Jio AI-Cloud Welcome Offer: Reliance Jio announced its new Jio AI-Cloud Welcome Offer at RIL’s 47th annual general meeting (AGM) last week. This could provide serious competition to cloud storage services like Google Drive and Apple iCloud. Jio’s offer comes with advanced AI features and promises to be more affordable, making it an attractive option for both regular users and businesses. Notably, the company plans to launch 100GB Of Free Cloud Storage during Diwali this year. As Jio continues to expand its presence in the tech world, this new cloud service could change the way people store their data online, challenging well-known players like Google and Apple to step up their game. With its AI-driven solutions, Jio aims to attract users with competitive pricing and seamless integration across its ecosystem. As Jio’s influence grows, this offer could reshape how consumers and businesses approach cloud storage, intensifying competition among the tech giants. Jio’s 100 GB Storage Price Under the Jio AI-Cloud Welcome Offer, consumers can avail of up to 100GB of free cloud storage to store their data. With this AI-Cloud storage, users will be able to securely store and access all their photos, videos, documents, and other digital content and data. This could pose a challenge for companies like Google and Apple that offer similar cloud storage services at a premium. Currently, Google offers Google One, where 100GB of cloud storage is available for a subscription fee of Rs 130, while Apple offers 50GB of iCloud storage for Rs 75 and 200GB for Rs 219.  Jio AI Cloud Welcome Offer Vs Google Vs Apple  Company Cloud Service Storage Offered Price Remarks Jio Jio AI-Cloud 100GB Free Part of the Jio AI-Cloud Welcome Offer Google Google One 100GB Rs 130/month Premium service, subscription required Apple iCloud 50GB Rs 75/month Premium service, subscription required Apple iCloud 200GB Rs 219/month Premium service, subscription required

Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5G India Launch: Chinese smartphone brand Realme has announced the official launch date of the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5G smartphone in India. It is expected to be the first ‘Turbo’ model in the Narzo series.  According to a company’s official press release, the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5G will launch in India on September 9 at 12pm IST. The handset is expected to come with a Motorsport-inspired design with a black and yellow back panel.  Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5G Availability: Consumers can purchase the upcoming smartphone via Amazon India and Realme’s online store. However, the key details about the handset is yet to be revealed by the brand.  Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5G Specifications (Expected) The smartphone is expected to be powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Energy chipset. The company claims that it is the fastest chipset in the segment. The phone could house a square camera module housing three sensors and an LED flash along with a 7.6mm slim body.  The phone could come in three colour options: purple, yellow, and green. It may offered in 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB storage models. On the Optics front, the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5 is rumoured to feature a 50MP camera, and an 8MP or 16MP front camera with electronic image stabilisation (EIS) support. 

OnePlus Nord Buds 3 India Launch: Chinese brand OnePlus has announced the official launch date of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 TWS earbuds in India. The upcoming TWS earbuds will be a more affordable version of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro earbuds that launched in India this July. It is offered in two colour options: Harmonic Gray and Melodic White.     The company is launching the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 earbuds in India on September 17. The launch event is scheduled to start at 12 pm.  OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Earbuds Availability And Price  The TWS earbuds will be available on Amazon.in, Flipkart.in, OnePlus.in, OnePlus Store App, OnePlus Stores and select offline partner stores after the launch on September 17. It is important to note that the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro is priced at Rs 3,299 in India so we can expect the Nord Buds 3 to launch at a cheaper price.    OnePlus Nord Buds 3 TWS Earbuds Specifications (Expected) The upcoming earbuds could be equipped with features like active noise cancellation, dual drivers and a long battery life. The wearable device may come with Bluetooth version 5.4 for wireless connectivity.  It will be equipped with 12.4mm Titanium drivers and offer up to 32dB ANC and 3D audio. The new OnePlus TWS could come with dual pairing and Google Fast Pair as well.   Adding further, the drivers on the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro may come paired with BassWave 2.0 Enhancement algorithm. The device is expected to offer 43 hours of battery life and 94ms low latency mode. It will be equipped with the TUV Rheinland Battery Health certification.  

