Tech
Viber to roll out two-step verification
Rakuten Viber has announced the rollout of its newest feature, two-step verification.
The extra layer of security will allow its users to authenticate their accounts using a pin code and email.
Messaging on Viber is already end-to-end encrypted, eliminating third parties from accessing its data, and the disappearing message feature allows users further control over who sees their messages.
Also read: Viber cuts business ties with Facebook
Users who choose to enable the two-step verification feature will create a six-digit PIN number and verify their email addresses.
To log in to Viber on a mobile device or desktop, the user will have to verify the account by providing their PIN code. If the code is forgotten, the verified email address will be used to help the user restore access to their account.
Also, having a PIN code will disable the ability to deactivate the account using Viber on a desktop. Anyone trying to deactivate a Viber account via desktop will need to use the PIN code.
read Twitter bans ads that contradict science on climate change
Viber's Two-step verification protects against hackers hijacking users' accounts to send spam or access private information.
Reducing the number of non-verified accounts within the platform will not only reduce the number of spam messages on the platform but will also create a more efficient and stable application for users to communicate with loved ones worldwide.
"We are committed to providing a secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging app, and this new feature takes it one step further," said Amir Ish-Shalom, chief information officer for Rakuten Viber.
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Review: Is it worth it?
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is the embodiment of an incremental improvement. It looks and functions similarly to its predecessor, enough so that it is tough to fully separate this phone from the Galaxy S21 Plus that came before it – largely. Thankfully, last year’s middle Galaxy S child was a pretty fine phone on its own, and Galaxy S22 Plus review reveals that its follow-up is likewise a terrific product.
Key Features of Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is an undeniably attractive phone, even more so when dressed in the lovely pink hue of the review unit. Not only does the Armor Aluminum chassis enhance longevity, but it also has an ultra-premium feel to it. Fortunately, Samsung has retained the Galaxy S22 Plus's back. Both the front and back of the gadget are protected with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus.
Samsung's camera housing maintains the "Contour Cut" design. It's a pleasure to gaze at the rear camera module's beautiful chamfered edges. Although this is a large gadget, it feels extremely safe in the hand. It's fantastic to notice that the metal frame prevents the tablet from being too slippery.
Read Vivo Y33s 4G Review: Do features accompany premium look?
The smaller but more rounded, flatter, and sharper edges tie everything together well. Samsung has done an excellent job with this model's design, taking what made its predecessor so distinctive and basically perfecting it.
Display
The Galaxy S22 Plus, like its predecessor, has a flat Infinity-O display with thin bezels. The 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display supports a maximum resolution of FHD Plus and a refresh rate of 48Hz–120Hz.
It intelligently adjusts the refresh rate according to the content you're viewing. As a result, the device's battery life is extended. One can never grow bored of using a fast refresh rate display, and we're delighted that Samsung's Galaxy S flagship series now has one.
Read Oppo F21 Pro Review: Camera Phone Made in Bangladesh
Samsung offers the industry's greatest mobile OLED screens, which puts the Galaxy S22 Plus in a class of its own. The display has a noticeable increase in brightness. The Galaxy S21 Plus can attain a maximum brightness of 1,300 nits, while the Galaxy S22 Plus can reach a whopping 1,750 nits.
As a consequence, outside visibility is greatly increased. The panel is of exceptional quality. You get true-to-life colors with strong contrast. Additionally, the viewing angles are excellent. When you combine this with the high refresh rate and an in-display fingerprint sensor that performs well, there is nothing more you need from the display.
Rear Cameras
The Galaxy S21 and S21+ have no hardware changes over the Galaxy S20 and S20+ cameras. With the Galaxy S22 and S22+, this is not the case. There are many significant changes here. There is a 50 MP primary camera rather than a 12MP one, and a true 3x zoom lens rather than a conventional 64MP camera, which means optical magnification rather than digital zoom, comparable to the Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S21 FE.
Read Samsung Galaxy A13 4G Review: Does it live up to the hype?
If you assumed the leap from a 12MP to a 50MP sensor would result in significant improvements, you're in for a surprise. There is no discernible difference between the 12MP images taken by the S21+ and the 12MP photos taken by the S22+ during the day, in my experience. The same holds true for videos.
Walton launches new gaming laptop Karonda GX712H
Walton has rolled out a new gaming laptop, Karonda GX712H, with Intel's 12th generation processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4GB graphics, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, genuine Windows 10 Home, and 512GB solid-state drive.
Priced at Tk129,990, the device can be bought by only depositing money equivalent to one month's instalment.
The gaming laptop features a 15.6-inch full HD Matte IPS LED Backlit Display with a 144Hz refresh rate while the screen resolution is 1920x1080 pixels.
Read: Oppo launches Eid campaign
Karonda GX712H is powered by Intel's 12th generation 3.50 GHz Core i7 12700H processor. It has a 3200MHz 16GB DDR4 RAM which can be expanded up to 64 GB. There is a 512GB solid-state drive with NVMe PCle Gen3X4 interface.
