approach towards exploring the sector, the number of Web3 firms in India is gradually rising. In a recent report, the Bharat Web3 Association (BWA) notes that India’s Web3 ecosystem already comprises over 400 firms, while one state has emerged as the industry hub for the crypto sector in the country.

The report reveals that Karnataka has emerged as the hotspot for Web3 firms, housing at least 97 Web3 firms. Other states that are seeing a rise in Web3 firms in India include Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, blockchain solutions emerged as the Web3 vertical with the largest concentration of companies operating within it, according to the report. Presently, 79 firms have been identified by the BWA for conducting research and development work around the use cases of blockchain technology.

This development, however, seems natural given that blockchain exploration is one Web3 field that the government has shown a keen interest in. India’s IT ministry has launched a suite of blockchain stacks for developers to safely experiment with the technology. Even TRAI has relied on blockchain technology to blacklist spam callers.

A total of 18.7 percent of Web3 firms in India are focussed on developing blockchain-based solutions to improve areas including supply-chain management, healthcare, and fintech among others. “We hope to quantify and bring attention to the start-ups contributing to the silent Web3 revolution in India,” said Dilip Chenoy, chairperson, BWA.

After blockchain services, the next most popular Web3 area is the exchange business for virtual digital assets. A total of 42 Web3 brands are working around VDA transactions – making for 42 percent of the total 422 firms.

Blockchain infrastructure companies, decentralised finance, gaming, and entertainment are other areas that are attracting entrepreneurs looking to establish Web3 businesses, according to the report.

“At Meity, we are committed to nurturing a Web3 ecosystem that is conducive to technological advancement while ensuring robust digital governance. The rise of Web3 technologies provides us with the opportunity to develop use cases that serve the public good through enhanced transparency while fostering a inclusive digital economy,” MeitY Secretary S Krishnan said in a statement included in the BWA report. “I believe Indian innovators hold the know-how to not just navigate this emerging space but the capability to lead it,” he added

Perplexity AI Begins Experimenting With Ads on Its Search Platform

Ashish Singh — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:24:42 +0000

Perplexity AI, the company behind the eponymous artificial intelligence (AI) search platform, announced on Tuesday that it will begin experimenting with ads this week. An earlier report highlighted the company’s plans of incorporating ads by the end of the year to boost its revenue. The AI firm says that ads will be shown in a format that does not clutter or ruin the user experience of the platform. Additionally, it highlighted that all ads will be marked as sponsored to inform users when an ad is being displayed.

How Perplexity Plans to Show Ads on Search Results

In a blog post, the AI-powered search engine shared details of how it plans to implement ads on the service. Claiming that it will not duplicate the SEO industry’s use of “arbitrary tactics to improve their rankings at the expense of user utility”, Perplexity says it will instead show ads in a format that is “transparent” and generate a user’s curiosity about a brand.

How ads will appear on Perplexity’s platform
Photo Credit: Perplexity

Perplexity will display ads as “sponsored follow-up questions” and “paid media” on the side of an answer. The ads will include a question that directly delves into the brand’s offerings. The AI firm also highlighted that if a user clicks on the sponsored question, the response will not be written or edited by the brand, and instead Perplexity’s AI will be used to generate an authentic answer.

The company also revealed that Indeed, Whole Foods Market, Universal McCann, and PMG are its initial brand partners, and users can expect to see ads from these firms in the coming days. While Perplexity plans to start its ad tests this week, they will only be shown to users residing in the US.

Perplexity says that the move to show ads will allow it to generate revenue and share it with its publisher partners. Perplexity pays partnering publishing companies to use their articles and data to generate response to queries.

“Experience has taught us that subscriptions alone do not generate enough revenue to create a sustainable revenue-sharing program. Especially given how rapidly our publisher program is growing, advertising is the best way to ensure a steady and scalable revenue stream,” Perplexity added.

Baidu Unveils Xiaodu AI Glasses With 16-Megapixel Ultra-Wide-Angle Camera

Ashish Singh — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:15:11 +0000

Baidu unveiled its Xiaodu AI Glasses in China on Tuesday. The Chinese tech giant introduced the AI-integrated smart glasses in China and it is reportedly equipped with an AI assistant that can perform several tasks for users. The Xiaodu AI Glasses are said to weigh 45g and feature a 16-megapixel ultrawide camera along with a four-microphone array. Baidu has used its native large language models (LLMs) for the wearable device, and pricing for the Xiaodu AI glasses is yet to be announced.

Baidu’s Xiaodu AI Glasses Unveiled

At the 2024 Baidu World Conference, the tech giant unveiled the Xiaodu AI glasses (via Gizmochina) which are equipped with a Chinese language model developed by the company. Baidu is looking to tap into the rising popularity of AI-powered wearable devices and wants to compete with the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses with its offering.

The Xiaodu AI Glasses weigh 45g. They are equipped with a 16-megapixel ultrawide camera and a four-microphone array. The native AI assistant uses the camera and the microphone to receive information in visual and audio modalities, according to the company.

According to Baidu, the AI assistant can answer queries in real time — a feature the company calls “walk-and-ask queries”. The glasses can also be used for calorie recognition, object identification, audio-visual translation, and intelligent reminders.

Coming to the battery, Baidu’s AI Glasses offer up to five hours of calling and playback time and 56 hours of standby time. They are said to take about 30 minutes to charge fully.

The Xiaodu AI Glasses run on the company’s DuerOS AI operating system, and the same OS will also offer support for other Baidu platforms such as Baidu Maps, and Baike. The end goal appears to be creating a device that can be further enhanced with the integration of the Baidu ecosystem.

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Apple Reportedly Working on 'AI Wall Tablet' With Smart Home Controls and Apple Intelligence

Ashish Singh — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:53:27 +0000

Apple is reportedly working on a new product designed to function as a wall-mounted display, according to a Bloomberg report that cites sources familiar with the company’s plans. The display is expected to offer smart home device controls, along with support for voice commands using Siri and Apple Intelligence. Apple’s next product will reportedly offer support for making and receiving video calls. The product has reportedly been in development for three years and is expected to debut in the coming months.

Apple’s Wall-Mounted Display Might Not Support Third-Party Apps

According to the report, Apple’s first smart home device powered by Apple Intelligence will comprise a 6-inch display that appears to resemble two iPhone units placed next to each other. It will reportedly be equipped with a camera and built-in speakers that enable support for video calls, and it can be used with optional bases that are equipped with speakers.

Apple is also developing a new operating system for the new wall-mounted display that is codenamed “Pebble”, according to Bloomberg. It will reportedly feature a customisable home screen that shows icons for various apps, while widgets will provide information at a glance.

The first-generation smart home device, codenamed J490, is expected to feature support for the company’s applications such as Apple News, Apple Music, FaceTime, and Safari, but it is unlikely to include an App Store, as per the report.

While the wall-mounted display is expected to operate independently, it will reportedly require an iPhone to be set up. There’s no word on the hardware powering the device, but we can expect to offer performance on par with Apple’s A17 Pro chip or an M1 chip, along with 8GB of RAM.

Apple has spent over three years on developing the new wall-mounted display and the company plans to launch the device in March 2025, according to the report. It could be available in black and silver colourways.

Meanwhile, another advanced smart home device that is equipped with a robotic arm that can move a display is reportedly in development. It is unclear when Apple plans to launch this device, but it could be priced as high as $1,000 (roughly Rs. 84,400). Meanwhile, the wall-mounted display is expected to have a much lower price tag, according to the report.