Your Tech Story

Athulya

Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.

Reliance Jio

Qualcomm Newest Backer for Ambani-led Reliance Jio Group

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Reliance has come out with quite a few big announcements in the past month or so. It is clear that the Mukesh-Ambani-led company is planning something huge this year. Recently, Qualcomm became the newest backer of Reliance Jio. Reports flooded in yesterday, stating that the high-profile company had bought into Ambani’s Reliance Jio Platform. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about this new investment, and what it means for Reliance.

Investments in JIO

Over the past 12 weeks, Reliance JIO raised over $15.7 billion from a plethora of investors. As per reports, Qualcomm will be putting in $97 million into Reliance Jio for a 0.15% equity stake. Furthermore, the investment will occur on a fully diluted basis within the country’s biggest telecom operator. The statement outlined that Qualcomm would help Jio Platforms with their advanced 5G infrastructure, making things easier for their Indian customers. After Facebook buying a 9.99% stake for Rs 43,574 crore, Qualcomm is another large American company to invest in JIO. Headquartered in California, Qualcomm specialises in 4G and 5G technology enabling. Also, it files the highest number of patents in India, being a major player in the smartphone-chip space.

Reliance JIO Story

In India, Reliance Jio competes directly with Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. However, since inception, it has come out as a potent disruptor, gaining market share rapidly due to great marketing, and incredible cut-rate plans. Over the course of four years, it has grown to almost 400 million subscribers, becoming the world’s second-largest internet player. Reliance JIO has dominated the Indian telecom market while keeping the metric of average revenue per user at par with rivals. The parent company of JIO, Reliance Industries is India’s highest-valued firm with several high-profile investors. JIO too has been raking up investors, of the likes of, Facebook, Intel and even General Atlantic. Through these investments, Jio Platforms has sold approximately 25% stake, as a means to raise more capital.

JIO Services

Reliance’s digital service units also features an array of digital services, such as streaming for music, movies, shows and TV and even sports. To the tally of services, it recently added a video conferencing application just earlier this month. As per Qualcomm’s Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf, Jio Platforms is planning on delivering a new set of services to the Indian public in the months to come. He also stated that 5G will help revolutionise the Indian infrastructure, transforming every industry within the country. Since Jio has led India’s digital revolution via an array of technological capabilities, Qualcomm will do everything it can to further this revolution. 

Political Reasons at Play

As per certain experts within the field, Mukesh Ambani’s closeness with BJP, which rules India, is helping make JIO all the more attractive. Due to this closeness, buying into JIO, might help them negotiate better regulations, and lower the burden they currently face within the country. However, most of these are obscure reports and speculation, as the investors do not want to publicly talk of their political connections. Furthermore, the global initiative to cut back on the reliance on China is also helping JIO get global backing. Both India and the US have been taking proactive steps to reduce their dependency on China. Just recently, India banned the use of over 58 Chinese applications and services, including TikTok. In line with this stand, Reliance JIO does not have any Chinese investor on-board.

Through a statement, Ambani expressed his joy over the collaboration, calling Qualcomm a valued partner. He also stated that the companies share a common vision of building a global digital network that allows everyone to benefit from the connectivity it provides. This is the thirteenth consecutive deal for JIO, making it the most extensive continuous fundraising by any company in the world. In comparison, India’s start-ups raised just around Rs 1.10 lakh crore last year, which was also its best year. Meanwhile, Reliance Industries has now raised Rs 118,318.45 crore from some of the world’s biggest tech-space investors.

technology

Which way the technology addressing the world during this pandemic?

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Technology

The world is going through a significant upheaval in the form of a global health pandemic. Most countries around the world are doing all they can to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. As a result, we saw a mass shut down of schools, colleges and offices. Half the world’s population are under one form of lockdown or another, confined to their houses for months. However, what this pandemic has made more evident than ever before is the value that technology adds to our lives. Throughout this global lockdown, we have witnessed the many ways in which technology has made things easier for us. So, in what ways has technology addressed the world during this pandemic? Here’s a quick look at the same.

