Your Tech Story

Sandhya Gupta

I am a law graduate from NLU Lucknow. I have a flair for creative writing and hence in my free time work as a freelance content writer.

new feature

Twitter new feature allows users to combine GIFs, Photos, Videos & Memes in Single Tweet

Twitter is unveiling a brand-new feature that will enable users to tweet memes, gifs, and images all at once. The new feature will be released on both iOS and Android. 

new feature
Image Source: timesnownews.com

According to the company, everyone would be able to share different sorts of media via a single tweet. Late on Wednesday, Twitter stated in a blog post, “This feature will roll out globally to iOS and Android, with a chance to see mixed media Tweets on the web.”

Earlier anyone who wished to share several media types had to do it through different Tweets. Now, when users post their Tweet, they may choose and post a mix of up to four different forms of media, including images, memes, GIFs, and videos. They can do so by clicking the photo icon in the Tweet composer on the Twitter application.

Through this new feature, users can also change the layout of their media while creating a Tweet. Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse engineer, discovered the feature for the first time in April. 

In addition to the option to post multiple media in a single tweet. Twitter also launched a vertical video experience similar to Instagram Reels in some countries. Twitter revealed that it would be releasing two improvements that would enhance the viewing experience for full-screen videos and combine video discovering with a new video carousel. Twitter made this announcement in a Tweet:

“Now on iOS, videos on your timeline will open in our full-screen immersive video player, where you can swipe up to keep discovering more content. Some of you on iOS and Android will also see recommended content in a new video carousel on the Explore “For You” page”.

Currently, the Explore tab video carousel assists users in discovering more videos as well as potentially interesting Tweets and Trends. This feature is currently accessible to users of Twitter on Android and iOS in a few selected nations. The improved immersive media viewer, according to the company, opens videos to a full-screen mode with a single click, enabling users to quickly get the complete, immersive viewing experience.

The company stated that the users of the Twitter app for iOS only needed to click or tap on a video to turn on this new feature. Twitter users noticed right away that this feature resembled the way they discovered and viewed videos on TikTok.

Recently, Twitter also introduced the new “Edit Button” feature for Twitter Blue users. in selected locations. Since Twitter Blue membership is not available in India, Indian Twitter users would have to wait a bit longer to enjoy the service. On October 3, Twitter sent a tweet post telling users that the Edit Button was now being made available to Twitter Blue subscribers in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.

Through this new feature selected users can now edit their tweets on Twitter, which was previously not available. The tweet will, however, include the time of the most recent edit at the bottom. Users can also view the complete history of the editing to see what has already been written in the tweet.

Twitter is continuously test out new features and gaining knowledge from users’ interactions with the service. With over 23.6 million active Twitter users as of January 2022, India makes up the third-largest global audience on Twitter. 

dementia

Sony device tests sense of smell to determine early signs of Dementia

The Japanese electronics behemoth Sony has developed a new device to gauge one’s sense of smell. The company anticipates using it in hospitals someday since olfactory assessment may aid in the early recognition of dementia.

dementia
Image Source: asia.nikkei.com

A new health-tech venture from Sony, evaluates an individual’s sense of smell and claims to be able to detect the early onset of dementia and other conditions. The device, which goes by the name NOS-DX1000 and is referred to as the “Odor Presentation Device,” makes use of Tensor Valve technology. The new Sony equipment will soon be made available to everyone and promises to introduce a new technique to determine if an individual is likely to eventually develop dementia.

As per Nikkei Asia, the Sony Group introduced the device on October 5. This new device will cost a staggering $15,900. The company refers to this new device not as a medical device but rather as a research tool that will aid in identifying any associations between the olfactory receptors and neurodegenerative diseases.

The primary function of the Odor Presentation Device is to assess a person’s sense of smell by presenting them with various scents or fragrances. It includes a Tensor Valve, which may completely eliminate an odor and seal in scents from inside the device. It functions as a smelling device that enables researchers to discover whether the patient has early symptoms of dementia as well as its associated disorders.

According to Sony, the device can produce 40 distinct odors. When the operator chooses a smell from a special app, it immediately emits that aroma. Additionally, test participants utilize the app to describe the smell they perceive.

Olfactory measurement is often performed by making the subject smell paper that has been soaked in an odor-emitting liquid. To avoid smell leaks impacting the test, though, a particular setting is needed. Since the new device is deodorizing and well-enclosed there is no need for a dedicated setting. 

