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Tech Wrap June 23: OPPO K13x, Oakley Meta HSTN glasses, Perplexity AI on X
OPPO K13x 5G with Dimensity 6300, 6000mAh battery launched at Rs 11,999
Chinese smartphone brand OPPO has launched the K13x 5G smartphone in India, starting at Rs 11,999. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, the phone features a 6.67-inch HD+ LCD display, a 6000mAh battery, and several AI-based tools to simplify tasks and enhance creative workflows.
Meta has partnered with an American company Oakley, which is a subsidiary of Luxottica, to come up with a new range of smart glasses targeted at athletes or consumers who are looking for rugged smart glasses. As per Meta, the Oakley Meta Glasses offer significantly improved battery life compared to the Meta Ray-Bans, delivering up to eight hours of continuous use and an additional 48 hours via the charging case. Video recording capabilities have also been enhanced, with resolution increasing from 1080p to 3K for clearer, more detailed footage.
Perplexity has introduced a new feature to its chatbot on X (formerly Twitter), which allows users to create short, AI-generated videos with sound. The feature works by simply tagging @AskPerplexity in a post and adding a short prompt. Users receive an eight-second video clip that includes creative visuals, background music and dialogue. The new feature has led to more user activity, with people trying out how creative the AI can be.
Nothing has officially confirmed that its maiden over-ear headphones, the Nothing Headphone 1, will launch in India on July 1, in sync with the global release. The confirmation came via a post on X (formerly Twitter) by co-founder Akis Evangelidis, who stated, 'Headphone (1) will be launched in India at the same time as global.'
WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that allows users to generate AI-powered custom wallpapers for their chats using Meta AI. As per WABetaInfo, the feature is part of the latest WhatsApp beta update for Android and will be available to more users in the coming weeks.
Apple is reportedly preparing to open up a new local connectivity option for third-party apps with the release of iOS 26. According to iHelp BR, a Brazilian publication focused on Apple technologies, a new feature called Wi-Fi Aware will enable apps to discover and connect to nearby devices over Wi-Fi, even without an internet connection or shared Wi-Fi network.
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo has unveiled the Vivo X200 FE smartphone in Taiwan, with a global release expected soon. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, the Vivo X200 FE features a 6.31-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone brings IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance and includes several artificial intelligence (AI)-backed imaging features through a triple camera set-up co-engineered with Zeiss.
Apple is reportedly planning a major design overhaul for the iPhone, aiming to release a mostly glass model in time for the product's 20th anniversary in 2027. According to a report by MacRumors, citing Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple may start making gradual changes as early as next year, beginning with a smaller Dynamic Island on 2026 iPhone models. These changes would align with the company's broader visual shift, hinted at through the recently announced 'Liquid Glass' design language, which debuted with iOS 26 and other platform updates.
A newly introduced Microsoft's Family Safety tool is causing Google Chrome to crash on Windows, leaving users frustrated for more than two weeks. As reported by The Verge, the issue began in early June and either prevents Chrome from opening or causes it to crash immediately after launching.
Apple is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of Perplexity AI, the US-based AI start-up. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple executives, including mergers and acquisitions head Adrian Perica, services chief Eddy Cue, and key decision-makers in AI, have held internal discussions about making a bid for the company.
Overall, the Alcatel V3 Ultra is a smartphone that one should get if they are a fan of reading. If someone's an avid reader and they are looking for a smartphone in the budget segment that can also handle some multimedia experience, then this will be the right option for them. If someone's looking for a good battery life, then too Alcatel V3 Ultra can be a good option, however, only if they are willing to compromise on the colours of the display.
Artificial intelligence will reshape the job market, but the transition is likely to be turbulent, according to LinkedIn Chief Executive Officer Ryan Roslansky. In an interview with Bloomberg, Roslansky warned that while AI will create long-term opportunities, it is first set to trigger 'a ton of disruption' and 'a ton of uncertainty' for workers across sectors.