This device sports an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 model with 4GB GDDR6 video RAM as graphics to run powerful and heavy games. There is also an integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
Read Xiaomi Redmi 10c Review: Can this budget phone fulfil users’ needs?
Oppo launches Eid campaign
Global smart device brand Oppo has come up with different offers on its smartphones ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr 2022.
Customers can avail of these offers till May 3 while buying Oppo smartphones from physical stores.
The buyers of Oppo F21 Pro will get gifts including a T-shirt, cap signed by cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and an F21 Pro back cover.
Read: Oppo F21 Pro now available across Bangladesh
Launched on April 10, the phone is now available at all outlets across the country at Tk27,990.
F21 Pro supports microlens up to 30x magnification for capturing images and videos, which allows users to take smartphone photography to new heights.
It has unique features on the front camera, thanks to IMX709 (Sony IMX709 selfie sensor co-developed by Oppo and Sony) and red, green, blue, and white (RGBW) sensor technology.
Read Xiaomi Redmi 10c Review: Can this budget phone fulfil users’ needs?
With its eye-catching sunset-orange colour, F21 Pro complements the users' lifestyle by adding extravagance to any style.
The phone is also equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 6nm Octa-Core processor, 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM with Oppo RAM expansion technology with up to 5GB RAM expansion, 33W Supervooc charging with 4500mAh Battery, 6.4-inch 90Hz AMOLED Display and ColorOS 12 system.
Also, customers will get a T-shirt and a cap signed by Shakib on the purchase of Oppo A95.
Read Samsung Galaxy A23 4G: Can it uphold the reputation of ancestors?
They will get a T-shirt while buying A76, A54, A16, and A16e.
Twitter bans ads that contradict science on climate change
Twitter says it will no longer allow advertisers on its site who deny the scientific consensus on climate change, echoing a policy already in place at Google.
"Ads shouldn’t detract from important conversations about the climate crisis,” the company said in a statement outlining its new policy Friday.
There was no indication that the change would affect what users post on the social media site, which along with Facebook has been targeted by groups seeking to promote misleading claims about climate change.
Also read: Musk says he has $46.5B in financing ready to buy Twitter
The announcement coinciding with Earth Day came hours before the European Union agreed a deal requiring big tech companies to vet their sites more closely for hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content.
Twitter said it would provide more information in the coming months on how it plans to provide “reliable, authoritative context to the climate conversations” its users engage in, including from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The U.N.-backed science panel's reports on the causes and effects of climate change provide the basis for international negotiations to curb climate change.
Also read: Mamata blocks Bengal Governor on Twitter
The company already has a dedicate climate topic on its site and offered what it described as “pre-bunks” during last year's U.N. climate conference to counter misinformation surrounding the issue.
Meta shares ways to connect and take action on Earth Day
Meta, formerly known as the Facebook company, is announcing impactful ways that people can learn more about sustainable living and take action this Earth Day.
According to Meta’s analysis, more than 2 million Bangladeshis are part of at least one Facebook group dedicated to the discovery, protection and appreciation of the earth and our environment as interest in climate change is on the rise.
“Every day, thousands across our platforms rally together to connect and take action on climate change, whether it is engaging in a Facebook Group or practicing sustainable tips from a creator. I’m heartened to see that this is no exception in Bangladesh. Earth Day is a vital reminder that all actions, both big and small, can make a difference in protecting our planet,” said Siddharta Swarup, Social Impact and Communities Lead for APAC at Meta.
Read Musk sells $4B in Tesla shares, presumably for Twitter deal
Meta has partnered with renowned illustrators to release specially designed Earth Day stickers and features on Messenger and Instagram starting this week so people can express their commitment to the environment. They can also create their own word effects and 3D avatar stickers to show their support for climate action.
Moreover, there are more than 800 businesses on Instagram in Bangladesh that describe themselves as eco-friendly. Facebook Marketplace is available in Bangladesh, where people can buy and sell second hand items in their local community and beyond — from bicycles and plants to clothes and home decor.
Meta’s global operations are now 100 per cent supported by renewable energy. The company has set an ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions across its value chain and be water positive by 2030. It continues to work in tackling climate misinformation through its $1 million Climate Misinformation grant program, as well as expanding its annual Climate Change Opinion Surveyto share information about public views on climate change across more than 180 countries.
READ: Shares of Facebook parent Meta plunge 22% on lower profits
For more information on what’s new and how to get involved with Meta to show appreciation for the planet, visit: https://messengernews.fb.com/2022/04/19/talking-about-our-earth-on-messenger-and-messenger-kids/
CNN’s streaming service shutting down a month after launch
CNN’s brand-new streaming service, CNN+, is shutting down only a month after launch.
In a Thursday memo, incoming CNN chief executive Chris Licht said the service would shut down at the end of April.
CNN+ launched when its parent was still part of AT&T. It combined with Discovery earlier this month in a new company, Warner Bros. Discovery, under Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who had his own vision for CNN and its Warner siblings.
