MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition has been launched by the company in India, and the gaming laptop is available to purchase alongside the MSI Claw, the company's first handheld gaming console that was launched in India back in March. The gaming laptop runs on a 14th Gen Intel Core i7 processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card. Meanwhile, the MSI Claw is available for purchase at a lower price that the one announced by the company earlier this year.MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition, MSI Claw price in IndiaMSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition price in India is set at Rs. 1,67,990 and the gaming laptop is available for purchase in a single Core Black colourway via the company's website, Amazon, Flipkart, and authorised retailers.Meanwhile, the company also says that the MSI Claw — launched in India in March — is available for purchase at Rs. 78,990 for the base model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 chipset and 512GB of storage. The Core Ultra 7 model is available in two variants with 512GB and 1TB of storage, priced at Rs. 86,990 and Rs. 89,990, respectively.These prices are lower than the ones announced by the company earlier this year. However, the company says that the MSI Claw will be available at even lower prices — Rs. 10,000 off on all three models — for an unspecified period.MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition specificationsThe MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition features a 16-inch Quad-HD+ (2,560x1,600 pixels) IPS screen with a 240Hz refresh rate. It is powered by an Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of GDDR6 memory.MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition You get up 1TB of NVMe SSD storage on the MSI Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition laptop and the laptop runs on Windows 11 Home out-of-the-box. It is equipped with two 2W speakers tuned by Nahimic, a microphone array, and a webcam that can record video at 720p/30fps.Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, three USB 3.2 Gen 1Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio port. The laptop has a 4-cell 90Wh battery and can be charged at 240W with the included adapter. It measures 359 x 266.4 x 27.9 mm and weighs 2.5kg.MSI Claw specificationsThe MSI Claw runs on the same version of Windows as the Crosshair 16 HX Monster Hunter Edition laptop, and sports a 7-inch Full-HD (1,920x1080 pixels) IPS touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with up to Intel Core Ultra 7 (155H) processors, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and Intel Arc graphics and up to 1TB of NVMe SSD storage that can be expanded via a MicroSD card slot.You get support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity on the MSI Claw, while the device also has a Thunderbolt 4 port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Like other handheld gaming consoles, this device features RGB ABXY buttons and thumb sticks, a D-pad, triggers, and bumpers. The device has a fingerprint scanner and packs a 6-cell 54Wh battery that supports 65W fast charging with a USB PD 3.0 adapter. It measures 294 x 117 x 21.2mm in size and weighs 675g..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

The market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is witnessing a significant downturn in sales around the world. The most recent data by Cryptoslam showed that the average sale prices of NFTs have slipped by nearly 60 percent between March and June this year. The average price of an NFT around March was $193 (roughly Rs. 16,100), whereas in June, the price sunk to $79.17 (roughly Rs. 6,604).Cryptoslam stats show NFT market statusAs per CryptoSlam, The average NFT sale price dropped 59.11 percent in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the first quarter. The total sales volume, too, fell sharply — down from $1,604,580,523.51 (please add INR conversion) in March 2024 to $462,260,209.09 (please add INR conversion) in June. The number of unique NFT buyers, on the other hand, stood at 10,83,490 around March this year, but the figure reduced to 9,98,138 in June.Meanwhile, the number of unique NFT sellers tumbled from 6,75,306 in March to 4,75,999 in June. The figures clearly indicate that the NFT market is undergoing a significant downfall with only a few collections managing to attract buyers.The Pizza BRC-20 NFTs, built atop the Bitcoin blockchain, has topped CryptoSlam's list of NFT collections that have seen a rise in sales volume over the last 30 days. DMarket, Crypto Punks, and Gods Unchained Cards secured the second, third, and fourth rankings, respectively, on the list.The NFT market has seen multiple ups and downs over the last few years. Between 2022 and 2023, international celebrities like Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, and Paris Hilton among others spent thousands of dollars on purchasing trendy digital collectibles while multiple renowned brands like Lufthansa Airlines and Casio Watch added NFTs to their rewards programmes and metaverse initiatives.Around December 2023, the hype around BTC ETFs in the US had added more buzz to the NFT market – but that was clearly short lived.As per the latest data, in January this year, the average price of an NFT was $109 (roughly Rs. 9,096) but as of July 2, the a4verage NFT price has fallen to $92.11 (roughly Rs. 7,687).It remains unclear if and when the NFT market would see any improvements given that their categorisation as digital assets or securities remains a debated topic in several nations.Recent