United News of Bangladesh

Meta is gearing up to enhance its popular Ray-Ban smart glasses with a significant technological leap. According to a report by the Financial Times, the upcoming version, set to be released in 2025, will feature an integrated virtual display. This development positions Meta to strengthen its foothold in a market that is attracting major players like Samsung and Google. A New Era for Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Since their initial launch, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have gained widespread acclaim for seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with timeless style. Equipped with voice assistant capabilities, users can send messages, make calls, and manage various functions hands-free. Built-in speakers allow users to hear notifications and messages without headphones, while touch-sensitive controls on the frame enable effortless media playback and call management. Top 7 Gaming Earphones of 2024: Must-Have Picks for Gamers The integration of a display marks a substantial upgrade to the existing features. Currently, the glasses connect to smartphones via Bluetooth, providing audio-based notifications and interactions. Some models even include a discreet camera for photo and video capture. However, the lack of a visual display has been a limitation — one that the third-generation glasses are poised to overcome. What to Expect from the 2025 Model The addition of a display will transform the user experience. Beyond showing notifications and interacting with Meta’s AI, the display could offer navigation directions, fitness tracking data, and other real-time information. This hands-free functionality would cater to both tech enthusiasts and those seeking practical applications in daily life. The new model is expected to launch in the latter half of 2025, according to Financial Times. By integrating advanced AI features and an interactive display, Meta aims to maintain its competitive edge as Samsung and Google prepare to enter the smart glasses market with AI-powered innovations. Enter Meta’s Orion AR Glasses Meta’s ambitions extend beyond Ray-Ban smart glasses. In September 2024, the company unveiled Orion, a cutting-edge AR device likened to the fictional face computers seen in Marvel’s Iron Man. Orion boasts the largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form factor to date, capable of performing tasks such as multitasking windows, immersive entertainment, and life-size holographic interactions. Albanian prime minister says TikTok ban was not a 'rushed reaction to a single incident' This device represents a leap forward in augmented reality, merging digital content with the physical world in a lightweight, versatile design. Meta envisions Orion as a tool for both personal and professional use, enabling remote face-to-face connections. While currently in the prototype stage, Orion is slated for commercial release in 2027. Rising Competition in the Smart Glasses Market For years, Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses faced little competition. However, the landscape is changing as tech giants like Samsung and Google gear up to launch their own products. These companies are likely to incorporate advanced AI capabilities, further intensifying the competition. By advancing the Ray-Ban smart glasses and preparing Orion for the market, Meta is clearly committed to staying ahead in the race. The integration of display technology into the Ray-Ban glasses represents a critical step in this strategy, ensuring that Meta continues to lead the way in wearable tech innovation. As the world moves closer to a future dominated by augmented reality, Meta’s advancements signal exciting times ahead for both consumers and the tech industry. Source: With inputs from Financial Times and India Today

The endangered Geoffrey’s spider monkeys that dangle high in the rainforest canopy are elusive and hard for scientists to track. So biologist Jenna Lawson hid 350 audio monitors in trees across Costa Rica's lush Osa Peninsula to spy on them. The devices recorded the sounds of the forest and surrounding countryside for a week, collecting so much data that Lawson could have spent years listening to it all. Instead, she fed it into artificial intelligence systems trained to instantly recognize spider monkey calls and detect where the animals traveled. One of the world’s largest acoustic wildlife studies when Lawson began the project in 2021, it revealed troubling findings about the health of a treasured wildlife refuge. More of this AI-assisted wildlife surveillance is “urgently needed” as some 28% of all plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction, according to a paper published in the academic journal Science this summer. Researchers from Dutch and Danish universities showed that machine-learning techniques can “handle huge