vivo Shines Bright at ITCN Asia 2023: Paving the Way for Technological Innovation and Local Manufacturing in Pakistan:
vivo, a leading global smartphone brand, enthusiastically participated at ITCN Asia 2023, the premier Information Technology & Telecom Show organized by Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. This event proved to be a remarkable gathering of Pakistan’s entire tech ecosystem under one roof — emphasizing the theme of local manufacturing and technological innovation in Pakistan. ITCN Asia, a three-day extravaganza, provided a comprehensive platform for showcasing solutions across various vital sectors of the economy, including Government, Cloud, Data Center, Cybersecurity, ERP, Education, Banking & Finance, Health & Pharma, Ecommerce, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics. The event fostered networking, knowledge sharing, lead generation, and a series of conferences that facilitated the exchange of knowledge and experiences among industry leaders and professionals.
Ministry of Education and Higher Education Hosts Huawei Seeds for the Future 2023 Qatar Week Finale:
After a week-long endeavor, Huawei successfully concluded its first phase of the esteemed “Seeds for the Future” program, which was open to university students from the Middle East and Central Asia. Huawei kicked off the first phase of the 2023 Seeds for the Future Program in Doha, Qatar, on September 3rd, 2023. Around 175 students hailing from the Middle East and Central Asia (ME & CA) gathered in Qatar. Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program is the company’s flagship CSR program that aims to develop ICT talents globally.
Spotify Will Get Free Audiobooks Soon:
Spotify appears to be exploring new avenues for diversifying its content through a pilot program that allows subscribers to access free audiobooks. As reported by The Media, the streaming platform is currently in collaboration with some of the largest publishers in the US, finalizing the details of this endeavor. According to the report, users will have the opportunity to listen to a maximum of 20 hours of content per month at no additional cost. While the initial lineup of books has not been confirmed as it’s still in the process of being determined, it is anticipated to encompass a wide range of titles.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Price Leaked Ahead of Launch:
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro may be cheaper than we thought despite the global economic turndown. However, the same cannot be said about the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is expected to cost $100 more this time, according to a new report from Media. The report comes as a mixed bag of good news and bad news. The good news is that the iPhone 15 Pro will be safe from the rumored price hike and will start at $999 just as before, at least in the US. The new Pro Max model, however, will be $1199 this year, which is $100 more than before, as per Media’s report. The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to come with a 6.1-inch OLED screen, three cameras on the back, and the new A17 Bionic chip based on TSMC’s next-generation 3nm process. It may also have a titanium frame as well as an upgraded camera system, though the details remain unclear. It will have 8 GB RAM and up to 1 TB of storage.
UAE Warns of Hackers Targeting Apple and Android Users:
The UAE’s Cyber Security Council has sounded an alarm about a cyber threat that could impact Apple and Android device users. In a recent tweet, it highlighted an emergency update from Apple addressing a critical security flaw. It also mentioned three specific vulnerability codes for Android users. In simple terms, these glitches could let hackers sneak into your device, access your private info, and even take complete control of your phone or tablet. The council strongly recommends downloading the newest updates from both Apple and Android to stay protected. A group called Citizen Lab, which keeps a close eye on digital threats, uncovered that spyware tied to the company NSO was exploiting the recent flaw in Apple gadgets.
Tecno Confirms Launch Date for Its First Ever Flip Phone:
Tecno made waves with its horizontally folding Phantom V Fold at MWC 2023 in late February, and now, the Chinese brand is gearing up to introduce its first clamshell foldable smartphone, known as the Tecno Phantom V Flip. The official unveiling of the Tecno Phantom V Flip is scheduled for September 22 at an event in Singapore, set to commence at 12 PM PKT. In addition to the Phantom V Flip, Tecno will also be launching the MegaBook T1 2023, a 14″ laptop. While the company has been tight-lipped about specific details regarding these products, leaked images have offered a sneak peek at the Tecno Phantom V Flip, showcasing a circular cover display adorned with two cameras.