developments in NFT arenaNFTs are digital collectibles that are built on blockchain networks and can be inspired by an array of things like game characters, artists, drawings, cartoons, and even video content. The buyer of an NFT gets complete ownership and can choose to hold it, trade it, or sell it. Often, NFTs are loaded with virtual benefits and rewards from brands, gaming ecosystems, and artists.In April 2024, Samsung partnered with Wilder World metaverse game to offer NFT rewards to the buyers of its Web3 TV bundle packs.In India, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) unveiled NFT tickets for Lucknow to Delhi train travel as Holi-themed digital souvenirs.In fact, Japanese tech giant Sony is trying to create a new category of NFTs, called SuperNFTs, that are created when players of its gaming ecosystem combine all their in-game NFTs into one entity. Several brands like Nike and Adidas have reworked their marketing strategies to include NFTs as a way to connect with a younger customer base.Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Ajax Engineering, a concreting solution provider, launched its artificial intelligence (AI) platform Concrete GPT on Tuesday. The AI chatbot is aimed at professionals in the concrete industry and serves as a knowledge-sharing space to share innovation, market insights, and regulatory updates. The company claims that more than a million specialists in India will benefit from this AI tool. The AI platform can be accessed even without signing up. However, accessing Concrete GPT with Ajax ID will unlock additional privileges for users.Concrete GPT launched by Ajax EngineeringIn a press release, Ajax Engineering stated that the AI platform is powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 large language model and Perplexity AI's engine. The platform is designed in a typical chatbot style where users can enter their queries and prompts via text, voice, or through WhatsApp chat. The chatbot supports text and audio interactions in several languages including English, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, and Kannada. The company said the platform was developed with multiple Indian regional language support to ensure the benefits can reach even those who do not speak or write English.Despite being powered by the Perplexity engine, Concrete GPT cannot access the Internet. Its knowledge cut-off runs to March 2024. It has been trained on global construction standards and the latest trends in the concrete and construction industry.Highlighting some of the use cases of the chatbot, the company stated it can be used to gain technical support, practical maintenance tips to optimise machinery performance, and compliance with safety guidelines. The chatbot also offers information from diverse research materials to assist experts and veterans of the industry as well.Concrete GPT platform appears similar to ChatGPT, however, it has a unique design. The website directly opens the chatbot with the text field at the bottom and the chat window occupying a large space in the middle. On the left margin, there are several Ajax-related prompts that a user can tap on to know more about the company. On the bottom-left side, a WhatsApp icon opens a QR code that can be scanned to talk to the chatbot directly in the instant messaging app..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Oppo A3 has been launched in China on Tuesday (July 2). The new A-series smartphone's launch comes a few months after the brand unveiled the Oppo A3 Pro in its home country. The Oppo A3 is available in three colourways and runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 695 5G chipset paired with up to 12GB RAM and maximum 512GB storage onboard. A 5,000mAh battery, a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit, 45W charging support, and an IP65-rated build are the other key highlights of the Oppo A3.Oppo A3 priceThe Oppo A3 is priced at CNY 1,599 (roughly Rs. 18,000) for the 8GB + 256GB version. The 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB variants are priced at CNY 1,799 (roughly Rs. 21,000) and CNY 2,099 (roughly Rs. 25,000), respectively. It is available in Mountain Stream Green, Aurora Purple, and Quiet Sea Black (translated from Chinese) colours. The handset is currently up for pre-orders through the Oppo online store in China and will go on sale from July 5.Oppo A3 specificationsThe dual-SIM (Nano) Oppo A3 runs on ColorOS 14.0 and sports a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,412 pixels) AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate, 394ppi pixel density and up to 240Hz touch sampling rate. The display is touted to deliver 600nits of manual peak brightness and up to 1,200nits of peak brightness in sunlight. It runs on an octa-core 6nm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset paired with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The onboard memory can be expanded up to 24GB virtually using unused storage.On the camera front, the Oppo A3 has a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor with support for autofocus alongside a 2-megapixel portrait camera. The phone gets an 8-megapixel selfie shooter and has an IP65-rated build.For connectivity, the Oppo A3 include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, Beidou, Glonass, Galileo, GPS, QZSS and USB Type-C port. Sensors onboard include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, colour temperature sensor, gravity sensor, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, and proximity sensor. It features an in-display fingerprint scanner and supports facial recognition.The Oppo A3 houses a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging support. The battery is claimed to offer up to four years of durability, while the fast charging technology is said to fill the battery from zero to 50 percent in 30 minutes. Ten minutes of charging is claimed to deliver up to 1.53 hours of video playback time..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