amounts of data and uncover sound patterns, allowing for faster, cheaper, and better ecological studies” that can aid in biodiversity conservation. But many technical challenges remain. Tech giant Microsoft's philanthropic AI for Good Lab announced this month it is hoping to answer some of those technical challenges with a new kind of hardware and computing system for eavesdropping on the planet's wildest places. “Those remote places are also the most important places on the Earth from a biodiversity perspective,” said Microsoft's chief data scientist, Juan Lavista Ferres, in an interview last week by video call from Colombia, where a research team was preparing to test the new approach. Powered by the sun and energy-efficient AI computer chips, the devices can run for years rather than weeks without human intervention. And they can regularly transmit their data online via low-Earth orbit satellites. It's called Sparrow, short for Solar-Powered Acoustic and Remote Recording Observation Watch. Pablo Arbelaez, director of an AI-focused research center at the University of the Andes, said a first Sparrow test will happen in a jungle preserve along Colombia's largest river, the Magdalena. Eventually, the researchers hope to get a better idea of how deforestation — and efforts to reverse it — is affecting the population behavior of jaguars, blue-beaked paujil birds, spider monkeys and other endangered species. Another project closer to Microsoft headquarters will monitor forests in Washington state's Cascade Mountains. By late 2025, Lavista Ferres plans to have devices on all continents, from remote corners of the Amazon rainforest to gorilla habitats of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That will then be “open-sourced” to make it accessible to a wide body of researchers in real time, but with measures to obscure sensitive location data. “What we don’t want is these devices to ever be used for poachers to understand where the animals are,” Lavista Ferres said. It was a concern about encroachments on Costa Rican spider monkey habitat that led Lawson, then at Imperial College London, to undertake her ambitious bio-acoustic study three years ago. She persuaded landowners to let her place recording devices on their properties outside Corcovado National Park, a jewel of Costa Rica's decades-long efforts to preserve biodiversity by encouraging wildlife tourism. “She basically realized the spider monkey is in a really critical situation,” said local environmentalist and bug scientist Jim Córdoba-Alfaro. On a follow-up visit last year, he and Lawson trekked across a private reserve with an Associated Press reporter to observe the monkeys and check on the audio monitors. Italy fines OpenAI for ChatGPT data privacy violations Compared to the charismatic capuchin monkey and the notoriously loud howler monkey -- both commonly seen or heard throughout Costa Rica — spider monkeys are far more wary of humans and the changes they bring. “They’re the most sensitive of the primates that we have here,” said Lawson. “The spider monkey would be the first animal to leave when there’s signs of trouble. They would be the last animal to come back once forests are restored because they need mature secondary and primary forest to be able to survive.” The Royal Society of London in March 2023 published Lawson's findings of what the audio monitors revealed: the spider monkeys weren't going anywhere near paved roads or the plantations harvesting palm oil and teak wood that bisect the region's protected national parks. That meant government-designated wildlife corridors meant to extend their range through and beyond the Osa Peninsula were not working as well as designed. She came back to present those conclusions to local officials. After hours of searching, a troop of spider monkeys appeared — peering down at the humans who found them. Within moments, they were on their way again — extending their lanky arms and prehensile tails to grasp at trees and propel themselves across the canopy with spidery acrobatics. Unattended acoustic detection of animal sounds is valuable not just in rainforests but in a wide variety of ecosystems, according to the Science paper published earlier this year. For example, it could help sailors avoid colliding their ships with large baleen whales heard to be passing through a shipping channel. Lavista Ferres said there are still numerous challenges to overcome, from humidity that can fray jungle monitors to elephants in African savannas unintentionally knocking them off a tree. Lawson said using the audio monitors to capture the spider monkey's distinctive whinny enables biologists to study a larger area at lower cost, but also provides a truer account of how the monkeys behave without scientists following them around. “We’re reducing our influence on their behavior,” she said. ”And also — they don’t want us here."

