Google Gemini

On December 6, Alphabet, Google's parent company, introduced Gemini, its most substantial and versatile AI model to date, aiming to compete with OpenAI's GPT-4 and Meta's Llama 2 in the emerging field of artificial intelligence (AI). This marks the initial AI model after the consolidation of Alphabet's AI research divisions, DeepMind and Google Brain, into a unified entity named Google DeepMind, overseen by DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. 

Gemini, built from scratch, is "multimodal," enabling it to comprehend and process diverse information types—text, code, audio, image, and video simultaneously. The model comes in three variants: Ultra (for intricate tasks), Pro (for a broad range of tasks), and Nano (for on-device tasks). Sundar Pichai, Alphabet CEO, termed this as a monumental science and engineering effort for the company, reflecting the vision set upon the formation of Google DeepMind. 

Gemini Pro will be accessible to developers through the Gemini API on Google AI Studio and Google Cloud Vertex AI starting December 13. Gemini Nano will be available to Android developers via AICore, introduced in Android 14, initially on Pixel 8 Pro devices. Gemini Ultra is in early experimentation with select users, developers, partners, and safety experts, with broader availability to developers and enterprises expected in early 2024. 

Gemini will be integrated across Google's products, with Bard utilizing a fine-tuned version of Gemini Pro for advanced reasoning, planning, and understanding starting December 6. The Gemini Nano will power new features on Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. In terms of performance, Gemini Ultra surpasses current benchmarks on 30 out of 32 widely-used academic benchmarks in large language model (LLM) research. It outperforms human experts on MMLU (massive multitask language understanding) benchmark, covering 57 subjects. Gemini Pro outperforms GPT-3.5 in six out of eight benchmarks before its public launch. 

Hassabis highlighted Gemini's flexibility, capable of running efficiently from data centers to mobile devices, enhancing how developers and enterprises leverage AI. Gemini's multimodal reasoning enables it to extract insights from vast amounts of documents, understand nuanced information, answer questions on complex topics, and generate high-quality code in popular programming languages. Gemini's capabilities come with added protections, incorporating safety policies and AI principles to address potential risks, with ongoing collaboration with external experts and partners for comprehensive stress testing.

NoiseFit Endeavour

Noise has unveiled its latest addition to the smart tech category with the launch of the NoiseFit Endeavour smartwatch, specifically designed for adventurers. Emphasizing a rugged look and design, the NoiseFit Endeavour boasts IP68 water resistance and is available in various color options that complement its robust aesthetic. The smartwatch features a 1.46-inch AMOLED display with up to 600 nits of vivid brightness and an always-on display functionality. With a remarkable battery life of up to 7 days, the Endeavour also incorporates SOS Technology, allowing users to swiftly alert contacts of their location within eight seconds for enhanced safety. Sporting over 100 workout modes, the smartwatch facilitates comprehensive fitness tracking. Additionally, it accommodates 10 saved contacts, supports BT calling for convenient communication, and includes a Functional Crown for user-friendly navigation. To promote well-being, the Breathing Exercise feature is also integrated. Priced at Rs 2,999, the Noise Endeavour Rugged Smartwatch is now available for purchase on Amazon and the GoNoise Store in Vintage Brown, Fiery Orange, Teal Blue, Camo Black, and Jet Black variants. With its rugged build and diverse features, the NoiseFit Endeavour enhances Noise's extensive range of smartwatch offerings.

WhatsApp to introduce an option for sharing music during video calls

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has revealed plans for a new feature that will enable users to share music audio while on a video call, as reported by WaBetaInfo. The update, currently in the TestFlight beta Program with version 23.25.10.72, is under development and not yet ready for beta testing. Once implemented, this feature will allow all participants in a call to collectively listen to video and music audio when someone shares their screen, enhancing the overall audio-visual experience. Users activating this feature can share the audio playing on their device with others on the call. It's important to note that this functionality is not compatible with voice calls or video calls where the video is disabled. WaBetaInfo highlights that the real-time sharing of video and music audio during a screen-sharing session adds a dynamic element to video calls, creating a more interactive virtual environment. The introduction of this feature aims to foster a stronger sense of connection during video calls, offering users the option to screen-share music and videos in real-time. This feature is expected to be incorporated in a future update of the app as it undergoes active development.

Beeper Mini - iMessage on Android

iMessage stands as a significant factor preventing some Apple users from transitioning to Android. Despite Apple's announcement about introducing the modern RCS messaging standard to iPhones next year, it won't replicate the iMessage experience. Numerous attempts, including Nothing's efforts, to bring iMessage to Android have proven unsuccessful. Now, a newly launched app called Beeper Mini claims to genuinely bring Apple's iMessage service to Android devices. This Android app enables users to register as iMessage users, sending and receiving iMessages without routing through a Mac device in the cloud, thus avoiding the pitfalls of previous attempts. Moreover, all data is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring privacy and security. The Beeper Mini app, available globally on the Play Store, comes with a monthly subscription fee of $1.99. It supports various message formats, including text, audio messages, images, videos, files, contacts, and locations. While it accommodates tapbacks (reactions to iMessages), animated stickers and advanced features like mini apps, location sharing, and digital touch are currently not supported. Notably, messages sent from Android phones will appear in blue bubbles, resolving the blue bubble-green bubble debate. The Beeper Mini team achieved this by showcasing Android phones to Apple's servers as authentic Apple products, having reverse-engineered iMessage through jailbreaking iPhones and delving into the operating system intricacies. The app's compatibility was verified in a day-long trial on a Galaxy S23 Ultra, successfully communicating with an iPhone user. Given the past shutdowns of similar services, Beeper Mini's future faces uncertainty regarding how long Apple might allow or tolerate this service. Beeper CTO Brad Murray asserts that the company operates within legal boundaries, and there is no Apple code embedded in Beeper Mini. According to him, disrupting Beeper Mini's iMessage compatibility would likely affect genuine iPhone users, presenting a legal challenge for Apple.

