Parler Suspended From Google Play

 

Alphabet's Google on Friday suspended the Parler social networking service from its app store, citing posts inciting violence and demanding “robust” content moderation from the app favored by many supporters of US President Donald Trump.

Apple on Friday also gave the service 24 hours to submit a detailed moderation plan, pointing to participants using the service to coordinate Wednesday's siege of the US Capitol building.

The actions by the two Silicon Valley companies mean that the network seen as a haven for people expelled from Twitter could become unavailable for new downloads on the world's main mobile phone app stores within a day. It would still be available in mobile browsers.

Right-leaning social media users in the United States have flocked to Parler, messaging app Telegram and hands-off social site Gab, citing the more aggressive policing of political comments on mainstream platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Twitter permanently suspended President Trump's account on Friday.

In suspending the service, Google, whose software powers Android phones, cited its policy against apps that promote violence and gave recent examples from Parler, including a Friday post that began "How do we take back our country? About 20 or so coordinated hits" and another promoting a "Million Militia March" on Washington.

Parler Chief Executive John Matze said in a post on Friday that Apple was applying standards to Parler that it did not apply to itself.

In a statement, Google said that "for us to distribute an app through Google Play, we do require that apps implement robust moderation for egregious content. In light of this ongoing and urgent public safety threat, we are suspending the app's listings from the Play Store until it addresses these issues."

In a letter from Apple's App Store review team to Parler seen by Reuters, Apple cited participants of the mob storming the US Capitol building on Wednesday.

"Content that threatens the well-being of others or is intended to incite violence or other lawless acts has never been acceptable on the App Store," Apple said in the letter.

Apple gave Parler 24 hours to "remove all objectionable content from your app ... as well as any content referring to harm to people or attacks on government facilities now or at any future date." The company also demanded that Parler submit a written plan "to moderate and filter this content" from the app.

Apple declined to comment.

Matze, who describes himself as libertarian, founded Parler in 2018 as a "free-speech driven" alternative to mainstream platforms but began courting right-leaning users as prominent supporters of Trump moved there.

Those who have joined include commentator Candace Owens, Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who handcuffed herself to the door of Twitter's New York office in November 2018 to protest a ban on her by the site. In November, conservative activist Rebekah Mercer confirmed that the she and her family, which includes her father and hedge-fund investor Robert Mercer, have provided funding to Parler.

"Apparently they believe Parler is responsible for ALL user generated content on Parler," Matze said. "Therefor (sic) by the same logic, Apple must be responsible for ALL actions taken by their phones. Every car bomb, every illegal cell phone conversation, every illegal crime committed on an iPhone, Apple must also be responsible for," he wrote. "Standards not applied to Twitter, Facebook or even Apple themselves, apply to Parler."

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 Event Set for January 14, Galaxy S21 Series Expected: All You Need to Know

 Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event will be held on January 14, the company has confirmed. Reports in the past have claimed that Samsung will be announcing its next-gen Samsung Galaxy ‘S' series flagship lineup on January 14, and now the company has officially announced it is hosting an event on the same day. While it hasn't really announced the monikers of the upcoming Samsung flagship, it did confirm that ‘new experiences' in mobile technology will be unveiled. As per reports, the flagship series will be called the Samsung Galaxy S21 range this year.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event details

The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event will be live streamed for all on Samsung.com at 10am EST (8.30pm IST) on January 14 i.e. next Thursday. Samsung has released an official invitation for the event and has published a teaser video that shows a blurry camera module of the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. There seems to be a triple camera setup on the module with the sensors sitting in one vertical line. As mentioned, the names of the phones have not been announced in the release.

Past reports indicate that the upcoming Galaxy ‘S' series will include three phones – Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21+, and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The phones have leaked massively in the past and this time around the camera module is said to be fused with the frame to give it a sleeker look than before.

Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ price, availability details (expected)

The base model - Samsung Galaxy S21 – is reported to be priced starting at EUR 849 (roughly Rs. 76,000) for the base 128GB model, while its 256GB option was reported at EUR 899 (roughly Rs. 80,600). The Galaxy S21+, on the other hand, is expected to be available at EUR 1,049 (roughly Rs. 94,000) and EUR 1,099 (roughly Rs. 98,700) for the 128GB and 256GB storage options, respectively.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is expected to come in three storage options. The 128GB model will likely be priced at EUR 1,349 (roughly Rs. 1,21,400), whereas the 256GB storage model may be offered at EUR 1,399 (roughly Rs. 1,25,900). The most expensive will likely be the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 512GB model that will reportedly be priced at EUR 1,529 (roughly Rs. 1,37,600). Reports claim that the Galaxy S21 series would be available in South Korea on January 29.

Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra specifications (expected)

WinFuture.de, a popular German publication known for its accurate leaks, recently shared the specifications of all the three phones - Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. According to the report, the three phones will come with dual-SIM (Nano) support and run on Android 11 with One UI 3.1 on top. All models are also expected to have an octa-core Exynos 2100 SoC in markets including Germany, though it could be the recently launched Snapdragon 888 in the US and select other markets. The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ are expected to have 8GB of RAM as standard, along with 128GB and 256GB of onboard storage. There could to be up to 12GB of RAM on board on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. Storage is tipped to not be expandable in nature.

Coming to the display, Samsung Galaxy S21 is reported to have a 6.2-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,400 pixels) Infinity-O Display with Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen and 421ppi pixel density. The Galaxy S21+, on the other hand, could offer the same display in 6.7-inch size and 394ppi of pixel density. Both phones are also expected to have 60-120Hz refresh rate, 1,300 nits of peak brightness, and Gorilla Glass 7 protection on top.

The premium Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is expected to features a 6.8-inch (1,440x3,200 pixels) Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display with 20:9 aspect ratio and 515ppi pixel density. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is tipped to come with 120Hz refresh rate and offer Gorilla Glass 7 protection.

Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ are also expected to have a triple rear camera setup that houses a 64-megapixel primary sensor with a telephoto f/2.0 lens on top, 12-megapixel secondary sensor with an ultra-wide-angle f/2.2 lens, and a 12-megapixel tertiary sensor with a wide-angle f/1.8 lens. The primary and tertiary lenses of the setup could have optical image stabilisation (OIS) support. The camera setup is expected to offer 3x “hybrid” optical zoom.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is also expected to feature a multiple lens setup with a 108-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), two additional zoom lenses on board with 10-megapixel resolution. One zoom lens has 35-degree field-of-view and f/2.4 aperture and the other has 10-degree field-of-view but comes with periscope optics to offer 240mm focal length. There is also a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera with 120-degree field-of-view. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also has a laser autofocus system at the back.

For selfies and video chats, the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ will come with a 10-megapixel camera sensor at the front along with an f/2.2 lens, according to the report. The lens may have 80-degree of field-of-view (FoV). The Ultra model at the front is likely to have a 40-megapixel 1/2.8-inch sensor has PDAF and laser autofocus features.

Samsung Galaxy S21 may have a 4,000mAh battery, while the battery pack of Galaxy S21+ may come with a capacity of 4,800mAh. Both phones are expected to have 25W fast charging support — alongside Qi wireless charging compatibility. There is expected to be a 5,000mAh battery on board with 45W fast charging support on Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It may support wireless charging as well. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is also expected to support the S Pen as an optional accessory. Connectivity options on the three phones are tipped to include a USB Type-C port, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and 5G. The report says that users in Germany won't get an adapter or earphones bundled-in. The phones may not come bundled with a charger.

Samsung Tipped to Launch New Galaxy M-Series Smartphone in India Next Week, Could Be M12 or M62

 Samsung is tipped to launch a new Galaxy M-series smartphone in India next week. A tipster shared a poster of the upcoming phone on Twitter and claimed that it will launch next week. He also said that the phone could have a big screen. The smartphone will come with a waterdrop notch display, as per the leaked poster. While the name of the upcoming smartphone isn't given in the leak, it could be the Samsung Galaxy M12 or the Samsung Galaxy M62. Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S21 series at its Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event on January 14, but it seems like a Galaxy-M series smartphone could launch in India before that.

