Oppo Has a Tri-Fold Phone Concept Too:
Foldable smartphones have come a long way since their inception over half a decade ago. As the technology matures, the industry anticipates the next evolutionary leap: tri-fold devices.Major players like Huawei and Tecno have already offered glimpses of their tri-fold prototypes, and now Oppo is stepping into the spotlight to showcase its take on this cutting-edge form factor. Oppo is offering a sneak peek into the future of foldable smartphones with a render of its upcoming tri-fold device. Zhou Yibao, product manager for the Oppo Find series, shared an image showcasing the device’s innovative design, featuring two hinges, a nearly bezel-less main screen, and a stylish faux leather back.
PTA Starts Blocking Social Media Content, Websites Through Controversial Web Monitoring System:
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started blocking online content through its Web Monitoring System, restricting access to numerous websites, social media links, and mobile applications. The Minister in charge Cabinet Division informed the National Assembly through a written reply that the PTA has so far blocked 2,369 URLs and 183 mobile applications involved in exposing personal data and identity information, through its Web Monitoring System.Sources told Media that the WMS is a surveillance infrastructure that utilizes Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology, granting PTA extensive control over internet traffic at the gateway level. This system, acquired from a Canadian firm in 2019 for approximately $18 million, allows the PTA to enforce blocking and censorship measures on a large scale.
ONIC Sets Groundbreaking Telecom Benchmarks with Digital Connectivity:
ONIC, a pioneering digital telco brand launched just a year ago, has made a remarkable impact on Pakistan’s telecom industry. It started as a bold vision, which has become a thriving reality through transforming how people connect and setting new standards for the future. Since its inception, ONIC has experienced remarkable growth in digital-first subscribers, solidifying its unique position in a historically traditional telco market. This surge in subscribers highlight the brand’s strong appeal and the effectiveness of its segmented approach, inspiring competitors to follow suit.
What Makes a Smartphone “So Cool”? Check out the Latest vivo Y28 with Trendy Design and 6000mAh Battery:
In a world brimming with smartphones, the latest vivo Y28 confidently steps forward, not just boasting smarts, but owning its “Y So Cool” attitude. This phone knows what it takes to turn heads, promising a perfect blend of style and substance that perfectly resonates with a generation that refuses to settle for the ordinary. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Y28 boasts high-performance specs, ready to dominate the road. The star of the show is the massive 6000 mAh battery coupled with 44W FlashCharge technology, promising a revolutionary daily charge experience. Imagine juicing up your phone in minutes, not hours, freeing you from the tyranny of battery anxiety, and just being cool.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Slim to Have a Different Name:
Samsung’s upcoming foldable smartphone is ditching the predictable naming conventions and opting for a more distinctive title. Despite previous speculation surrounding names like Galaxy Z Fold Slim, Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim, Galaxy Z Fold Ultra, and Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra, the device will officially be known as the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, according to renowned leakster Evan Blass. Blass is known for his reliable tech leaks. Blass also talked about the device’s screen dimensions. He said the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition will boast a 6.5-inch outer screen and an expansive 8-inch inner display. The device will measure a mere 4.9mm thick when unfolded, expanding to a still-svelte 10.6mm when folded.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to Beat Google Pixel and iPhone in Thinness:
Whispers about a design overhaul for Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra have been circulating for months, with speculation centering on a more ergonomic form factor. The latest rumor suggests that Samsung’s pursuit of a comfortable grip won’t come at the expense of portability. If the rumors hold, the S25 Ultra is poised to be remarkably thin and light. Leaked information hints that the S25 Ultra will outdo both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL in the slimness and weight categories.
Telegram CEO Charged and Barred From Leaving France:
French authorities have formally charged Telegram CEO Pavel Durov with multiple crimes, including complicity in distributing child pornography, illegal drugs, and hacking software. Durov is also accused of failing to cooperate with investigations into illegal activities on the Telegram messaging app.On Wednesday, a French court released Durov on a €5 million bail but restricted him from leaving the country. The charges stem from a larger investigation into Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating criminal activity. Durov, a Russian billionaire, was initially detained by French authorities last Saturday upon arriving at a Paris airport.
PTA Caught Changing Long-Distance and International License Clauses Without Approval:
The Auditor General of Pakistan has raised concerns over the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for allegedly altering the clauses of Long-Distance and International (LDI) licenses without the necessary approval from the federal government.The modifications, which involve the addition of new clauses 3.2.6 to 3.2.8 under the heading “Network Rollout Obligations,” were made to the LDI license issued to M/s Zeta Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. on January 5, 2023. According to the Auditor General, this action violates the provisions of the Telecommunication Policy 2015 and De-Regulation Policy 2003.
