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iCloud web interface

Apple launched its new redesigned iCloud Web Interface

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A new iCloud web interface has been released by Apple for beta testers. Apple has revamped its iCloud website at http://www.icloud.com. Even though the upgrade is still in beta, it is open to all users, so they may go to beta.icloud.com and sign in using their Apple ID account.

iCloud web interface
Image Source: macrumors.com

Users can access their apps and data like images, files, mail, contacts, and more, using iCloud.

Users will be led to the newly designed web-based iCloud interface after successfully logging in with their valid Apple ID credentials. The new interface has apps displayed as customizable tiles that resemble the widgets on an iPhone’s home screen.

All of Apple’s iCloud apps, including Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Photos, Drive, Reminders, Notes Pages, Keynote, Numbers, and Find My, are accessible quickly with this feature. Users can also monitor their iCloud Storage, iCloud Plan, and Data Recovery.

Customization is, of course, the main appeal of the new design. The preview page’s content can all be customized, exactly like the home screen on the iPhone. The redesign allows for customization; thus, a “+” will add objects to the screen display and a “-” would delete a tile already present.

As a result, users can change the tile size to suit their needs by making it smaller or larger. The re-design also makes iCloud+ tools like custom mail domains and Hide My Email easier to access. A “Data Recovery” tool can help users recover bookmarks, calendars, contacts, and iCloud Drive files that have been deleted in the last 30 days.

Although the majority of users won’t use the iCloud web interface as their primary interface, it might be useful for getting data when the user is using a non-Apple device or isn’t logged in. The apps’ user interfaces and functionalities are unchanged. Even though the revamped iCloud preview is still under beta testing, the limited amount of testing felt stable. There is no date for its official launch yet.

Recently Apple also started testing a significant revamp of the iCloud Mail web interface that more closely matched the design changes introduced in macOS Big Sur. With a sleeker UI and thicker icons, the new design resembled the Mail app on the Mac and iPad.

Recently Apple disclosed that it will be raising charges for certain of its services.  Apple TV Plus will now cost two dollars more, and Apple Music will cost one dollar more. This is a risky move on the part of the company, especially given that the pricing of its music streaming service has remained the same since its launch in 2015.

Although many people will probably keep utilizing its services, the pricing shift might have a significant influence on the industry. Spotify recently announced that it will think about raising its subscription fee in the United States, but first, it needs to talk to its label partners.

Apple had quite a busy week with the release of new versions of macOS Ventura, iOS 16.1, iOS 16.2 beta, and iPadOS 16.1. In the past month, Apple launched new iPads, iPhones, Apple 4KTVs, and other products.

Mac Pro

Apple’s new Mac Pro to come with 48 CPU core M2 chip

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According to rumors, the upcoming Mac Pro would feature chip alternatives “that are at least twice or four times as powerful” as the unreleased M2 Max. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple has accelerated testing of the new Mac Pro in anticipation of its expected release next year.

mac pro
Image Source: daijiworld.com

As per Gurman, the “M2 Ultra” and “M2 Extreme” in-house chips, which are newer and more potent, will be used in the machine. The two models include 256GB of memory, 76 and 152 GPU cores, and 24 and 48 CPU cores, respectively. The rumored M2 Max is anticipated to have 12 CPU cores and 38 GPU cores, in contrast to the base M2’s 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores.

Gurman also revealed a Mac Pro configuration that Apple is actively testing. The device has 192GB of memory, 24 CPU cores, and 76 GPU cores. It utilizes macOS Ventura 13.3, whose initial release is scheduled for this coming Monday. The $5,999 Mac Pro was last released by Apple in 2019, and it is scheduled for an upgrade soon.

Before Apple introduces the new Mac Pro, there may be an upgrade for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros in addition to a new Mac mini. He claims that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips will be featured in Apple’s most recent high-end laptops, whereas the Mac mini launch will feature the same M2 silicon as in the 2022 MacBook Air. Gurman also points out that Apple has also tested a Mac mini M2 Pro

This summer saw the debut of the first Apple M2 processor, which compared to the Apple M1 provided up to 35% higher performance in graphics tasks and up to 8% greater efficiency in multi-threaded CPU-focused operations.