In light of the coronavirus epidemic, olfactory assessment is becoming more and more important. There have been instances where persons infected with Covid experience issues with their ability to smell.

Fujita Shuji, who oversees Sony’s olfactory business development, claims he wants to make handling scents simpler by automating their measurement and lightening the load on examiners. In his opinion, the olfactory measurement might be utilized more broadly, particularly for health screenings, as a result of new technology that makes it simpler.

Dementia is a serious decline in brain function brought on by aging and degradation, though it can also develop in younger people. Memory loss, which affects patients’ short-term and long-term memories, is one of its early warning signs. Dementia is a symptom of many illnesses, and Alzheimer’s is among the most prevalent forms among patients.

Parkinson’s disease, which is also a degenerative brain disease that affects movement and similar functions, is a form of dementia that impairs a person’s motor skills. The Parkinson’s detector by the Apple Watch has received FDA clearance, and the company soon will be able to inform users about symptoms associated with the disease through the Apple Watch. 

By testing one’s sense of smell and looking for any signs of dementia, this new Sony equipment seeks to identify any abnormalities or problems with one’s neurological function.

The olfactory device that the parent company of the Sony Group announced on Wednesday will be on sale in the spring. The sale will primarily be for research purposes rather than as a medical device. 

OPPO A17

OPPO A17 and OPPO A77 launched in India: Check Specs

OPPO’s new smartphones A77s and A17 are now launched in India. The new models will be available in both physical stores and online stores. OPPO A17 is already on sale for Rs 12,499, while A77s will be available from October 7 for Rs 17,999.  Customers have the option of No Cost EMI for up to three months on A17s and six months on A77s. There is also a 10% cashback offer from top banks through online and offline channels. For A77s, zero down payment plans are also available.

OPPO A17
Image Source: newsbytesapp.com

OPPO A17 Specifications

OPPO A17 comes with a MediaTek MT6765 Helio G35 chipset and a 5,000 mAh battery. The price of this smartphone is Rs 12,499. The 6.56-inch HD+ display on the OPPO A17 has a waterdrop notch on top. If you want a smooth display, the panel’s 60Hz refresh rate can be a deal-breaker.

The phone has Android 12, ColorOS 12.1. It sports a 5-megapixel front camera in addition to a 50-megapixel double camera system on its rear. It has a 6.56-inch LCD display with a resolution of 720×1612. The smartphone will be available in sunlight orange and midnight black colors, with 4GB RAM and 68GB of internal storage. Other features include a 3.5mm headphone socket, a microSD card slot for additional storage and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

OPPO A77 Specifications

OPPO A77 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G processor. The smartphone boasts a 6.56-inch IPS LCD display with a 90 Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 600 nits. It has 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage that is extendable with a microSD card. The new smartphone runs the Android 12-based ColorOS 12.1 operating system.

It sports a 50-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It also has a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor on its back. The smartphone is water and dust-resistant according to IP54 standards. It is powered by a 33W SUPERVOOCTM fast charger and a 5,000mAh battery. The OPPO A77 will have a fiberglass-leather design and come in two colors: starry black and sunset orange.

A side-mounted fingerprint scanner, twin Ultra-Linear stereo speakers featuring Dirac Sound, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 3.5mm headphone port are other features. The specifications of the A77s are a little better, thus the cost is also a bit higher. The phone is priced at Rs 17,999.

Both OPPO A17 and OPPO A77s feature the company’s Glow design style. This design is basically a finish with a touch of glitter that shimmers when light shines upon them but normally looks matte. Both OPPO A77s A17 and OPPO A17 are water-resistant to IPX4 standards.

The rear panel of the orange A77s, however, sports a Fibreglass-Leather design that we’ve earlier seen on other Oppo models, including the F21 Pro 4G. On the other hand, the orange color version of the A17’s back panel has a leather design attained through a composite procedure for a premium feel. The Oppo A77s appears to be a slightly modified version of the A77 and offers a smooth display panel and a fast-charging battery, while the Oppo A17 is a new phone designed for consumers who want a low-end smartphone with a 50-megapixel camera.

It seems that OPPO is hardly making any effort to include new technology in its entry-level and mid-range smartphones. The recently introduced A17 has a slightly modified back camera setup, but otherwise shares almost all of the same specs as the recently released A57 and A77 models.

