Pros:
– Good build quality and finish
– IP54-rated dust and splash resistance
– Powerful processing hardware
– Impressive 10-bit Fluid AMOLED display
– Competent main and ultra-wide cameras
– Good battery backup, 80W fast charging
– Android 13 with three more major updates in the future
Cons:
– Significant performance throttling under load
– Poor macro camera
– Placement of fingerprint scanner
– Price has jumped closer to OnePlus R series phones
Price: Rs 33,999 onwards
Rating: 3.8/5
The Nord flagships, if I may call them that, have been pretty solid devices offering excellent value for money. I am talking about Nord phones without extra suffixes like CE and Lite. They have had competent hardware and cameras at a price tag starting under Rs 30,000. The Nord 3 5G looks to change the game courtesy of near flagship-grade processing hardware and display but oversteps the 30K price point. Is it worth the extra money? Let’s find out in this long-term review.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G: Design (3.5/5)
Typically, the top-of-the-line Nord phones used to have a slightly different design as compared to the scaled-down CE and CE Lite variants. But all phones in the Nord 3 series seem to speak the exact design language, and are hard to distinguish from one another at a quick glance. The Nord 3 5G design, though not distinct, isn’t bad at all, especially the new Misty Green colour. It frankly looks more blue than green to my eyes, but it’s pleasant nonetheless.
The build quality is a notch higher than its siblings, and it uses a glass back with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. While the back is scratch-resistant, there seems to be no oleophobic coating, and it does attract smudge marks. The frame is constructed out of good-quality plastic with a smooth matte finish that complements the glossy back. There are no rough edges on the phone and it feels great in hand with good weight distribution. The phone feels lighter and slimmer than what one expects from 194 grams and 8.15 mm respectively.
One major improvement in aesthetics here is the thin bottom bezel. Generally, budget and midrange phones have a thickish bottom bezel, but the one here is as slim as those on the other three sides of the screen, which is great. A volume rocker is located along the left edge of the phone, while the power button and alert slider can be found on the right side. The bottom edge of the phone has a SIM tray, a speaker and a USB-C charging port. The other speaker is located behind the earpiece at the top of the screen.
You get an in-display fingerprint scanner here which is quite responsive. I have lauded OnePlus in the past for the ergonomic placement of the scanner (an inch and a half above the bottom edge) but not here. For some reason, they have moved it halfway down, and you need to stretch your thumb a bit to reach it. The placement of the volume rocker and power button are fine. You do not get a microSD card slot or a 3.5 mm headphone jack here.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G: Display (4.25/5)
The display on the Nord 3 is one of its best features. The Nord 3 5G has a 6.74-inch Fluid AMOLED screen with a higher than Full HD resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels. The resolution is similar to what you get on the OnePlus 11R screen, but you get a flat display here instead of curved one; no complaints about that. And yes, it supports 120Hz variable refresh rate, ranging between 40 Hz to 120 Hz depending on the content being displayed.
That’s not all, the Nord 3 display is HDR10+ compliant and supports 10-bit colour (over a billion colour shades). The display is protected by a layer of Asahi Dragontrail Glass. The sharpness and colour reproduction are excellent. There aren’t too many screen calibration options but the ones that are available are good enough. You get to choose between Vivid, Natural, Cinematic and Brilliant colour profiles, and you have a manual colour temperature adjustment slider, which is handy.
I liked Cinematic the best in terms of colour accuracy, followed by Vivid with an assist from the colour temperature slider pushed a little towards the warmer side. The other two profiles are worth a try too if you like your colours a bit on the softer side (Natural) or a little extra vibrant (Brilliant). Again, you will need a bit of extra warmth from the colour slider if you choose the latter.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G: Hardware and performance (3.75/5)
This is one area where things have changed drastically for the new top-of-the-line Nord phone. Typically, OnePlus has been using competent but distinctly midrange SoCs in the Nord, Nord 2 and Nord 2T. The company has jumped to a Mediatek Dimensity 9000 chip in the Nord 3 which is almost flagship grade. In terms of RAM and storage, you get two options – 8 GB LPDDR5X RAM with 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage, and the second with double the RAM and storage. There is no memory card slot to expand it further.
The performance of the phone is very good in most departments. Things are buttery smooth in day-to-day tasks like using social media apps, photography, browsing, watching videos or switching between multiple apps. It can handle most of the recent games quite well at fairly high settings. The phone doesn’t feel too hot after 30 minutes of gaming but the performance throttles when the phone temperature stays around the mid-40s for some time.
As illustrated by the 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test charts below, the performance can drop as much as 40% under sustained heavy loads. We have been using the phone for a couple of months for this long-term review, and it received a few software updates during that period, but this issue is yet to be addressed fully. This issue will not impact normal usage, but when playing graphics-intensive games, there will be a noticeable drop in frame rates as the phone gets hotter.
The Mediatek Dimensity 9000 and the Mali-G710 MC10 GPU scored well in most synthetic benchmarks. Continuing with 3D Mark, it scored 7375 and 2336 in Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme benchmarks respectively, with an average frame rate of 44.2 and 14 fps. The PCMark Work 3.0 benchmark, returned a score of 11,287, and the numbers in Geekbench 6 were pegged at 1096 and 3417 for single-core and multi-core respectively.