Xiaomi India announced new Mobile Service Camps on Tuesday via social media platforms to commemorate its 10th anniversary in the country. The program, which has already kicked off, will be valid across authorised Xiaomi Service Centres. As per the company, users can avail of services such as complimentary mobile health checkups and free software updates. Furthermore, users looking to get their handsets repaired can get discounts on spare parts.Xiaomi India's Mobile Service CampsIn a post on X (formerly Twitter), Xiaomi announced that it will be hosting “Mobile Service Camps” across its authorised service centres. The campaign kicked off on July 1 and will held till July 31. At these locations, Xiaomi smartphone users will be able to take advantage of free services such as health checkups of their handsets and even get them updated to the latest firmware.Celebrating #XiaomiIndia's 10th anniversary with 'Mobile Service Camps' exclusively at Authorized Xiaomi Service Centres!Get:1. Discounts up to 50% on spare parts2. Free mobile health check-up3. Free mobile software updateensuring you an amazing #Xiaomi experience!… pic.twitter.com/nFOjmzfmzk— Xiaomi India (@XiaomiIndia) July 2, 2024Furthermore, it also announced special discounts of up to 50 percent for spare parts. The company said, “Celebrating #XiaomiIndia's 10th anniversary with 'Mobile Service Camps' exclusively at Authorized Xiaomi Service Centres!”The Chinese company first entered the Indian smartphone market in 2014 with its Mi 3 handset. It has established seven factories in the country in the subsequent years with an operational capacity of three smartphones per second, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘Make in India' initiative. It has expanded its portfolio which now includes smart TVs, power banks, tablets and wearable devices.Xiaomi claims that 99 percent of the smartphones it sells in India are locally made, with 65 percent of their value locally sourced. In December 2023, it kicked off a pilot project to export smartphones to nations such as Bangladesh and Nepal.On June 26, Xiaomi India announced the ‘Swasth Mahila Swasth Bharat' campaign in partnership with the Yuvraj Singh Foundation (YouWeCan) as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations. With this initiative, it will organise early cancer screenings for over 1,50,000 women across 15 Indian states over the next 12 months..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is expected to succeed the Galaxy S23 FE, which launched in October 2023. The purported smartphone has not yet been confirmed by the company. However, it has been spotted on benchmarking sites and has been part of several online leaks. Key features like the chipset, display, and camera details of the phone have been tipped. A recent leak also revealed the purported design of the handset. Now, a tipster has suggested the colour options of the anticipated smartphone.Samsung Galaxy S24 FE colour options (expected)The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will likely launch in five colour options, according to an X post by DSCC's Ross Young (@DSCCRoss). He said that the anticipated Fan Edition smartphone will be offered in Black, Grey, Light Blue, Light Green, and Yellow colourways. Among these variants, the black shade is tipped to see the highest production volume.Samsung Galaxy S24 FE design, specifications (expected)An earlier leak showed the purported design of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. The phone appeared in a light green colourway in the leaked image, where it seemed to look similar to the base Galaxy S24 handset. Three small, circular camera units are seen arranged vertically in the top left corner of the rear panel alongside a smaller LED flash unit.In the leaked image, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is seen sporting a flat display with rounded corners, slim bezels, and a centred hole-punch slot at the top. The volume rocker and the power button appear on the right edge of the handset.The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has previously tipped to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the US and some other select markets. However, in India and some European countries, the phone is likely to get an in-house Exynos 2400 SoC.Reports have also claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, expected to be unveiled in October this year, may sport a 6.65-inch screen as well as a 50-megapixel main camera. The handset is also likely to support up to 12GB RAM and 256GB onboard storage. It may measure 162 x 77.3 x 8mm in size.Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company's new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

We've spent ample time with macOS Sequoia developer beta 2, which brings iPhone Mirroring to the Mac. It's one of macOS Sequoia's biggest features excluding Apple Intelligence, of course, which isn't available yet. However, there are a handful of under-the-radar features and changes that were added to macOS Sequoia. Plus, we learned a bit more about iPhone Mirroring, including some of its limitations. Let's break down six things macOS Sequoia developer beta 2 told us about the upcoming version of macOS, and whether you should install it.

