A scam bitcoin app that was designed to look like a genuine app was accepted by Apple's App Store review team and ended up costing iPhone user Phillipe Christodoulou 17.1 bitcoin, or upwards of $600,000 at the time of the theft, reports The Washington Post. Christodoulou wanted to check on his bitcoin balance back in February, and searched Apple's App Store for "Trezor," the company that...
We have heard a lot in the past that Apple is working on a mixed reality headset. The company has filed numerous patents in the past that details the company is indeed researching the idea. Now, we are hearing that the company is looking to announce its mixed reality headset at an in-person event. The event will be held in the "next several months" for the launch of Apple's mixed reality headset, according to the source. Let's dive in to see some more details on the subject and what can we expect from Apple's mixed reality headset.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will unveil its mixed reality headset in the next several months at an in-person event. The news was shared in a newsletter that highlighted the future of the WWDC conference format. He shared that Apple aims to launch a mixed reality headset in the "next several months." If the news is true, the mixed reality headset will be Apple's biggest announcement since 2015 when the Apple Watch was released.
Sometime in the next several months, the company is poised to announce a mixed reality headset, its first major new device since 2015. If possible, Apple won't want to make such a critical announcement at an online event. It wants employees, the media, its partners and developers in the room.
This is not the first time Mark Gurman is sharing his views on the augmented or virtual reality headset by Apple. However, the release frame of the headset was scarcely discussed. What we do know from the rumors and leaks is that the mixed reality headset will be oriented towards a specific niche of developers with a high-end price. However, the launch of the mixed reality headset is now slated to arrive in the "next several months."
There are speculations that Apple will pre-announce the headset which will give room to developers to prepare their share of input. This is evident when the company announced its custom Silicon for the Mac. Other rumors pertaining to the mixed reality launch are that it will feature an 8K display, eye-tracking, and a dozen of cameras for tracking movement. In addition, the company will release a standard or mainstream augmented reality headset.
That's all there is to the launch of Apple's headset. We will share more details on the story as soon as we have more information. Share your views with us in the comments section below.
Photo Credit: Twitter Spaces
Clubhouse is still in its invite-only, iOS phase of development. Meanwhile, Twitter has been working overtime to expand its audio rooms called Spaces to Android. The feature rolled out to Android users earlier this month but without the ability to create rooms. At the time, Android users could only join rooms created by Twitter Spaces iOS users.
Now Twitter is giving Android users the ability to create their own Spaces. That brings the Twitter Spaces feature parity across both iOS and Android devices. Clicking the action button in the Twitter app will bring up a number of options. A new ‘Spaces’ button appears at the very top above ‘Gif’ and ‘Photos.’ Tapping on the ‘Spaces‘ button brings up a window to start your own space.
Clicking the blue button creates a public space that anyone can join. Spaces hosts can turn on/off their microphone, enable captions, turn on sound effects, and invite other people to the space via DM or link. The feature draws much inspiration from Clubhouse, which could still be a few months away from launching on Android.
Clubhouse has been installed an estimated 5.5 million times, despite its iOS-only, invite-only nature. Facebook wants to capitalize on Clubhouse’s popularity before it reaches mass adoption, like TikTok. According to a New York Times report, “Facebook executives have ordered employees to create a similar product.”
Facebook wants to be the dominant way people engage with each other on the internet. Cloning products left and right is all the company has left at this point. Stories is a Snapchat clone, Reels is a TikTok clone, and whatever Facebook names its Clubhouse clone will serve the same purpose. But no matter how many times Facebook tries to capture lightning in a bottle – young people hate it.
Edison Research studies from 2017 to now show Facebook’s market share among the younger demographic is declining. Meanwhile, growth on TikTok, Twitter, and Snapchat continue. Copying new features like Clubhouse may help Twitter stay relevant, but it should be careful not to fall into the same trap Facebook has.
In the past few weeks, we’ve seen some important details surrounding Apple’s upcoming Mixed Reality headset trickle online, with leaks predicting an 8K panel, advanced eye-tracking technology, and a lot more. So far, the rumor mill has been pointing towards a 2022 debut of the wearable device (or even further), but it appears that the highly-anticipated Apple device might arrive much sooner than expected. As per the ever-reliable Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple might announce its Mixed Reality headset in the next few months.
“Sometime in the next several months, the company is poised to announce a mixed reality headset, its first major new device since 2015. If possible, Apple won’t want to make such a critical announcement at an online event. It wants employees, the media, its partners and developers in the room.”