With the introduction of the M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra chips, Apple expanded the M1 family, and it is anticipated that it will continue to expand the 5nm M2 range in a similar manner. The M1 Ultra, the top model in the Apple M1 line, included a 64-core GPU and a 20-core CPU.

The Apple M2 chip was introduced at WWDC 2022 and has since been incorporated into many of Apple’s product offerings. The new iPad Pro 2022 is the latest edition to the M2-powered family.

Apple’s new iPad Pro comes with an M2 chip along with the world’s most advanced mobile screen, professional camera, Thunderbolt, Face ID, and a four-speaker sound system.  It also has a next-generation Apple Pencil hover experience.

While Apple Silicon has revitalized entry-level desktop Macs, MacBooks, and even iPads, Mac Pros are still limited to Intel architecture (max 24 CPU cores). However, if Gurman’s reporting is right, Apple has a major move planned for the Mac Pro.

Apple’s new Mac Pro is anticipated to launch sometime in the following year, and thanks to the company’s new M2-series CPUs, it may end up becoming the most powerful laptop the company has ever released.

Halloween Terror Event

Overwatch 2 Halloween Terror Event: Complete Details

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Overwatch 2’s Spooky Season has kicked off. Thank goodness, Blizzard didn’t remove one of our favourite events with the Overwatch 2 update. However, some things have changed this year, which will not please everyone. To alleviate some of your concerns: Yes, there are free rewards as well. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 Halloween Terror event, including how to get free rewards and spooky new skins.

Halloween Terror event
Image Source: charlieintel.com

The Halloween Terror event began on October 25 and will end on November 9.

Everything New in Overwatch 2’s Halloween Event

Blizzard has eventually and officially announced this year’s Halloween Terror event in a recently posted blog post. For the past six years, all Halloween collectables such as spooky skins and spays have been awarded for completing challenges or made available in event loot boxes. However, now that Overwatch 2 is free to play and features a battle pass system with numerous in-game purchases, the annual event appears to be a little different this year.

The worst-case scenario has occurred. Apart from a few twitch drops, it is nearly impossible to obtain Halloween items without spending actual money. Of course, all previous Halloween-themed items will be available for purchase throughout the event.

This year’s Halloween Terror event includes the following new features:

  • Legendary Executioner Junker Queen Skin
  • New PvE Mode – Junkenstein’s Revenge: Wrath of the Bride.
  • Legendary Witch Kiriko Skin
  • Legendary Cursed Captain Reaper Skin
  • Halloween Themed Collectables

The latest PvE Mode is a 4-player co-op sequel to Junkenstein’s Revenge’s original game mode. kiriko, Sojourn, Ashe and Junker Queen appear to be the playable heroes showing pure female power.

Get Free Halloween Skins

The fact that you can just hardly get anything without going to spend actual cash on Overwatch 2 is something that everyone despises. Legendary skins are extremely costly. The majority of them cost around 1900 or 2000 Overwatch money, which is about 20 USD which is insane, right? Let’s see what the prizes are for Halloween event skins this year.

At the very least, Blizzard added a few Twitch Drops and free stuff for us, so everyone has a chance to receive something for free. Players can obtain the Cursed Captain Reaper Skin free as an apology for the botched launch of Overwatch 2.

We may not receive skins as a reward for completing in-game challenges, but we do receive Twitch Drops! They will be available on all channels streaming Overwatch 2 from October 25 to 6 November at 11:00 a.m.

After two hours of watching your favourite Twitch streamers, you will be guaranteed a Werewolf Winston spray and the iconic Werewolf Winston skin.

Hero Changes and Adjustments

Ashe

Corrected a problem where the ‘Little Red’ skin and emote performed a broken animation.

Bastion

  • Bastion has been reintroduced into Overwatch 2.
  • Fixed a problem with Bastion’s configuration: Artillery, in which an unlimited number of charges could be fired
  • weapon of Bastion should not vanish when using the configuration: Artillery

Junkers Queen

Friendly abilities should no longer deflect or send back jagged blades.

Kiriko

  • The ‘Tanpopo’ skin is now available for purchase and use.
  • Kiriko’s Heroic pose is now readily accessible.
  • Swift Step no longer consistently cleared negative side effects.
  • Kitsune Rush no longer correctly reduces the cooldown of Baptiste’s Immortality Field.

