Romania threatens to fine investigative non-profit RISE Project €650/day and up to €20M unless it reveals corruption investigation sources, citing GDPR — The Romanian Data Protection Authority (ANSPDCP) Thursday ordered investigative outlet RISE Project to reveal its sources …
Report: BlackBerry is in talks to buy cybersecurity company Cylance for as much as $1.5B — (Reuters) - BlackBerry Ltd is in talks to buy cybersecurity company Cylance Inc for as much as $1.5 billion, Business Insider reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Facebook to end forced arbitration for sexual-harassment claims, require execs at director level or above to disclose if they are dating someone in the company — Social-networking giant also revises policy for senior executives dating employees — Facebook Inc. FB -1.97% is ending …
Facebook has quietly released an app for iOS and Android called Lasso, designed to compete with TikTok, that lets users create short videos — The aging social media platform wishes to win teens over — Facebook has quietly released an app called Lasso that lets users create fun short videos designed …
As part of its deal with Apple, Amazon will only allow authorized resellers on its site, kicking independent Apple device refurbishers off its platform — Amazon told independent refurbishers that it will now only allow “authorized resellers” to sell Apple products on Amazon Marketplace.
PayPal says it will cancel accounts of Proud Boys, Gavin McInnes, Tommy Robinson and a number of anti-fascist groups like Atlanta Antifa and Antifa Sacramento — PayPal said today that it will cancel accounts used by far-right group the Proud Boys as well as multiple accounts from anti-fascist groups.
Amazon has struck a deal with Apple which will see the Cupertino company sell iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches directly on the online e-retail platform. According to CNET which broke the news of the deal first, Apple will directly sell some of its products directly on Amazon’s portal across 8 countries, including India. Apple’s products have long been available on Amazon India’s website, but that has always been through third-party sellers. Due to this, Apple products were often sold at a much lower price than their MRP, something that Apple started to have a problem with in India. According to the new deal, Apple (and its authorized resellers) will directly sell Apple’s products via Amazon, allowing for stronger price control. As part of the deal, only Apple or Apple authorized resellers will be allowed to sell Apple and Beats products on Amazon, meaning it is possible that the days of steep discounts on Amazon might be over. Unfortunately, as of now, the deal does not include Apple’s computers like the Macbook series or the iMac. Regardless, this deal could serve as a boost to both Amazon and Apple. Apple has seen the sales of its iPhones plateau across regions, with revenue only rising thanks to significantly higher prices. Increasing the reach of Apple’s devices to people via Amazon could serve as a boost in sales and control unwarranted price drops while also addressing buyers’ concerns about the authenticity and warranty status of whatever it is that they’re buying. It would be great to see the deal also include Apple’s genuine accessories such as cases, cables and Apple Watch straps also be sold on Amazon, given that they are generally limited to in-store purchase, and even then, stocks are very limited. According to CNET, the deal has only just been made and it will be a few weeks before we see Apple officially start selling its most popular products on Amazon.
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It looks like HMD Global may soon launch the Nokia 8.1 smartphone. This is suggested by none other than Google itself, which has updated its list of devices that support ARCore. The new list now includes the Nokia 8.1. However, no new information about the device were revealed. A leaked Geekbench listing suggests that the smartphone may be the global variant of the Nokia X7, which was launched in China a few weeks back. Going by previous naming conventions, the Nokia X7 should be called the Nokia 7.1 Plus in international markets. However, reports suggest that Nokia’s Chief Product Officer, Juho Sarvikas has reserved the Nokia 7.1 Plus name for another device that will be unveiled in 2019. The Nokia X7 sports a 6.18-inch Full HD+ PureDisplay with HDR 10 support and an aspect ratio of 18.7:9. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC and is available with up to 6GB RAM and up to 128GB storage. Like most other smartphones currently available in the market, the phone sports a dual-rear camera setup with a 13MP + 12MP combination. At the front is a 20MP unit. The phone packs a 3,500mAh battery, which has support for fast charging. In a separate report, MySmartPrice.com says that two new Nokia devices were certified by the Eurasian Economic Commission (ECC) in Russia. The two devices carry the model number numbers TA-1087 and TA-1119. The exact name of the devices is not yet known, but it is possible that these might be the Nokia 8.1 and Nokia 7.1 Plus. 
