Google rebrands Bard to Gemini, launches a paid version based on a more powerful AI model

A year ago to the day Google announced Bard – its AI-powered ChatGPT rival. Bard was powered by the LaMDA model, but Google switched to Gemini in December. Now the service will adopt the name of the model that powers it. Goodbye, Bard. Hello, Gemini.

Gemini is now powered by the Gemini Pro 1.0 model. It is available in over 230 countries and knows over 40 languages. This is available through a web interface – here’s the link – but you can also use the new Gemini app.

It’s a chat bot and you can talk to it over text or voice. However, Gemini is “mulit-modal”, meaning that you can also...


http://dlvr.it/T2WDh9

Apple releases AI image generation tool called MGIE

Apple's image editing AI model has arrived albeit it's far from a finished product. MGIE, short for multimodal large language models-guided image editing, is currently available on GitHub and there's a PDF project paper with instructions.

The model uses text instructions to change and edit images. It can do simple image editing tasks like increasing contrast or brightness and changing the white balance. But it can also try and interpret more complex prompts - like making this pizza healthier - by adding vegetable toppings.

The model can also crop and resize, autofill image borders,...


http://dlvr.it/T2WDVH

Honor unveils Protect Plan ahead of X9b launch in India

The Honor X9b is arriving on February 15 in India, and today the company introduced a Protect Plan, which will be offered for free to everyone who purchases the midranger.

The plan includes a free one-time screen replacement, extended warranty, improved door-to-door phone service, and “assured buy back”. According to an official press release, the plan will cost INR2,999 ($36/€33) if purchased separately.

The screen replacement will be applicable within the first six months of purchasing the phone, and will include doorstep pickup and delivery for repairs in authorized service...


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iPhone 16 Capture button rumored to bring zoom control

Apple is rumored to bring a new Capture button on its iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max which we saw in leaked renders earlier this month. Now, The Information is reporting that Apple is testing the Capture button across the entire iPhone 16 range including the baseline iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus and we also get some more details on its additional functions.

iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max renders (Capture button circled in red)

The Capture button will be a physical button located on the lower right-hand side of the new iPhone 16 devices and will allow for instant image capture and...


http://dlvr.it/T1bSCd

Xiaomi Mix Flip gets certified in China with support for satellite connectivity

Back in September of last year we first heard that Xiaomi was working on a flip-style foldable to complement the Mix Fold line in its portfolio. This was to be called Xiaomi Mix Flip, and it was rumored to arrive alongside the Mix Fold 4 at some point later this year.

Today, the Mix Flip has been certified in China by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The certification reveals what might be a surprising fact: the Mix Flip will have support for satellite connectivity.

The fact that it's going to be running Android is also confirmed, as is its 5G support, but...


http://dlvr.it/T1b5n1

The Galaxy S24 Ultra's 4K 120fps and 8K zoom video are a very big deal

There's a lot to uncover from Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra launch. The sensor sizes, the camera samples, and now some interesting camera details.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a surprisingly capable videography phone. It can capture both 4K at 120fps and 8K video from its 5x zoom camera. Those two abilities alone make the Galaxy S24 Ultra one of the best phones for video - shooting 4K at 120fps isn't meant for extremely fast playback but rather for extremely smooth slow motion - capture in 4K at 120fps and then slow down the video four times and run it at 30fps. Shooting at 5x in 8K gives...


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Google introduces Circle to Search on Android

Google has been experimenting with ways to search on smartphones since the dawn of Android and the latest attempt involves drawing circles. Circle to Search allows users to draw a circle around information on their device screen to search for the highlighted item. While the feature is officially called Circle to Search, you can also highlight text and scribble on items instead of drawing oval shapes to trigger the new search option.

Circle to Search works anywhere on your device but you’ll have to long press the home button or the navigation bar for those using gestures to activate the...


http://dlvr.it/T1YMkV

Apple is now selling Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 without blood oxygen feature in US

Apple officially confirmed it will disable the blood oxygen tracking on its Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 smartwatches in the United States. The change only applies to new sales - those watches will not be able to measure SpO2 until the legal battle is over between Cupertino and medical technology company Masimo.

Current units on the market, including those that are already shipped to third-party retailers, will continue functioning as before. Users outside the United States will remain unaffected as well.