Google Pixel 8 Series Fully Revealed in Teaser Video Ahead of Launch:
Towards the end of the previous month, in response to Apple’s announcement of its September 12 event, Google unveiled that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro would have their official debut on October 4. Just over a week has passed since that revelation, and it appears that Google is finding it difficult to contain its enthusiasm for the upcoming event. As evidence of this excitement, Google released two teaser videos today. The first video is the more traditional teaser, offering quick glimpses of various products, including the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Huawei’s Most Powerful Mate 60 Phone Launched With Better Cameras:
After introducing the Mate 60 and Mate 60 Pro, Huawei has unveiled the pinnacle of the family, the Huawei Mate 60 Pro+. Building upon the foundation of the regular Pro model, the Pro+ takes things to the next level. The Pro+ features a 6.82″ LTPO OLED display, akin to the Pro variant, but it offers slightly sharper visuals at 1,260 x 2,720 pixels. This display is a 10-bit panel with a refresh rate that ranges from 1Hz to 120Hz, along with a rapid 300Hz touch sampling rate. Brightness control is managed through a high-frequency PWM dimming at 1,440Hz.
Huawei Mate X5 Launched With Satellite Messaging and Silicon Carbon Battery:
Huawei continues to surprise with its recent smartphone launches, and the latest addition to its lineup is the Mate X5. There is no Mate X4 since 4 is considered an unlucky number in China. Hence, this device serves as a direct successor to the Mate X3 and brings significant improvements under the hood, while the design remains largely unchanged. The Mate X5 features the same 7.85-inch LTPO OLED main display with a resolution of 2,224 x 2,496 pixels, as well as a 6.4-inch LTPO OLED cover display with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,504 pixels, both protected by Kunlun Glass.
Nokia Rebuts IT Minister’s Claim About CEO’s Visit to Pakistan:
Nokia has rebutted the claim of Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Dr. Umar Saif, that the company’s CEO is set to visit Pakistan soon. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) dated September 5, the IT minister said that he is looking forward to hosting the CEO of Nokia in Pakistan soon. An official press release issued by the Press Information Department (PID), still available on the website, also carried the minister’s claim. The press release mentioned that the Honorary Consul General of Pakistan in Finland & Chairman Finland-Pakistan Business Council Wille Eerola called on the IT Minister. The press release said that during the meeting Dr Saif told Eerola that the ‘CEO of Nokia was coming soon in Pakistan.’
Finding beauty in rugged sights of the Black Country:
Stunningly colourful images featuring the post-industrial landscape of the Black Country in the West Midlands have been brought together in a new collection. The work of artist, writer and curator Tom Hicks focusses on the typography, signage and street signs of his local area. He said he was trying to showcase the “sometimes hidden beauty” of the boroughs in his compositions. Kingswinford-based Hicks, 50, said he takes the images while “drifting” around unexplored areas on his bike.
Ukraine war: Kyiv foils big Russian drone attack, officials say:
Kyiv was attacked by Russian drones early on Sunday and debris fell in several districts, Ukrainian officials say, but no casualties were reported. At least 10 explosions were heard in the capital and air raid sirens signalled that residents should take shelter. Later the all-clear sounded. Kyiv Military Administration chief Serhiy Popko said debris had sparked a fire in a residential building, but it had been extinguished. Drones have also hit Kyiv previously. On Sunday, the city authorities named the affected districts as Podilskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Shevchenkivskyi, all in or near the city centre. Kyiv’s air defence system has proven effective at downing most Russian drones and missiles targeting the city.
Stopping the scammers who target online jobseekers:
“Last week via LinkedIn, a person who presented himself as a recruiter for a UK-based company hiring content writers sent me a message,” says writer Margo Gabriel. “It piqued my interest, because the job would sponsor my relocation and work visa. He then said he would arrange an interview if I were interested – and I was.” But Ms Gabriel’s suspicions were raised when she was told that the job would actually be based in Saudi Arabia rather than the UK, and the “recruiter” was cagey about details. When she contacted LinkedIn, Ms Gabriel, who lives in Portugal, was advised to block him as a probable fraudster – and now believes she had a lucky escape.