'Seeing AI' Android app

Presently, the Seeing AI app is accessible in 18 languages, and Microsoft aims to expand this availability to 36 languages by 2024. Following the initial launch on iOS, Microsoft, the tech giant based in Redmond, has now introduced the Android version of the 'Seeing AI' app. With a user base exceeding three billion on Android, 'Seeing AI' is set to reach millions of individuals globally with vision impairment. Drawing from feedback on the iOS iteration, Microsoft has enhanced the user interface and introduced new features to the Seeing AI app. The incorporation of generative Artificial Intelligence (gen AI) technology enables the app to describe various objects, from currency notes to books, providing detailed summaries of images on the Scene channel. The app also facilitates richer descriptions through additional information options, offering more intricate details about the contents of the image. Additionally, users can engage in conversations with the Seeing AI app to obtain further information. For example, when presented with a menu, users can inquire about the listed items, or when examining a receipt, the app can read out the prices of items. Moreover, while reading an article, the Seeing AI app is capable of providing concise summaries of lengthy news stories.

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ India launch date

Xiaomi has recently unveiled the Redmi 13C series smartphones in India. Towards the conclusion of the event, the company disclosed that the entire proceedings were captured using the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G, set to make its debut in India in January 2024. It's worth recalling that the Redmi Note 13 Pro and Redmi Note 13 Pro+ were originally introduced in China in September. The anticipation builds for the imminent launch of both the Note 13 Pro and Note 13 Pro+ models in India next month. Adding to the speculations, there are hints of Xiaomi's plan to introduce the Redmi Note 13 5G, also known as the POCO X6 Neo, in the Indian market. The Note 13 5G made its debut in China alongside the Redmi Note 13 Pro series, suggesting a simultaneous launch in India, similar to the earlier release of the Redmi Note 12 series this year. Further details, including the precise launch date, are expected to emerge in the coming weeks, providing ample time before the scheduled launch.

boAt Stone Majestic Riverdale Rocker Bluetooth speaker

boAt has unveiled the Stone Majestic Riverdale Rocker, a novel portable Bluetooth speaker in the Indian market. The launch coincides with a campaign featuring the cast of Netflix's film, The Archies, alongside social media influencer Orry and boAt's CEO and founder, Aman Gupta. Embracing a nostalgic theme, the limited edition Riverdale Rocker draws inspiration from the Archies universe's music theme, complemented by the brand's founder dancing to the boAt jingle. The speaker showcases a retro design, delivering 90W boAt Signature Sound, a 6-hour playback duration, dual full-range drivers with a built-in subwoofer, and dual EQ modes tailored for movies and music. It offers versatile connectivity options, including Bluetooth, AUX, USB, and HDMI (ARC). The specifications of the boAt Stone Majestic Riverdale Rocker include Bluetooth v5.3, 90W output power, a full-range oval-shaped speaker, 6 hours of playtime, compatibility with USB/BT/AUX/FM/HDMI(ARC), dual EQ modes (Movie & Music), a 6-hour charging time, and dimensions of 300mm (L) x 180mm (W) x 180mm (H), weighing 3.5kg. Priced at Rs. 9,999, the boAt Stone Majestic Riverdale Rocker speaker is available for pre-order on the boAt website.

boAt emerges as the second-largest wearable manufacturer in Q3 of 2023

The global landscape of wearable devices is experiencing rapid evolution, with industry giants like Apple, Xiaomi, Samsung, and Huawei competing for dominance. However, in 2023, a prominent Indian brand has surged to prominence in this dynamic race. According to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker Q3 2023 report, boAt, the audio and wearable brand under Imagine Marketing, has secured the second position in the list of the largest wearable device manufacturers by volume, following Apple. The report highlights a 2.6% year-over-year growth in worldwide wearable device shipments during Q3 2023, reaching a record high of 148.4 million units. With 14.3 million shipments, boAt captured 9.6% of the market share, positioning itself as a formidable contender. Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at IDC, notes that the surge in wearables is primarily driven by the emergence of smaller and sleeker designs, with newer brands like boAt contributing to this trend. In contrast, Xiaomi secured the third spot, Samsung claimed the fourth, and Huawei settled in the fifth position. The IDC report also indicates that the total volume of wearable device shipments in Q3 2023 surpassed both Q3 2021 and Q3 2022, showcasing the significant growth fueled by smaller brands and emerging categories.