These demonstrate a huge jump from the Nord 2T numbers in similar benchmarks and are closer to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 territory, which is great for a midrange phone. The performance of the phone was pretty good in other areas too. The speakers produce a loud and punchy sound output with a decent stereo effect. The call quality and reception were fine during testing on this 5G-ready phone. Wireless connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.2 and dual-band WiFi with support for a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) standards.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G: OS and User interface (3.75/5)
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G runs the latest Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.1. OxygenOS may not be back in its old glory, and we have accepted the fact that it is now very much ColorOS, but it is perfectly usable if we do not dwell in the past. It remains free of ads and excess bloatware, which is great. The UI is smooth, lag-free and fairly easy to comprehend even for a novice.
It is hard to pinpoint, but there is something slightly different (better) about OxygenOS 13.1 on the Nord 3. It offers a handful of tweaks to customise it further, and doesn’t take long to get the hang of it even if you haven’t used it before. Even better, the company has promised three major Android updates and four years of security updates from the date of launch for this phone. OnePlus has a great track record of regular software updates, and one can take their word for it.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G: Camera performance (3.75/5)
The Nord 3 5G has three cameras at the back with OnePlus’ favourite combination of a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. While the setup looks similar to that of the Nord 2T on paper, there are some crucial upgrades. Most importantly, the main and ultra-wide cameras get newer Sony sensors that do a better job in most conditions.
The main camera flaunts a Sony IMX890 sensor that’s present in the OnePlus 11’s primary camera too. Behind the 112-degrees FOV ultra-wide lens is a Sony IMX355 sensor that does a surprisingly good job for an 8MP shooter. The captured images have a good amount of detail and I found the dynamic range better than even the main camera in good lighting, as you can see from the unedited camera samples, the link for which is present at the bottom of this section.
The ultra-wide camera does reasonably well in low light too, but cannot beat the main camera in those conditions. Speaking of the main camera, the results are generally good across the board with fairly accurate colours and impressive resolved detail most of the time. The contrast could have been a little better though, but we are talking about a midrange phone here, so it’s acceptable.
The dynamic range is good but strangely a notch lower than the secondary camera in good lighting. But in dim lighting, it marches ahead in almost all aspects. I found it to be a highly capable camera in low light, even without switching to Night mode. The captured images are sharp with minimal noise, good colours and very good amount of detail. When the light is a bit too low, switch to Night mode to brighten things up. Otherwise stick to the normal mode as much as possible for best results.
The portrait shots come out quite well for humans with good separation but can be a hit or miss for other subjects. There is no telephoto camera on this phone; you do get a 2X zoom toggle in the camera app, but that’s digital zoom. Images captured at 2X are perfectly usable but don’t get too ambitious with the zoom beyond that, and avoid it in low light if you can. You also get a 2MP macro camera here but it only serves the marketing purpose more than actual. The captured images look dull and grainy as one expects from a 2MP macro camera.
The 16MP front camera does a decent job with selfies and now supports HDR too. It still cannot record videos in 4K resolution and is capped at 1080p at 30 fps. The rear cameras on the Nord 3 can record videos up to 4K resolution at 30 and 60 fps with support for EIS; that applies to the main and ultra-wide cameras both. The phone lets you capture Full HD slow-motion videos up to 120 fps. Captured 1080p and 4K footage looks sharp and decently stabilised.
Click here for uncompressed camera samples clicked on the OnePlus Nord 3 5G.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G: Battery backup (4/5)
The battery backup on this phone is quite good. The phone has a 5000 mAh battery that easily lasts for a day and a half of moderate use, and at times even longer. 80W SuperVOOC charging has been carried forward from its predecessor, the Nord 2T. The company bundles their usual 80W fast charger that promises to charge the phone fully in 32 minutes. During our tests, it took 37 minutes to go from 1% to 100% using the bundled charger, which is fast enough.
We also tried using the older 65W OnePlus chargers with this phone, and they only take 5 extra minutes to charge the Nord 3 fully. So in case you have one, it can make a great secondary charger for this phone.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G: Price, verdict and competition
Previous Nord phones were priced under 30K for the 128 GB storage variant, but a similar variant of the Nord 3 5G with 8 GB RAM will set you back by Rs 33,999. You will need to shell out Rs 37,999 for the 256 GB storage option that also offers double the RAM. While the price is fair for what it offers, it takes it closer to the OnePlus 11R, blurring the lines between the two. We appreciate the use of more powerful processing hardware, but we would have liked the price of the base variant to be a lot closer to 30K.
Maybe going ahead, OnePlus can set a cap of Rs 30,000 and build the best phone they can in that budget; the base variant, we mean. Having said that, there’s a lot to like about the OnePlus Nord 3 5G starting with its lively display and sleek exterior. Competent cameras, solid battery backup with fast charging and several software updates cannot be ignored either. While the Dimensity 9000 is a powerful chip, the throttling issue needs to be addressed in a software update sooner than later to realise its full potential.
Now that the Nord jumped way above the 30K line, the competition gets that much tougher. Some of the options you may want to consider in its stead would be the iQOO 9 5G that sells for a similar price as the base variant of the Nord 3 but offers double the storage and a more stacked camera department. Then you have the Poco F5 5G with comparable performance and twice the storage for almost 30K. For more options between 30K to 40K, you can check our guide here.
Xiaomi, the prominent Chinese smartphone company, has formed a partnership with a leading Indian consumer electronics firm. This move aims to ramp up the production of Xiaomi’s smartphones and other devices within India. This comes as New Delhi intensifies regulatory oversight in the region.