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Business Standard
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- Business Standard
DeepSeek aids China's military and evaded export controls, says US official
AI firm DeepSeek is aiding China's military and intelligence operations, a senior US official told Reuters, adding that the Chinese tech startup sought to use Southeast Asian shell companies to access high-end semiconductors that cannot be shipped to China under US rules. The US conclusions reflect a growing conviction in Washington that the capabilities behind the rapid rise of one of China's flagship AI enterprises may have been exaggerated and relied heavily on US technology. Hangzhou-based DeepSeek sent shockwaves through the technology world in January, saying its artificial intelligence reasoning models were on par with or better than US industry-leading models at a fraction of the cost. "We understand that DeepSeek has willingly provided and will likely continue to provide support to China's military and intelligence operations," a senior State Department official told Reuters in an interview. "This effort goes above and beyond open-source access to DeepSeek's AI models," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to speak about US government information. The US government's assessment of DeepSeek's activities and links to the Chinese government have not been previously reported and come amid a wide-scale US-China trade war. Among the allegations, the official said DeepSeek is sharing user information and statistics with Beijing's surveillance apparatus. The big three US cloud providers Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet's Google offer DeepSeek to customers. Chinese law requires companies operating in China to provide data to the government when requested. But the suggestion that DeepSeek is already doing so is likely to raise privacy and other concerns for the firm's tens of millions of daily global users. The US also maintains restrictions on companies it believes are linked to China's military-industrial complex. US lawmakers have previously said that DeepSeek, based on its privacy disclosure statements, transmits American users' data to China through "backend infrastructure" connected to China Mobile, a Chinese state-owned telecommunications giant. DeepSeek did not respond to questions about its privacy practices. The company is also referenced more than 150 times in procurement records for China's People's Liberation Army and other entities affiliated with the Chinese defense industrial base, said the official, adding that DeepSeek had provided technology services to PLA research institutions. Reuters could not independently verify the procurement data. The official also said the company was employing workarounds to US export controls to gain access to advanced US-made chips. DeepSeek has access to "large volumes" of US firm Nvidia's high-end H100 chips, said the official. Since 2022 those chips have been under US export restrictions due to Washington's concerns that China could use them to advance its military capabilities or jump ahead in the AI race. "DeepSeek sought to use shell companies in Southeast Asia to evade export controls, and DeepSeek is seeking to access data centers in Southeast Asia to remotely access US chips," the official said. The official declined to say if DeepSeek had successfully evaded export controls or offer further details about the shell companies. DeepSeek also did not respond to questions about its acquisition of Nvidia chips or the alleged use of shell companies. When asked if the US would implement further export controls or sanctions against DeepSeek, the official said the department had "nothing to announce at this time." China's foreign ministry and commerce ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. "We do not support parties that have violated US export controls or are on the US entity lists," an Nvidia spokesman said in a prepared statement, adding that "with the current export controls, we are effectively out of the China data center market, which is now served only by competitors such as Huawei." DeepSeek has said two of its AI models that Silicon Valley executives and US tech company engineers have showered with praise â€' DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 â€' are on par with OpenAI and Meta's most advanced models. AI experts, however, have expressed skepticism, arguing the true costs of training the models were likely much higher than the $5.58 million the startup said was spent on computing power. Reuters has previously reported that US officials were investigating whether DeepSeek had access to restricted AI chips. DeepSeek has H100 chips that it procured after the US banned Nvidia from selling those chips to China, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, adding that the number was far smaller than the 50,000 H100s that the CEO of another AI startup had claimed DeepSeek possesses in a January interview with CNBC. Reuters was unable to verify the number of H100 chips DeepSeek has. "Our review indicates that DeepSeek used lawfully acquired H800 products, not H100," an Nvidia spokesman said, responding to a Reuters query about DeepSeek's alleged usage of H100 chips. In February, Singapore charged three men with fraud in a case domestic media have linked to the movement of Nvidia's advanced chips from the city state to DeepSeek. China has also been suspected of finding ways to use advanced US chips remotely. While importing advanced Nvidia chips into China without a license violates US export rules, Chinese companies are still allowed to access those same chips remotely in data centers in non-restricted countries. The exceptions are when a Chinese company is on a US trade blacklist or the chip exporter has knowledge that the Chinese firm is using its chips to help develop weapons of mass destruction. US officials have not placed DeepSeek on any US trade blacklists yet and have not alleged that Nvidia had any knowledge of DeepSeek's work with the Chinese military. Malaysia's trade ministry said last week that it was investigating whether an unnamed Chinese company in the country was using servers equipped with Nvidia chips for large language model training and that it was examining whether any domestic law or regulation had been breached.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Colleges to get Rs 10L aid for incubation setups
