Technology

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

League of Legends, Valorant Developer Riot Games to Lay Off About 11 Percent of Staff

Tencent Holdings' Riot Games plans to lay off 530 employees, or about 11 percent of its staff globally, the online gaming company said on Monday in a blog that included a letter to employees from CEO Dylan Jadeja.

Los Angeles-based Riot, whose popular titles include League of Legends, said teams outside of core development will see the largest impact from layoffs.

Digital games publishers are struggling to grow, as audience hold off on buying expensive titles or stick to fewer games amid high inflation. Early last year, Electronic Arts cut 6 percent staff and gave up some office space.

"Today, we're a company without a sharp enough focus, and simply put, we have too many things underway. Some of the significant investments we've made aren't paying off the way we expected them to. Our costs have grown to the point where they're unsustainable," Jadeja said in the letter.

The changes will allow Riot to focus on its portfolio of live games League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and Wild Rift, according to a separate blog from Jadeja and co-founder Marc Merrill. The blog claimed that the studio had doubled in headcount over the past few years and long-term sustainability required focusing on high-impact projects. "This isn't to appease shareholders or to hit a quarterly earnings number—it's a necessity," the blog said.

Riot will stop new game development under "Riot Forge", and drop some staff and features in Legends of Runeterra.

Tencent, which acquired a majority stake in Riot Games in 2011, also holds stake in fellow US video game developer Epic Games.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

Is PS Plus better than Xbox Game Pass now? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Monday, January 22, 2024

Honor X9b India Launch Date, Price, Specifications Leaked: Tipped to Run on Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC

Honor X9b India launch could be just around the corner. A date is yet to be officially confirmed by HTech, but a fresh leak suggests that the handset will go official in the country in the second week. Price details and specifications of the Indian variant of Honor X9b have also been tipped alongside. The Honor X9b is said to arrive in the competitive sub-Rs. 30,000 price segment. Honor unveiled the Honor X9b in select Arab countries last year. It runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC and features a 108-megapixel triple rear camera setup. It is backed by a 5,800mAh battery that supports 35W fast charging.

Known tipster Paras Guglani (@passionategeekz) has leaked the India launch date and pricing details of the Honor X9b on X. According to the tipster, the handset will be launched in the country on February 8 or February 9 and will be priced between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000. The sale offers are said to bring the price as low as Rs. 23,999. He claims that the Honor X9b and Honor Choice X5 True Wireless Earbuds (TWS) bundle will be available for under Rs. 35,000.

The Indian variant of the Honor X9b is tipped to come with MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13. It could run on Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC with 12GB of RAM.

Honor X9b is already available in the UAE with 8GB RAM + 256GB and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage options. It runs on Android 13-based MagicOS 7.2 and features a 6.78-inch 1.5K(1,200x2,652) AMOLED display. The handset is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC, coupled with up to 12GB of RAM.

For optics, the Honor X9b has a triple rear camera unit, comprising a 108-megapixel primary sensor, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. For selfies, there is a 16-megapixel front camera. It is equipped with a 5,800mAh battery with support for 35W fast charging.

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.

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Sunday, January 21, 2024

Moto G24 Price, Renders, Specifications Leaked; MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, 5,000mAh Battery Tipped

Moto G24 could launch soon as its renders, specifications, and pricing details have surfaced on the Web. The latest G series smartphone by the Lenovo-owned brand could run on the MediaTek Helio G85 SoC. It is shown with a hole-punch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and is said to feature a 50-megapixel dual camera setup at the rear. The handset could be backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 20W fast charging. The Moto G24 is expected to debut as a successor to last year's Moto G23.

Tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414), in collaboration with Appuals, shared the renders, pricing, and specifications of the Moto G24. The renders show the handset in black, green, and pink shades. The display is seen with a centrally-located hole-punch cutout, housing the selfie camera. The Motorola smartphone appears to have a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor and LED flash. Further, power and volume buttons are seen arranged on the right spine of the handset. The fingerprint scanner might be integrated into the power button.

As per the report, the 4GB RAM + 128GB storage variant of the Moto G24 will be priced at around EUR 169 (roughly Rs. 15,000) in Europe.

The dual SIM (Nano) Moto G24 is said to run on Android 14 and feature a 6.56-inch IPS LCD HD+ (720x1,612 pixels) display with 90Hz refresh rate and 269ppi pixel density. It is said to run on a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

For optics, the camera setup of Moto G24 could include a 50-megapixel primary sensor with f/2.4 aperture and a 2-megapixel macro camera with an f/1.8 aperture. At the front, there could be an 8-megapixel lens with an f/2.0 aperture. It could include a 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.0. There might be an ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, compass, accelerometer, and gyroscope sensor.

The Moto G24 is said to be powered by a 5.000mAh battery with support for 20W fast charging. It could measure 163x75x7.99mm and weigh 180 grams.