New Delhi: Country’s largest private sector lender HDFC Bank has ‘taken a temporary break’ from its tie-up with Apple, the Business Standard newspaper has reported. A senior official of the bank has told the BS that the decision has been arrived following a review of the partnership from a cost-to-income perspective. “We worked with Apple for five years. We built a good brand relationship with Apple. We took a pause because we reviewed the entire nature of the partnership. We monitor cost to income and sometimes the cost-to-income measure does not work out for a particular partnership. We have taken a temporary break,” Parag Rao, group head – Payments, Consumer Finance, Marketing, Liability Product Group – HDFC Bank has told the Business Standard. Will HDFC Bank Credit Card Holders Not Get Cashback, EMI Benefits On Apple Products? What We Know So Far HDFC-Apple tie-up included exclusive cashback and EMI benefits to the Bank credit card holders on Apple products. Though the company has not categorically mentioned that the temporary-relationship halt is going to impact the Cashback and EMI Benefits, it is implied that HDFC Bank Credit Card Holders may not get the services Furthermore, Apple is offering instant cashbacks and no cost EMI facility on American Express, Axis Bank, and ICICI Bank cards, according to the company’s website.

New Delhi: Dropping your iPhone in water can be a nerve-wracking experience and many people might think of the age-old trick of placing it in a bag of rice. While this advice has been passed around for years it’s actually more myth than fact. In its support document on handling wet iPhones, Apple advises, “Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice. Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone”. So, if your iPhone ends up getting wet it’s better to follow Apple’s guidelines instead of relying on rice. Before giving up, there are a few things you can try to increase the chances of saving your device. Apple provides some important advice to follow. First, disconnect the cable from your iPhone and remove the other end from the power adapter or accessory. Make sure not to reconnect the cable until both your iPhone and the cable are fully dry. Dos If your iPhone gets wet, follow these steps to help dry it out. If these don’t work consider taking it to an authorised service provider: – Remove Excess Liquid: Gently tap your iPhone against your hand with the connector facing down to shake out any excess liquid. – Air Dry: Place your iPhone in a dry area with good airflow. – Wait and Test: After at least 30 minutes, try charging it with a Lightning or USB-C cable, or connecting an accessory. – Check for Alerts: If you see a liquid detection alert, there may still be moisture in the connector or on the cable pins. Leave your iPhone in the dry area for up to 24 hours. – Periodic Testing: Throughout this period, you can occasionally try charging or connecting an accessory to check if the moisture has evaporated. – Re-check Connections: If your iPhone seems dry but still isn’t charging, unplug the cable from the adapter and the adapter from the wall (if possible), then reconnect them. Dont’s It’s natural to want to save your iPhone from water damage but it’s important to avoid making things worse. According to Apple, here’s what not to do: –  Avoid External Heat: Don’t use a hair dryer, heater, or any other external heat source to dry your iPhone. – No Compressed Air: Don’t try to blow out moisture using compressed air, as it could push the liquid deeper into the device. – Don’t Insert Objects: Avoid sticking anything into the connector, like a cotton swab or paper towel, as this can cause damage. – Skip the Rice: Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice. The tiny particles can get into the device and cause more harm than good.

iPhone 16 Series Launch: Apple has announced the launch date of the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series in India during Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event in the US on September 9. The series includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. In addition to the iPhone 16 series, the Cupertino-based tech giant is expected to launch the Watch Series 10, Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE and AirPods 4. Notably, the mega event will be broadcast from Apple Park in Cupertino, California. It is interesting to note when the iPhones are likely to go on pre-order. Moreover, could Apple change the pre-order and release dates from the usual Fridays following the launch event? According to reports and the company’s track record, new iPhones are generally open for pre-orders on the Friday following the launch announcement and go on sale the Friday after that, even if the announcements don’t occur on the usual Tuesday. For example, the iPhone 14 series launch was on a Wednesday, and pre-orders still opened on the Friday of the same week. The iPhone 16 series, along with other products, could be available for pre-order on September 13 and might go on sale on September 20. iPhone 16 Series India Price (Expected): The iPhone 16 series may come with a lower price tag in India compared to the iPhone 15, thanks to a reduction in the basic customs duty on mobile phones from 20 per cent to 15 per cent. The iPhone 16 is expected to be priced around ₹67,000. The iPhone 16 Plus could cost approximately ₹75,500, while the iPhone 16 Pro is estimated to be available for ₹92,300. For those looking at the top-of-the-line model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is anticipated to be priced at ₹1,00,700. 