Healthcare

The most significant help that technology has provided the world during this pandemic is in the healthcare sector. Around the world, we are seeing several research institutes and pharma companies working together to find a cure and vaccine. From Harvard to Johnson and Johnson, researchers are working against the clock to help contain this pandemic. Furthermore, corporations are also trying to figure out combination drugs that can help prevent the spread of the disease when used together.

Countries are lending each other drugs and medicines on a scale never seen before. College students, researchers and scientists are also coming out with upgrades for ventilators that help make them more efficient. Breathing apparatuses, which are vital to treating patients, also witnessed several upgrades thanks to the global scientific community. In fact, Mercedes Formula One worked with researchers to build a special apparatus that works without a ventilator and using 70% less oxygen. Certain countries are also using remote-controlled care robots to take care of their patients. These automatic medical staff can do everything from taking swab tests to checking Ultrasound scans.

Artificial Intelligence

The tracing of patients has also become an integral part of our fight against the COVID-19. In our interconnected world, AI and IoT are making it possible for healthcare workers to find links and quarantine the right people. Road maps of the places they have been to, and the people they have come in contact with help in tracing possible victims and carriers. Countries are making use of drones and other such technology to monitor people and ensure their safety. The Indian Government too came out with an app to make it easier to monitor people.

Aarogya Setu has since gone on to become one of the most downloaded and used apps in the country. Contact tracing using GPS and mobile phone tracing has helped countries all the way from China to Ghana track the disease’s spread. Liechtenstein also came out with biometric bracelets to help track potential COVID-19 cases in real-time as an early warning system. Data analytics within the bracelet help collect data on essential metrics. Such data help algorithms detect patterns in physiology to identify likely cases. Therefore, we are reaping all the benefits provided by a well-connected digital world. 

Digitalisation

The COVID-19 also put in wheels the most massive exodus to remote working the world has ever seen. More people are now working from the comfort of their homes than ever before. This is primarily due to the efficient digital connections we have been able to establish. Most companies host their applications and projects on cloud servers, allowing their employees to access them from their homes. The large-scale penetration of the internet and the use of mobile devices has made this transition smooth and efficient. Furthermore, applications like Zoom and Teams have made it easier for companies to host meetings and maintain internal communication. Live presentation sharing websites allow for presentations and meetings to happen without a hiccup. Essentially, we are witnessing the dawn of a new age of employment opportunities.

Education Technology

The global pandemic also brought to a standstill our traditional forms of education. Since most schools and colleges had to shut in a bid to prevent further spread of the virus, millions of students were left without a classroom. However, digital methods of learning came to the rescue, enabling teachers and students to work together to take their learning forward. A large number of Ed-tech companies from Bjyus to Coursera opened up their services to people for free. This made it easier for children to continue their learning, uninterrupted, from the confines of their living rooms. Furthermore, server-hosted applications allowed colleges to go ahead with their evaluation so that students can move on. Several colleges around the world took online examinations to the homes of their students to make graduation a reality. In the US, we saw a host of digital graduations, where children enjoyed the rite of passage while following social distancing norms. All of these are, without a doubt, how technology has addressed this pandemic. 

Logistics and Operations

Since the older generation has been confined to their homes due to being in risk of contracting the disease, we see new supply lines come up. Whether it is Reliance Mart or Swiggy, we witnessed the launch of large supply-chain logistics come to life in the last few months. From home-delivering groceries to getting cooked food to people, these companies have ensured that everyone has access to these commodities. Governments have also come out with applications to make the seamless availability of essential daily needs a reality.