Northumberland NHS drone trial ‘massive airspace grab’:
Flight restrictions to allow drones to transport supplies between hospitals is a “massive airspace grab” that will ground other aircraft, it is claimed. Apian Ltd secured a temporary danger area (TDA) airspace closure for a drone trial between February and May and is applying for it to continue. But opponents say it extends far wider and higher than necessary. Apian said it was involved in a “formal engagement process on airspace changes” and no decision had been made. A spokesperson said it wanted to “engage with as many individuals and groups as possible to hear their feedback and take it on board wherever we can”. The Civil Aviation Authority, which will decide whether to approve the TDA, said it did not comment on specific airspace change proposals.
London robotic surgeon celebrates its 10,000th procedure:
Da Vinci, a robotic surgeon, has celebrated its 10,000th procedure after nearly 20 years of helping patients. It has been at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital for almost two decades, and its arms are operated by human surgeons. Head of Robotics at the NHS trust, Ben Challacombe, said Da Vinci helps surgeons perform operations and it improves outcomes for patients.
Elusive Ernie: China’s new chatbot has a censorship problem:
“Let’s talk about something else.” That is a frequent response you get from China’s newest sensation, Ernie, if you ask it “difficult” questions. The chatbot, launched by search engine giant Baidu, deflects anything deemed too sensitive. Ernie, touted as Baidu’s answer to ChatGPT, was introduced with great fanfare in recent weeks, pumping up the company’s shares. Baidu said it had received 33.42 million user enquiries within the first 24 hours of operation, averaging 23,000 questions per minute. Another Chinese tech giant, Tencent, announced on Thursday that it had also launched a chatbot. However, that is currently only open to “invited users” – which seems to mostly mean companies.
The Sidemen: Our YouTube content lets you escape:
If you needed confirmation that YouTubers are the modern-day equivalent of Hollywood stars, then you only need to look at the Sidemen. A super-group of UK creators, they’ve worked together for more than 10 years and have a combined 130 million subscribers. The seven members, most famously lead by rapper and boxer KSI, can’t go anywhere without being mobbed by fans. One of the group, TBJZL or Tobi Brown, says its “surreal”. Aside from KSI and TBJZL, the rest of the group is made up of Miniminter, Vikkstar123, Zerkaa, Behzinga and W2S. Capitalising on the early boom of YouTube content creation in the early 2010s, much of the Sidemen’s early work involved playing and reacting to video games but has gone on to evolve into comedy sketches and travel challenges, such as road trips and budget versus luxury holiday stays.
Channel 4 to put Hollyoaks episodes on YouTube for first time:
Channel 4 is shaking up how it broadcasts its long-running soap Hollyoaks, by expanding onto YouTube while dropping its weekday episodes from the terrestrial channel. The broadcaster announced last year it would take a streaming-first approach with the show, which is aimed at younger audiences. Episodes will be available to stream the day before they’re broadcast on E4. They will also go on YouTube for the first time – a week after streaming.
Roblox coming to PlayStation 4 and PS5:
The massively popular children’s gaming platform Roblox has announced plans to launch on Sony’s PlayStation consoles. Roblox has more than 60 million players a day, according to the firm, but it has come under criticism over concerns about poor moderation of its content. Other announcements include a new way to make characters, a communication tool called Roblox Connect, and a full release on Meta’s VR platform Quest. It will be available on PlayStation 4 and PS5 in October 2023. Previously, it was only available to play on computers and mobile devices, and on Microsoft’s Xbox One console. It is a big move from Roblox as it shores up its position as one of the most popular gaming platforms in the world.
Thodex cryptocurrency boss jailed for 11,196 years in Turkey for fraud:
A Turkish cryptocurrency boss and his two siblings have been jailed for 11,196 years each for defrauding investors of millions of dollars. Faruk Fatih Ozer, 29, fled to Albania in 2021 with investor assets after his Thodex exchange suddenly collapsed. He was extradited back to Turkey in June and found guilty of money-laundering, fraud and organised crime. Ozer told the court he would “not have acted so amateurishly” if his intent was criminal, state media reported. “I am smart enough to lead any institution on Earth,” the Anadolu agency quoted him as saying. “That is evident in this company I established at the age of 22.” The brief trial in Istanbul also found his sister Serap and brother Guven guilty of the same charges. Turkish news agencies said that the defendants were sentenced separately for multiple crimes against 2,027 victims, leading to the total number of years in the judgement.