iPhone 16 Launch: Are you thinking of purchasing the iPhone 15? Hold on! Here’s why you should wait for the iPhone 16 series, set to be unveiled during Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event on 9 September next month. The excitement surrounding Apple’s latest iPhone 15 is undeniable, but with the iPhone 16 series on the horizon, you might want to reconsider your purchase. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to see significant upgrades compared to the current generation models. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are powered by the A16 Bionic chip, which debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro line. Adding further, both models missed out on the new Action button, which Apple introduced to replace the mute switch on the Pro models. However, things are set to change this year, as Apple plans to bring the base iPhone 16 models closer to the Pro models.  From groundbreaking features to expected upgrades that could redefine your smartphone experience, let’s have a quick look on the four compelling reasons why waiting for the iPhone 16 could be the smarter and perfect move.  Performance:  The Apple’s iPhone 16 base models will see a significant boost in terms of performance. The Cupertino-based tech giant might use the A18 chip from the Pro models in these base versions as well. However, the company could configure the chip differently for various models, so the iPhone 16 and iPhone  Plus models might have fewer cores for the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) compared to the Pro models. However, these base iPhone 16 models will be a considerable upgrade over their previous generation counterparts.  To enhance performance, Apple may provide 8GB of RAM in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, as this is the minimum requirement for running advanced intelligence features. This is a significant improvement compared to the 6GB RAM in previous generation models.  Design:  The base iPhone 16 models might feature some cosmetic changes. The rear camera module on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus could be aligned vertically instead of diagonally when compared to the previous generation,. Adding further, Apple might introduce new colour options for the base variants. Apple Intelligence:  It is important to note that Apple’s suite of artificial intelligence features is coming to the entire iPhone 16 series. The upcoming Apple Intelligence features include text generation and summarisation tools across the board. It also houses the Image Playground app for generating images from prompts, Genmoji for generating emojis using artificial intelligence, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT integration into the operating system. Moreover, it has an improved artificial intelligence-powered Siri with better natural language processing capabilities.   Functionality:  The base iPhone 16 models are expected to come with the “Pro” elements. The capacitive Action Button, which replaces the mute switch on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone Pro Max, is expected to be included in the base models of the iPhone 16 series as well. Unlike the mute switch, which only allows users to switch between sound profiles, the Action Button offers a wide range of functions and customization options based on user preferences.

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday granted a one-month extension to access service providers to comply with its direction regarding the whitelisting of URLs, APKs and OTT links. TRAI had earlier asked major telecom operators in the country to regulate messages containing URLs, OTT link, APK files and phone numbers unless they are whitelisted by September 1. The move is aimed at curbing the number of spam and phishing attempts by scammers who try to dupe people using SMS service. The telecom regulator has now directed all access providers to furnish to the authority an updated status on action taken within 15 days and a compliance report within 30 days from date of issue of this direction. The revised direction mandates that all access providers ensure that traffic containing URLs/APKs/OTT links, which are not whitelisted, is not permitted with effect from October 1. “This step aims to curb the misuse of Headers and Content Templates, ensuring a more secure and efficient telecom ecosystem. Further, in consideration of the issues brought out by Access Providers, the revised timeline for implementing call back numbers will be fixed separately,” said TRAI. On August 20, the Centre mandated access service providers to take concrete measures to curb misuse of messaging services, effective from September 1. All access service providers were to be prohibited from transmitting messages containing URLs, APKs, OTT links, or call back numbers which are not whitelisted by the senders. To deter the misuse of templates for promotional content, TRAI has introduced punitive measures for non-compliance. “Content templates registered under the wrong category will be blacklisted, and repeated offenses will lead to a one-month suspension of the sender’s services,” said the government. The telecom regulator said that the revocation of traffic from the sender shall be done only after legal action is taken by the sender against such misuse.