Samsung Galaxy M35 5G with the Exynos 1380 chipset was launched in select global markets in May. Now, Samsung is looking to bring this M series smartphone to India. An exact launch date is still under wraps but Amazon has teased the arrival of the handset. It is presumed to be launched during the Amazon Prime Day Sale 2024. The Galaxy M35 5G is backed by a 6,000mAh battery with 25W wired fast charging support.Samsung Galaxy M35 5G to be available on Amazon Amazon, via a banner on its website, teased the India launch of the Galaxy M35 5G. It is likely to be available during the Amazon Prime Day Sale 2024 that is set to take place from July 20 to July 21. The banner, however, does not reveal the exact launch date and time. Interested buyers can click on the “Notify Me” button on the e-commerce website to get the latest updates about the phone.In Brazil, the Galaxy M35 5G is retailing for BRL 2,699 (roughly Rs. 43,400) for the single 8GB RAM + 256GB variant and it is offered in Dark Blue, Grey, and Light Blue colourways. Samsung is expected to release the device in a similar price segment in India.Samsung Galaxy M35 5G specificationsThe global variant of Galaxy M35 5G features a 6.6-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,340 pixels) AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,000nits of peak brightness. It runs on an octa-core Exynos 1380 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of onboard storage. The onboard storage is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card.For optics, the Galaxy M35 5G has a triple rear camera setup including a 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro shooter. For selfies and video chats, there is a 13-megapixel front camera. It is backed by a 6,000mAh battery with support for 25W wired fast charging..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Google Maps is one of the most widely used navigation apps in the world, with 60 million active users in India alone as of 2023, according to Miriam Daniel, Vice President and Head of Google Maps. The web mapping platform introduces new features and improvements to existing ones on a regular basis, helping solo travellers navigate across geographical regions with step-by-step directions. According to a recent patent filing, it may be planning to bring enhanced functionality for those travelling in groups too, via a potential multi-car navigation feature.Multi-Car Navigation on Google MapsAccording to a patent filed by Google with the US Patent and Trademark Office (via @xleaks7) on June 25, the search giant is developing plans for a feature which allows users from different locations to navigate to a shared destination within a specified time period.Google Maps Patent for Multi-Car NavigationPhoto Credit: US Patent and Trademark Office/GoogleThe patent, titled “Providing Navigation Instructions to One Device in View of Another Device”, is for a navigation service that can determine multiple users travelling to a common destination from different origin points. It is said to have access to the calendar schedule and messages of users to determine the travelling intentions of users. If multiple users are detected, it is claimed to coordinate the travel by sending them invites to join the multi-car navigation and providing directions to the same destination within similar periods.Alternatively, users may be able to place explicit requests for multi-car navigation when organising trips.The navigation service can indicate the locations of all users travelling on the map, routes shared by all parties, identify places where they can wait for each other and also suggest speed adjustments, as per the patent. Furthermore, it is also said to relay data about the traffic and road conditions to all the vehicles, determining it by the road traversed by the lead vehicle in the group. It may also send a notification if a vehicle in the group takes a detour, and suggest stops on the way to others in order to let them catch up.The feature is suggested to work with smartphones not only operating as standalone but also devices connected to a vehicle's infotainment system via either USB or Bluetooth..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

CMF Phone 1 is confirmed to launch in India on July 8 alongside the CMF Buds Pro 2 and CMF Watch Pro 2. The company has been teasing design elements and specifications of the upcoming smartphone over the past few days. Previously, the phone was teased to get a removable back plate. Now, it has revealed the design of the rear camera module and confirmed the main camera details. Notably, the handset is the first one by CMF.CMF Phone 1 camera design, sensor detailsAccording to an official X post, the CMF Phone 1 will be equipped with what appears to be a dual rear camera unit. The teaser post shows the module placed within a vertical, pill-shaped module at the top left corner of the panel. The two sensors in separate circular units are arranged vertically within the module.Day 7 of revealing CMF Phone 1.It's camera time. The CMF Phone 1 features a Sony 50 MP camera with an f/1.8 lens, designed to capture naturally beautiful images. Advanced algorithms – including Ultra XDR – enhance your photos, making them bright and immersive, no matter the… pic.twitter.com/aedTZJvLus— CMF by Nothing (@cmfbynothing) July 2, 2024This rear camera module in the CMF Phone 1 is raised and has a different colour compared to the rest of the panel.Notably, a previous teaser suggested that the handset may come with a removable back plate. It is not yet clear if it will be only for superficial design purposes or will help in terms of repairability with access to battery and other internal elements. The aforementioned post also mentions that the CMF Phone 1 will be equipped with a 50-megapixel Sony sensor paired with an