Instagram Could Get Real Time Spotify Integration:
Instagram might be preparing to amplify its musical integration, according to recent findings by mobile developer Alessandro Paluzzi. Paluzzi uncovered evidence of a potential new feature within Instagram’s code: real-time Spotify integration.This discovery suggests that Instagram users may soon see automatic Notes generated on their profiles based on their Spotify listening activity. These Notes, which appear prominently at the top of a user’s inbox and profile picture, would provide a glimpse into the user’s current musical taste for anyone visiting their profile.
Police Officers Caught Selling Mobile Network Users’ Data:
According to a notification from the Ministry of Interior, 72 investigative officers have access to telecom consumers’ data, based on sources from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). PTA’s investigations into 21 complaints of data leakage found police officers involved in the sale of data. Sources claim that police officers from Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh were involved. These officers were selling a consumer’s data for Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,000 and were earning up to Rs. 250,000 from the sale of this data. Officers involved in the sale of data claimed their accounts were compromised upon being caught. PTA has sent a notification to the Ministry of Interior regarding the matter, telling the ministry of data leaks and sales through law enforcement personnel.
PTA Blocks 469 Mobile Apps for Unlawful Content Under PECA Act:
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked a total of 469 mobile applications based on complaints received from stakeholder organizations and the general public, according to a document of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. The blocked applications include 435 Android apps and 34 Apple apps, which were categorized as containing content against the glory of Islam, indecent or immoral material, and fraudulent activities. The authority’s actions are governed by Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which grants PTA the power to remove or block online content if deemed necessary for various reasons, including national security, public order, and decency.
Pakistani Apps Were Downloaded 1.6 Billion Times Worldwide in 2023:
Pakistan recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32% in global downloads of locally-made apps from 2018 to 2023. In 2023, apps developed in Pakistan were downloaded 1.6 billion times worldwide. Google remains committed to closely supporting Pakistan’s gaming and app industry and has launched new programs including Game Design Masterclass and Google Ads Academy across major cities. Google hosted Think Apps 2024 in Lahore, bringing together nearly 350 of Pakistan’s top developers, alongside global and regional industry leaders and experts. Building on the success of Think Apps in 2023, this year’s event, the largest for the industry, focused on empowering developers to harness AI to drive innovation, growth, and sustainability in Pakistan’s expanding app industry.
AI cameras to spot region’s drivers on phones:
Cameras which use AI to automatically detect drivers on phones and those not wearing seat belts are being deployed in Greater Manchester as part of rollout of a national trial. Acusensus, which is behind the “Heads Up” technology, said footage that was found to contain evidence of an offence would be sent for a secondary human check. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said the regional trial, which begins on 3 September, would also be used by Safer Roads Greater Manchester as a traffic survey to understand how many drivers still choose to break the law. Distractions and not wearing seatbelts were “key factors” in crashes, it added.
AI chip giant Nvidia shares fall despite record sales:
Shares in Nvidia have fallen despite the artificial intelligence (AI) chip giant comfortably beating expectations after more than doubling its sales.
Nvidia announced record revenues of $30bn (£24.7bn) over a three-month period. The company has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom, with its stock market value soaring to more than $3 trillion. But while analysts have grown used to Nvidia producing “spectacular” sales growth, the latest results indicate “that rate of growth was starting to slow,” said Simon French, head of research at Panmure Liberum.
Star Wars Outlaws maker defends glitches in ‘complex’ game:
The journey to the first-ever open-world Star Wars game has had intrigue, interest and for those with early access, some bugs and glitches. Some pre-release players of Star Wars Outlaws have reported problems with game progression, being stuck in certain parts of the game and issues with saving, with studio Ubisoft now advising of possible fixes. But the early issues are a source of slight frustration for Julian Gerighty, creative director for Massive Entertainment, which made the game. “When you have millions of players step into your world, you’d rather it not happen,” he tells the Media.”It’s one of those things that we’ll keep a look out for, keep correcting and keep improving.”
Telegram boss banned from leaving France in criminal probe:
Telegram boss and founder Pavel Durov has been placed under formal investigation in France as part of a probe into organised crime on the messaging app, Paris prosecutors say. Mr Durov, 39, has not been remanded in custody, but placed under judicial supervision, and has to pay a €5m (£4.2m; $5.6m) deposit. The Russian-born billionaire, who is also a French national, also has to show up at a French police station twice a week and is not allowed to leave French territory. Mr Durov was first detained upon arrival at Le Bourget airport north of Paris last Saturday under a warrant for offences related to the app.