As 2024 comes to a close, it leaves behind a lineup of cutting-edge gadgets designed to elevate your gaming experience. This year saw the launch of numerous gaming earphones tailored to sync seamlessly with the latest gaming consoles and devices. With a mix of price points, advanced features, and user-specific functionalities, these earphones promise to meet the needs of every gamer. Below, we’ve rounded up the 7 best gaming earphones of 2024 that stand out from the rest. 7 Top Gaming Earbuds Released in 2024 . Sony Pulse Explore Perfect for gamers and music enthusiasts, the Sony Pulse Explore wireless earbuds hit the market on February 21, 2024. Priced at $200 or BDT 23,799, they are crafted for gaming but excel equally in music playback. Featuring planar magnetic drivers- a rare, high-end audio technology- they deliver exceptional clarity, balanced sound, and deep bass. Designed for the PS5 and PlayStation Portal, these earbuds also support dual-device connectivity, allowing seamless transitions between gaming and phone calls via Bluetooth. Read more: Top 10 Best Gaming Monitors Released in 2024 Despite their bulkier design and lack of features like noise canceling and auto-pause sensors, their sound quality, immersive 3D audio, and impressive voice-calling capabilities make up for it. Turtle Beach Atlas Air Wireless Probably the most lauded earbuds from its manufacturer, the Turtle Beach Atlas Air Wireless earbuds are undoubtedly a good gaming accessory that came out on 19th April 2024. The sound delivered is somewhat bass-favored and adds an extra layer of intensity to the thrill of an action game. The earbuds come packed with an additional hearing feature that further enhances the quality of the audio output. Utilising this feature, gamers can hear even sounds like footsteps and the cracking of a dry leaf under the foot. Coming at a high price of $248 or BDT 29,510, the Turtle Beach Atlas Air Wireless earbuds are worth the money. The only noticeable issue is an audio lag in the wireless transmitter while connected to a PC. However, the lag doesn’t show up while console gaming. Read more: Top 10 Video Games Launching in January 2025: Must-Play Titles for the New Year Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Wireless The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Wireless earbuds offer a commendable balance of features and performance for $85 or BDT 10,114. With the low-latency Game Mode, customizable touch gestures, and an impressive overall soundscape, they’re a solid choice for casual gaming and general use. You can simultaneously listen to audio from your phone and consoles. Other highlights include lightweight design, massive battery life, and crisp mid-to-high tones. However, the earbuds suffer from a cheap-feeling build, flattened bass in heavier tracks, and subpar mic quality. These were first released in August 2024. Vega Q1 Wireless The Vega Q1 Wireless Gaming Earbuds launched on 17th August 2024, deliver a premium gaming experience with precision sound, ultra-fast response time, and exceptional comfort. Equipped with a Cmedia gaming sound card chip, they ensure crystal-clear audio, helping you detect crucial in-game sounds like footsteps and gunfire. Read more: 8 Best Gaming Smartphones Released in 2024 So Far The ZeroLag Tech offers a seamless 25ms response time, keeping you in sync with the action. Designed for versatility, they support USB-C, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm connections, making them compatible with Quest 3S, Steam Deck, PS5, PC, and more. Featuring a detachable AI noise-canceling mic and memory foam ear pads, these lightweight earbuds redefine gaming at just $69.99 or BDT 8,328. SteelSeries Arctics Gamebuds The SteelSeries Arctics Gamebuds caught gamers' attention, the moment they hit the market in September 2024. To distinguish themselves from competitors, Arctic Gamebuds offer unique features like an innovative, polished design, powerful battery life, and heavy performance. The architect of Arctics gamebuds supports cross-platform gaming. The Xbox variant can be used across all major gaming platforms. The audio quality is high-end and can render even delicate sounds. Priced at $159.99 or BDT 19,332, these earbuds set the standard for premium gaming headsets. Read more: Top 10 Global ESports Tournaments of 2025 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds were released in September 2024. They are true wireless, in-canal earbuds featuring 10mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC and SBC codec support, and multipoint pairing. They offer IPX4 water resistance, 8.5 hours of battery life with ANC on, and 31.5 additional hours via the charging case, which supports USB-C and Qi wireless charging. Its unique touch controls allow playback, ANC adjustment, and volume changes, while the companion app provides EQ customization. The earbuds lack advanced features like spatial audio but deliver strong audio performance and good noise cancellation for their $174 or BDT 20,705 price. Available in Black, Chilled Lilac, and White Smoke. Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed The new Hyperspeed version of the Razer Hammerhead earbuds is usable via a range of platforms. Just like the previous version of the Hammerheads, the Hyperspeed features premium design and quality buildup. Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed got its first release in August 2023. However, the recent release on 15th December 2024 brought a few major modifications. Read more: Top 10 Global ESports Tournaments of 2025 Among the prominent unique features is a 2.4GHZ hyperspeed connection option. It makes the earbuds more suitable for console plays. Available in two versions each uniquely featuring the Xbox and PS5 consoles. The Xbox version provides uni-device support but promptly drains the battery. The audio quality is expressive enough to render detailed notes. The earbuds have sound-boosting capacity that gives an immersive experience.  Gamers can buy them for $149.99 or BDT 17,915. Conclusion Whether you're a casual gamer or an audiophile, 2024 offered a diverse selection of gaming earbuds to suit different needs. From budget-friendly options to premium designs with advanced features, there's something for everyone to enjoy immersive sound and seamless performance. Read more: Best Gaming Laptops of 2024 So Far: Top Picks for Every Gamer

Japanese automobile giants Honda and Nissan have unveiled plans to merge, potentially creating the world’s third-largest car manufacturer by sales, as the industry shifts focus towards electric vehicles and sustainability. Both companies confirmed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Monday. Mitsubishi Motors, a smaller Nissan alliance partner, is also set to participate in discussions to integrate operations. Honda’s president, Toshihiro Mibe, stated that the companies aim to consolidate under a joint holding company, with Honda initially taking the lead in management. The brands will maintain their unique identities, and a formal agreement is anticipated by June, with completion targeted for August 2026. Although the merger's financial details remain undisclosed, Mibe emphasized that talks are in preliminary stages, acknowledging uncertainties about the outcome. Japan’s automakers are striving to reduce costs and accelerate their transition to electric vehicles to keep pace with global competitors. Speculations about the merger surfaced earlier this month, linked to reports that Taiwan’s Foxconn was exploring ties with Nissan. Nissan currently operates in alliance with France’s Renault and Mitsubishi Motors. Albanian prime minister says TikTok ban was not a 'rushed reaction to a single incident' Should the merger proceed, it could result in a combined market valuation exceeding $50 billion. The integration would enhance competitiveness with industry leaders like Toyota, which produced 11.5 million vehicles in 2023, and Volkswagen. The combined output of Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi would total approximately 8 million vehicles annually, based on 2023 figures. In August, the three companies had already announced plans to collaborate on electric vehicle components, including batteries, and to develop autonomous driving software, building on a preliminary March agreement between Honda and Nissan. Honda, Japan’s second-largest automaker, is seen as a potential stabilizing force for Nissan, which has struggled since the 2018 scandal involving its former chairman Carlos Ghosn, who fled to Lebanon after being charged with fraud—charges he denies. Ghosn criticized the proposed merger as a “desperate move” during a video press conference from Tokyo. Industry analysts believe Honda could benefit from Nissan’s expertise in large SUVs, hybrid technologies, and battery development. In November, however, Nissan announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs globally and reduce production capacity by 20% after posting a quarterly loss of 9.3 billion yen ($61 million). HAISON, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo to host Bangladeshi business mission to Japan in 2025 Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida took a 50% pay cut and emphasized the need for improved efficiency and responsiveness to market trends. Uchida expressed optimism about the merger’s potential to deliver more value to customers. Despite recent challenges, Fitch Ratings downgraded Nissan’s credit outlook to “negative,” citing profitability concerns but acknowledged its strong cash reserves of 1.44 trillion yen ($9.4 billion). Following reports of the merger, Nissan’s shares rose 1.6% on Monday, having surged over 20% last week. Honda’s shares also gained 3.8% despite reporting a near 20% profit drop for the first half of its fiscal year. This proposed merger highlights the broader trend of consolidation in the automotive sector amid intensifying competition and technological advancements. Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi refrained from commenting on specific merger details but stressed the importance of maintaining competitiveness in storage batteries and software to meet global challenges. “As the automotive industry undergoes major transformations, we expect companies to take the necessary steps to remain competitive internationally,” Hayashi remarked.