Now, WWDC 2021 is just over two months away, and it is quite likely that Apple might introduce its VR ambitions to the world at the developers conference, which is where new builds of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS will be revealed. And after that, Apple might actually reveal the actual Mixed Reality headset at another event in the subsequent months, or possibly on the same stage as its next iPhone launch.
Apple's upcoming MR headset will reportedly be targeted at enterprise customers
It is also likely that Apple might only unveil its Mixed Reality headset in the coming months, and will give developers some time to prepare for the platform before the device actually goes on sale. This strategy would follow in the footsteps of Apple announcing a shift away from Intel and switch to in-house silicon months ahead of the first Macs that came equipped with the M1 chip.
As per TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Apple Mixed Reality headset will come equipped with hybrid ultra-short focal length Fresnel lenses made of plastic to keep their weight below 150 grams. He adds that the device will have a total of 15 camera modules, eight of which will be used for the core AR/VR experience while the rest will be employed for unspecified biometric function(s).
View MacBook Air M1 at Amazon
Apple supposedly will announce its first virtual reality/augmented reality headset “in the next several months,” according to a very reliable source. It could be as quickly as WWDC 2021. That’s well before other predictions.
While the iPhone-maker hasn’t committed to any such device, its VR headset has been the subject of many leaks. But no one can agree on when it’ll reach customers. Most recent reports have pointed to some point in 2022, though.
On Wednesday, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman updated his prediction about Apple’s plans. “Sometime in the next several months, the company is poised to announce a mixed reality headset, its first major new device since 2015,” he said.
That would seem to imply the device will be unveiled at the next WWDC developers conference, which Apple just announced will start June 7. But Gurman says Apple would prefer to not reveal this VR headset at an all-virtual conference. “If possible, Apple won’t want to make such a critical announcement at an online event,” he said. “It wants employees, the media, its partners and developers in the room.”
Note that Gurman doesn’t say Apple will release the mixed reality headset this year — just reveal it. When entering new product categories, the company has a habit of pre-announcing its initial offerings months before the launch. For example, Apple Watch was unveiled September 2014 and released April 2015.
The Bloomberg writer has an 89.1% accuracy ranking on AppleTrack, which rates tipsters on how well they predict Apple’s future moves. That makes him among the most accurate.
A mixed reality headset would combine computer-generated images with reality as a way to present additional information. Previous leaks say Apple’s version will offer very advanced features and sell for around $1000, a price in-line with rival VR headsets already on the market. Recent predictions point to a release in early 2022.
The product is intended for in-home use. But that’s not the end of the story. Apple is also allegedy working on a pair of lightweight augmented reality glasses for use on the go. Predictions on when these will debut are all over the calendar, from later this year all the way to 2025.
Apple has been working on AR for many years, but an actual VR headset has always seemed years away.
Now reliable Apple leaker has dropped a bombshell, suggested Apple may announce a headset in only a few months.
“Sometime in the next several months, the company is poised to announce a mixed reality headset, its first major new device since 2015,” noted Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. “If possible, Apple won’t want to make such a critical announcement at an online event. It wants employees, the media, its partners and developers in the room.”
That could be WWDC, which is in only two months, but that is expected to be an online-only event.
Various details of the device have leaked, including that it will have an 8K screen, advanced eye-tracking, hybrid ultra-short focal length Fresnel lenses made of plastic to keep their weight below 150 grams, a total of 15 camera modules, eight of which will be used for the core AR/VR experience while the rest will be employed for unspecified biometric function(s).
The headset will reportedly support both VR and AR, via passthrough cameras.
The device may be released initially to developers only before hitting the consumer market some time next year.
via Pocketnow.
Clubhouse started the social audio app revolution last year, when its iOS app exploded in popularity and triggered a massive race among big tech giants like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to create competing services. Twitter, which has already seemingly beaten Clubhouse in the race to launch an Android app, recently allowed users to join ‘Spaces’ for voice chats. The company is reportedly allowing more users to start hosting their own Spaces.
Also read: Twitter Spaces could get a dedicated tab soon
Until recently, users on iOS and Android could join a Twitter Space hosted by specific users, but couldn’t create their own Spaces, as the feature is still in testing by the company. While a few more users on iOS were later allowed to create a space, to allow for better discussions on the platform, Android users have largely been limited to joining Spaces. This is now set to change with the rollout of hosting spaces to more users on Android, according to XDA.