Klarna: AI lets us cut thousands of jobs – but pay more:
The buy now, pay later firm Klarna is seeking to get rid of almost half its employees in the coming years through efficiencies it says arise out of its investment in artificial intelligence (AI). The firm has already cut its workforce from 5,000 to 3,800 in the past year, and wants to reduce that to 2,000 employees by using AI in marketing and customer service.
Boss Sebastian Siemiatkowski told the Media the job cuts would mean Klarna could pay its remaining workers more. But he said the government needed to think about what to do about AI, which he predicted would have “a dramatic impact” on jobs and society.
Zuckerberg regrets bowing to Biden ‘pressure’ over Covid:
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg says he regrets bowing to what he calls pressure from the Biden administration to “censor” content on Facebook and Instagram during the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter sent to a US House committee chair, he said some material – including humour and satire – was taken down in 2021 under pressure from senior officials. The White House has defended its actions, saying it encouraged “responsible actions to protect public health and safety”. Mr Zuckerberg also said his firm briefly “demoted” content relating to Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, ahead of the 2020 election, after the FBI warned of “a potential Russian disinformation” operation.
Blockbuster Chinese video game tried to police players – and divided the internet:
An anthropomorphic monkey and a campaign against “feminist propaganda” set the video gaming community alight this week, following the release of the most successful Chinese title of all time. Many players were furious after the company behind Black Myth: Wukong sent them a list of topics to avoid while livestreaming the game, including “feminist propaganda, fetishisation, and other content that instigates negative discourse”. Still, within 24 hours of its release on Tuesday, it became the second most-played game ever on streaming platform Steam, garnering more than 2.1 million concurrent players and selling more than 4.5 million copies.The game, based on the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, is being seen as a rare example of popular media broadcasting Chinese stories on an international stage.
Should you have to pay for online privacy?:
It is an increasingly common message from websites: browse for free – if you allow us to track your data and target you with personalised ads – if you don’t, hand over some cash. The model is known as “consent or pay” and, while it may be becoming increasingly common, questions remain over whether it is ethical or even legal. The UK data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a consultation on the practice – it will report its findings later this year. “In principle, data protection law does not prohibit business models that involve ‘consent or pay,'” the ICO says on its website. But it continues: “However, any organisation considering such a model must be careful to ensure that consent… has been freely given and is fully informed, as well as capable of being withdrawn without detriment.”
At-home trail cameras: Capturing the secret animal reality show in your own back garden:
An online community has erupted around people filming wildlife with backyard trail cameras, complete with dollhouse furniture film sets. It’s not just cute: the videos are uncovering animal secrets for biologists. Growing up in Los Angeles, I mostly ignored nature. “I’m a city person” I’d say to anyone who tried to drag me on a hike. But during lockdown, I noticed finches nesting on my balcony. I hung bird feeders and downloaded an app to ID bird calls, hoping for something to keep me away from doomscrolling. The finches made for a soothing distraction, but things really changed when I spotted a cute “critter cam” account on social media. People weren’t just feeding birds, they were filming them – even setting out a tiny hot tub for the birds to splash around in. I became obsessed. I bought a generic trail camera on Amazon to put in my yard. In a matter of days, I’d plunged into the lives of my neighbourhood skunks, squirrels and possums, a nature-made reality show unfolding in the bushes of my own garden. Depending on where you live, there’s probably a whole parallel universe of animal life right outside your window. All it takes is a little spy craft, and thanks to the proliferation of cheap cameras, a bustling population of critter enthusiasts has emerged online.
London through the ages inspires Civilization VII:
Fans of Civilization have been waiting almost a decade for the latest instalment of the cult video game series. Now it has been revealed that theme of time passing is pretty appropriate: the inspiration at the heart of Civilization VII, to be released in February, is how the capital of the UK has changed from the Roman era to now. And it all started with a map of Londinium – as London was known to the Romans. “Londinium looked like pretty much any frontier Roman town with an amphitheatre, baths, and a shaky bridge that crossed to the south side of the Thames,” observed the game’s lead developer Ed Beach, as he showed me the below map – used here courtesy of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “But I wanted to look at how this evolved, and how this changed as London grew and prospered.” It is the lessons from those changes that will lie at the heart of the new game.