Tipster Mukul Sharma shared a poster of the upcoming Samsung smartphone on Twitter. It has the text #MAXUP, which hints at a large battery. The poster also suggests that the smartphone will have the volume and power buttons on the right side.

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is expected to feature a massive 7,000mAh battery. It is also tipped to sport a 6.7-inch display. The smartphone has been spotted on multiple certification sites in the last month and a support page for the smartphone also appears to have gone live in India. The Samsung Galaxy M12 has also reportedly gone into mass production at a Noida factory. All of this suggests that the smartphone is ready to be launched soon.

If not the Samsung Galaxy M12, the smartphone tipped to launch next week could also be the Galaxy M62, which was also reportedly in the works.

Meanwhile, Samsung is expected to launch the anticipated Galaxy S21 series on January 14. The lineup is rumoured to comprise of Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.

OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition Teardown Reveals Sandstone Laminate, Copper Vapour Chamber, More

 OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition has been put through a teardown process on YouTube. It shows the internals of the Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition of the phone are the same as the regular OnePlus 8T. The chipsets are covered with thermal paste and copper tape, and there is a graphite film on top. The large piece of glass that covers the top half of the back of the phone is purely for aesthetic purposes. The actual camera module is the same as the regular OnePlus 8T.

The teardown video shared by PBKreviews on YouTube shows a thick back plate on the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition with a lamination layer on the inside that gives the feeling of a sandstone back but feels like glass to the touch. The top part of the back has a large glass area that is purely for aesthetics. Beyond these changes, the internals are identical to the regular OnePlus 8T.

The chips are covered with thermal paste, copper tape, and then with graphite tape. The OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition has a dual battery setup as it supports faster 65W charging speeds; the dual battery also helps with thermals. There is a 2,200mAh battery and a 2,250mAh battery in the phone. There is also a copper vapour chamber in the phone that extends under the battery.

Samsung’s New Galaxy Buds With ANC, Improved Ambient Mode May Launch Alongside Galaxy S21 Series

 Samsung's next-generation Galaxy Buds TWS earbuds will reportedly launch alongside the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S21 series. The South Korean tech giant has been introducing new earbuds alongside its flagship Galaxy S series for a few years now, and next year may not be any different. These next-gen earbuds are tipped to support active noise cancellation (ANC) and have the same in-ear design as the Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Buds+. Samsung recently introduced the Galaxy Buds Live in August this year.

Sammobile reports that new Galaxy Buds are launching alongside the Galaxy S21 series next year. The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is tipped to launch in January this time around. The official name of the upcoming earbuds has not yet been announced, but other information regarding features and design have been leaked. For instance, the next-gen Galaxy Buds earbuds are expected to have the same in-ear design as the predecessors Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds+.

The Galaxy Buds TWS earbuds are expected to come with improved sound quality. It is expected to have an improved Ambient mode that will allow external noise to enter the earbuds for when you prefer to be in sync with your surroundings. Previous-generation earbuds also had this mode, but the upcoming Galaxy Buds TWS earbuds are expected to bring improvements to this feature.

The upcoming earbuds may also feature ANC and the report claims that these will be the first Samsung in-ear design earbuds to integrate it. The recently introduced Samsung Galaxy Buds Live also have ANC and they were the first true wireless earphones from the brand to feature it. Galaxy Buds Live have a unique bean-shaped design which sits in the outer frame of the ear.

