New Home-Screen Widget Expected Soon for ChatGPT Android App

Reportedly, the AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT from OpenAI is set to introduce a home-screen widget for Android, aligning with the trend of major releases in generative AI tools like Google's Gemini 1.5 and Copilot's upcoming default assistant capability on Android. Bhavish Aggarwal's Krutrim startup has also entered public beta. The widget aims to enhance the app's accessibility, with tipster Mishaal Rahman sharing insights on X (formerly Twitter), revealing its functionalities: "ChatGPT for Android now offers a home screen widget, featuring shortcuts for text/image/voice queries and conversation mode." Currently in beta, the widget, depicted in Rahman's screenshot, adopts a 4x2 grid style similar to Google Search but double in height. It includes a text field for queries and prompts, along with four icons for image upload, camera capture, speech input, and verbal responses. This widget caters to users' frequent needs, allowing for quick queries while multitasking, without occupying the full screen. OpenAI recently added long-term memory to ChatGPT, empowering users to customize their interactions further.

Vivo V30 and V30 Pro Launched in Indonesia

Vivo has launched the Vivo V30 and V30 Pro in Indonesia, expanding their lineup alongside the previously unveiled Vivo V30 Lite. Both the vanilla and Pro versions boast curved 1.5K displays and 50-megapixel front cameras. Scheduled for release in India on March 7, the Indian variants are expected to mirror their Indonesian counterparts. The Vivo V30 5G base model is priced at IDR 5,999,000 for the 8GB + 256GB option and IDR 6,999,000 for the 12GB + 512GB variant, available in Equatorial Green, Puspa White, and Volcanic Black colors. The Vivo V30 Pro is listed at IDR 8,999,000 for the sole 12GB + 512GB configuration. Featuring curved 1.5K AMOLED displays, 120Hz refresh rate, and 300Hz touch sampling rate, both models are powered by different chipsets and offer extensive RAM and storage options. They run on Android 14-based FunTouchOS 14, sport advanced camera setups, support fast charging, and come with IP54 ratings and various connectivity options.

Xiaomi 14 quick review

The Xiaomi 14 presents itself as a high-end smartphone with impressive specifications including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, up to 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB UFS 4.0 storage, and a 4,610 mAh battery. After a few days of usage, it delivers on its promise of premium performance, particularly in general usage, camera capabilities, and battery life. The device boasts a sleek design with a glass back and flat display, providing a compact yet spacious feel. While slightly heavy, it offers a comfortable grip. The display is vibrant and responsive, ideal for various tasks including social media browsing and video streaming. The camera, a highlight of the Xiaomi 14, offers Leica partnership features and versatile shooting modes. However, the HyperOS, though improved, still includes pre-installed apps. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 impresses with its performance and features, with further insights awaited in the detailed review, including its value proposition, expected to be priced between Rs 70,000 and Rs 75,000. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage.

Global Launch Scheduled in Q2 2024 for HONOR MagicBook Pro 16

During MWC 2024, HONOR unveiled the inaugural AI-powered laptop, the HONOR MagicBook Pro 16, alongside the Magic6 Pro smartphone. Boasting an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, the laptop introduces platform-level AI integration, facilitating Cross-OS collaboration, Smart Interactions, and enhanced PC performance.

The MagicBook Pro 16 showcases a 3K eye comfort LCD screen with a resolution of 3072 x 1920, 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, and a remarkable 165Hz refresh rate, complemented by a hardware-level low-blue light filter. HONOR emphasizes its spatial audio feature, heralding it as the first Windows-based PC worldwide to offer such capability. Additionally, users have the option to select the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series laptop GPU alongside the Core Ultra 7 processor.

Utilizing on-device AI, HONOR implements an AI-empowered OS Turbo, promising a 58% enhancement in battery life, delivering up to 12 hours compared to other RTX 40 series gaming laptops. The MagicBook Pro 16 streamlines connectivity across HONOR devices with MagicRing, ensuring seamless sharing of notifications and materials. Detailed specifications and pricing are anticipated upon the global release slated for Q2 2024, following its debut in China.