Dixon Technologies, in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange, announced its collaboration with Xiaomi through its subsidiary, Padget Electronics. This partnership involves the assembly of Xiaomi’s smartphones and other electronic products at Dixon’s facility located in Noida, a city situated in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district within the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Dixon’s Vice-Chairman, Atul B Lall, referred to the deal as a significant achievement in the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative. This initiative aligns with the manufacturing drive promoted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The partnership with Padget exemplifies how major smartphone brands such as Xiaomi and Apple are increasing their production activities in India to cater to the rising demand in the world’s second-largest smartphone market, just behind China.
Xiaomi initially established local production in India back in 2015 in collaboration with the electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group.
However, Xiaomi downplayed the significance of this new contract manufacturing deal in India. According to a statement from Xiaomi India, they stated that this new announcement is merely a continuation of their existing partnership. Xiaomi has a total of five electronics contract manufacturing service providers in India, with Padget being one of them.
Indian Prime Minister Modi’s financial incentives aimed at boosting local manufacturing have been instrumental in attracting increased investments from major electronics brands. These brands seek to diversify their production away from mainland China, particularly as the domestic market for smartphones in India has continued to expand.
Dixon’s filing indicates that Padget is among the select few companies that have received grants from a government-backed program promoting the manufacturing of telecommunications and networking products within India.
The partnership with Padget comes after Xiaomi’s recent announcement of plans to expand its network of physical retail stores throughout India. Currently, the company operates 18,000 stores in the country.
This expansion strategy underscores Xiaomi’s determination to counter the decline in its market share in India, even as it remains embroiled in a protracted legal dispute with the New Delhi government over the release of $676 million in frozen funds.
Indian authorities have alleged that Xiaomi disguised remittances to foreign entities as royalty payments. Xiaomi has consistently denied any wrongdoing, contending that the payments to the US tech company Qualcomm were entirely legitimate.
As of the second quarter, Xiaomi held approximately a 15 per cent share of India’s smartphone market, ranking third, with Samsung Electronics and Vivo leading the way, according to data from Counterpoint Research.
On Wednesday, the official website of the Canadian Armed Forces experienced a temporary disruption. According to a report from The Telegraph, the website was targeted in a cyberattack carried out by a group of hackers who identified themselves as the ‘Indian Cyber Force.’ This group claimed responsibility for a previous attack on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The disruption began around noon but was subsequently resolved. Daniel Le Bouthillier, the head of media relations at the Department of National Defence, confirmed this to The Globe and Mail.
The Indian Cyber Force made a public announcement about their successful attack on the Canadian Airforce Website through their platform, sharing a screenshot of the error message displayed on the compromised website.
While desktop users had some access to the site, most mobile device users couldn’t reach it, as reported by The Globe and Mail.
It’s important to note that the affected website is distinct from the Government of Canada’s official sites and the internal networks of the Department of National Defence. Le Bouthillier assured the public that there were no indications of broader impacts on their systems.
The Canadian Forces, responsible for all military operations in Canada, including the navy, special command groups, air, and space operations, are actively investigating this cyber incident.
The Indian Cyber Force had previously issued threats against Canada on September 21, warning through social media of impending cyberattacks on Canadian cyberspace.
On September 22, the group expressed their dissatisfaction with the Canadian government’s “accusations and anti-India policies.”
This cyberattack occurred in the midst of a diplomatic standoff between India and Canada. The tension escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India vehemently rejected these allegations, labeling them as “absurd.” India also called on Canada to take strong action against terrorists and anti-India elements operating within its borders and suspended visa services for Canadian citizens.
Iranian authorities are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite the issuance of Islamic law rulings, known as fatwas, by religious clerics. This move is seen as an attempt to present a more modern image in the wake of the one-year anniversary of protests ignited by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody, allegedly for wearing her headscarf incorrectly.
According to a report from the Financial Times, officials in the holy city of Qom, closely linked to the state, are encouraging clerics to experiment with AI technology. Mohammad Ghotbi, the leader of a state-affiliated tech incubator in Qom, explained that while AI can’t replace senior clerics, it can act as a reliable assistant, drastically reducing the time it takes to issue a fatwa, from 50 days to just five hours.
Traditionally, Shia clerics dedicate weeks or months to studying Islamic texts before delivering fatwas, which cover a wide range of topics, from matters of patriotism to personal hygiene. Over the years, some fatwas have even been issued in response to Western cultural matters, such as the famous one against novelist Salman Rushdie.
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, a member of Iran’s influential Guardian Council and Assembly of Experts, stated in July, “The seminary must get involved in using modern, progressive technology and artificial intelligence to promote Islamic civilization.”
The Noor Computer Centre for Islamic Sciences Research, Qom’s leading AI research institution, is affiliated with the city’s century-old seminary and has access to ancient religious texts, which can be integrated into AI algorithms.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is supportive of this AI initiative, expressing his desire for Iran to be a global leader in artificial intelligence. However, he emphasizes that it should align with the country’s interpretation of Islam.
Ghotbi shares a similar sentiment, emphasizing the need to adapt technology to align with Iran’s cultural values, which differ from Western secular views.
While the West has responded with humour on platforms like X, with jokes about “cleric robots” and how it might be the next big thing since AI-generated clergy fashion, referring to the AI-generated images of Pope Francis, the concept of AI assisting religious clerics in their study of religious texts is undoubtedly intriguing, even though it is tied to political motivations that some view as regressive, mirroring the country’s leadership’s stance.