This pandemic has made it very clear how globalisation and digitalisation have helped the world. Global trade and scientific relations have made it possible for even developing countries to implement new-age methods. It is globalisation that made the large-scale adoption of technology possible. This pandemic has shown us how technology will play a big part in redefining the economy of tomorrow. All key industries, such as manufacturing, food and beverages, medicine, tourism and education, will leverage technology to get itself back on its feet. Whether it is by discovering or vaccine or helping people communicate, technology has answered more questions and addressed more issues than ever before, during this pandemic.

google

Google Drops Plans to Build Cloud-Computing Service for China

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China has been facing a lot of criticism in recent months for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several countries have openly called out the country for its relaxed stand, which led to the pandemic’s spread around the world. Certain countries are also now working on moving their manufacturing out of China. India too has decided to ban several Chinese apps due to border skirmishes between the two near the Nepal border. However, the most recent tech company to pull out of a Chinese partnership is none other than Google. Here’s a look at why the tech giant has abandoned plans to launch a cloud-computing platform for China.

Also Read: SnapLogic : One of the “Coolest” Cloud Platform Companies

Google Pulls Out

As per a report by Bloomberg, this will be the second project that Google scrapped with ties to China. In 2018, Google announced plans to build a search product name Dragonfly for China. However, amidst wide-spread criticism, the company dropped the high-profile project in December 2018. The new project, which goes by the codename Isolated Region, was to help countries with strict data laws, host cloud-computing services. The application would help such countries control the data flow within their borders. Therefore, the project was not a part of Google’s central cloud infrastructure but a different network. The plan was to help China oversee the flow of data across its borders while maintaining absolute privacy. 

Second Time Unlucky

The product was Google’s second attempt at establishing a high-profile partnership with China. Sources are unsure of whether the completed project would have served as a replacement to G Suite. However, rumors regarding such a product first came out in 2018. As per Bloomberg, conversations began as China needed a cloud service that would help them maintain and ensure privacy standards for the flow of data within and outside the country. When tensions between the US and China rose in January 2019, the company momentarily paused the project’s development. Existing privacy concerns and Trump’s trade war plans with China halted the project for a few months, and Google moved its focus to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. 

Pulling the Plug

After the brief halt, Google pulled the plug on the project in May of this year. The reason for the same was partly due to the worsening of ties between the US and China, among other things. As per the company’s statement, the decision came as a result of input from stakeholders in Europe, and from around the world. Google also said that Isolated Region was one of the approaches they took to addressing the world’s cloud technology needs. Talks with other countries proved to them that their paths would be better-suited, leading to the scrapping of the initial plan. The company also stated that they do not offer cloud services within China, and had no plans to offer them in the near future. 

Project Isolated Region

Project Isolated Region was not just to help countries with censoring laws, but to serve ones with strict privacy laws. Google also seems to have eyes on the European Union, which is known for its strong privacy policies. By providing insight over the flow and storage of data to government authorities, Google plans on establishing a service in an EU nation. The project would help solve issues regarding the 2018 American law, Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act. This law makes it harder for companies to deny government data reports when storing large volumes of data offshore. Since the cloud-computing project involved hundreds of employees from around the world, the plan to scrap it is a major shift in policy.

slack notifications

New Update of Slack Gives Users’ More Control Over Their Notifications

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Slack is a top-rated messaging application that organisations prefer due to its more professional design. A lot of companies and corporations use this messenger for internal communication. While it helps you stay connected to your employer, sometimes, the messenger intrudes your free time. Well, not anymore! Slack’s new update allows you to choose when you want to receive notifications, allowing you to free up your weekend. Here’s a quick look at how the update allows you full control over your weekends once again. 

Slack New Update

The new update allows users to set a per-day basis for their notification received, ensuring they can keep work at bay during the weekends. Most people have had to struggle with maintaining a work-life balance with the app keeping them hooked to their jobs even on the weekends. However, this new update allows you to separate your personal and work lives, by freeing up your weekend. In the past, Slack allowed users to set tags like Available and Busy to determine how they received notifications. However, these settings automatically extended to the weekends as well, meaning you received work emails and texts during your off-days. 

slack
Image Source- Slackhq.com

Weekend Fun

Users hated receiving important work texts while lazing around on the only free day they had, and the new update tries to solve this problem. It gives you back your Sundays by allowing you to set your preferences on a per-day option. That means users get to decide when they are comfortable receiving work-related messages. It will enable them to establish a no-notification policy for the weekends, or on days they have called in sick, to get some me-time for themselves.