Panaji: The state has made a new scheme operational, under which colleges in Goa will be provided Rs 10 lakh aid to establish incubation centres within their premises. This is to boost the interest of youth and encourage them to come up with new startups, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday. Sawant said that the state distributed Rs 4 crore in subsidies for startups so far and that govt is offering up to Rs 10 lakh as seed funding to Goan startups, salary support of Rs 15,000 for 10 persons employed at the start-up, and an additional Rs 25,000 for those hiring Goan staff. 'We are offering subsidies for co-working space for internet and cloud services, and we are reimbursing sums spent on research and development,' said Sawant while interacting with the students of Dempo College. He said the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India opened its branch at the Economic Development Corporation and will help anyone desiring to set up a business with handholding. 'Anyone who wants to do a business can approach them and they will do the handholding about what type of business, what skill you have and what the future is. We have also started our Atal Incubation Centre at Goa Institute of Management. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In the future, we are starting a global capability centre in Goa, which is for AI and other innovation. A centre of excellence in skilling will be made operational in Goa. A state data centre will also be started in Goa,' the chief minister said, adding that at present, 635 recognised start-ups are operational in Goa. Further, he said, 'If you go to a state like Bihar, they are starting preparation for IAS and IPS from Class XI and even Class VIII. If we want to crack the Goa State Public Service Commission exam to become deputy collectors or mamlatdars, we have to start preparation today. Even if we want to become a clerk, we have to clear the Staff Selection Commission exam now. This is a completely transparent exam, fully computer-based, where you get your results instantly. '
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Semicon co GlobalFoundries to launch R&D & testing facilities in Kolkata
GlobalFoundries , a major US based semiconductor manufacturing company, is expected to start its operations in Kolkata with its Research & Development and testing facilities by August end-September, ahead of Durga Pujas , West Bengal Minister IT & Electronics Babul Supriyo said. Supriyo, confirming the development, told ET that the US based multinational, starting its operations in Kolkata, will help boost investment scenario in the IT and semiconductor sector in Bengal and stop brain drain from the state, which has a pool of talented and skilled professionals. "After handing over the space, R&D is the first step, and there are several other phases that are in the fold in coming days. I hope we will see something concrete on the ground within the next three months," the minister added. In the second phase, the company will start its Fabrication Laboratory where employment generation will be at a much higher rate, people in the know said. Around 13,000 square feet space has been provided to GlobalFoundries at Software Technology Park of India (STPI) IT park in the eastern fringes of Kolkata's Salt Lake. GlobalFoundries (GF) is a major semiconductor manufacturing company that produces microchips used in electronic devices like smartphones, computers, and cars, helping to power modern technology around the world. The semiconductor investment by the Global Semiconductor company in Kolkata was announced following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with the US. President Joe Biden in 2024. The collaborative state-of-the-art unit, to be called the GF Kolkata Centre was announced by White House after a meeting between Biden and Modi last year. "The presence of GlobalFoundries in Bengal will help draw more investments in Bengal, especially in the semiconductor domain in a major way and change the IT and semiconductor industry's eco-system here," people in the know told ET. The Central government putting major emphasis on the semiconductor industry. Meanwhile, in Bengal Silicon Valley, several companies have started investments and work is underway. 'There will be investment of around Rs 30,000 plus crore (committed) in the coming days. Reliance Jio has taken approximately 40 acres, Adanis have taken around 50 acres, LT-Mindtree has taken around 21 acres and TCS 20 acres for their expansion project. Adani is yet to start work while others have already started,' Babul Supriyo told ET. The Bengal Silicon Valley Tech Hub has approximately 200 acres of land in New Town. In addition, several Data Centre companies-ST Telemedia, Japanese Data Centre company NTT, Airtel NXtra, and globally renowned CtrlS have completed their construction and will start operations within a month, sources said. Reliance Jio is also setting up a Cable Landing Station in Digha, eastern India's first cable landing station, is set to make Bengal a lucrative destination, announced during Bengal Global Business Summit 2025. 'This will help more data centres to come up in Bengal in the coming days,' an official said. Meanwhile, the state government is working on its Semiconductor Policy and Global Capability Centre (GCC) Policy.