Micron Technology made an announcement Wednesday regarding its first-quarter financial outlook. The company projected a greater loss for the upcoming quarter than what was initially anticipated. Consequently, the market response led to a 2.4 per cent decline in the company’s share value.
Interestingly, this update comes at a time when Micron is gearing up to boost the production of its new product offerings and actively pursuing a partnership as a supplier to Nvidia.
Hailing from Idaho, Micron is primarily recognized as a chip manufacturer. While the news of an expanded first-quarter loss may seem concerning, the company’s revenue projection for the same period has surpassed the expectations of Wall Street analysts.
This notable performance is attributed to the rising demand for Micron’s memory chips, primarily driven by the thriving artificial intelligence sector.
Micron has announced it is working with Nvidia, a global leader in chip manufacturing, to undergo the qualification process for its latest high-bandwidth memory chips for integration into Nvidia’s computing chips.
This strategic partnership underscores the significance of high-bandwidth memory chips, an industry predominantly dominated by Nvidia’s supplier, SK Hynix. The demand for these chips in the field of artificial intelligence has also boosted investor confidence in Micron’s ability to withstand a gradual recovery in other market segments.
During a conference call with analysts, Micron’s Chief Executive, Sanjay Mehrotra, conveyed the company’s expectation to generate revenue amounting to “several hundred million dollars” from its new high-bandwidth chips in the coming year. Furthermore, the company foresees a return to positive gross margins in the second half of its fiscal year 2024.
Micron’s approach involved abstaining from the current generation of high-bandwidth chips and instead, placing a strategic bet on profiting from the sale of higher-performing chips commencing next year.
Sumit Sadana, Micron’s Chief Business Officer, revealed in an interview with Reuters that their samples, in comparison to those from their competitors, have garnered impressive feedback from customers. These chips offer not only superior performance but also significantly lower power consumption. In fact, some customers remained sceptical until they conducted their own tests.
For the ongoing quarter, Micron anticipates adjusted revenue to be approximately $4.40 billion, with a potential variance of plus or minus $200 million. This projection surpasses the estimated figure of $4.20 billion according to LSEG data. However, the company also forecasts an adjusted loss per share of $1.07, which is slightly steeper than the analysts’ consensus of a 95-cent loss per share.
In retrospect, for the fourth quarter, Micron reported revenues of $4.01 billion, exceeding the anticipated $3.91 billion estimates. This data reaffirms the company’s strategic direction and its growing presence in the high-bandwidth memory chip market, bolstered by its promising collaboration with Nvidia.
The irony is not lost on us either. On the one hand, we are about to present the best phones available in India under Rs 75,000 this month, and on the other, we are advising you not to buy them. The reason is obvious – we always want you to get the best deal. With the big online festive sales on Flipkart and Amazon barely a fortnight away, most of these phones would be available for a lot less than. We are creating this list as a point of reference so that you know which phones to buy and who is offering a real discount. Let’s proceed.
Best phones to buy under Rs 75,000 in India
Apple iPhone 14/ Apple iPhone 13
If you weren’t already aware, the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 are almost identical in design, features and specifications. Don’t ask us why, ask Apple instead. With the launch of the Apple iPhone 15, both its predecessors have already seen a price drop. At the moment, you have two choices in this budget – the newer Apple iPhone 14 with 256 GB storage or the older iPhone 13 with 512 GB storage. This would have been a tough choice had Apple made the 14 (non-Pro) notably different from the 13, but they haven’t. So buy the iPhone 14 only if it’s your lucky number or if you are superstitious about 13.
Both phones have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels, and compliant with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The phones feel great in hand due to their compact size, and have an IP68 rated ingress protection. The iPhone 13 is powered by Apple’s previous flagship A15 Bionic chip that also powers the iPhone 14. It is still fairly powerful for most tasks including gaming.
There are two 12MP cameras at the back with the primary unit offering OIS, and the secondary capable of capturing ultra-wide shots. The performance in photography and videography is excellent, as one expects from any iPhone. Both phones run iOS 16, with more OS updates to follow over the next three to four years at least. If you can wait for a couple of weeks, we are expecting further discounts on both phones.
Apple iPhone 14 price in India: Rs 72,999 for 256GB storage
Apple iPhone 13 price in India: Rs 74,999 for 512GB storage; Rs 61,499 for 256GB storage
OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey
The top variant of the OnePlus 11 5G can be easily purchased in this budget. If you don’t mind spending a bit more for elegance and exclusivity, we would recommend its Marble Odyssey edition. While the overall shape and design are very much like other OnePlus 11 phones, the back panel here looks and feels like a slab of polished marble. The champagne gold metal frame adds to the style quotient, and makes the phone look incredibly elegant.
It’s not just beauty but a lot of substance too. The phone is packed with flagship features like a 6.7-inch curved LTPO3 AMOLED display with a resolution of 3216 x 1440 pixels. This HDR10+ and Dolby Vision-compliant screen supports 10-bit colour depth, 120 Hz variable refresh rate and can get up to 1300 nits bright. A 5000 mAh battery keeps the phone running for a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 100W charger juices it up in just 25 minutes. The phone runs OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13 with more OS and security updates expected going forward.
The OnePlus 11 5G is powered by Qualcomm’s latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and you get a generous 16 GB RAM and 256 GB UFS 4.0 storage to go with it. The rear camera department is impressive, starting with a 50MP primary camera with OIS and Hasselblad’s colour tuning. The support cast is equally impressive with a 48MP ultrawide camera with auto-focus that also doubles up as a macro camera and a 32MP telephoto camera with 2X optical zoom, which is great for portrait shots too.
OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey price in India: Rs 64,999 for 16GB RAM/256GB storage
OnePlus 11 5G price in India: Rs 61,999 for 16GB RAM/256GB storage
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Google’s flagship smartphone was officially priced at Rs 84,999 in India at launch and now sells between 70K to 85K on Flipkart depending on the seller’s mood. If you have been eyeing that phone for a while, wait a little longer as there are strong rumours about it being available closer to 50K in the upcoming sale. That would be one hell of a price for this mighty impressive Google flagship. Even if it doesn’t drop that low, it will certainly be at least 20K lower than its launch price.
The Pixel 7 Pro is powered by Google’s next-gen Tensor G2 processor and offers 12 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. It has a curved 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and 1500 nits peak brightness. The HDR10+ compliant screen is protected against scratches by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Speaking of protection, this phone too has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
You get the best Android 13 experience on this device, thanks to the purest version of Android with the Material You design language. Like its predecessors, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is great at photography too courtesy of three cameras at the back. You get a 50MP primary camera with OIS, along with a 48MP telephoto camera with OIS for up to 5X optical zoom and surprisingly good 30X digital zoom. The 12MP ultra-wide camera with auto-focus is equally impressive and doubles up as a macro camera. They do a great job in different lighting and modes.
Google Pixel 7 Pro price in India: Rs 69,999 onwards for 12GB RAM/128GB storage
Samsung Galaxy S23 5G
While the 128 GB variant of the Samsung Galaxy S23 5G is officially available under 75K, you can get the 256 GB variant of this phone within this budget using various credit cards on different platforms. Both variants have 8 GB RAM and are powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. This phone is quite compact, and stylish and has IP68-rated dust and fluid resistance. It sports an aluminium frame and a glass back with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 at the front and back for protection against scratches.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 5G has a 6.1-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a peak brightness of 1750 nits, HDR10+ compliance and 120 Hz refresh rate. The photography department is similar to its predecessor and consists of three cameras at the back starting with a 50MP primary camera with dual pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera with Super Steady video support and a 10MP telephoto camera with OIS for 3X optical zoom. The camera performance is among the best, and can also record videos in 8K resolution. The phone runs Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1.
Again, expect a big discount on the Samsung Galaxy S23 series phones in the upcoming sales. So wait, and your patience will be rewarded.
Samsung Galaxy S23 5G price in India: Rs 74,999 for 8GB RAM/256GB storage
OpenAI has amped up the capabilities of ChatGPT, its generative AI bot by quite a few notches. Now, ChatGPT has the ability to not only have voice-based conversations but also to see and understand images.
This basically means that ChatGPT can now hear, speak and see with whom it is interacting.
Here’s how ChatGPT’s new features work.
Voice Conversations
Users can now enjoy dynamic and interactive dialogues with their AI assistant, unlocking a realm of exciting possibilities. Whether you’re on the move, seeking a bedtime story for your family, or settling a dinner table debate, ChatGPT’s voice capabilities are primed to assist.
To initiate voice interactions, navigate to the Settings menu in the mobile app, select “New Features,” and opt into voice conversations. Once activated, simply tap the headphone icon in the top-right corner of the home screen to choose from five distinct voices.
These voices have been meticulously crafted by professional voice actors to deliver a human-like auditory experience. Additionally, Whisper, OpenAI’s open-source speech recognition system, transcribes spoken words into text, augmenting the overall conversational quality.
Images and ChatGPT
Users can now present one or more images to ChatGPT for troubleshooting, content exploration, or complex data analysis. Whether you’re attempting to diagnose why your grill won’t start, plan a meal based on the contents of your fridge, or decode a data graph for work, ChatGPT is here to assist.
To use this feature, tap the photo button to capture or select an image. On iOS or Android, tap the plus button initially to include multiple images or employ the drawing tool to guide your assistant.
These image capabilities harness the power of multimodal models, including GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, which apply linguistic reasoning skills to a wide spectrum of visual content, encompassing photos, screenshots, and documents that contain both text and images.
Safety and Responsiveness
Voice and image capabilities will be rolled out in a phased manner to Plus and Enterprise users over the next two weeks. Voice functionality is available on both iOS and Android platforms, accessible through the settings, while image capabilities will be available on all platforms.
There is a lot of potential risks linked to these advanced capabilities. Concerning voice, the emphasis is on voice chat, and the technology has been developed in collaboration with voice actors to ensure authenticity and safety.
Regarding image input, OpenAI has taken measures to limit ChatGPT’s capacity to analyze and make direct statements about individuals to respect their privacy. Real-world usage and user feedback will play a pivotal role in further enhancing these safeguards while upholding the utility of the tool.
Coca-Cola has thrown its hat into the cola wars with a twist, introducing a new flavour developed in collaboration with artificial intelligence. This unique beverage, referred to as the “soda from the future,” is available for a limited time in both regular and zero-sugar variants, as reported by CNBC.
Known as Y3000, the name certainly carries a futuristic ring to it, although it may evoke thoughts of Skynet and its malevolent Terminators rather than a refreshing drink. While Coca-Cola hasn’t provided details about its taste, early testers have likened it to a raspberry slushy.
The creative process behind Y3000 is where AI shines. It all began with researchers collecting flavour preferences from consumers, seeking out trends to gain insight into what the “future tastes like.” This data was then fed into a proprietary artificial intelligence system to help shape the flavour profile, giving birth to this innovative soda.