Albania’s Prime Minister clarified Sunday that the recently announced TikTok ban was not a hasty response to a single event but rather a well-considered measure. On Saturday, Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that the government would block TikTok for one year, citing concerns over its role in promoting violence and bullying, particularly among minors. Authorities have engaged in 1,300 discussions with educators and parents since a tragic incident in November, where a teenager was fatally stabbed by another teen following an argument that began on social media. Reports indicate that 90% of participants supported the ban. Italy fines OpenAI for ChatGPT data privacy violations “The one-year TikTok ban is not a knee-jerk reaction but a thoughtful decision reached through consultations with parents in schools nationwide,” Rama stated. TikTok has since requested “urgent clarification” from the Albanian authorities regarding the teenager’s stabbing. The company maintained that neither the victim nor the perpetrator had TikTok accounts and asserted that videos linked to the incident had circulated on another platform. Rama countered that dismissing TikTok’s connection to the tragedy overlooks the broader risks posed by the platform’s algorithms. “Albania may lack the leverage to compel TikTok to safeguard children, but we will not hesitate to shield our youth from its harmful effects,” he said. Rama accused the app of perpetuating hate speech, violence, and bullying. Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility Studies indicate that children constitute the majority of TikTok users in Albania, prompting rising parental concerns about reports of students bringing weapons to schools, allegedly influenced by TikTok content. While many Albanian youths oppose the ban, viewing TikTok as a source of entertainment and self-expression, parents back the decision. “We either ensure TikTok protects Albanian children, or we protect them from TikTok,” Rama emphasized.

The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus, launched in September 2024, sets a new benchmark for mid-range gaming phones. Known for its performance-focused design, iQOO’s Z Turbo series continues to impress with innovative features and efficiency. In this review, we explore the key specs, standout features, pros, cons, and pricing of the Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus in Bangladesh. Key Features of iQOO Z9 Turbo+ . Design and Build Quality  The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo+ is a visually appealing device with a glass front, a plastic back, and a frame. While the choice of materials may not scream "premium," its IP64 rating offers a layer of dust and water resistance that surpasses the Vivo iQOO Z9’s IP54 rating. The 8mm thickness and 196g weight make it slightly heavier than the Honor X9c (189g) but give it a sturdy, well-balanced feel. Compared to the realme 13 Pro+, which features a more premium glass back with Gorilla Glass 7i protection, the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ falls short in terms of durability. However, its overall design and functional build will appeal to users who prioritise practicality over luxury. Read more: realme C75 Review: What Does This Budget Smartphone Offer? Display Quality The iQOO Z9 Turbo+ boasts a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 1B colours, 1260 by 2800 pixels resolutions, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a staggering 4500 nits peak brightness. The ancestor iQOO Z9 Tubo shares almost the same features. However, this is a substantial upgrade over the iQOO Z9’s 6.67-inch AMOLED panel, which maxes out at 1800 nits and offers a lower refresh rate of 120Hz.  Z9 Turbo+ outperforms the Honor X9c (4000 nits peak and 120Hz refresh rate) and the realme 13 Pro+ (2000 nits peak and 120Hz refresh rate) in brightness and fluidity.  These features make it ideal for users who prioritize display quality, especially for media consumption, outdoor viewing, and fluid scrolling. Read more: Infinix Hot 50 Pro Plus Review: A Feature-Packed Budget-friendly Contender Camera Performance On the camera front, the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ is equipped with a 50 MP primary sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and advanced features like OIS for stabilized shots. The main sensor captures sharp and vibrant images, with excellent low-light performance, courtesy of the large f/1.8 aperture.  While the 8 MP (f/2.2) ultrawide lens is serviceable, it does not offer the versatility of the realme 13 Pro+, which includes a 50 MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. When compared to the iQOO Z9, it lacks the ultrawide lens. On the other hand, the Z9 Turbo’s camera and video features are the same as the Z9 Turbo+.  However, the Z9 Turbo+ lags behind the Honor X9c, which features a 108 MP primary sensor, delivering higher-resolution images with more detail. Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K80 Pro Review: The Ultimate Flagship Killer of 2024? Like the competitor Honor X9c, and ancestor Z9 and Z9 Turbo, the latest Z9 Turbo Plus has a 16MP (f/2.5) selfie sensor with a maximum resolution of 1080 by 30fps. However, the realme 13 Pro+ outwins all these rivals with its impressive 32MP front sensor sporting 4k video recording capacity. Processor Performance The iQOO Z9 Turbo+ is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, paired with the Immortalis-G720 GPU. This combination offers cutting-edge performance, making it one of the fastest processors in its class. It outshines the ancestors iQOO Z9 (Dimensity 7200) and Z9 Turbo (Snapdragon 8s Gen 3), which are better suited for casual multitasking but struggles with intensive tasks. When stacked against the Honor X9c (Snapdragon 6 Gen 1) and Realme 13 Pro+ (Snapdragon 7s Gen 2), the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ emerges as a clear winner in raw processing power. Whether it is multitasking, video editing, or running demanding apps, this device delivers exceptional speed and efficiency. Read more: vivo iQOO Neo10 Review: A Gaming Powerhouse? Key Specs, Features, and Price in Bangladesh Gaming Performance Gaming on the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ is a delight, thanks to the high refresh rate display and the Immortalis G720 GPU. Popular titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact run smoothly at max settings, with no noticeable frame drops. The improved heat management system ensures the device stays cool even during extended gaming sessions. While the Vivo iQOO Z9 offers decent gaming performance, the Turbo+ clearly excels due to its superior chipset and display. Compared to the Realme 13 Pro+, the gaming experience is on par, though the latter’s slightly lighter build might appeal to mobile gamers seeking comfort over extended play. Battery Life With its 6400 mAh battery, the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ delivers stellar endurance, easily lasting a day and a half on moderate usage. The inclusion of 80W wired charging allows for a 50% charge in under 20 minutes, which is a significant advantage over the ancestor iQOO Z9’s 44W charging. The Honor X9c’s 6600 mAh battery offers similar endurance but charges slightly slower at 66W. On the other hand, the realme 13 Pro+ has a smaller 5200 mAh battery but compensates with fast 80W charging.  Read more: Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Review: Value-for-Money or Just Another Upgrade? Overall, the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ strikes an excellent balance between capacity and charging speed. What’s more? It offers 7.5-watt reverse wired charging which keeps it ahead of rivals like realme 13 Pro+. Software and User Interface The device runs Android 14 with OriginOS 4, delivering a clean and customizable user experience. The interface is intuitive, with minimal bloatware, and supports features like split-screen multitasking and gesture navigation. Compared to the iQOO Z9’s Funtouch OS, OriginOS feels more polished and user-friendly. While the realme 13 Pro+ and Honor X9c also feature Android 14, their proprietary skins (realme UI 5.0 and Magic OS 8, respectively) offer a more stylized experience. However, OriginOS stands out for its focus on performance optimization and minimalistic design. Storage Options Like the sibling iQOO Z9 Turbo, the latest Turbo+ version offers a range of configurations, including 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM. This provides ample space for apps, media, and large files with fast data transfer speeds. It is a noticeable upgrade from the ancestor iQOO Z9, offering a maximum of 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage with a UFS 2.2 mechanism. Read more: Honor X7c Review: A Budget-friendly Powerhouse for Everyday Use Neither the Honor X9c nor the realme 13 Pro+ support expandable storage, so the Turbo+ is in line with its competitors in this regard. However, the inclusion of UFS 4.0 gives it a performance edge over both. Pros and Cons of iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus . Pros - MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor- 6.78-inch AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate, and 4500 nits brightness- 6400 mAh battery- 80W fast charging with 7.5W Reverse Charging- UFS 4.0 with up to 512GB storage- IP64-rated dust and water resistance.  Cons - The plastic build feels less premium- No telephoto lens- Fixed storage with no microSD support- No 3.5mm jack- 196g weight might feel bulky for some users- No Wireless charging option. Read more: realme GT7 Pro Review: Speed, Style, and Gaming Excellence at a Competitive Price Price of iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus in Bangladesh The unofficial Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus is priced at around BDT 43,000 to BDT 46,000. Verdict The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo+ excels with its powerful processor, vibrant display, long-lasting battery, and fast charging. Its impressive performance and gaming-centric features have pushed the boundaries of mid-range smartphones. However, its plastic build and lack of expandable storage are drawbacks. It is perfect for gamers and power users but not ideal for those seeking premium build quality or advanced photography features. Choose wisely based on your needs! Read more: 9 Best Smartphones to Watch Out for in December 2024