DND Your Weekends

With the help of the new notifications settings, you can put your weekend in Slack’s Do-Not-Disturb mode. When the DND mode activates, your contacts will see a ‘z’ next to your name, indicating you do not wish to be disturbed. When you are in the DND mode, every group which mentions your name or a keyword related to you will have a red badge next to it. However, people can still ping you via Direct Message, which will lead to a notification on your device. Now that you know exactly what the new update does, here’s a look at how to fine-tune and customise the setting on your app.

Fine-Tuning Your Notifications

For the desktop app:

  1. Go to the Slack Homepage.
  2. Click on the arrow right next to the organisation’s name.
  3. Go to the Pause Notifications Tab and click on it to find a menu within it.
  4. From the menu, click on the Set a notification schedule option.
  5. On that tab, go to the Allow Notifications heading, and access the dropdown menu under it.
  6. From this menu, select the notifications setting you want – Daily, Weekdays, or Custom schedule.
  7. To fine-tune even further, you can opt for the time duration over which you want to receive notifications.

For the mobile app:

  • Go to the main toolbar on the app.
  • Click on the You Icon, and then the Notifications tab.
  • From the menu, click on Notification Schedule.
  • Next, click on Allow notifications, and then decide on the setting you want- Daily, Weekdays or Custom.

 If you want to enable push notifications, here’s how you do it.

  1. In the Slack Mobile App, go to Channel Settings, and then click on Notification Preferences.
  2. Doing so will open up the Desktop/Mobile Push Notifications tab.
  3. From the tab, select your preferred settings and click on Done.

Once you have saved your settings, it will automatically sync with your devices. Doing so will help you organise your life, and prevent work emails from getting across on the weekends. This new update allows you to stay updated on the matters that are the most important. It also helps you achieve a healthy work-life balance, and de-stress your weekends. Set up your Slack Notifications and free up your weekends for some much-needed me-time.

Facebook to Release Dark Mode For Desktop Version

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Facebook has been in the news for a plethora of reasons in the last few weeks. What started as a reaction to claims of promoting hate speech, has now become news regarding a technology update. The social media platform has been receiving flak for its policies, advertisements, and views on freedom of speech. However, bucking the usual trend, the company has released a statement regarding a new update for the app. Here’s a look at what Facebook has been up to in the last few months.

Facebook Goes Dark

Facebook recently launched a dark mode version of its desktop application. The company also stated that it is working on a similar dark mode version for its mobile application. The testing for the same is underway, and the tech giant expects the update to be out soon. As reported by the SocialMedia Today, as of now, the dark mode capability has been opened to only very few users. Since the update is still in testing, the company is exposing few people to it, and adapting the interface as per their feedback. While the desktop-dark-mode came out last month, the mobile version does not have a timeline attached to it yet. The update came to help people cut down on glare, and help them view the website in low-light environments. 

Dark Mode
Image Source: DailyExpress

Slow to The Starting Line

However, fans were surprised that the tech giant took this long to come out with such an update. All of Facebook’s contemporaries have already come out with their versions much earlier. Notably, their own subsidiaries, Instagram and Whatsapp, went dark months ago, followed by the Facebook Messenger. Meanwhile, Facebook’s biggest adversary, Twitter has had a Night Version for both Android and iOS for quite some time. Google seemed to be the last to enter the arena, coming out with their dark mode, earlier this year. These updates, which allow users to change all background colors to black, have become quite popular with users. This setting makes things more comfortable for the eyes, is aesthetically pleasing, and consumes less power, allowing the battery to last longer. 