Users who want to start creating their own Spaces on Twitter can update their app to the latest stable build from the Play Store, or version 8.87.0-release.01, according to the report. Once they have the latest version of the app installed they can head over to the app’s main screen (or the home screen) and tap the Tweet composer floating action button. That should show a new icon above the images and GIF buttons, which will allow users to create a public space that others can join.
Also read: Here's how Twitter Communities will look like
While it is unknown when Twitter will finally launch the stable version of Spaces that will be available to all users on the platform, recent reports indicate that the date may be as soon as April. The arrival of the feature to more users on Android does suggest the launch of Twitter Spaces could be around the corner.
Apple is purportedly wasting zero time jumping back into in-person gatherings.
According to Bloomberg, the company is planning to announce its highly anticipated mixed-reality headset within "the next several months" at an event that will presumably be open to select media and industry partners.
The news comes only a day after Apple confirmed its Worldwide Developer Conference would be held virtually this summer for the second year in a row. But while the tech giant is clearly content with unveiling its updated operating systems via livestream, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman stresses that the same approach won't fly for its headset.
"Sometime in the next several months, the company is poised to announce a mixed reality headset, its first major new device since 2015. If possible, Apple won't want to make such a critical announcement at an online event. It wants employees, the media, its partners and developers in the room."
Considering the best (and really only) way to experience mixed-reality is by physically donning a headset, demoing this new Apple device during a livestream just wouldn't do it justice. So it makes sense that Apple would want to go all in for this one — even with the ongoing pandemic.
What can we expect from this headset?
Rumors point to dual-curved 8K displays with swappable visors and over a dozen external cameras to track hand movements. It's also said to include technology that allows for both augmented and virtual reality experiences (hence the "mixed reality" label).
According to MacRumors, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims it's also going to be portable, meaning users won't have to contend with messy wires. With its own onboard computing power and storage, the experience would be similar to Facebook's standalone Oculus Quest 2 — no tethering to a PC or laptop required.
But don't get too excited about acquiring one of Apple's MX headsets anytime soon. Kuo predicts it won't be available until 2022.
It's highly possible that Apple's rumored in-person event might just be held to show off its MX prototype. Still, knowing people from all over the world could be visiting Apple Park to check this thing out during a pandemic...
Well, let's just say that device better be more than a proof of concept.
Apple is aiming to announce a mixed-reality headset at an in-person event sometime in the "next several months," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
/article-new/2020/06/AppleVRFeature.jpg?lossy)
Sometime in the next several months, the company is poised to announce a mixed reality headset, its first major new device since 2015. If possible, Apple won't want to make such a critical announcement at an online event. It wants employees, the media, its partners and developers in the room.
Bloomberg has previously reported that Apple's first AR/VR headset will be a high-end, pricey, and "niche" device aimed at developers. Internally, Apple believes it could sell just one headset per day at its retail locations. If the expectation comes true, it will sell just around 180,000 units a year at its 500 stores.
Bloomberg has previously stated that Apple is aiming for a product launch as soon as next year. Given today's new information, Apple may preannounce the headset to give developers time to prepare for the new VR experience. Apple made a similar move with its announcement of Apple Silicon for the Mac, in which it announced the transition at WWDC in June, months before it released the first Macs with its own chip in order to give developers time to prepare their apps.
The headset is rumored to include dual 8K displays, eye-tracking, and more than a dozen cameras for tracking hand movements. The headset would be a direct competitor to others already on the market, such as Facebook's Oculus Rift, which has largely been used for gaming.
After the initial headset, Apple's planning to release a more mainstream augmented reality product. According to Bloomberg, that product, informally dubbed Apple Glasses, is still "several years away," however. For everything we know about Apple's AR/VR plans, head over to our dedicated roundup.
The Platform for apps is designed to help app developers take advantage of that shift by integrating audio content into apps. Developers can incorporate partial or complete podcasts and radio shows into current audio players with Audioburst’s Kotlin-based API or install an audio player from scratch using an SDK created by Audioburst. Audioburst indexes a vast array of podcasts, radio, and other streaming audio, breaking it down into short “bursts” and combining them into playlists it can recommend to users based on what they’ve expressed interest in, with the feeds updated with every new piece of audio collected by the AI.