YouTube has announced plans to tighten its regulations on misleading titles and thumbnails, commonly known as "clickbait," in India. The platform aims to enhance the user experience by ensuring that content meets the expectations set by its headlines and visuals. This move is part of YouTube's ongoing effort to build a more trustworthy environment for its growing audience, particularly in the realm of news and current events. Starting in the coming months, YouTube will begin enforcing stricter measures targeting videos that feature titles or thumbnails that misrepresent their actual content. For example, a video titled "The President Has Resigned!" that does not discuss such an event would be flagged as "egregious clickbait." Italy fines OpenAI for ChatGPT data privacy violations Similarly, thumbnails promising "Top Political News" that contain no substantial political content will be removed. Clickbait has long been a source of frustration for viewers, who are often lured into clicking on videos only to find content that bears little resemblance to the initial promise. This not only wastes time but also damages trust in the platform, particularly when it involves breaking news or current events. In these cases, the stakes are higher, as people rely on YouTube for timely and accurate information during critical moments. The initiative will be rolled out gradually, giving creators time to adapt to the new rules. Initially, YouTube will focus on removing offending videos without issuing strikes against creators' channels, allowing them to adjust without facing immediate penalties. This approach is designed to educate creators on what constitutes clickbait and to help them align their content with the updated guidelines. RSF urges Apple to scrap AI feature after misleading headline incident One of the driving factors behind this move is the sheer volume of news and current affairs content produced by Indian creators. As YouTube's user base in India continues to expand, the platform seeks to ensure that users are not misled by sensational or false titles and thumbnails. The new policy will prioritise the removal of recent uploads that violate the guidelines, though older content may not be targeted immediately. However, creators are encouraged to review their existing content and make necessary adjustments to avoid future complications. To further assist creators, YouTube will provide educational resources on identifying and avoiding "egregious clickbait." For viewers, this is a welcome development. Misleading titles and thumbnails often leave users feeling tricked and frustrated, and this crackdown is expected to foster a more reliable and user-friendly platform. With these new measures, YouTube hopes to provide a more transparent experience, where viewers can trust that the videos they click on will deliver the content they were promised. Source: India Today

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. Italy fines OpenAI for ChatGPT data privacy violations “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI's flagship large language model and a basis for the company's famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October profile of Balaji. He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI's willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier, which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn't think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji's family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino.  

Italy’s data protection watchdog said Friday it has fined OpenAI 15 million euros ($15.6 million) after wrapping up a probe into the collection of personal data by the U.S. artificial intelligence company's popular chatbot ChatGPT. The country’s privacy watchdog, known as Garante, said its investigation showed that OpenAI processed users’ personal data to train ChatGPT “without having an adequate legal basis and violated the principle of transparency and the related information obligations towards users”. OpenAI dubbed the decision “disproportionate” and said it will appeal. “When the Garante ordered us to stop offering ChatGPT in Italy in 2023, we worked with them to reinstate it a month later,” an OpenAI spokesperson said Friday in an emailed statement. “They’ve since recognized our industry-leading approach to protecting privacy in AI, yet this fine is nearly 20 times the revenue we made in Italy during the relevant period.” Amazon workers strike at multiple facilities as Teamsters seek labor contract OpenAI added, however, it remained “committed to working with privacy authorities worldwide to offer beneficial AI that respects privacy rights.” The investigation, launched last year, also found that OpenAI didn’t provide an “adequate age verification system” to prevent users under 13 years of age from being exposed to inappropriate AI-generated content, the watchdog said. The Italian authority also ordered OpenAI to launch a six-month campaign on different Italian media to raise public awareness about ChatGPT, specifically in regard to data collection. The booming popularity of generative artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT has drawn scrutiny from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. Regulators in the U.S. and Europe have been examining OpenAI and other companies that have played a key part in the AI boom, while governments around the world have been drawing up rules to protect against risks posed by AI systems, led by the European Union's AI Act, a comprehensive rulebook for artificial intelligence.