Apple Watch Series 9

Disabling the SpO2 sensor is one way for Apple to continue...


http://dlvr.it/T1YMTG

Realme Note 50 set to launch on January 23, detailed specs emerge

Realme is gearing up to launch a new Note smartphone lineup and the first device in the series will be called Realme Note 50. Realme Philippines is now teasing the Note 50 which will be announced on January 23. Luckily, a detailed specs sheet leaked ahead of the launch filling us in on all the key details for the upcoming phone.

First in the series. First in the world. 🌏This is the realme Note 50. Don’t miss out as we introduce the #LongLastingValueCompanion to the world for the first time! ✨Take note of the price reveal next Tuesday, 01.23.24 at 12NN. 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/t7MWNM5cPr— realme...


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Samsung reveals Galaxy AI is powered by Google Cloud

Samsung's Galaxy AI was a big part of today's Unpacked event – the generative AI service debuts on the Galaxy S24 smartphones and Samsung is keen to position it as one of their key selling points. The company revealed the new technology is powered by Google Cloud.

The Korean company will be the first partner that will deploy Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 on Vertex AI via the cloud to their smartphones.

Gemini can generalize and seamlessly understand, operate across, and combine different types of information, including text, code, images, and video. Native apps such as Notes, Voice...


http://dlvr.it/T1Xblp

AI-focused Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra brings new 5x camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is here, bringing a bunch of updates, while maintaining its predecessor's formula.

Visually, the Galaxy S24 Ultra looks very similar to the S23 Ultra but there are notable changes. The frame is now made of a titanium alloy instead of aluminum. Titanium is more durable and scratch-resistant than aluminum without increasing the weight - the Galaxy S24 Ultra is actually a gram lighter than the S23 Ultra. The new Ultra is a bit thinner (0.3mm), and shorter (1.1mm), thanks largely to slimmer bezels. Glass-wise, the S24 Ultra employs a new Gorilla Glass Armor on the...


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Xiaomi 14 Ultra is also getting a camera kit, to double as an external battery

Xiaomi 14 Ultra is getting a designated camera kit, just like its predecessor, revealed listing on 3C.

The photography kit was certified by the Chinese CCC agency with maximum output of 5V and 1,500 mA, suggesting it will act as an external battery, which wasn't a feature in the previous version of the accessory.

The whole package for the Xiaomi 13 Ultra

The device with model number 2402CPS69C will also ship without an adapter, which isn't a surprise at all. More interestingly, the first digits, 2402, suggest a February 2024 launch.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra was an amazing...


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Apple now allows alternative in-app payments on the App Store in the US

Apple has updated its App Store guidelines and developers can now link alternative payment platforms inside their apps. The new development is limited to the iOS and iPadOS App Stores in the US and requires developers to apply for a special entitlement to enable the option to link payments to outside websites and platforms.

Apple in-app link purchasing template for outside payments

There are a few asterisks here, Apple will take a 27% commission of each payment made outside of the App Store (compared to the regular 30% Apple App Store tax), and developers still have to offer Apple’s...


http://dlvr.it/T1VpkJ

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro in for review

Xiaomi launched no less than five different Redmi Note 13 smartphones across the world. We received the Note 13 Pro+ and the Note 13 Pro 5G for review, and now it's time to share our first impressions of the LTE-only Redmi Note 13 Pro.

The retail package includes a 67W charger a USB cable and a decent quality case, which is pretty solid for the price range.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro is largely similar to the Poco M6 Pro, but comes with a 200 MP camera that it shares with the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G.

The chipset of the Redmi Note 13 Pro is called Helio G99 Ultra, but we are...


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Moto G Play (2024) is now official with $149 price tag, 50 MP main camera

Today Motorola has officially taken the wraps off the Moto G Play (2024). This phone will become available in the US at Amazon, Best Buy, and Motorola's online store on February 8 for just $149.99. Subsequently, you'll also find it at Consumer Cellular, Verizon, Xfinity Mobile, Visible, Cricket, AT&T, UScellular, Cox Mobile, Straight Talk, Walmart Family Mobile, Total by Verizon, and Simple Mobile.

In Canada, it arrives earlier, namely on January 26, at "select carriers and national retailers" but unfortunately Motorola hasn't announced a price for Canada, only saying it varies by...


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