More than 100 million Americans report that they listen to podcasts on a regular basis now. The amount of audio content created and consumed has mushroomed over the last year, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Audioburst has found a shift in consumer attention away from screens with visuals and toward purely audio content. There’s been a rush of new features and access to audio content from major platforms as a result. Amazon brought free podcast feeds to Amazon Music and Audible subscribers last year, not long after connecting Alexa to Pandora’s podcast library. Meanwhile, Google debuted an entirely new dashboard for podcasters that measures how long people listen and what they are using to listen to shows to raise awareness and interest in its podcast network among creators.
Audioburst has already signed up several apps interested in providing personalized audio playlists to users. The range of apps that might be interested is fairly broad, including news providers, travel guides, and gaming apps. For instance, C25K running app developer Zen Labs Fitness plays podcast highlights that can help keep users motivated during their run, while augmented reality beauty app Perfect365 integrated Audioburst’s beauty playlist as a way to enhance user experience. The apps open up podcast creators to a huge new audience, each acting as a new channel for the content, regardless of whether it’s brand new or a classic in the back catalog, with a commensurate upping of potential monetization. And the app publishers can leverage the audio content as a way to raise engagement and the amount of time people spend in the app.
“At Audioburst, our mission is to champion the entire podcast ecosystem, making content accessible to users while also benefiting creators and publishers,” Audioburst CEO Amir Hirsh said in a statement.”With this new product launch, we are taking another step towards achieving that goal. We are bringing a wealth of content to users in their favorite apps, helping podcasts reach new audiences, and driving mobile app engagement and monetization.”
Follow @voicebotai Follow @erichschwartz
Amazon Wants Podcasts on Audible and Amazon Music, But Drops Anti-Disparagement Rule
New Google Podcasts Manager Tracks Smart Speaker Listens and Duration
Audioburst Launches Creators Premium Platform for Content Promotion and Analysis
OnePlus is two weeks from releasing their first watch, a product that might turn out to be a solid fitness tracker and timekeeper at a reasonable price. As good of a fitness tracker as it may be, the company is going to struggle to convince many that going this limited smart route was the best decision over using Google’s Wear OS. Today, they are trying to explain their reasoning there a bit, though they clearly don’t want to dive too deeply into specifics.
During a Q&A session, OnePlus’ watch product manager ran through a number of topics related to the upcoming OnePlus Watch. Since the watch hasn’t touched any wrists yet, the product overviews from OnePlus have been extremely limited, and the device won’t go on sale for another two weeks, there is a lot we don’t know.
After looking through the entire Q&A, we’ve pulled out some of the important pieces here, the biggest being the decision to not choose Wear OS. Here is that answer:
Another thing I’ve noticed in your comments is questions about why we chose to use the RTOS system instead of Wear OS. When making a decision like this, we always have to weigh the benefits with the challenges to come up with what we think will result in the best user experience. We found that both operating systems had a lot of great things to offer, but some drawbacks as well. So after weighing all of our options, we ended up choosing RTOS primarily because of the ability to better offer our users a longer battery life.
To add some context here, the opening question and answer had to do with battery life on the OnePlus Watch and that it was important because OnePlus’ research told them that single-day battery life was the reason most stopped wearing smartwatches. So that’s the big sell here – battery life over smarts. We all know that most Wear OS watches last about a day, maybe a little bit longer.
And that’s apparently all they are open to telling us at the moment. The answer above says a whole lot of nothing, other than they weighed the good and bad (without telling us what those things are) and decided they’d rather give you 14 days of battery life than the ability to access Google Assistant, properly respond to notifications, take action on notifications, install apps from Google Play, access thousands of custom watch faces, etc.
Speaking of notifications and being able to interact with them, I noted this in our initial write-up, but there has been some confusion. To set everything straight, OnePlus is confirming that interactions with notifications are indeed extremely limited:
We have a pre-set list to reply to messages conveniently. After an upcoming OTA, we will also have a customized pre-set reply list to let you tailor your own instant replies.
That’s it. Pre-set list of reply options, no keyboard, and I’m going to guess this is mostly in SMS with other messaging apps being hit or miss.
OnePlus also confirmed the processor setup, how thick the OnePlus Watch is, and that the watch doesn’t have an always-on display:
The OnePlus Watch uses a three-chip combination solution – ST32 + Apollo 3 + Cypress. The ST chip has strong performance and is responsible for the interactive interface of the UI. The display is also processed by the ST chip, giving users a smooth system experience.
…
It has a unibody design that is only 10.9mm thick.
