Jazz Dominates Ookla’s Latest Mobile Internet Rankings:
Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, has unveiled its most recent report evaluating internet performance in Pakistan during Q3, 2023. This comprehensive report assesses the speed, consistency, and latency of all mobile network operators and broadband internet service providers in the country. According to the report, Jazz achieved the highest average download speed nationwide. With a median download speed of 20.63 Mbps, it secured the top position among the other three telcos in the 3rd quarter of 2023. Zong secured second place on the list with an average speed of 16.44 Mbps, followed by Ufone with 10.26 Mbps. With 4.77 Mbps, Telenor came in last.
Telenor Pakistan Solidifies Its Resolve Towards Customers with Customer Day 2023:
Telenor Pakistan has successfully completed its annual Customer Day nationwide through extensive on-ground outreach into local communities and neighborhoods across the country. Valuable customer feedback was gathered through market visits and surveys and will be used for continuous improvement and innovation initiatives.
Zong 4G: The Digital Lifeline of CPEC and 15 Years of Transforming Pakistan’s Telecom Landscape:
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) stands as a beacon of progress and collaboration between the two nations. This initiative not only reshapes Pakistan’s socioeconomic landscape but also strengthens the bonds of friendship between Pakistan and China. In CPEC’s 10th Year, the progress that China and Pakistan have made along the CPEC route is commendable. Its impact is far-reaching as this long-term project reaches into every corner of Pakistan’s economy from trade and marketing to industry, construction, energy, agriculture, technological knowledge transfer, and education. It promises to sustain countless livelihoods in the years to come, acting as a gateway to prosperity.
Nvidia RTX 40 Series GPUs to Get ‘Super’ Models Soon:
Nvidia skipped out on its super versions of GPUs with its last generation of the RTX 30 series of graphics cards, but that will not be the case this time according to a new report from an industry tipster. The report from the tipster @hongxing2020 says that Nvidia is preparing to launch super GPUs for the RTX 4070, RTX 4070 Ti, and the RTX 4080. This leakster has been historically accurate with his reports. He has previously reported launch dates for Nvidia GPUs and also was the first to inform that Nvidia would rename the RTX 4080 to the RTX 4070 Ti.
Ufone 4G Introduces VoLTE for HD Voice & Video Calling Experience Over 4G Network:
Pakistani mobile operator, Ufone 4G is set to introduce a seamless voice and video calling experience for its customers with its newly launched Voice over LTE (VoLTE) service. VoLTE delivers a superior voice and video calling experience with crystal-clear voice quality and enhanced call connectivity over cellular networks.
Oppo Find N3 Flip is Now Available Globally:
Oppo recently took center stage at an impressive event in Singapore, lasting nearly two hours, to introduce the Find N3 Flip and Oppo Pad 2 to the global market. Alongside these two devices, the Chinese phone maker also unveiled its Samsung Galaxy Z Fold rival, the Find N3 to the global market. We have already covered this device in a separate article. Going back to the Find N3 Flip, despite the extensive focus on the showcased devices during the event, Oppo shared only minimal information regarding their specific market availability.
Oppo Find N3 Launched Globally for the First Time, Taking on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold:
The Oppo Find N3 has been officially unveiled, and notably, it will be the company’s first horizontal foldable device to reach international markets outside of China. Continuing the tradition of shorter and wider book-style foldable smartphones, the Oppo Find N3 features a 6.31-inch AMOLED outer display with a resolution of 2484 x 1116 pixels. This screen boasts a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 10 to 120 Hz and offers a nearly conventional 20:9 aspect ratio, delivering a stunning peak brightness of up to 2,800 nits.
Apple’s Foldable iPad Production is On High Priority Now:
The world’s first foldable tablet may just come from Apple and it could launch as soon as next year, says a new report from DigiTimes. According to the report, which was spotted by MacRumors, the foldable iPad is currently undergoing ‘intensive development’. The hardware suppliers for this mysterious tablet remain unknown, but the slate is expected to go into a small production run near the end of 2024. If everything goes as planned, we could see this foldable iPad hit the stores at the end of 2024 or early 2025.