In a move reminiscent of Marvel’s Secret Invasion, Coca-Cola also enlisted AI to design the artwork on the slim cans. The cans feature a beachy, neon-purple aesthetic that strongly resembles images generated by AI platforms like Dall-E or Midjourney. Besides the slim cans, there are traditionally sized-bottles filled with this futuristic beverage.
Although described as a limited edition flavour, Coca-Cola hasn’t revealed when Y3000 might disappear into obscurity, akin to other futuristic foods such as Dippin’ Dots freeze-dried ice cream and the transparent (and not-so-great) Crystal Pepsi.
However, it’s expected to be available till the end of fall, and Coca-Cola has further plans for this AI-inspired venture. The company has announced a partnership with luxury streetwear brand Ambush to release a Y3000-themed clothing collection later in the season.
In today’s marketing landscape, launching a new soda flavour isn’t sufficient; Coca-Cola is also promoting its Y3000 augmented reality experience. By scanning the QR code on the soda bottle, consumers can access a web app that uses photos taken by users to generate an augmented-reality glimpse into the year 3000.
The result is glossy, albeit somewhat stereotypical, images akin to those generated by various AI image platforms. These snapshots include a hyperrealistic vision of a utopian city (based on a photo of New York) and a portrait of colourful trinkets (based on a photo of an office desk).
The new limited edition of Coca-Cola, though, hasn’t landed that well. Kyle Barr of Gizmodo says, “My expectations were low, but Coca-Cola bottomed me out. Should we have suspected any less? AI is notoriously terrible at coming up with recipes, whether that’s alcoholic cocktails or money-saving meals that won’t outright kill you. Chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard don’t have any inkling of the outcome of their recipes. They simply know what ingredients have sat alongside each other in the past, so it aggregates what may work well together.”
“Its flavour reminds me of when you mix all the drinks together at a soda fountain. It’s artificially fruity, like a gummy bear or a lollipop. The aftertaste is more of a caramel, vanilla flavour,” said Haley Tenore, of Insider.
“I was kind of surprised the drink poured out with the traditional cola colour, because it tasted like all the red soda flavors got together and threw a party. Cherry, strawberry, raspberry, generic ‘fruit punch’ — those were the tastes I sensed most. I’m not a big fan of the taste of energy drinks, but the Y3000 did remind me of those,” said a Reddit user.
Amazon is set to join the ranks of tech giants venturing into the world of advertising on its streaming services in countries like the US and UK, with the aim of bolstering revenue for further investments in content.
This move will serve as a litmus test for Amazon Prime members, who already pay a monthly subscription, to gauge their willingness to tolerate the inclusion of advertising during their program viewing experience.
In a blog post released on Friday, Amazon disclosed that starting early next year, Prime Video content will incorporate a “limited” amount of advertisements. This strategic move is geared towards enabling continued investment in TV content and ensuring sustained long-term growth.
Amazon has assured that the volume of ads will be “meaningfully fewer” than what’s typically seen on traditional linear TV and other streaming TV platforms. Additionally, US customers will have the option to pay an extra $2.99 per month for an ad-free viewing experience, while pricing details for other regions are yet to be revealed.
The introduction of advertising within Prime Video content is slated for early 2024 in the US, UK, Germany, and Canada, with France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Australia following suit later in the year.
Major US streaming services have faced pressure from investors to rein in the extensive spending on TV and film content, which was previously viewed as a necessity in the pursuit of subscriber growth. Amazon’s Lord of the Rings spin-off, “The Rings of Power,” has been reported to be one of the costliest TV shows ever produced, measured on a cost-per-episode basis.
However, streaming services have encountered a slowdown in subscriber growth in critical markets due to economic challenges and intensified competition from numerous rivals. Consequently, streaming providers like Netflix, Disney, Paramount, and Warner Bros Discovery have been raising prices to offset losses and boost profitability.
Amazon announced that it would not be raising the cost of its Prime subscriptions in 2024.
Many streaming platforms, including Netflix, have introduced advertising on lower-priced subscription tiers in the past year to create additional revenue streams and offer more budget-friendly entry-level options for households.
Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, disclosed that its ad-supported service, priced at $7.99 per month, had gained 3.3 million subscribers by the summer. Industry experts anticipate that Apple will also introduce layers of advertising within its services.
Netflix’s ad-supported offering initially started slowly, as reported by analysts after its launch in the previous year. However, ad industry executives indicate that the platform now generates more revenue per user through its advertising plans compared to the standard tier.
In May, Netflix revealed that its ad-supported plan had nearly 5 million monthly active users worldwide after six months. Still, Spencer Neumann, Netflix’s Chief Financial Officer, mentioned in July that ad revenues were experiencing gradual growth and were not expected to be a substantial contributor for that year.
Pros:
– Perform decently well despite the low price
– Great battery life
– Cameras work well in the daytime
– Stylish design
– 120Hz display
Cons:
– Displays don’t work that well under the sun
– Secondary cameras don’t add much value
– Slow charging on the Realme 11X
– Displays lack HDR support
– Tons of bloatware and ads on UI
Rating:
– Realme 11 5G: 3.75/5
– Realme 11x 5G: 4/5
Price:
– Realme 11 5G: Rs 18,999 for 128GB + 8GB
– Realme 11x 5G: Rs 14,999 for 128GB + 6GB
Following the introduction of the Realme 11 Pro and 11 Pro+ earlier this year, Realme has expanded its 11 series portfolio with the unveiling of two new smartphones. These newly introduced devices, known as the Realme 11 and 11x, exhibit notable distinctions from their Pro counterparts.