…
We’ve heard many users request the always-on display. We are currently looking at things like how it impacts power consumption and are evaluating the possibility to bring this feature in a future OTA. I’m also interested to know your thoughts about how important AOD is to you, considering that it could increase power consumption by almost 50%. Let us know in the thread below.
So that’s the OnePlus Watch! Don’t forget that you can save $20 on one by grabbing a voucher before launch.
// OnePlus
Clubhouse has become the talk of the town, with high-profile individuals such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Oprah Winfrey having paid a visit to the latest social networking platform.
XClubhouse is a mobile app entirely focused on conversation. No text, no video, no scrolling — just a bunch of virtual rooms that people can drop into randomly. In the rooms, people might be chatting about cryptocurrency or geopolitics, fashion, music, sports, philosophy and much more.
The social network has about 10 million users and was recently valued at $1 billion. Moreover, the idea of building platforms where audio is the emphasis is accelerating.
Twitter (TWTR) has developed an audio platform called Spaces. And this past week Spotify Technology (SPOT) announced its move into the live audio space with the acquisition of Betty Labs, the creators of Locker Room, a live audio app that's focused on sports. Spotify did not disclose the acquisition price.
"This acquisition builds on our work to create the 'future formats of audio' and will accelerate Spotify's entry into the live audio space," Spotify said in the announcement. "Through this new live experience, Spotify will offer a range of sports, music, and cultural programming."
Facebook (FB) and Microsoft (MSFT) are also planning to jump into the space, reports say.
When users launch the Clubhouse app, they see virtual rooms with the names and photos of people who are in them. There might be two people in one room and 50 in another. People can move fluidly from room to room. For now, the Clubhouse app is only available at the Apple (AAPL) App Store, but Android is coming. Also, in order to join, users need to receive an invitation from a current Clubhouse user.
Clubhouse was founded by entrepreneurs Paul Davison and Seth Rohan, who worked on several projects at Google. It was launched one year ago in a limited format.
"Our goal was to build a social experience that felt more human, where instead of posting, you could gather with other people and talk," Davison and Rohan said in a blog post in late January. They declined an interview request.
"Clubhouse has accelerated quickly over the past 10 months, from a small handful of beta testers into a diverse and growing network of communities," they wrote.
In January, Clubhouse raised about $100 million in funding. It was led by existing investor Andreessen Horowitz, giving the company about a $1 billion valuation after that funding round.
"Clubhouse is about a real-time exchange of ideas, not just consuming highly edited, static content," Andrew Chen, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, wrote in a recent blog post explaining the firm's investment. "It's a fresh experience that brings humanity and context to online social engagement."
Twitter (TWTR) has been developing an audio platform called Twitter Spaces, which works in a similar way as Clubhouse. The app has been in a beta-test phase but Twitter plans to make it available to everyone sometime in April, on both Apple and Android devices.
Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey talked about Spaces at the company's fourth-quarter earnings call in February.
"We really love what we're seeing early with our beta testers in terms of the audio conversations," Dorsey said. "It will present a new model for how we think about instantaneous and potentially ephemeral communities in public conversation."
Twitter has been exploring several methods of communication through its microblogging platform. In addition to Spaces, Twitter launched Fleets in November. Fleets are tweets that disappear from view after a day. Twitter is also developing a new service for anyone to start and publish newsletters.
"There are multiple ways to have public conversations and we want to make sure that we have the best offering," Dorsey said. "Spaces is a really compelling area."
Facebook is working on a competitor to Clubhouse, according to the New York Times. The company looks to add live audio features to its existing products, such as Messenger, and is testing a stand-alone audio app.
Microsoft also is eying the space, according to news reports. Microsoft is in talks to acquire Discord, a video-game chat community, for more than $10 billion, Bloomberg reported.
Discord allows gamers to communicate via voice, video or text. It now counts more than 140 million active monthly users. During the pandemic, Discord began to pivot from an audio platform for gamers to an audio platform for all.
Discord raised $100 million, giving it a $7 billion valuation last year, according to Pitchbook. The company has raised $480 million total. Multiple parties have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the company.
Wayne Kurtzman, a research analyst at IDC, said the success of audio apps will come when they open the gates to a wider audience
"Voice is humanizing, so the challenge is to maintain the intimacy and effectiveness as they reach large scale," Kurtzman said. "It's also about keeping out trolls and monitoring conversations and monetization."