From the Nothing Phone 2 to the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, several new smartphones are expected to make their debut in July. We discuss all of the most exciting smartphones coming this month 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.

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OnePlus 12 Price in India, Sale Date Leaked Ahead of January 23 Launch

OnePlus 12 is all set to go official on January 23 in India at the 'Smooth Beyond Belief' event alongside the OnePlus 12R. Just a day before the formal launch, a fresh leak suggests the price details of the flagship phone. It is tipped to go on sale in the country starting January 30. The OnePlus 12 was initially launched in China in December last year. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and is backed by a 5,400mAh battery with 100W wired SuperVOOC charging support.

Known tipster Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) leaked the pricing details of the OnePlus 12 on X (formerly Twitter). According to the tipster, the handset will cost Rs. 64,999 for the base variant with 12GB RAM. The 16GB RAM model is said to come with a price tag of Rs. 69,999. It is tipped to go on sale starting January 30. The OnePlus 12R, in contrast, is said to be available for purchase in February. These details are in line with past leaks.

OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R will be unveiled in India at the 'Smooth Beyond Belief' event on January 23. They will go on sale via Amazon.

The OnePlus 12 debuted in China in December last year with a price tag of CNY 4,299 (roughly Rs. 50,700) for the base 12GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration. It is available in China in Pale Green, Rock Black, and White colourways.

The Indian variant of the OnePlus 12 is expected to have similar specifications to the model launched in China. In China, the phone runs on Android 14-based ColorOS 14 and features a 6.82-inch QHD+ (1,440 x 3,168 pixels) LTPO OLED screen with up to 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. It has a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC under the hood with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM.

For cameras, the OnePlus 12 features a Hasselblad-tuned triple camera unit at the back led by a 50-megapixel primary camera with a Sony LYT-808 sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS). It has a 32-megapixel front camera. The phone gets 1TB of UFS 4 inbuilt storage and houses a 5,400mAh battery with support for 100W SuperVOOC charging 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this 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.

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Croma Republic Sale 2024: Discover Exclusive Deals on 7 Popular Items

Get ready for an unbeatable shopping experience at the Croma Republic Sale 2024! As technology enthusiasts and bargain hunters unite, we present to you a curated selection of seven must-have products that will enhance convenience, entertainment, and lifestyle. From cutting-edge smartphones and immersive audio systems to impressive appliances, each product promises value at exclusive sale prices. Dive into this article to discover the top deals, discounted prices, and exciting features of these products, giving you a sneak peek into what awaits you during this sale event.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is a smartphone with a 6.72-inch LCD display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, it boasts a 108-megapixel triple rear camera setup and a 16-megapixel front camera. It comes with a 5000mAh battery and 67W fast charging. During the Croma Republic Sale 2024, grab this smartphone at just Rs. 21,999, down from the MRP of Rs. 26,999. Don't miss out on this fantastic offer!

Buy now at Rs. 21,999 (MRP: Rs. 26,999)

Boat Aavante Bar 1580 120W Bluetooth Soundbar

The Boat Aavante Bar 1580 120W Bluetooth Soundbar offers Bluetooth v5.0 connectivity, USB, Aux, and HDMI options. It features a powerful 120W power output and a 2.1 channel configuration, making it an ideal audio accessory. It comes with various entertainment modes. During the Croma Republic Sale 2024, grab this soundbar for just Rs. 8,499, down from the MRP of Rs. 16,990. Take advantage of this incredible deal!

Buy now at Rs. 21,999 (MRP: Rs. 26,999)

Samsung Crystal 4K Neo 43-inch 4K Ultra HD LED TV

The Samsung Crystal 4K Neo 43-inch 4K Ultra HD LED TV offers a LED Ultra HD 4K display with a 50Hz refresh rate and 3 HDMI ports, 1 USB port, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Powered by the Tizen operating system, it includes a 20W speaker system with Dolby Atmos support. During the Croma Republic Sale 2024, you can get this TV for just Rs. 28,990, down from the MRP of Rs. 47,900. Don't miss this great deal!

Buy now at Rs. 28,990 (MRP: Rs. 47,900)

Whirlpool 7.5kg 5-Star Fully Automatic Top Load Washing Machine

The Whirlpool 7.5 kg 5-Star Fully Automatic Top Load Washing Machine is perfect for households of 6-8 people. It comes with a 5-star rating for energy efficiency and offers 12 wash programs. During the Croma Republic Sale 2024, you can get this washing machine for just Rs. 16,750, down from the MRP of Rs. 21,200. Don't miss this great deal!

Buy now at Rs. 16,750 (MRP: Rs. 21,200)

Nothing Watch Pro Smartwatch

The Nothing Watch Pro Smartwatch features a 1.96-inch AMOLED display and offers built-in GPS, Bluetooth calling and smart notification alerts. It includes 110 sports modes, heart rate monitoring, SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress monitoring. With a battery life of up to 13 days on a single charge, it's a durable IP68 water-resistant smartwatch. During the Croma Republic Sale 2024, you can purchase this smartwatch for just Rs. 3,499, down from the MRP of Rs. 5,999. Don't miss this great deal!