f/1.8 lens. It is also confirmed to get Ultra XDR support. CMF Phone 1 featuresPrevious official social media posts have confirmed the CMF Phone 1 will come with an in-display fingerprint sensor and a 5,000mAh battery, which is claimed to offer a battery life of up to two days or support up to 22 hours of non-stop YouTube streaming.The CMF Phone is also confirmed to feature a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G SoC paired with 8GB of RAM, virtually expandable by an additional 8GB. It is also set to sport a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with up to 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits.The phone has previously been tipped to launch with a 16-megapixel front camera sensor and an IP52-rated build. It will likely be priced under Rs. 20,000 in India. It will be available for purchase in the country via Flipkart. Will the Nothing Phone 2 serve as the successor to the Phone 1, or will the two co-exist? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Vision Pro – the company's first-ever mixed reality headset – received a new update last month which brought improvements to existing features such as Persona, Mac Virtual Display and Contact Key Verification. However, there was one additional feature which Apple did not advertise but is said to have been introduced – alternative payment options in the European Union (EU). Following the update, developers have the option to choose between allowing users to pay through the App Store or an alternative means.Apple Vision Pro visionOS 1.2 updateIn a note to developers, Apple said that the visionOS 1.2 update adds the ability to select alternative payment options in the EU. This move is in compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) legislation which allows developers to offer alternative modes of payment such as other service providers and external webpages, in addition to the App Store's in-app purchasing system.Apple said, “Alternative payment options are now supported starting in visionOS 1.2 for apps distributed on the App Store in the EU.”The Cupertino-based tech giant announced the arrival of alternative payment options in January. Users with devices running iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS could make payments outside the App Store. This functionality was added to iPad models too, with the rollout of iPadOS 18 Developer Beta 2. Now, it is being introduced to Apple Vision Pro too.This move enables developers to pay a reduced commission of 10 percent on purchases with no additional fee.Notably, Apple announced in June that its AR/VR headset would be available in more markets following its initial availability in the US. It was introduced in EU regions such as France and Germany, alongside other markets like Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK.Cheaper Apple headsetApple may also be reportedly developing a cheaper version of its headset, dubbed Apple Vision. It is speculated to be a stripped-down version of the headset with a limited number of features, but one that could be more affordable. Apple Vision may be priced between $1,500 (roughly Rs. 1,25,300) to $2,000 (roughly Rs. 1,67,000) and could launch by the end of 2025..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Anthropic announced a new initiative to develop new benchmarks to test the capabilities of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models on Tuesday. The AI firm will be funding the project and has invited applications from interested entities. The company said that the existing benchmarks are not enough to fully test the capabilities and the impact of the newer large language models (LLMs). As a result, a new set of evaluations focused on AI safety, advanced capabilities, and its societal impact is needed to be developed, stated Anthropic.Anthropic to fund new benchmarks for AI modelsIn a newsroom post, Anthropic highlighted the need for a comprehensive third-party evaluation ecosystem to overcome the limited scope of current benchmarks. The AI firm announced that through its initiative, it will fund third-party organisations that want to develop new assessments for AI models focused on quality and high safety standards.For Anthropic, the high-priority areas include tasks and questions that can measure an LLM's AI Safety Levels (ASLs), advanced capabilities in generating ideas and responses, as well as the societal impact of these capabilities.Under the ASL category, the company highlighted several parameters that include the capability of the AI models to assist or act autonomously in running cyberattacks, the potential of the models to assist in the creation of or enhancing the knowledge of creating chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risks, national security risk assessment, and more.In terms of advanced capabilities, Anthropic highlighted that the benchmarks should be capable of assessing AI's potential to transform scientific research, participation and refusal towards harmfulness, and multilingual capabilities. Further, the AI firm said it is necessary to understand the potential of an AI model to impact society. For this, the evaluations should be able to target concepts such as “harmful biases, discrimination, over-reliance, dependence, attachment, psychological influence, economic impacts, homogenization, and other broad societal impacts.”Apart from this, the AI firm also listed some principles for good evaluations. It said evaluations should not be available in training data used by AI as it often turns into a memorisation test for the models. It also encouraged keeping between 1,000 to 10,000 tasks or questions to test the AI. It also asked organisations to use subject matter experts to create tasks that test performance in a specific domain..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.