Clubhouse hasn't detailed a monetization plan yet. But with its latest funding round from Andreesen Horowitz, Clubhouse plans to help creators on the platform generate revenue. That could include subscriptions, tipping and ticket sales.
The two Clubhouse founders touted their service in a recent blog post.
"We've been blown away by the brilliance and creativity of the Clubhouse community," they said. "Each night in Clubhouse, there are now thousands of rooms filled with people hosting game shows, recapping NBA games, singing opera, discussing philosophy, meeting other musicians, sharing travel tips, running support groups, and meditating together."
Please follow Brian Deagon on Twitter at @IBD_BDeagon for more on tech stocks, analysis and financial markets.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
Learn How To Time The Market With IBD's ETF Market Strategy
Stocks To Buy And Watch: Top IPOs, Big And Small Caps, Growth Stocks
Find The Best Long-Term Investments With IBD Long-Term Leaders
MarketSmith Provides Investing Tools That Are Easy To Use
Find Today's Best Growth Stocks To Watch With IBD 50
Xiaomi revolutionized the smartphone market when it introduced the Mi MIX smartphone series. The original device was a big surprise featuring an impressive bezel-less display. It basically kickstarted the trend for bezel-less displays and taller aspect ratios. The company added two more smartphones to the family with the Mi MIX 3 being the latest impressive smartphone with a sliding design and bezel-less display. However, since most phones are bezel-less today, the MIX series lost its appeal. Today, Xiaomi is bringing back, after a series of teasers, its MIX series back to life! As expected, the company’s first foldable smartphone is part of the Mi MIX family. It will reach the market soon as Mi Mix Fold.
The Mix series is known for bringing innovative concepts, and we’re glad to know that the Mi Mix Fold isn’t coming merely as a foldable smartphone. It’s packed with a bunch of innovative features. Samsung will need to prepare, after all, the competition in the folding segment is finally coming.
The Mi Mix Fold is a foldable phone, more than that, it arrives as Xioami’s first attempt in this growing niche of smartphones. But we have to say, this device has so many features that the screen probably is the least impressive. It has a large 8.01-inch OLED internal screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 1440p+ resolution. It’s a tablet-sized display and Xiaomi states this is the largest display on a foldable smartphone. Huawei will beg to differ.
The display is large enough to allow Xiaomi to deliver a desktop mode with multiple resizable windows. This mode is launched with a simple three-finger swipe. Foldable smartphones are coming fast, but some companies still need to deliver features that justify their existence. We’re glad to see that Xiaomi is trying to make it more than an unconventional device with features that will make it stand against the competition.
Getting back to the technical aspects, the display boasts a U-shaped hinge that is 27% lighter than the hinges used by other foldable smartphones. The phone was put through 200,000 bends during reliability testing then pushed further to 1 million bends. It survived! The OLED panel comes with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. It has a DCI-P3 color gamut and 600 nits of brightness. The peak brightness stands at 900 nits.
The phone also has an external display with 6.52-inches. It’s also an AMOLED panel but with an unconventional 2,520 x 840 resolution. This results in a wide aspect ratio of 27:9. Unlike the interior display with a 60Hz refresh rate, this one has a high refresh rate of 90Hz and 180Hz touch sampling rate. It is slightly brighter offering 650 nits of brightness. As you may expect it also is covered with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support. Apparently, this display is for those who want a traditional smartphone experience with the Mix Fold.
The company has reportedly invested more than CNY 140 million in R&D to ensure the best experience with this display. The technology behind it was in development for two years. Hopefully, the company will collect the fruits of this investment.
Besides its innovative displays, the phone also comes to impress the camera department. Xiaomi has prepared the Mi Mix Fold with a bunch of innovative concepts, among them we have the company’s first Surge C1 image processing chip. This in-house made chip runs the 3A algorithms – Auto Focus, Auto Exposure, and Auto White Balance in a power-efficient manner. This chip represents a major milestone for Xiaomi in the semiconductor department. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.
Apart from the Surge C1 chip giving power to the camera’s algorithms, we have very innovative technology. The Mi Mix Fold has the world’s first Liquid Lens technology in the telephoto camera. It’s made out of a flexible film filled with transparent liquid. It can change its shape, just like the lens in the human eye, thanks to a precision motor. Users will not need to worry about the liquid, according to the company’s press release it can operate under extreme temperatures ranging from -40ºC to 60ºC.