OPPO is a Chinese company that produces consumer gadgets. Smartphones, audio devices, power banks, smart devices, and other electronic products are among its main product categories.

USB-C

EU warns Apple to Switch iPhone to USB-C

Recently the European Parliament passed a resolution mandating the use of USB-C as a common charging port by 2024. All smartphones, cameras, and tablets sold in the European Union must include a USB-C charging port end of 2024. The new rules will also be applicable to laptops starting 2026, providing manufacturers more time to adapt.

USB-C
Image Source: financialexpress.com

The new rule is a component of a larger EU initiative to minimise e-waste and give consumers more ability to make environmentally friendly decisions.

The new regulations will allow consumers to use a common charger for a wide variety of medium and small portable electronic gadgets, eliminating the need for a different charger each time they buy a new device. The new directive was supported by 602 members of the European Parliament.

The USB-C ports used by Android-based gadgets are soon to become the norm across the 27-nation bloc Apple continues to offer its exclusive Lightning connector on the iPhones, AirPods, as well as other devices. As a result of the new regulation Apple will have to migrate to USB-C charging point by the end of 2024.

The reform, the first of its sort anywhere in the world, was voted by a resounding margin in the European Parliament on Tuesday. The move may boost the EU’s position as a leader in setting international standards for telecommunications. This “common port” restriction will affect Apple specifically because a significant chunk of Apple’s devices utilize the Lightning connector instead of USB-C.

MEPs claim that the modification will reduce electronic waste, enhance product sustainability, and enhance the usability of numerous products.  .According to Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, the move will reduce environmental waste and save customers approximately $247 million a year by eliminating the need to purchase a new charger for each device.

In 2018, the European Commission attempted to find a permanent solution to this issue, however it was not effective in becoming law. Apple said at the time that mandating a standard charging port would hinder innovation and result in electronic waste because customers would be compelled to purchase new cables.  Last year, the EU’s continued its efforts, with the European Commission leading the development of a revised version of the directive.

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee backed the guideline in April with a vote of 43 in favour to 2 against. In June, the directive was introduced in the European Parliament.  Bloomberg reported in May that Apple is testing upcoming iPhone models that swap out the exclusive Lightning charging port for the more common USB-C connector. USB-C charging ports are already present in the iPad Pro models and Apple laptops.

All new smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld game consoles, e-readers, keypads, portable navigation systems, earbuds, and laptops that can be charged  via a wired cable and operate with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts must have a USB Type-C port, regardless of the manufacturer.

Users will be able to charge their smartphones at the same pace with any suitable charger since all devices that enable rapid charging will now offer the same charging speed.

The new directive is expected to have the most effect on Apple’s iPhone. Apple has firmly remained with Lightning Connector it first debuted with the iPhone 5 back in 2012. The majority of the smartphone market has progressively focused on USB-C as a singular, standardised wired charging interface. Legislation from the EU may finally compel Apple change its charging port. 

Nobel Prize in Physics

Three scientists share the Nobel Prize in Physics for “Quantum Information”

Three scientists shared this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics in appreciation of their work in the area of quantum information science, that has significant implications such as in the field of encryption. The experiments of Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser, and Anton Zeilinger were honored for their broad implications for quantum computing and secure information transmission.

Nobel Prize in Physics
Image Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized Frenchman Alain Aspect, American John F. Clauser, and Austrian Anton Zeilinger for their work in figuring out how invisible particles like photons or minute pieces of matter can be connected to one another despite being separated by great distances.

Although physicists frequently work on issues that at first look seem to have nothing to do with everyday life, such as minuscule particles and the enormous complexities of space and time, their research offers the foundation for numerous practical applications of science.

The work of the laureates relies on that of John Stewart Bell, a physicist who worked in the 1960s to determine whether particles could continue to operate together in concert even after they had separated too far for regular communication to occur, a phenomenon known as quantum entanglement.

The three laureates conducted studies independently that contributed to clarifying a key assumption concerning quantum entanglement. This claim pertains to the behavior of microscopic particles, such as electrons, that have connected in the past and then separated.

Nobel committee member Eva Olsson observed that the discipline of quantum information science is thriving and expanding quickly. It might impact a variety of industries, including as sensor technology, secure information transport, and quantum computing.

Last year the prize was given to Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann, and Giorgio Parisi for their contributions to the explanation and forecasting of complex natural phenomena, which have improved our climate change understanding.