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Google is supposedly working on two variants of a mid-range Pixel phone that are expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor. In an APK teardown of ARCore version 1.5, folks at Android Authority found the mention of new profiles (or maybe even two currently unreleased Google devices). The first bares the name Bonito and a new fish-themed codename of a supposed device: Sargo. The smartphones are apparently being developed for emerging markets like India. According to mysmartprice, Sargo could be a smaller variant of Bonito. This is not the first time Google has been in news for making mid-range devices to counter “flagship killers” like OnePlus. The first rumour made rounds on the internet in early April when the company was said to release these devices in June. In June, however, no such announcement was made and a tweet by German ‘scoop-master’ Roland Quandt said that Google is definitely working on a Pixel phone that will be powered by the new Snapdragon 710 chipset. It was also noted that Google is also supposedly making this phone for the Indian market only and that it will launch it in the first half of 2019, and not anytime before that as previously rumoured. Google’s plan of creating a Pixel phone tailored for India seems most credible, given how India is reported to be a key driving factor in the sale of smartphones in 2019 and the years following it. With players like Samsung and Huawei/Honor also looking to crowd the Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000 segment, and Apple cutting down the prices of its old iPhones, Google could become a promising competitor if it launches these rumoured smartphones.
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The successors of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 series smartphones, the Xiaomi Redmi 6A, Redmi 6, and Redmi 6 Pro are now available in an open sale on Flipkart. The e-commerce platform has updated the cover page, clearly mentioning the development. The smartphones were launched in September. The Redmi 6A and the Redmi 6 smartphones are available in Black, Gold, Rose Gold and Blue colour variants. There is a 2GB RAM/16GB storage variant and a 2GB RAM/32GB storage variant of the phone. The Redmi 6 comes in two variants: one with 3GB RAM/32GB of internal storage and other 3GB RAM/64GB storage. The Redmi 6 Pro will ship in Red, Blue, Gold and Black colours in two variants - a 3GB RAM/32GB storage and a 4GB RAM/64GB storage. Redmi 6A Specifications The Redmi 6A features a metallic finish on the rear panel and is powered by a 12nm quad-core Helio A22 processor, which is said to touch max clock speeds of up to 2.0 GHz. It features a 5.45-inch HD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Coming to optics, the smartphone features a 13P single sensor with Phase Detection Autofocus and Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS). On the front is a 5MP sensor with AI portrait and AI Beautify mode. The smartphone features AI Face Unlock and supports unlocking via a Mi Band as well. It features dual VoLTE with dual standby and 2+1 card slots. It runs on MIUI 9.6, which is based on Android 8.1 Oreo. It is backed by a 3,000mAh battery that is said to deliver up to 9 hours and 25 minutes of continuous video playback. Redmi 6 Specifications The Redmi 6 features a 5.45-inch HD+ display with an 18:9 display aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio P22 Octa-Core processor, which is clocked at 2.0GHz. Xiaomi claims that the smartphone delivers up to 30 percent improved performance over its predecessor and comes with AI Face Unlock, along with a fingerprint sensor. In terms of camera, the smartphone features a 12MP + 5MP dual-rear camera setup with a 1.25µm pixel size and EIS support. The device is backed by a 3,000mAh battery that is said to deliver up to 12 hours of video playback. Redmi 6 Pro Specifications Coming to the Redmi 6 Pro, the smartphone features a 5.84-inch Full HD+ ‘notch’ display with a 19:9 display aspect ratio. There is an option to hide the notch in the device’s settings. It features an aluminium build and sports a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC and supports AI Face Unlock as well. The Redmi 6 Pro comes equipped with a dual rear camera setup that also supports EIS. It comes with a 12MP Sony IMX 486 primary sensor and a 5MP secondary Samsung sensor. This is the same camera configuration as the Redmi Note 5 Pro. The smartphone is powered by a 4,000mAh battery that is said to deliver up to 16.5 hours of video playback.
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Xbox One gamers will be able to play PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) as well as Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 19 for free till November 11. Not only that, but even those who do not have a subscription to Xbox Live Gold will be able to play multiplayer with any game in their library. However, it should be noted that these games will only be free-to-play till November 11, after which players will have to pay for them if they wish to continue playing. PES 19 was launched back in August, and is currently available on sale via the Xbox store for Rs 1,690, down from its original price of Rs 3,390. The full version of PUBG was launched in September and is currently available for Rs 1,990 on the Xbox store. PUBG on the Xbox One recently got Update #2, which brought the game up to speed with the PC and mobile versions of the game. The update brought with it new Halloween skins, Training Map, as well as new weapons and vehicles. Like the PC version, the Training Map is 2x2 in size and gives players a safe place where they can practice various aspects of the game without the fear of dying. The two new weapons added to the game were the Beryl M762 and the MK47 Mutant. Both weapons use the 7.62mm ammunition and are available across all three maps, namely Erangel, Miramar and Sanhok. Speaking of Sanhok, that particular map got two new exclusive vehicles. This included the Scooter and the Tukshai. The former is a two-seat vehicle, similar to the motorbike, but is slower and offers an increased turning circle. The Tukshai is a three-seat vehicle and is basically an auto-rickshaw. It also replaces the UAZ, Dacia and Minibus in Sanhok. Just unlocked: PUBG, PES 2019, and multiplayer for every game you own. Play together this weekend: https://t.co/UvHE090MxK pic.twitter.com/Vn5MxbFjVH — Xbox (@Xbox) November 8, 2018 