The realme C series has solidified its reputation for delivering value-packed, budget-friendly smartphones, and the latest release, the realme C75, continues this trend. Launched on November 27, 2024, this entry-level device introduces a few noteworthy features that set it apart in the crowded market. Here’s a deep dive into the realme C75’s key specifications, standout features, pros and cons, and pricing in Bangladesh. Key Features and Functionalities of realme C75 . Design The realme C75 is a sturdy phone with a plastic body and a matte back panel. It weighs 196 grams, making it lightweight and easy to carry. The standout feature is its IP69 rating, offering strong resistance to dust and water. The phone also has ArmourShell Tempered Glass for scratch and impact protection. Additionally, it meets MIL-STD-810H standards, which helps protect against drops, vibrations, and temperature changes. Its size measures 165.7 mm by 76.2 mm by 8 mm. It is smaller than the rival Redmi 14C (171.9 mm by 77.8 mm by 8.2 mm).  Read more: Infinix Hot 50 Pro Plus Review: A Feature-Packed Budget-friendly Contender Display The realme C75 features a 6.72-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1080 by 2400 pixels. The display is sharp and clear, with a peak brightness of 690 nits, making it usable even in bright sunlight. Its 90Hz refresh rate allows for smooth scrolling and navigation, which is better than the common 60Hz found in most budget phones. However, compared to the Samsung Galaxy A16, which has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, the realme C75 lacks the deeper blacks and vibrant colors of AMOLED technology. The Xiaomi Redmi 14C offers a larger 6.88-inch IPS LCD with a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, but its resolution and brightness are lower than the realme C75. Cameras The realme C75 has a dual-camera setup with a 50MP (f/1.8) main sensor and an unspecified secondary lens. The main camera performs well in bright conditions, capturing detailed and sharp images. It also includes night mode, which reduces noise for better low-light photos. Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K80 Review: Key Features, Pros, Cons, and Price in Bangladesh The front camera is 8MP (f/2.0) and produces decent selfies, but the rear camera lacks clarity.  Video recording on the realme C75 supports 1080p at 30fps, but stabilization could be improved. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A16 offers a triple-camera system, including a 50MP main lens, ultrawide, and macro options, providing more versatility. The Xiaomi Redmi 14C also features a 50MP main camera but has a higher-resolution 13MP front camera for sharper selfies.  Hardware and Performance The realme C75 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G92 Max chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM. This hardware handles tasks like browsing and app switching smoothly. It runs on Android 14 with realme UI 5.0, which has a simple and easy-to-use design.  Read more: vivo X200 Pro Review: Redefining Smartphone Photography and Performance In comparison, the Xiaomi Redmi 14C uses the Helio G81 Ultra, which is slightly less powerful than the G92 Max but sufficient for general use. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A16 has a more advanced Helio G99 chipset, offering better processing speeds for demanding tasks. While the realme C75 performs well for its price, it doesn’t match the performance of the Galaxy A16 but holds an edge over the Redmi 14C in terms of hardware capabilities. Battery and Charger The realme C75 has a 6000mAh battery, providing long-lasting usage. It can handle a full day of activities like navigation, photography, and social media, with plenty of charge remaining. The phone supports 45W fast charging, allowing it to reach 80% in about 30 minutes, which is convenient for quick recharges. It also offers the reverse wired charging facility. Read more: 9 Best Smartphones to Watch Out for in December 2024 In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A16 has a smaller 5000mAh battery with 25W charging, which takes more time to charge fully. The Xiaomi Redmi 14C also has a 5160mAh battery but only supports 18W charging, making it slower than the realme C75.  The larger battery, faster charging and reverse wired make the realme C75 more suitable for users who need extended usage without frequent recharging. Pros and Cons of realme C75 Pros - 6000mAh battery, 45W wired, and reverse wired charging- IPS LCD, 90Hz refresh rate.- ArmorShell glass, always-on display.- IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance.- Android 14, realme UI 5.0.- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner.- Dual speakers, OTG support.- Dedicated microSDXC slot. Read more: Honor X7c Review: A Budget-friendly Powerhouse for Everyday Use Cons - No 5G or NFC.- Limited for gaming and multitasking.- No wireless charging.- No 4K video recording.- Lacks Gyro-EIS.- Average camera setup. Price of realme C75 in Bangladesh The realme C75 is officially available at BDT 19,999 in Bangladesh. However, the price is subject to change. Conclusion The realme C75 is a well-rounded budget-friendly smartphone with notable features like a 6000mAh battery, 45W fast charging, and a 6.72-inch 90Hz IPS LCD. Its sturdy design, IP69 water and dust resistance, and ArmorShell glass add durability. Powered by the Helio G92 Max chipset and running Android 14 with realme UI 5.0, it delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks. Read more: realme GT7 Pro Review: Speed, Style, and Gaming Excellence at a Competitive Price While the 50MP camera performs well in bright conditions, it lacks versatility compared to its competitors. Though it falls short on 5G, wireless charging, and advanced gaming, the realme C75 stands out with its battery life, charging speed, and durability in its price range.