Svante Paabo, a Swedish scientist, received the Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday as part of a series of announcements regarding the award. Paabo found hidden information in Neanderthal DNA that was crucial to comprehending our immune system.

The Nobel Prize organization will also broadcast each award announcement live. The award ceremonies for the prizes will take place in Stockholm in December. The cash awards for the awards total 10 million Swedish kronor, or roughly $900,000. They will be distributed on December 10. The funds originate from a bequest made by Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor who founded the award.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences annually bestows the Nobel Prize in Physics on the physicists who have made the greatest contributions to humanity. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Medicine that Alfred Nobel created in his will and which have been given out annually since 1901.

The first prize in the Nobel Prize presentation is often given for physics. A total of three Nobel laureates and two distinct works may be chosen to receive the Physics Nobel Prize. The Physics Nobel Prize nomination and screening process are extensive and thorough when compared to other Nobel Prizes.

This is a major factor in why it has gained significance throughout time and now holds the title of most significant prize in physics. Wilhelm Röntgen, a German physicist, received the first Nobel Prize in Physics in honor of the exceptional contributions he provided through the discovery of X-rays. The Nobel Foundation oversees the administration of this prize, which is usually regarded as the highest honor in the field of physics.

5G service

Reliance Jio to Bring 5G services to Every Indian by December 2023

The largest telecom company in the country, Reliance Jio, has said that by December 2023, it will offer ultra-high-speed internet connectivity to the whole of India. Recently, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani stated that while India may have delayed in introducing 5G services, it will lead the way by spreading out the 5G service nationwide. At the India Mobile Congress (IMC) meeting, he stated:

5G service
Image Source: communicationstoday.co.in

“Today, I want to reiterate Jio’s commitment to deliver 5G to every town, every taluka, and every tehsil of our country by December 2023.”

At the annual shareholder meeting of his company, Reliance Industries Ltd., Ambani stated that by Diwali, 5G services would be available in Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata, and Chennai. He added that since the majority of Jio’s 5G was built in India, it bears the seal of “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” and that 5G and 5G networks’ digital solutions can make access to high-quality, reasonably priced skills and education development possible for ordinary India

He stated that 5G can deliver high-quality healthcare to rural and isolated places by transforming current healthcare facilities into smart hospitals without requiring a large additional investment. It will make the best doctors’ services digitally accessible anywhere in India, enhancing the speed and accuracy of diagnostics, and enabling real-time clinical decision-making.

By increasing the digitization and smart data management of the agriculture, industry, trade, informal, services sector, transport, and power infrastructure, he claimed that 5G can also close the gap between rural and urban India.

Speaking at the event, Ambani asserted that by leveraging demographic trends and digital technologies, India can become the top digital society in the world, fulfilling the twin objectives of speeding growth and promoting inclusive development. Through this by 2047, India’s GDP would grow to $40 trillion from its current $3 trillion value, and its per capita income would rise quickly to over $20,000 from its current $2,000 value.

Ambani also that 5G is far more than simply the next level of communication technology. 5G offers foundational tech that opens the maximum potential of other revolutionary technologies including artificial intelligence, the IoT, robotics, cryptocurrency, and the metaverse.

On October 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally introduced 5G services in India during the 6th India Mobile Congress at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. Fast-speed internet connectivity with low delay is projected to be offered through 5G services, altering the existing data landscape.

5G services will provide high data rates, low latency, and a very reliable communications infrastructure. 5G services will improve energy, spectrum, and network efficiency. Millions of IoT devices will be connected with the help of 5G technology, which will also enable the delivery of vital services and higher-quality mobile video services.

Precision agriculture, real-time disaster monitoring, and reducing human involvement in risky industrial activities like deep mining and offshore work will be made possible by 5G.

To build out its network, Jio is expending over Rs 2 trillion. In the most recent auction, Jio purchased 24,740 MHz of spectrum in a number of bands. In the 5G spectrum auction, Reliance Industries’ Jio came out on top as the biggest spender, securing frequencies worth $11 billion to expand its wireless network throughout the world’s second-largest mobile market i.e India.

Reliance Jio entered the telecom market in September 2016 by giving out free calls and incredibly inexpensive data, compelling the competitors to either catch up or go out of business. With more than 42.62 crore customers, Reliance Jio is the largest network mobile network in India and the world’s third biggest network operator.