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The foldable smartphone, which was highly anticipated ever since Samsung first showcased its foldable displays back in 2013, is now a reality as the South Korean tech company has unveiled device at the Samsung Developers Conference (SDC) in San Francisco. There was already much talk about the smartphone and the company didn’t shy away from fuelling the hype by issuing statements to make sure that when they announced the smartphone, they grabbed the eyeballs of the potential customers as well as competitors. Though Samsung isn’t the first company to unveil a foldable phone, it seems that it has managed to show off the device, which looks far stable than the FlexPai that was launched a few days back. Justin Denison, Senior Vice President of Mobile Product Marketing, Samsung showcased the device that was camouflaged in a black cover, and under dimmed lights to protect elements of the design. “There’s a device inside here… and it is stunning,” The Verge quoted Denison as saying. Samsung says that, in its foldable smartphone, it uses an Infinity Flex Display, which measures 7.3 inches with a 1536 x 2152 resolution with an aspect ratio of 4.2:3 when it is in an unfolded state, and when it folds in half to reveal a second display, called “cover display” on the front, it functions as a 4.58-inch phone with a resolution of 840 x 1960 pixels with an aspect ratio of 21:9. Samsung says that the phone can be folded up to fit into a pocket. Source Samsung says that it will be able to mass-produce the Infinity Flex Display in a “matter of months” and according to Samsung, it had to develop new materials to protect the display, which uses a polymer that is claimed to be both “flexible and tough” and keep its strength even when folded and unfolded “hundreds of thousands of times.” According to The Verge, Samsung has used a new adhesive that laminates the various display layers together to allow them to flex. The bezels of the phone looked thick when compared to edge-to-edge flagships. As the industry takes a leap with technology, Google is also tagging along with its Android software. The company has announced that it is supporting these new foldable devices with Android, and it’s working closely with Samsung for the launch of this phone next year. “Now we see a Android device makers creating a new category: Foldables. Taking advantage of new flexible display technology, the screen can literally bend and fold,” Stephanie Cuthbertson, Director of Product Management, said in an official Android Developers Blog. “There are two variants broadly speaking: two-screen devices and one-screen devices. When folded, foldables look like phones, fitting in your pocket or purse. When unfolded, their defining feature is what we call screen continuity. For example, start a video with the folded smaller screen - and later you can sit down and unfold the device to get a larger tablet-sized screen for a beautiful, immersive experience. As you unfold, the app seamlessly transfers to the bigger screen without missing a beat. We're optimizing Android for this new form factor. And, making changes to help developers everywhere take advantage of the possibilities this creates for amazing new experiences, new ways to engage and delight your users,” Cuthbertson added. Now that Samsung has unveiled the foldable smartphone, all eyes will be on Huawei, LG and Apple, among other OEMs to showcase their innovation. Huawei may launch a foldable device by the end of this year and the company had acquired the patent for a foldable phone at WIPO (World Intellectual property Organization). LG has confirmed that it is working on a foldable device and wants to create something that consumers actually want. Apple is also reported to launch a foldable smartphone in 2020. We just announced support for foldables at #AndroidDevSummit, a new form factor coming next year from Android partners. Android apps run seamlessly as the device folds, achieving this form factor's chief feature: screen continuity. pic.twitter.com/NAfOmCOY26 — Android Developers (@AndroidDev) 7 November 2018
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Mitchell Baker, the head of the non-profit Mozilla said that web users are being drawn into a relationship with the internet which closely resembles the relationship between a gambling addict and slot machines. During the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, she commented on how "...the biggest uses, the biggest companies, the biggest commercial uses, are built-in systems that look like addictions.” She went on to say that "It's disappointing, the practice of 'Come to my site, keep you there, keep clicking, keep spreading this information as fast as possible...'". In her opinion, this is a very similar behaviour to when someone pulls the lever on a slot machine. Websites want to keep audiences longer on their domain as the longer one stays on a website, the higher websites can charge for ads. Entities like Facebook need users to stay longer on their platform so as to show higher “stay-times” to advertisers. The entire web currently relies on advertising to make revenue, including Mozilla and it is an arrangement that Baker admits to being very uncomfortable with. Katharina Borchert, Chief Open Innovation Officer at Mozilla, told AFP: "Advertising is still the model that fuels the vast majority of the web, so we're not against advertising or monetizing content." But she added: "We want to find a better balance between user agency, autonomy over data and user safety and security and monetization opportunity." Mozilla has for some time been against tracking practices, introducing an anti-tracking feature to appeal to users. The feature is designed to prevent much of the tracking practices employed by the Internet’s biggest trackers whose reach has become far too pervasive. We've seen how Facebook's data collection practices have led to a violation of user privacy, as highlighted in the Cambridge Analytica case. 
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Meir Orbach / CTech : Docs: Israeli AI chip startup Hailo is pursuing an urgent IPO via a SPAC merger at a valuation of less than $500M; ...