IT Ministry Forms Committee to Resolve Disputes Between Telcos and Land Owners:
The Ministry of IT and Telecom (MoITT) has formed a committee to solve the problems related to the right of way (RoW), well-informed sources told Media. The committee will comprise Ministry of IT and Telecom officials and representatives from telecom companies. According to sources, the IT Ministry has formed a committee at the request of telecom operators. The committee will work to remove the obstacles in the way of implementation of the right of way policy. Sources added that despite the approval of the right-of-way policy, the right-of-way problems of telecom companies are not resolved completely. Under the right-of-way policy, if there is any dispute between the land owner and the operator regarding charges or any other issue, the matter will go to the “appropriate government”.
Meta is Bringing WhatsApp’s Channels to Facebook and Messenger:
Over the years, Meta has often drawn inspiration from its competitors to introduce similar features, with some fading into obscurity while others, like Stories, surpass the originals in popularity. Today marks another instance of this trend. Meta is expanding its Telegram-inspired broadcast channels, initially featured in Instagram and WhatsApp, to Facebook and Messenger in the forthcoming weeks. According to the company, people running Facebook Pages can initiate these broadcast channels as a means to foster more profound engagement with their followers.
Elon Musk says X to have two new premium tiers:
Elon Musk has said his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, will launch two new tiers of premium subscriptions. “One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive, but has no ads,” the billionaire said in a post on X. It comes as the firm started charging new users $1 in New Zealand and the Philippines for accessing the platform. Mr Musk did not provide more details on the plans.
Hampshire AI technology used to take blood pressure:
A device that uses artificial intelligence to take a person’s blood pressure could be rolled out across the country. The Lifelight has been developed by a company based on the Southampton University Science Park. In trials across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, patients look at a tablet screen that takes a blood pressure reading from their eyes in 40 seconds. The technology targets people who do not regularly engage with the NHS. Xim, the company behind Lifelight, has been running trials with the NHS since 2019 and claims it is already as accurate as the traditional inflatable cuff. The company hopes the contactless technology will be made available for patients to use at home on their tablets and smart phones.
Why a ‘hologram revolution’ could be on the way:
At this zoo visitors dodge stampeding elephants, peer into the gaping jaws of a hippopotamus and pat friendly giraffes. Such thrills are possible at Australia’s Hologram Zoo, which opened earlier this year, and features 50 lifelike displays from dinosaurs to gorillas crafted from lasers. Its creator says it’s the world’s most futuristic animal theme park, using technology that has never been used anywhere else. “There’s lots of laughing, lots of screaming… but when the 30-metre whale goes by, for some reason, everyone goes silent like they are in awe and reverence of such a magnificent creature,” explains Bruce Dell, the chief executive of Axiom Holographics and creator of Hologram Zoo. It is digital trickery, hoodwinking the brain into seeing something that isn’t really there.
Amazon trials humanoid robots to ‘free up’ staff:
Amazon is trialling humanoid robots in its US warehouses, in the latest sign of the tech giant automating more of its operations. Amazon said the move was about “freeing employees up to better deliver for our customers”. It said it was testing a new robot called Digit, which has arms and legs and can move, grasp and handle items in a similar fashion to a human. A union said Amazon had “been treating their workers like robots for years”. “Amazon’s automation is [a] head-first race to job losses. We’ve already seen hundreds of jobs disappear to it in fulfilment centres,” said Stuart Richards, an organiser at UK trade union GMB. As the announcement was made, Amazon said its robotics systems had in fact helped create “hundred of thousands of new jobs” within its operations. “This includes 700 categories of new job types, in skilled roles, which didn’t exist within the company beforehand,” the firm said.
Top crypto firms named in $1bn fraud lawsuit:
US prosecutors have accused three high-profile cryptocurrency firms of defrauding investors of more than $1bn. New York Attorney General Letitia James said Gemini, a crypto exchange, had lied to customers about the risks of an investment account it offered, which paid high interest rates on crypto. Genesis, a crypto lender, and its parent company Digital Currency Group were also involved in the programme. It was halted last November, cutting off customer access to funds. That came shortly after the collapse of FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange run by Sam Bankman-Fried, who is now fighting fraud charges of his own. Genesis, which had loaned heavily to his companies, filed for bankruptcy a few months later.