In his memo, Licht said consumers wanted “simplicity and an all-in service” rather than “stand-alone offerings.” Discovery had previously suggested that it wanted to merge the new company’s separate streaming services, which include Discovery+ and HBO Max, into a single app.
Read: What’s the impact if Europe cuts off Russian oil?
Licht said some CNN+ content will wind up on other company networks, and the streaming service’s employees will get opportunities to apply for jobs elsewhere inside Warner Bros. Discovery. The head of CNN+, Andrew Morse, is leaving the company.
“While today’s decision is incredibly difficult, it is the right one for the long-term success of CNN. It allows us to refocus resources on the core products that drive our singular focus: further enhancing CNN’s journalism and its reputation as a global news leader,” Licht wrote.
Under AT&T, there were $100 million in development costs and some 500 employees assigned to building out CNN+. The service had attracted big names for its lineup, from former Fox anchor Chris Wallace to food-media star Alison Roman, as part of the company’s effort to appeal to younger people with a streaming news service as cable news audiences age.
Read: Musk says he has $46.5B in financing ready to buy Twitter
There had been skepticism that a paid news streaming service would attract interest from consumers, who already have available a slew of online TV. While Fox has a paid streaming service, Fox Nation, other major TV news organizations make their apps available free.
Vivo launches Eid campaign
Global smartphone brand vivo has come up with different offers on its smartphones ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr 2022.
The campaign will continue till May 3 and buyers of specific vivo smartphones – X70 Pro, V23 5G, V23e, Y33s, Y21 and Y21T – will be eligible for the offer.
The first prize winners will get home appliances, including freezers, TVs, washing machines, microwave ovens, fans, induction cookers, electric irons, rice cookers, juicers, and multi-plugs.
Read: Samsung Galaxy A23 launched
The winners of the second prize will get another similar handset for free on the purchase of a smartphone from any of the six specific models.
Third prize winners will get gifts including speakers for X70Pro, V23 5G and V23e; vivo backpacks for Y33s, vivo umbrellas for Y21T, and T-shirts for Y21.
Read Eid: Samsung offers discounts on Galaxy A03, Galaxy Z flip 3 5G
Samsung Galaxy A23 launched
Samsung Bangladesh recently launched Galaxy A23, another addition to its A Series.
The phone comes in three colours – Blue, Peach and Black.
The device's 6.6-inch Infinity V-Cut display, accompanied by a 90Hz refresh rate, accounts for an immersive viewing and smooth scrolling and swiping experience.
Read: Xiaomi Bangladesh brings Redmi 10C
The Snapdragon 680 4G (6nm) Octa-Core (2.4GHz + 1.9GHz) processor-powered Galaxy A23 is equipped with a 5000mAh battery and supports 25W super-fast charging.
The device also comes with a quad-camera setup, consisting of a 50MP (f/1.8) OIS main camera, 5MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide camera, 2MP (f/2.4) depth camera and 2MP (f/2.4) macro camera.
All of these are accompanied by an 8MP (f/2.2) front camera.
Read Walton Primo S8 Mini: A Budget Friendly Gaming Phone
The device also has 128GB ROM storage alongside a 6GB RAM, Samsung Knox Security and a sensor side fingerprint.
Priced at Tk25,599, Samsung Galaxy A23 comes with Android 12.0 and Samsung One UI 4.1.
Xiaomi Bangladesh brings Redmi 10C
Xiaomi Bangladesh Wednesday announced the launch of Redmi 10C to make high-quality products accessible to more consumers across Bangladesh.
Redmi 10C is the latest addition to the locally made smartphones from the Redmi 10 series under the "Make in Bangladesh" initiative.
The phone features a large display, a Snapdragon chipset, and a dual-camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor.
Read: Oppo F21 Pro now available across Bangladesh
The device comes with a 6.71" dot drop display with 1650 x 720-pixel HD+ resolution, while the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 ensures that it stays protected.
Equipped with a 2.4GHz octa-core Snapdragon 680 processor, Redmi 10C contains flagship-level 6nm process technology to provide energy-efficient performance.
Powered by Qualcomm Adreno 610 GPU and 4GB LPDDR4X RAM, it ensures smooth performance.
Read: Xiaomi brings 11i HyperCharge 5G, Redmi Note 11S
The phone's powerful dual rear camera has a 50MP high-resolution primary camera.
Accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor, Redmi 10C helps achieve a natural bokeh effect for portrait shots every time. The 5MP front camera allows users to capture crisp selfies.
The device also comes with Android 11 via MIUI 13 out of the box. It has a 5,000mAh battery, 4G LTE connectivity, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and WIFI support.
Read Telecom Minister unveils data packs sans validity in Bangladesh
From Friday, Redmi 10C will be available in three colours – Graphite Grey, Ocean Blue and Mint Green across Bangladesh.
The retail price is Tk12,999 for the 4GB+64GB variant and Tk13,999 for the 4GB+128GB variant.