General Bug Fixes

  • Players were generally keeping 30 per cent, on control cards, of the ultimate charge between rounds, which was fixed.
  • Fixed a bug in which checkpoint cards didn’t shift always, to overtime correctly.
  • The ‘vs.’ screen no longer appears in Competitive.
  • It has been resolved that players could not invite other participants to a custom game.
  • Fixed an issue where text chat was unavailable to PC gamepad users.
  • When you use Pause Match in Custom Game, other menu buttons are no longer disabled.
  • Over time Kill Cams were not working properly.
  • In the Push game mode, players should no longer be able to get trapped under TS-1.
  • Fixed an issue where controllers couldn’t scroll.
iPad Ultra

Apple May Launch its Biggest Tablet 16-Inch iPad Ultra, in 2023

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Apple, not long ago, added a new model to its iPad Pro lineup. The new iPad Ultra Pro features Apple’s M2 chip, making it the most powerful iPad by far. Apple may go one step further next year and launch a larger 16-inch display model.

iPad Ultra
Image Source: nextpit.com

Highlights

  • Apple may be developing an iPad with a 16-inch display.
  • It’s presumed to be called the iPad Ultra.
  • The iPad Ultra, Apple’s largest tablet, will be launched next year.

According to reports, Apple is working on a model that could effortlessly be called the iPad Ultra, with the largest screen on an iPad, and plans to release it in 2023.

The upcoming iPad model, according to The Information, “would further blur the line between the iPad and MacBook,” because the tablet would have the same screen size as the company’s largest laptop. While there is no official name for the iPad in development, based on Apple’s new naming convention for large gadgets, it is safe to call it the iPad Ultra.

According to the report, Apple may unveil this iPad in the final quarter of next year, but this timeframe is subject to change.

For quite some time, rumours of a large-screen iPad have begun circulating. Mark Gurman, from Bloomberg, reported last year that Apple was working on a 14- to 15-inch iPad that would be available sometime within the next year or two.

Ross Young, another executive who is a supply chain analyst and has frequently been accurate about Apple-related developments, backed up Gurman’s claim, saying Apple could release a 14.1-inch iPad Pro with a Mini LED panel and ProMotion new technology as sooner as next year.

However, this is the first time we’ve heard of a 16-inch iPad model, which would essentially be a keyboard-less MacBook except if you add the Magic Keyboard. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which not long ago received an upgrade to include Apple’s M2 processor which is the largest iPad in Apple’s lineup.

Apple also released iPadOS 16, which includes features like Stage Manager that help make multitasking, more refined and simple.

In some ways, Apple is gradually transforming the iPad into a laptop that would also function similarly to a MacBook, which is also what users have been requesting. An earlier report suggested that Apple was developing a version of macOS that would only run on the iPadOS. For what it’s worth, it may be a bright spot for iPad users.

elon musk

Elon Musk changes plans, to not cut 75% of Twitter Jobs

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Elon Musk informed Twitter employees that he does not intend to fire 75% of the workforce after taking over the organization. According to reports, Musk informed potential investors that he would fire 75% of Twitter’s staff, leaving the company with only 2,000 employees.

Elon Musk
Image Source: outlookindia.com

Elon Musk, the tech magnate and incoming boss of Twitter, reportedly informed staff members on Wednesday that he does not intend to lay off 75% of the company’s workforce. Musk, whose $44 billion Twitter acquisition appears to be on pace to close by Friday, refuted the previously reported lay-off estimate in a speech to staff members at Twitter’s San Francisco office.

Twitter employees who may have been anxious following a story in The Washington Post last week suggesting that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO had planned to fire 75% of Twitter’s workforce once he acquired control of the company would likely be relieved by Musk’s comments.

However, Twitter Inc. warned staff to expect loads of public rumors and speculation as the acquisition by Musk approaches and stated that there haven’t been any plans for company-wide layoffs since it inked the deal.

Nevertheless, there has been a noticeable air of sadness in the Twitter offices since Musk revealed his intentions to purchase the microblogging platform. Many high-level executives have already left the company since the acquisition was first revealed in April, citing Musk’s actions and public statements as the reason for their resignation.