Huawei P50 May Integrate Patented Liquid Lens Technology to Enable Millisecond-Level Focusing

 Huawei P50 series, expected to release next year, will reportedly integrate an innovative liquid lens technology to massively improve focusing speeds. The company looks to shake things up in smartphone imaging once again with its new patented liquid lens technology that is reported to achieve millisecond-level focusing, nearly in the lines of the human eye. The new Huawei liquid lens camera module film formation rate is reported to be almost 100 percent. A fresh report says that the liquid lens will be mass-produced and commercialised in 2021.

MyDrivers reports that this new liquid lens technology may be integrated into the Huawei P50 series next year. This new technology was patented by Huawei on December 25 last year and announced in April this year. It is expected to be mass-produced and commercialised next year. This liquid lens technology will be integrated into the telephoto lens module on the phone.

The report explains that traditional zoom lens achieves focus by adjusting the focal length between two fixed focal length lenses. The new technology will use liquid to focus light and it will change the shape of the liquid by passing electricity through it to control imaging. “Huawei's technical solution can be used to drive the motor of the liquid lens to meet performance requirements such as autofocus and optical image stabilization, while improving the reliability of the motor under abnormal working conditions such as impacts and drops,” the report adds (translated).

This is not the first time that Huawei has been reported to indulge in camera hardware innovation. It was also the first to introduce a periscope lens on a smartphone – the first being the Huawei P30 Pro that launched in 2019. This new technology allowed smartphone makers to integrate big zoom lenses without having the module protrude out of the back frame. The periscope lens uses a mirror reflection method to adjust zoom setting before the light hits the image sensor.

Gamer Without Right Hand Gets a 'Metal Gear Solid Bionic' Arm, Thanks to Konami and Open Bionics

UK-based gamer Daniel Melville who happened to be born without a hand, is now getting a super cool bionic arm, thanks to publisher Konami as well as Open Bionics. The prosthetic arm that this gamer will get is based on the previous Venom Snake design that comes from "Metal Gear Solid" which is a stealth game mostly celebrated by gamers.

'Metal Gear Solid' Arm by Open Bionics

According to Melville's statement to OpenBionics, everything is still unbelievable and that the bionic arm was apparently "everything I've ever wanted." He then stated that he was a very avid gamer and that he also loves "Metal Gear Solid" so much. He then stated that to be able to actually have on Snake's official arm in real life "is just insane."

The game character of Venom Snake within "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain," previously released back in 2015, had lost his arm in an explosion then was seen rocking a red and black bionic arm. This was also completely loaded with a detachable missile functionality as well as gadgets to be able to stun enemies.

Venom Snake bionic arm

The said Venom Snake bionic arm like the one that Daniel Melville is rocking is for below-elbow amputees and is said to easily clip onto the Open Bionics' Hero Arm, which is a multi-grip bionic arm. Melville's own bionic arm looks pretty much the same as the Venom Snake bionic arm seen in the game. Of course, minus all of the given weaponry.

The bionic arm is actually capable of allowing Melville to do everyday functions like gaming. Just like a real arm, the bionic arm works by using special sensors that are able to detect certain muscle movement and therefore resulting in the right movements of the bionic arm itself like twisting the risk, doing something with the fingers, gripping, pulling, etc.

Read Also: Honda Claims Winning Title of 'First' to Mass Produce Self-Driving Cars at Level 3

Other Hero Arms: Iron Man, Frozen, Star-Wars, and More

Open Bionics is a company that comes from Bristol, England and makes use of 3D printing technology in order for it to be able to create these bionic arms for amputees that actually cost less than the traditional prosthetics being sold. Each arm contains the option of being accessorized with certain magnetic clip-on covers just like Melville's very own "Metal Gear Solid" Venom Snake cover.

Previously, the company, Open Bionics, was able to create Hero Arms that can actually still look like the red Iron Man gauntlet along with a vibrating repulsor, an arm like Elsa's sparkling blue gloves as seen in the hit movie "Frozen" back in 2013, Hero Adam Jensen's own metal arm coming from the game "Deus Ex: Human Revolution," and even a "Star-Wars" themed arm that also lights up the colored LED lights, reported by CNet.