Through this technology, the telephoto lens can adjust the optical magnification ratio from 3x to 30x. The lens has a minimum focus distance of just 3cm. It allows it to photography faraway objects and also take macro shots. An 8MP sensor sits behind this unique lens, however, it seems to be lacking optical stabilization since there is no mention of this feature.
As far as technical specifications are concerned, the phone packs a triple-camera setup. The main camera is a 108MP sensor, the 1/1.52″ Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor-equipped behind a 7P lens. The sensor supports 9-in-1 binning for 2.1um pixels but lacks Optical Image Stabilization. The ultrawide-angle camera is a 13MP sensor with a 123-degree field of view.
As you might expect, Xiaomi isn’t playing games in the foldable segment and is delivering a true flagship. For that reason, it comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. Users will find the phone in 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB, and in an insane 16GB/512GB variant.
To keep things efficient, the Mix Fold comes with a “butterfly-type” cooling system. It combines a large vapor chamber, thermal gel, and multiple layers of graphite sheets. The Fold boasts 22,583 mm² of total heat dissipation area. It’s more than a system to expel the heat generated by the flagship SoC. It also keeps the 5G and fast-charging systems under regular temperatures.
Talking about fast-charging, the phone comes with 67W wired charging technology it can charge the 5,020mAh battery in just 37 minutes. Xiaomi achieved this excellent capacity by combining two 2,460mAh cells.
Apart from the high-quality display, the Mix Fold will also offer a remarkable audio experience. The foldable has a quad-speaker setup tuned by Harman Kardon. The four 1216 super linear speakers come with large “1.34 cc-equivalent” chambers. They’re driven by 15V amps, which makes them 40% louder than the Mi 10 Pro speakers. Xiaomi also developed a 3D spatial audio algorithm creating an immersive experience while using the four speakers.
Xiaomi is offering the Mi Mix Fold in a standard version with Gorilla Glass back and ceramic texture. However, if you want more ceramic, there is a Ceramic Special Edition. It has a black ceramic back with laser engraving, plus gold mid-frame and volume buttons.
We have to say that phone isn’t so expensive considering how expensive were the first foldable smartphone to reach the market. The Mi Mix Fold is going on pre-order in China later today. The first units will be available from April 16. The 12GB/256GB combo starts at CNY10,000 which translates to $1520 or €1,300. The mid-tier variant with 12GB/512GB will set you back by CNY11,000 (~$1673 / €1427). Finally, the jaw-dropping model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage will retail at CNY 13,000 (~$1977 / €1687).
Audio search and delivery platform Audioburst has announced the launch of a new platform that acts as the world’s first podcast feed for mobile apps. Platform for Apps will offer consumers personalized, up-to-the-minute audio content within their chosen apps while providing incremental and recurring revenue for thousands of app developers.
“At Audioburst, our mission is to champion the entire podcast ecosystem, making content accessible to users while also benefiting creators and publishers,” said Amir Hirsh, co-founder and CEO of Audioburst. “With this new product launch, we are taking another step towards achieving that goal. We are bringing a wealth of content to users in their favorite apps, helping podcasts reach new audiences, and driving mobile app engagement and monetization.”
Amir Hirsh, co-founder and CEO of Audioburst. Photo: Audioburst
The launch comes at a time where podcasts - and audio platforms generally - are experiencing a boom in popularity. Today, 100 million Americans are regularly tuning in to listen to their favorite celebrity, news station, or scripted show. Audioburst’s AI technology listens to, analyzes, and indexes millions of minutes of audio content such as podcasts and radio which it segments into short audio clips (or ‘bursts’) that are aggregated into relevant playlists. Users can then enjoy content from a variety of sources based on their interests.
One benefit of audio is how it can be consumed while the user is doing something else, such as exercise, cooking, driving, or commuting. “People are ‘screened out’,” added Raz Kaplan, Audioburst’s Product Marketing Manager. “After a year of being trapped at home and going from Netflix binge-watching to Zoom meetings and TikToks, consumers want content they can consume without interrupting their activities.”
Related Stories:
Platform for Apps was launched to capitalize on the shift in consumer behavior and can layer apps with content from podcasts or talk radio into apps that don’t currently offer it. Apps with existing players can integrate content via an API whereas apps interested in introducing audio content for the first time can do so via a SDK.
Audioburst claims it has created the world's largest library of indexed talk audio content. “The audio streams come with an optional built-in, end-to-end monetization solution that generates revenue immediately without any work from the developer's side,” explained Kaplan. “An app developer simply adds the Audioburst experience via SDK/API iOS and Android packages, while web developers can easily add the experience through an embedded Javascript player.”