Glimpsing into a futuristic world through Lenovo's transparent laptop

Lenovo has unveiled its latest innovative device, the ThinkBook Transparent Display Laptop, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This futuristic laptop features a 17.3-inch MicroLED display with up to 55% transparency, transitioning from opaque to translucent as its pixels illuminate. Although its practical applications remain uncertain, Lenovo suggests it could benefit digital artists by enabling them to sketch while viewing the environment behind the screen. Additionally, the laptop boasts a flat touch keyboard that transforms into a drawing tablet, catering to creative professionals. However, challenges such as resolution limitations and usability issues persist, indicating that the device is still in development. Lenovo aims to spark public discourse on potential uses for this concept, anticipating that its technology may evolve into a consumer-ready product within the next five years.

Confirmation of Samsung Galaxy Ring Exhibition at MWC 2024

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is officially set to make its debut at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona, where Samsung will emphasize its integration with the Samsung Health platform for health monitoring and insights. The company also plans to expand its AI suite across its product lineup. Reports suggest the Galaxy Ring may come in various colors and sizes. Samsung's announcement via its Newsroom indicated that the Galaxy Ring will be publicly unveiled at MWC 2024, without specifying the exact time. It's unlikely that attendees will have hands-on access during this initial unveiling. The Galaxy Ring will focus on health tracking, connecting to the revamped Samsung Health platform. Expected features include continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2 sensing, sleep tracking, and potentially blood pressure monitoring. Samsung also disclosed plans to extend AI features beyond smartphones to products like the Galaxy Book 4 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series, each with tailored AI capabilities for productivity and health respectively. The post provided insights into upcoming health features like the My Vitality Score for personalized health assessments and Booster Card for goal tracking, with further details anticipated post-showcase.

Xiaomi Unveils Xiaomi Watch 2, Watch S3, and Smart Band 8 Pro at MWC 2024

Xiaomi introduced its global lineup of smart wearables, including the Xiaomi Watch 2, Xiaomi Watch S3, and Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona on February 25. These devices will soon hit markets across Europe, with prices announced by the company. While an India launch remains uncertain, all three devices offer interchangeable straps for personalized styling, available in black and silver. The Xiaomi Watch 2 starts at EUR 199, the Smart Band 8 Pro at EUR 69, and the Xiaomi Watch S3 at EUR 149. These models are gradually releasing in European markets and will expand to other regions shortly. Featuring a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, the Xiaomi Watch 2 runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 SoC with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage, offering up to 65 hours of battery life. The Xiaomi Watch S3, with a similar display, runs on Xiaomi's HyperOS, supporting Bluetooth calling and interchangeable bezels, while the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro boasts a 1.74-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection and GNSS support.

HMD, plans to release smartphones under its own brand by mid-2024

HMD Global, the company behind Nokia phones, announced plans to launch its own line of smartphones by mid-2024 as part of its new brand strategy. Jean-Francois Baril, HMD's Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO, expressed ambitions for broader innovation, embracing a multi-brand approach by introducing HMD original devices alongside Nokia phones and global partnerships.

The new strategy will see HMD focusing solely on smartphones under its own brand, prioritizing sustainability and repairability. With India as a key market, where HMD holds a modest one percent market share, the company aims to unveil its branded smartphones there first, emphasizing a strong 5G portfolio. The Nokia brand, retained by HMD until 2026, will be reserved for feature phones, with a new model slated for release by May. Additionally, HMD has partnered with Mattel to launch a Barbie flip phone globally by July.

Moreover, HMD announced the HMD Fusion, a smartphone-like device with an Android OS and an unlocked bootloader, enabling users to customize hardware accessories. This innovative device will feature a built-in screen, battery, and pogo pins for attaching accessories. Presently, HMD manufactures most of its smartphones and feature phones in India through partnerships with Foxconn, Dixon Technologies, and Lava International. Since August last year, it has been exporting the Nokia 105 feature phone, priced below Rs 1,000, to select African markets.