Buy now at Rs. 3,499 (MRP: Rs. 5,999)

Dell S Series 24-inch Height Adjustable Monitor

The Dell S Series 24-inch Height Adjustable Monitor features a Full HD LCD display with LED backlighting, an IPS panel, and a 75Hz refresh rate. It offers connectivity through 2 HDMI ports. During the Croma Republic Sale 2024, this monitor is available for just Rs. 9,899, down from the MRP of Rs. 24,789. Don't miss this fantastic deal!

Buy now at Rs. 9,899 (MRP: Rs. 24,789)

Apple iPad 10th Generation Wi-Fi

The Apple iPad 10th Generation Wi-Fi features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina True Tone display, 64GB of storage, and is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic Chip. It offers up to 10 hours of battery life and comes with 12MP front and rear cameras. The device also includes landscape stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support, and Dolby Vision compatibility. During the Croma Republic Sale 2024, you can purchase this iPad for just Rs. 36,990, down from the MRP of Rs. 39,900. Don't miss out on this fantastic deal!

Buy now at Rs. 28,990 (MRP: Rs. 47,900)

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Saturday, January 20, 2024

Apple Watch Series 9, Watch Ultra 2 Lose Blood Oxygen Feature to Dodge US Ban

Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will no longer offer the company's blood oxygen feature on both models in the US, according to the company. In order to dodge a looming US ban on its latest smartwatches, Apple has disabled the pulse oximetry feature on its smartwatches, which infringe on patents held by medical technology firm Masimo. As a result, customers who purchase these two models in the US will not be able to measure their blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels.

Masimo CEO Joe Kiani told Bloomberg that Apple had not reached out to the medical technology firm to discuss a settlement amid the ongoing legal dispute between both firms. Apple has appealed a ruling of the International Trade Commission (ITC) in October that said the company infringed on Masimo's patents related to pulse oximetry, a feature that was first introduced with the Apple Watch Series 6.

Earlier this week, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that Apple could not sell both models with the blood oxygen feature, while refusing to pause the import ban during the appeal period. As anticipated, Apple has disabled the blood oxygen sensor on its Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 that are sold in the US, to dodge the ban.

This means that both smartwatches in the US will still ship with a blood oxygen sensor, but its functionality will be disabled. The feature will also be disabled via the Watch app. Meanwhile, Apple has also updated its product pages for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US with a banner that informs customers the blood oxygen feature isn't available on those models, while it has also disappeared from the company's feature comparison charts for different models.

It is important to note that the restrictions on the blood oxygen feature only applies to customers in the US, which means that the feature will work on the same models sold in other countries, including India. If Apple and Masimo resolve the patent dispute in the future, the iPhone make should be able to activate the functionality once more, as the company has merely deactivated the hardware on these models.

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Vivo G2 With 13-Megapixel Rear Camera, Dimensity 6020 Chip Launched: Price, Specifications

Vivo G2 was launched in China on Friday as the company's newest addition to its budget smartphone portfolio. The smartphone sports a 6.56-inch LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and runs on MediaTek's Dimensity 6020 processor, along with up to GB of RAM paired with up to 256GB of inbuilt storage. The handset is also equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that offers 15W charging support. It runs on Android 13-based OriginOS 3 out-of-the-box, according to the Chinese smartphone maker.

Vivo G2 price, availability

Vivo G2 price is set at CNY 1,199 (roughly Rs. 14,000) for the base model with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of inbuilt storage. You can also purchase the smartphone in 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB variants priced at CNY 1,499 (roughly Rs. 17,500) and CNY 1,599 (roughly Rs. 18,700) respectively.

The most expensive configuration is priced at CNY 1,899 (roughly Rs. 22,200) — this version is equipped with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Customers can purchase the Vivo G2 in China in a single Space Black colourway. There's no word from Vivo on plans to launch the phone in other markets, including India.

Vivo G2 specifications, features

The newly launched Vivo G2 is a dual SIM (Nano) smartphone that runs on OriginOS 3, which is based on Android 13. The handset features a 6.56-inch HD+ (720x1,612 pixels) IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and an 89.67 percent screen-to-body ratio. The handset is powered by a 7nm Dimensity 6020 chip paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM.

For photography and capturing videos, the Vivo G2 is equipped with a 13-megapixel rear camera, with an f/2.2 aperture. The handset also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.8 aperture, for video calls and capturing selfies.

You get up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage on the Vivo G2. Connectivity options include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Sensors on board include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, e-compass, and a flicker sensor.

The handset packs a 5,000mAh battery with 15W charging support. It has a side mounted fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication. The Vivo G2 measures 165.74x75.43x8.09mm and weighs 186g, according to the company.

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