100 million Americans listen to podcasts or talk radio. Photo: Audioburst
The audio boom can be seen around the world, with the increased hype around voice-based social media platforms like Clubhouse. In response to its popularity, Spotify yesterday announced the purchase of Betty Labs, the company behind live sports audio app Locker Room. It implies that companies see live-streamed radio content and audio social media as part of a long-term content consumption future.
“There's something incredibly primal and authentic about voice interaction,” said Kaplan. “We expect the content produced in (Clubhouse and the other social audio platforms) to become yet another live and vibrant contributor to the world’s audio repository, answering people’s needs and desire for knowledge.”
Audioburst was founded in 2015 and has so far raised $24.3 million over three funding rounds. In 2017, it acquired Robin Labs, an AI voice assistant based on natural language understanding and speech recognition.
IT, information security, Engineering, many of the most lucrative careers require the most training. If you’re looking to get your start in any of these fields or ones related to them, then learning everything you need to know is more than just a challenge. Here are some discounted learning bundles that can help you on your path toward a career that is intellectually stimulating and financially satisfying.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner All-in-One Bundle
Lifetime access to this bundle gives you 25 hours of expert content instructing you in everything you need to know to become a certified Cloud Practitioner. Prepare for an exam that employers will want to see you passed. Practice using the 290 practice questions and 2 eBooks, and get ready for improvement. Get the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner All-in-One Bundle for $12.49 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
The Mastering Mathematics Training Prep Bundle
This 96 hour bundle provides over 600 lessons that will give each user an exhaustive look at some of the most useful math anyone entering IT, engineering, or information security could use. Learn calculus, discrete mathematics, and Mathematics for data science and machine learning with this top-rated bundle. Users of this bundle will not only be able to review and develop their math skills, they will be shown practical applications for the math they learn. You can get The Mastering Mathematics Training Prep Bundle for $19.95 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
The All-In-One 2021 Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle
This ethical hacking instructional bundle gives you 18 courses led by experts in the field of cyber security. You’ll learn to use Python 3 for a variety of purposes, and you’ll get ample opportunity to test those skills with the hands on courses. Learn the most widely used programming language around. You can get The All-In-One 2021 Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle for $21.50 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
The 2021 Cloud Computing Architect Certification Bundle
Learn to solve latency problems with this bundle. Take 21 classes that will give you a comprehensive look at everything you need to become a master. Take classes that introduce you to MS Word and slowly build confidence over time. You can get The 2021 Cloud Computing Architect Certification Bundle for $14.99 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
The 2021 Microsoft Azure & Security Certification Training Bundle
Learn to use Azure for the fundamentals and more advanced skills. Go from basic learning to real expert with one bundle. Become an expert in one of the most widely used software around taught by experts who have made Azure their career. You can get The 2021 Microsoft Azure & Security Certification Training Bundle for $25.00 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
The Certified Cisco Power User Bundle
Improve your Cisco skills with this 80 hour bundle. Become a certified network associate and learn everything that title entails. Go from beginner to expert in another useful tool on your path to career success. You can get The Certified Cisco Power User Bundle for $20 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
The Complete 2021 Big Data and Machine Learning Bundle
This bundle offers you expert classes on coding with Python and machine learning. Classes like “Taming Big Data with Spark” and “Machine learning for absolute beginners” shows the breadth of classes covered in this bundle. You can get the Complete 2021 Big Data and Machine Learning Bundle for $19.95 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
The Ultimate 2021 White Hat Hacker Certification Bundle
This bundle will show you everything you need to know to become an ethical hacker. Learn about system security, endpoint protection, and so much more with this top-rated bundle. You will learn to defend any system from a digital attack and cover 98 hours of cybersecurity with this bundle. You can get The Complete 2021 Big Data and Machine Learning Bundle for $19.95 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
The 2021 Complete CompTIA Certification Prep Super Bundle
Develop your ComTIA fundamentals with this excellent bundle. For 16 classes taught by experts in the field, anyone using this bundle is given a thorough and useful education in ComTIA. You can get The 2021 Complete CompTIA Certification Prep Super Bundle for $34.50 when you use coupon code LEARNIT.
Prices subject to change
Goethe’s “To Lina” commands that the letters of the page, black on white, be not read but breathed so that our hearts “now can break.” What...