EU gives Meta and TikTok formal Hamas disinformation deadline:
TikTok and Meta have been formally told to provide the EU with information about the possible spread of disinformation on their platforms relating to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Previously they were given 24 hours to provide answers to the bloc’s concerns. But that request did not carry legal force, whereas this latest demand does. Both firms have a week to respond. Under its new tech rules, the EU can open a formal investigation if it is unsatisfied with their responses. The EU is concerned about the possible spread of terrorist and violent content, and hate speech, after Hamas’ attack on Israel. “We’ll publish our first transparency report under the [new law] next week, where we’ll include more information about our ongoing work to keep our European community safe,” a TikTok spokesperson said. A Meta spokesperson said: “Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation. We’re happy to provide further details of this work, beyond what we have already shared, and will respond to the European Commission.”
Amazon, Expedia and Trustpilot unite to fight fake reviews:
Major online firms including Amazon, Booking.com, Expedia and Tripadvisor have united to fight fake reviews. The group, which also includes workplace review site Glassdoor and review platform Trustpilot, will share information on deterring fraudsters. It follows concern that chatbot-like AI systems are being used to write bogus online reviews for profit. Fake reviews can damage a company’s reputation and lead consumers to buy poor-value products and services. A recent government report found that bogus reviews of products alone could cost UK consumers around £312m each year.
Netflix raises prices despite password crackdown success:
Netflix is raising prices for some of its subscription plans, despite the success of its recent crackdown on password sharing. The streaming giant said monthly charges for its UK basic service would rise by £1 to £7.99 and the premium option will increase by £2 to £17.99. It reflects the firm’s growing confidence, after adding 8.8 million subscribers from July to September. It was the most in more than two years. For viewers in the US, the premium plan will cost $3 more per month at $22.99 (£19.00). In France, premium subscribers will pay an extra €2 at €19.99 (£17.40). Netflix has been facing doubts about whether it can continue to draw in new members, as competition rises, prices climb and a Hollywood strike delays new releases.
Nokia to axe up to 14,000 jobs to cut costs:
Finnish telecoms giant Nokia is to axe between 9,000 and 14,000 jobs by the end of 2026 to cut costs. The announcement was made as the company reported a 20% drop in sales between July and September. The company blamed slowing demand for 5G equipment in markets such as North America. It currently has 86,000 employees around the world, and has axed thousands of jobs since 2015. Nokia wants to cut costs by between €800m and €1.2bn (£695m-£1bn) by 2026, it said. Its customers have been cutting spending amid high inflation and interest rates, it said.
Spider-Man 2: PS5 developer on stories, game length, and what’s next:
Spider-Man 2, one of the biggest games of the year, is out on PlayStation 5 this week. Reviews have praised the action-adventure’s open world and technical leaps over its PS4 prequel. The PS5 exclusive, priced at £69.99 in the UK, has also reignited a debate about game-length, with its main story mission estimated at about 15 hours. But creative director Bryan Intihar tells Media: “I feel confident in saying that it’s worth it.” Like the previous game, Spider-Man 2 takes place in a virtual New York City, and offers more side missions once you finish the main story. It’s estimated that completing the game’s main quest and its additional content will take roughly 40 hours in total. That’s in contrast to other major releases this year like Starfield and Baldur’s Gate 3, which can potentially be played for hundreds of hours. Some fans say they want more for their money, while others push back on the idea that longer is always better.
Amazon pledges parcels in an hour using drone deliveries:
Amazon has announced it will start using drones to deliver parcels in the UK in under an hour. The online retail giant said the service would start in one location which is yet to be revealed, at the end of 2024. The company already offers drone deliveries in two US states for goods weighing no more than 5lbs (2.2kg). The aviation regulator said “exploring” how drones could be safely used in more of the UK’s airspace was “key”. Amazon said it was working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to meet regulations, while the government said the move would help it understand “how to best use the new technology safely and securely”. David Carbon, vice president of Amazon Prime Air, said he believed there was demand for the technology in the UK and that it was “absolutely safe”.
AI socks trial could help people with dementia and autism:
Carers of people with dementia and autism could get support from socks which use artificial intelligence (AI). The SmartSocks, created by Milbotix, alert carers when the wearer is in distress. The socks track heart rate, sweat, temperature and motion, to enable those caring for people to intervene before issues escalate. The Dorset Integrated Care System will trial the socks at care homes in 2024. Councillor Jane Somper, from Dorset Council, said “Smart Socks can help enable people living with dementia or other conditions to retain their independence and have better day-to-day quality of life.”