As per the Washington Post report, regardless of who operates the company, workforce layoffs are anticipated in the near future, The report states that Twitter’s present management intended to reduce the corporation’s payroll by around $800 million by the end of 2023, which would result in the departure of close to a quarter of the employees.

Layoffs are still anticipated after the Tesla CEO’s takeover even if he does not lay off the company’s staff by 75%, sources have told Bloomberg. It was also reported that despite assurances from Twitter’s human resources department that mass layoffs were not in the works, substantial measures to fire employees and reduce infrastructure expenses were in place even before Musk made an acquisition offer.

Elon Musk released a video earlier on Thursday showing him entering the offices while holding a kitchen sink with the caption “Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!” He updated the description of his Twitter profile to “Chief Twit.” Musk recently posted to Twitter, “A beautiful thing about Twitter is how it empowers citizen journalism – people are able to disseminate news without an establishment bias.”

As per the Wall Street Journal, banks have begun transferring $13 billion in cash to support Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, indicating that the transaction will complete by the end of this week.

The cash will be made accessible for Musk to complete the purchase by the Friday time limit once all closing requirements have been satisfied.

After making an initial $44 billion offer to purchase Twitter, Musk withdrew his offer, claiming that Twitter had overstated the number of bogus “spam bot” accounts it had on its platform.

Twitter sued to hold Musk to the stipulations of the acquisition agreement, but a US court recently put a halt on the case after Musk changed his opinion, and gave the parties time till October 28 to complete the acquisition.

Youtube

Youtube to introduce new feature to zoom in and out while watching videos

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Youtube has revealed a number of visual adjustments and user interface (UI) modifications to make the application feel “cleaner, more lively,” and simpler to use for multiple purposes. The most significant update is the pinch-to-zoom feature, which lets users enlarge the playing screen to focus on particular details or components.

youtube
Image Source: hindustantimes.com

Google is updating the YouTube app with a fresh appearance and a number of new features that will make watching videos more engaging and modern. Youtube announced in a recent blog post that, in light of YouTube’s recent 17th birthday, it was thinking about giving it a little makeover While YouTube has made a lot of improvements and changes, the “pinch to zoom” feature and “video navigation” are the most significant ones.

The pinch-to-zoom feature will let viewers zoom in and out of Youtube videos on both mobile and desktop devices. Earlier YouTube users had to keep their fingertips on the screen for the video to remain zoomed in. Users may now watch the rest of the Youtube video in greater detail since the video will remain zoomed in unless prompted.

Youtube noted in a blog post, “You may now simply zoom in and out of a movie on your iOS or Android phone using pinch to zoom. When you let go, the video remains zoomed in so you may see the rest of it in more detail. Allow your fingers to rest!”

The platform also made modifications to the way videos are navigated. The “precise seeking” function displays a row of thumbnails anytime you move to a specific point in the video. If you’re viewing a tutorial or a lecture and want to jump to a specific section of the video, this is quite helpful.

Youtube mentioned in the blog post, “Precise seeking builds on our recent improvements to video navigation that help you quickly find the parts you’re most interested in. We launched the ability to long press anywhere on the player to seek and double tap with two fingers to skip chapters. We also added a graph that shows frequently replayed moments in a video.”

Links to YouTube in video descriptions will now become buttons. In order to reduce distractions, actions like “like,” “share,” and “download” have also been moved to the lower side. The corporation has given the subscription button more weight by highlighting it more, which is good news for creators.

The subscription button is now visible to users in a white oval box right next to the creator’s name. The update also includes an ambient mode, which adds a soft effect just beneath a video. This feature will be available on both mobile and desktops in the dark theme.

To make the colors on the screen stand out more, Youtube has also updated and slightly darkened the dark theme. The color of hashtags on YouTube has also changed from blue to white, but their functionality and placement have not altered.

Although Pinch-to-Zoom in particular is a useful and major upgrade to the platform’s overall UI, all the other changes are relatively minor. It will be fascinating to observe how the other updates affect in-app engagement and clip finding actions even though they are expected to have less effect on the apps functionality.

Recently, YouTube debuted its brand-new “Unique Handles” feature, which gives users and creators a distinct handle ID that can be utilized to identify them.