Realme 13 Pro+ New Variant: Realme has launched a new colour variant of the Realme 13 Pro+ smartphone in India. Notably, the Chinese tech brand has already launched the Realme 13 Pro+ in July this year alongside the Realme 13 Pro 5G. Initially, the handset was available in the country in two colour options — Green and Gold. Now, the Realme 13 Pro+ will be offered in a third Monet Purple shade as well.  Realme 13 Pro+  Price And Availability: The recently launched smartphone is priced at Rs 32,999 for the 8GB + 256GB storage model. The 12GB + 256GB variant costs at Rs 34,999, while the 12GB + 512GB storage model carries a price tag of Rs 36,999.  Consumers can purchase the Realme 13 Pro+ 5G with a new variant on September 2 at 12pm IST via Flipkart, the Realme India website and offline mainline stores. Realme 13 Pro+ New Colour Variant Bank Offers:  Customers who purchase the Monet Purple colour option between noon and midnight on September 2 can take advantage of a ₹3,000 bank offer and a Rs 4,000 exchange offer. It’s important to note that the bank offer is exclusively available during this time frame and applies only to the new purple variant.  Realme 13 Pro+ Specifications:  The smartphone features a 6.7-inch full-HD+(1,080×2,412 pixels) AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a 5,200mAh battery along with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging support. The dual-SIM (Nano) Realme 13 Pro+ runs on Android 14-based Realme UI 5.0 and powered by an octa-core 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, along with an Adreno 710 GPU.  In the camera department, the phone comes with a triple rear camera unit which includes a 50-megapixel 1 / 1.56-inch LYT-701 sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an f/1.88 aperture, a 50-megapixel LYT-600 periscope telephoto camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens.  For selfies and video chats, there is a 32-megapixel camera for selfies and video chats. Notably, the camera setup is equipped with several AI-based features such as AI audio zoom, AI group enhance and AI smart removal among others collectively called HyperImage+.  

Motorola Razr 50 India Launch: Motorola has announced the launch date for its latest foldable Motorola Razr 50 smartphone in India. This is the second foldable smartphone from Motorola to launch here after the Razr 50 Ultra. The Lenovo-owned brand is launching the Motorola Razr 50 foldable device in India on September 9 this year.  The foldable smartphone is expected to come with direct access to Google’s Gemini AI assistant from the external display. Consumers can purchase the foldable Motorola Razr 50 smartphone via Amazon India, the Motorola India website and leading retail stores. However, there is no official confirmation from the company yet whether Motorola will host an event for the Razr 50 India launch or not. Notably, the upcoming smartphone was already unveiled in China with the same moniker in June, but it is available in US markets as Motorola Razr 2024.  Make your #MotorolaRazr50 more you! Choose animated characters, photos, & templates for Home & Lock screens. Keep commenting—you’re so close to win #FlipItOrMissIt contest! T&C: https://t.co/30LCgXhEP9 Launching 9 Sep on Amazon Specials, https://t.co/YA8qpSWDkw & leading stores — Motorola India (@motorolaindia) August 31, 2024 Motorola Razr 50 Specifications (Expected) The foldable smartphone is rumoured to feature a 6.9-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,640 pixels) pOLED inner display and a 3.6-inch full-HD+ (1,056×1,066 pixels) pOLED cover display.  It is expected to run on a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chipset alongside up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. The foldable smartphone is expected to be powered by a 4200mAh battery with support for 30W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging.   On the optics front, the foldable phone could sport a dual outer camera unit comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor and a 13-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera. For selfies and video chats, there is a 32-megapixel shooter on the inner display along with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.