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Tech Wrap Aug 13: POCO M7 Plus, Lenovo IdeaTab, Pixel 10 Pro Fold design
Tech Wrap August 13
BS Tech
POCO M7 Plus 5G with 7000mAh battery launched in India
Chinese smartphone brand POCO has launched the M7 Plus 5G smartphone in India, its latest addition to the M7 series. Starting at Rs 13,999, the smartphone is said to lead the segment with a 7,000mAh battery and a 6.9-inch FHD+ display that supports 144Hz refresh rate. The POCO M7 Plus is also rated IP64 for dust and water resistance.
Chinese consumer electronics maker Lenovo has launched two new Android tablets in India – IdeaTab with 5G connectivity option and Lenovo Tab. The Lenovo IdeaTab offers artificial intelligence features and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor. The Lenovo Tab is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 processor, and is said to be more suited for multimedia usage.
Google has released the first look of its next-generation book-style folding smartphone, likely to be called the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The device is expected to debut alongside the rest of the Pixel 10 lineup during the Made by Google event on August 20. From the preview, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold seems to retain much of its predecessor's design, but with some refinements. Google has also showcased the phone in a new shade, anticipated to be named 'Moonstone.'
Nvidia has announced that Rockstar Games is adding its DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation (MFG) to Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced. Nvidia is also rolling out a new Game Ready 580.97 driver to go with it. In simpler terms, if you have a compatible GeForce RTX 50-series or RTX 40-series graphics card, the game can now create extra in-between frames. This makes motion look smoother and helps maintain high graphics settings without the frame rate dropping — especially when using demanding ray tracing effects.
Indian telecom and electronics firm Optiemus has unveiled RhinoTech, a new brand of tempered glass screen protectors. The company stated that RhinoTech will deliver premium, made-in-India protectors for smartphones using glass 'Engineered by Corning.'
Apple has announced that three new titles will be added to its Arcade subscription service on September 4, expanding its library of more than 200 games. The upcoming releases include NFL Retro Bowl '26, Jeopardy! Daily, and My Talking Tom Friends+. In addition, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is set to receive a fresh update on September 18. Apple confirmed that all these games will be offered without ads or in-app purchases.
Google Search is rolling out a new feature called Preferred Sources, allowing users in the US and India to personalise their Top Stories feed. According to a Google blog, the update lets people select their favourite news outlets so that content from these sources appears more frequently in the search results' Top Stories section. The feature is designed to give readers more control over the news they see, instead of relying solely on Google's algorithmic selection.
OpenAI has returned with a long list of AI models in ChatGPT to choose from. OpenAI launched GPT-5 recently with the promise that it would remove the hassle for users to choose the model that they want to interact with, including GPT-4o. After facing backlash from users, OpenAI has introduced 'Auto', 'Fast', and 'Thinking' settings for GPT-5 that all ChatGPT users can select from the model picker. Additionally, it has also added all other existing models GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and o3 under the 'Legacy models' banner.
Apple may be preparing to launch a budget-friendly MacBook model in the coming months. As reported by 9to5Mac, the company is said to be developing an entirely new entry-level MacBook variant that will use an iPhone-class A-series Apple Silicon instead of the M-series chips found in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. According to the report, this new MacBook could arrive in late 2025 or early 2026.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10 series, Watch 4, Buds 2a, and more expected
Google is set to host its annual Made by Google event on August 20 where the company will be launching its Pixel 10 series smartphones. Along with the new Pixel phones, Google is also anticipated to introduce the Pixel Watch 4 smartwatch and the Pixel Buds 2a wireless earbuds. Additionally, fresh Gemini-powered AI capabilities may arrive across these products. Google has already given an early glimpse of some of the upcoming hardware, including the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Here's a rundown of what could be announced at the 2025 hardware event. Made by Google 2025: Everything expected Google Pixel 10 series: The Pixel 10 family is expected to consist of four models: Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, all reportedly running on the Google Tensor G5 processor. Manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process, this chip is said to offer improved efficiency and performance, paired with a new custom image signal processor (ISP) to enhance both photo and video output. For cameras, both the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold may adopt the same main and ultra-wide sensors found in the Pixel 9a, representing a step down from the Pixel 9 hardware. However, the standard Pixel 10 could gain the 5x periscope telephoto lens featured in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL are expected to retain the same camera system as their predecessors. The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are rumoured to feature a 50-megapixel wide, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 48-megapixel telephoto and 48-megapixel selfie cameras. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold could feature a different lineup, with a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 10.5-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto shooter with 5x optical zoom support, along with 10-megapixel selfie cameras on both the inner and cover displays. The range is also likely to support 25W Qi2 magnetic wireless charging. Reports suggest Google will launch a new Pixelsnap accessory line, potentially including magnetic chargers and compatible cases. In terms of finishes, Google has previewed the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro Fold in a grey-blue colour, believed to be called 'Moonstone.' The standard Pixel 10 may debut in new "Frost" (a royal blue), "Lemongrass" (a yellow), and "Indigo" (a light purple) shades, in addition to "Obsidian" (a dark grey). The Pixel 10 Pro/Pro XL may come in "Obsidian," "Porcelain" (off-white), "Moonstone" (a bluish grey), and "Jade" (a light green). Google Pixel Watch 4: The Pixel Watch 4 is expected to maintain the overall look of the Pixel Watch 3 but will introduce a major hardware change, relocating the charging contacts to the left side instead of the back, enabling a redesigned charging system. This new method, possibly called 'Quick Charge Dock,' could boost charging speeds by up to 25 per cent, delivering 50 per cent charge in around 15 minutes and 80 per cent in 30 minutes. Battery performance may also improve, with the 41mm version offering up to 30 hours of use with the always-on display active, and the 45mm model extending to around 40 hours. The 41mm Watch 4 is expected to arrive with a 327mAh battery, and the 45mm Watch 4 with a 459mAh component, representing a 7 per cent and 9 per cent capacity increase over Watch 3 models, respectively. The smartwatch is expected to feature an 'Actua 360' display with slimmer bezels and a slightly larger surface area that curves further over the edges for a 3D appearance. Brightness could reach up to 3,000 nits, up from 2,000 nits on the previous model. The Pixel Watch 4 may also get dual-frequency GPS for more accurate location tracking. A new 'Moonstone' finish is reportedly replacing the dark green colour from the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, and will also be available on the 41mm version. The Watch 4 will come in "Black/Obsidian", "Gold/Lemon", "Silver/Porcelain", "Silver/Iris", and "Moonstone" hues. The Pixel Watch 4 is also said to bring new strap options: Active Band: Obsidian, Porcelain, and Moonstone Sport Band: Indigo, Limoncello, and Iris Google Pixel Buds 2a: Google's new Pixel Buds A-series earbuds are expected to be called Pixel Buds 2a. The latest model will reportedly add Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), a feature previously limited to higher-end variants, and may also include support for Spatial Audio. While full specifications are still undisclosed, the earbuds are expected to use a Google Tensor chip to improve sound quality. Battery life is anticipated to reach up to seven hours with ANC active, and up to twenty hours with the case. Colour options could include 'Iris' (a rich blue tone), along with 'Fog Light,' 'Hazel,' and 'Strawberry.' Pixelsnap accessories: Support for Qi2 wireless charging across the Pixel 10 series is expected to allow magnet-based alignment with compatible accessories. This has sparked speculation about a 'Pixelsnap' ecosystem, which might include magnetic chargers and protective cases. Leaked renders of a Pixelsnap Charger suggest a circular design that aligns with internal magnets in the Pixel 10 models, resembling Apple's MagSafe approach. New Gemini features: The Pixel 10 lineup will likely ship with Android 16 and debut several Gemini-powered tools, including: Camera Coach: Uses Gemini's visual processing to give live guidance for framing, lighting, and angles while taking photos. Conversational Photo Editing: Lets users request edits in natural language — such as removing background items or changing scenes — without manually selecting tools. The Pixel Watch 4 is also expected to integrate Gemini AI, enabling users to 'raise your wrist for quick AI assistant responses and personalized help,' as well as 'keep the conversation going with AI text suggestions that sound like you,' according to 9to5Google.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump's 15% China cut may not worry Nvidia much
President Donald Trump's move to extract a 15% sales tax from Nvidia on certain semiconductors sold in China did nothing to damp investor enthusiasm for the world's most valuable company.A look at balance-sheet math goes a long way to explaining why. In the first quarter, Nvidia said it sold $5.5 billion in products to China, roughly 13% of its total. The chips exposed to the Trump tax accounted for about 80% of that, or just under $5 means the Santa Clara, California-based firm could send some $700 million per quarter to the Treasury-hardly chump change. But for a company that churns out $20 billion in profit a quarter and increases sales by a similar amount-a rate of growth it's sustained throughout the AI boom-paying the tax barely registers. "I don't think it's that big of an issue," said Larry Tentarelli , founder of Blue Chip Daily. "If it was their overall revenue base, it would be a big problem. But because China is not the biggest proportion of their revenues, it's a speed bump." Nvidia shares slipped Monday after the tax was disclosed, then rallied to a fresh record Tuesday in a broad market advance. The chipmaker's shares have doubled since early April, pushing its market value past $4.4 trillion. Similarly, AMD, which agreed to the same tax, closed at the highest in more than a year on Wednesday, bringing year-to-date gains to 53%. Nvidia reports second quarter earnings on Aug. 27. Analysts expect it will report earnings growth of 44% on a 53% surge in revenue to $45.9 billion. That's not to say the clouds have completely lifted in China. It reported this week that Beijing has encouraged local firms to avoid using Nvidia's chips-a move that could limit sales.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Google finds workaround for lobbying that omits big bosses