Difficult Times Ahead

However, as per photos put up by users with access to the feature, Facebook’s Dark Mode will not be pitch black. Instead, the functionality will have a grayscale design that uses white accents for icons and logos. Furthermore, along with introducing the Dark mode, Facebook also revamped its website design. The new navigation makes it easier to find videos and Groups, and help in faster page transitions. However, these updates come during troubling times for the technology giant. Over the past week, several major advertisement companies have stated they will not be working with Facebook any longer. This could lead to the company losing out on millions in the form of advertising revenue for the Zuckerberg-led company.

ford

Ford Unveils New 2021 F-150 Model with Advanced Features

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The last week has since several large automakers come out with updates on new releases and upgrades in technology. Following Daimler, Benz, and GM, Ford is the latest automaker to announce an upgrade in their vehicles. Yesterday, Ford unveiled its 2021 F-150 model, the newest entry in their uber-popular pickup truck. However, unlike previous iterations, the new truck will have a sleuth of new features, being very tech-savvy. Here’s a look at some of the features of this new model. 

Ford Presents the Future

Ford’s new pickup truck will feature a new hands-free driving mode, allowing users to enable several driver assistance options. It will also feature over-the-air updates, which will help users stay updated with their software. The new truck will also feature Apple’s wireless CarPlay and their much-loved Android Auto. Ford has also announced plans for a hybrid F-150 with high mileage, being able to travel over 700 miles on a single tank of fuel. 

Ford
Image Source: cnet.com

Driver Assistance Features

Ford’s hands-free option, called the Active Drive Assist, will also be seen in Mustang’s new launch for next year, the Mach-E electric SUV. This option will make the F-150 one of the few vehicles to have a fully functional driver assistance feature onboard. The other cars with a hands-free option will be GM’s Super Cruise model and Cadillac’s AND, both of which have already announced their specifications and features. However, the prospect of Active Drive Assist will only be available on a few divided highways as decided by Ford. Also, to be able to use this feature, users will have to purchase a hardware package designed for it, that enables the option. The hardware package also comes with a system that monitors the driver, which utilises an IR camera to ensure the driver is focusing on the road. Since it requires additional hardware, the Active Drive Assist will require extra payment from the user’s side. 

Other Features

Buyers who don’t opt for the Active Drive Assist will still be able to make use of the other F-150 features, such as Co-Pilot360. This is an older version of a driver assistance system that Ford had developed and marketed. Certain features of this package, such as automatic braking for emergencies, and pedestrian detection, will come complementary. This is a great deal for buyers as these systems are necessary due to the large size of the F-150 truck. However, additional features such as cruise control, collision braking, backup assist, and lane centering will have to be bought at an added cost.

Additional Specifications

Bigger F-150 models will have a 12-inch touchscreen placed in landscape mode on the dashboard. Such placement will serve as a different design outlay, as both theFiat Chrysler and Dodge Ram models have a vertical arrangement of the screen. The smaller F-150 will feature an eight-inch display, placed in the same manner. Both screens will run Ford’s acclaimed infotainment platform Sync 4. The new pickup truck is also one of the few vehicles that feature both CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition to this, it also features a wireless charging pad, USB-A, and USB-C ports, and a 12-inch instrument cluster.

As the system allows for over-the-air updating, buyers will be able to switch to the state-of-the-art technology, as soon as updates drop. Ford has also clarified that updates will help upgrade the whole car and not just the infotainment system. Planned upgrades include ones that support preventative maintenance, helping users reduce trips for repair and improve the overall quality of the vehicle.

Hybrid Model

Ford is also working on coming out with an electric F-150, which should hit the market in 2022. The company will launch a hybrid F-150, the way GM and Fiat Chrysler have in the past. Ford’s hybrid will be a fourth-generation pickup truck that utilises the newest technology. Technical specifications include a 47 horsepower motor powered by a 1.5kWh battery. When used together, it will allow the hybrid to travel over 700 miles on a full tank of 30.6 gallons of gas, giving it a mileage of 23 miles/gallon. Furthermore, the hybrid will have rear-wheel and all-wheel drive alternatives featuring a twin-turbocharged V6 engine. 

The new F-150 will usher in a new age for Ford, being their biggest jump in technology. It will be interesting to see how their experiment works out and how much value the new technology will add to one of the most popular vehicle divisions in the world.