Notably, they are very competitively priced and come for less than Rs 20,000. The Realme 11X is especially more enticing given that it starts at just Rs 14,999.
Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that the Realme 11 and 11x feature specifications, including the new MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ System on a Chip (SoC), have been moderately scaled back when compared to their Realme 11 Pro counterparts.
To delve into finer details, the Realme 11 and 11x essentially share many similarities. For all intents and purposes, they are the exact same device. However, the two areas where they differ, are its cameras and charging. For this reason, we have reviewed both the devices together.
Realme 11 and 11x Review: Design
The Realme 11 is quite the looker, especially in its Glory Gold version, which is the one we got. But if gold isn’t your thing, you can also snag it in Glory Black. As for the 11x, you have the Purple Dawn and Midnight Black colour options. For my review, I got to play around with the Purple Dawn shade, and I must say, I was quite taken with its rear panel. It’s got this fantastic iridescent and glittery finish that really adds to its appeal.
One thing that’s hard to miss on both these smartphones is the rather sizeable camera module. It’s this circular setup that sits a bit off-centre and grabs your attention, though not always in a good way. To some, this module might come across as a tad oversized.
And if you take a closer look at the horizontally aligned camera sensors within, they might remind you of someone giving you a curious look. On the plus side, this module serves as a practical advantage – it makes typing on the phones while they’re lying flat on a surface a breeze.
Moving beyond the camera module, these devices have flat edges and nicely curved corners, which really add to their comfortable, ergonomic grip. Holding them for extended periods shouldn’t pose any discomfort, thanks to their lightweight and slim build. What’s even more impressive is that despite packing a substantial 5,000mAh battery, the Realme 11 and 11x manage to keep their weight at just 190 grams.
When it comes to connectivity, both the devices get a USB Type-C port at the bottom, along with a speaker grille and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The fingerprint scanner is cleverly integrated into the power button on the right side, and it does an excellent job of swiftly unlocking the device with the right fingerprint.
Realme 11 and 11x Review: Display
Both the Realme 11 and 11x boast 6.72-inch FHD+ IPS LCD displays, which surprisingly manages to deliver a pretty good visual quality experience, despite being an LCD panel. The images are sharp and true to life, with good viewing angles. However, it falls a bit short in terms of dynamic range. The panel supports an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. This not only enhances your gaming and reading experiences but also makes content consumption fun at times.
Do note that there are quite noticeable bezels on all sides, especially on the chin but this is forgivable given the budget-friendly price tags of these phones.
Both the devices have up to 550 nits peak brightness, which works well indoors but might feel a bit lacking under direct sunlight outdoors.
You can fine-tune the colour profile of these phones to your liking via the settings menu. They are also Widevine L1 certified, enabling you to stream FHD content from platforms like Netflix.
While the viewing experience is respectable, the audio quality is a bit underwhelming. Both the Realme 11 and 11x come with a mono speaker, which, in 2023, might seem like a less-than-ideal cost-cutting choice.
Realme 11 and 11x Review: Camera
When it comes to photography, both the Realme 11 and Realme 11x feature a dual rear camera setup, with some differences in their primary sensors. The Realme 11x is equipped with a 64MP main shooter, whereas the Realme 11 steps it up with a 108MP camera. Both phones also share a 2MP depth sensor for those artistic shots. For selfies and video calls, the regular Realme 11 boasts a more substantial front camera with 16MP, while the 11x settles for an 8MP shooter.
In terms of camera performance, it’s safe to say that both phones deliver quite comparable results. In good lighting conditions, they both excel in quick focus and shutter speed. The images they produce are generally pleasing to the eye, although the colours might appear slightly oversaturated. However, these sensors do a commendable job of maintaining exposure and highlights in most situations.
That being said, the larger sensor on the Realme 11 does give it a slight edge over its counterpart in terms of detail. This is noticeable in both daylight and low-light shots, with low-light scenarios particularly highlighting the difference. The images taken by the Realme 11x in dimly lit environments tend to appear grainy, even after using night mode. In a similar context, the Realme 11’s images show less noise, resulting in superior details.
On the downside, the portrait mode on both the Realme 11 and Realme 11x could use some improvement when it comes to edge detection. Both the front and rear cameras tend to distort the subject around the edges. As for the selfie camera, these devices do a decent job of capturing skin tones and facial details in well-lit settings. Once again, you’ll notice that the level of detail in selfies is superior on the Realme 11, thanks to its larger sensor size.
Realme 11 and 11x Review: Performance, Software Experience and UI
At the core of both the Realme 11 and Realme 11x, you’ll find the new MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC. This chipset features two powerful performance cores, six efficient cores, and an ARM G57 MC2 GPU. When put to the test in benchmarking, these smartphones performed admirably. They managed to maintain their performance even when subjected to the CPU Throttle test with 50 threads for half an hour.
The Realme 11x comes in two configurations: 6GB of RAM with 128GB of storage or 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage. On the other hand, the standard Realme 11 offers only one RAM option, which is 8GB, but you have the choice of pairing it with either 128GB or 256GB of storage. While the RAM isn’t expandable, both phones provide a dedicated microSD card slot for expanding your storage. It’s also worth noting that both these phones are 5G capable.