It was the end of 2018, and Google's leaders were tired of being Number the second year in a row, federal records showed the search giant had spent more than any other individual company on lobbying in Washington. Executives in Mountain View were sick of seeing that mentioned in the press, according to a former Google employee who asked not to be identified discussing private conversations. Then Google apparently found a workaround.A new analysis of federal lobbying data by the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project shows that Google and its parent company, Alphabet Inc., used an internal reorganisation to exclude the value of lobbying by its senior executives from disclosures. The move helped keep Google off the top of the lobbying charts even as it maintained a robust network of advocates pushing its interests in the capital, during federal challenges to its dominance in search and advertising and the beginnings of artificial intelligence regulation. The findings, which were confirmed by a Bloomberg analysis of lobbying records, show that the effect of the accounting change was to lower the amount that Google reported spending to influence the federal government, likely by millions of dollars. The reorganization 'has allowed the company to shield a significant portion of its lobbying expenditures from public view,' the Tech Transparency Project said in its report. A Google spokesperson, José Castañeda, disputed the report and said the company has followed all relevant disclosure laws. 'These are inaccurate claims about a technical change that simply brought us in line with how many other companies report their lobbying activities,' he said. 'Our lobbying expenditures began decreasing in 2018, after we restructured our government affairs team and cut spending on consultants.' Internal reshuffle Starting in 2019, Google began cutting ties with some of its external lobbying firms, a move it acknowledged publicly as part of an overhaul of its Washington operations. But the shuffling of external lobbying firms doesn't explain the whole of the decline in Google's reported lobbying expenses, which fell from more than $22 million in 2018 to $8.9 million in the Covid-disrupted year of 2020, and have subsequently remained well below pre-pandemic levels. There's been another, quieter change: in early 2020, Google moved its in-house lobbyists into a new subsidiary, called Google Client Services LLC. It's that unit which now files spending disclosures for Google's lobbying activities. The reorganization meant that the parent companies Google and Alphabet no longer directly employed any lobbyists – defined under federal disclosure law as people spending at least 20% of their time on influencing Congress or the executive branch. Companies that file lobbying disclosure reports are supposed to also account for the time that other senior executives — those who don't meet the 20% threshold – devote to lobbying, according to legal experts and the compliance guide for the Lobbying Disclosure Act published by Congressional leaders. That generally involves prorating their annual compensation to account for the days they spend influencing the government. But since Google moved lobbyists into the Google Client Services subsidiary, the parent company no longer meets the threshold for filing disclosures under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, according to the TTP analysis. That means Google no longer reports the lobbying expenses of high-ranking managers who aren't part of the Client Services unit — like Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai and chief legal officer Kent Walker — to the public, as it once did. As a result, in 2020 Google dropped out of the top 20 in corporate lobbying expenses for the first time in nearly a decade, the TTP analysis found. While Google's reported annual spending has since edged back up again, it hasn't come close to the No.1 slot in the company lobbying rankings that it used to occupy. For the past five years, that position has alternated between two other tech giants: Meta Platforms Inc. and Inc. Antitrust challenge There's been plenty going on in Washington over the period that was crucial for Google's business. For one thing, the company — like many peers — is betting heavily on AI, a field where decisions in the US capital will shape the commercial landscape. Google has also been under assault from antitrust authorities over its dominance in search and digital advertising. The company has maintained in those lawsuits that its success is down to consumer choice and superior innovation, rather than a result of its power to shape laws and regulations. Publicity around its lobbying spending has the potential to undercut such arguments and alienate regulators. When executives are as highly paid as many in Silicon Valley, the prorated amounts can add up to millions — even for just a few days' worth of lobbying. Google reported total compensation for Pichai of more than $225 million in 2022, thanks to grants of stock. His total compensation was $10.7 million in 2024. Walker's total compensation was more than $30 million last year, the company reported. Some say the new structure Google is employing flouts the spirit of the federal disclosure law – if not the letter itself. 'This is just too cute by half,' said William Luneburg, a professor emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law , and the co-editor of the manual for lobbying compliance published by the American Bar Association. 'On the face of it, it's wrong,' he said. 'They have to report all of their expenses, which would include the time of officers and directors and other employees that spend their time engaging in lobbying activity.' 'We always comply with disclosure laws and any suggestion of improper reporting is false,' said Castañeda, the Google spokesperson. TTP said it examined lobbying disclosures of several other companies that filed reports via a similar subsidiary model, but didn't find any that had used the structure to remove executive lobbying from their disclosures.