In everyday use, these devices handle regular tasks with ease, showing no signs of hesitation. They’re also quite proficient at multitasking, but it’s a good idea to keep an eye on background apps, as having too many of them open could lead to occasional slowdowns. When it comes to gaming, the phones can handle graphically demanding games like BGMI and COD: Mobile at moderate graphics settings for short periods. I was able to play BGMI for half an hour without encountering any stutters or lags, although I did notice the device warming up slightly after the gaming session.
Both the Realme 11 and 11x run on Android 13-based Realme UI 4 right out of the box. This software is feature-rich and comes with a variety of pre-installed apps. However, it’s important to note that the devices come with some third-party apps, which you can manually remove after the initial setup. On the downside, the phones also display a lot of ads and push notifications, which can be a bit bothersome.
On the brighter side, you have a wealth of customization options at your disposal to tweak the user interface, app icons, and more to your liking. These devices also offer various handy features, such as call recording and screen recording.
Realme 11 and 11x Review: Battery & Charging
The Realme 11 is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, and while it’s not the absolute best in terms of battery life, it does the job quite satisfactorily. If you’re not indulging in extended content consumption or heavy gaming throughout the day, this battery should easily see you through the entire day. Moderate users won’t have to tote their charger around all day. However, if you fall into the heavy user category, you might need to top up your battery in the evening.
Realme generously includes a 67W charger in the box, along with a USB Type-C cable. This charger does a swift job, taking just around 50 minutes to fully charge the battery, which is quite impressive.
As for the Realme 11x, it also packs a 5000mAh battery. During my usage, which involved tasks like calling, social media browsing, reading articles, attending video calls, listening to music, indulging in light gaming, and some light editing, the battery comfortably lasted the entire day. I usually plugged it in for a recharge at night.
In the box, you’ll find a 33W SuperVOOC adapter, which may not be the fastest in the market, but it gets the job done. It takes about 75 minutes to charge the battery from 0 to 100%, and around 35 minutes to reach the halfway mark. While it might not be the speediest charger around, it’s still quite decent, especially considering the price point.
Realme 11 and 11x Review: Verdict
The Realme 11 and Realme 11x have made their way into the Indian market with competitive pricing that’s sure to catch the eye of budget-conscious consumers. The base model of the Realme 11x with 6GB of RAM is available at an introductory price of Rs 14,999, while the 8GB RAM variant comes in at Rs 15,999. Meanwhile, the Realme 11 starts at Rs 18,999 for the base model and goes up to Rs 19,999 for the higher-end variant.
When it comes to overall performance, both the Realme 11 and the Realme 11x hold their own against competitors, with one exception being the display quality. However, if display quality isn’t your top priority and you’re more interested in a smartphone with the latest chipset, impressive battery life, a decent display, and respectable daylight camera performance, then these new Realme 11-series smartphones could be a solid choice for you.
NASA has successfully concluded its first sample return expedition from an asteroid late last night. A scientific capsule, carrying materials from an asteroid landing, completed a remarkable 1.2 billion-mile voyage originating from the asteroid Bennu.
This capsule was released from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft during its Earth flyby last night, which then reentered Earth’s atmosphere at a velocity of approximately 27,000 miles per hour.
Data that could be more valuable than gold
The OSIRIS-REx mission, which took flight in 2016, has amassed a significant quantity of asteroid material, totalling several hundred grams. This invaluable haul holds the promise of unravelling the mysteries surrounding the initial phases of our solar system’s formation.
During a mission overview briefing, Melissa Morris, the OSIRIS-REx programme executive, expressed, “NASA’s commitment to missions like OSIRIS-REx underscores our commitment to exploring the abundant asteroid population within our solar system. These celestial bodies hold the key to understanding the genesis and evolution of our solar system – our very own cosmic origin story.”
Recovery teams successfully retrieved the sample from the Utah desert, and at 12:15 PM ET, a helicopter departed with the precious cargo. The next step involves transporting the capsule to a provisional clean room, where an initial disassembly procedure will commence.
During this process, larger components like the backshell will be removed. Subsequently, a crucial nitrogen purge operation will be carried out. In this phase, nitrogen will be introduced into the canister to safeguard the sample, preventing any contamination from Earth’s atmosphere.
Following this safeguarding step, the canister will be transported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Upon arrival, it will be opened for the very first time, enabling scientists to conduct a thorough analysis of the enclosed sample.
Studying the possible origin of life
The OSIRIS-REx mission represents NASA’s maiden endeavour in retrieving a sample from an asteroid, marking a significant milestone. Notably, it takes inspiration from Japan’s space agency, JAXA, which achieved this feat in its groundbreaking Hayabusa and Hayabusa 2 missions. While the initial Hayabusa mission managed to procure only a minuscule quantity of material, the subsequent Hayabusa 2 mission triumphantly returned approximately five grams of asteroid material from Ryugu in 2020.
In contrast, OSIRIS-REx has brought back a considerably larger amount of material from asteroid Bennu, totalling around 250 grams. This substantial haul opens up new horizons for scientific exploration, particularly when investigating minute trace elements. Nevertheless, researchers view these two missions as complementary rather than competitive, recognizing the unique contributions each makes to advancing our understanding of asteroids and the cosmos.
Lauretta, a member of the Hayabusa 2 team, emphasized the diversity among asteroids, stating, “Not all asteroids are the same.” Despite both Ryugu and Bennu sharing a similar spinning-top-like shape, they exhibit distinct characteristics.
Ryugu, for instance, is larger and possesses a reddish hue, while Bennu is smaller and appears more blue. The significance of this colour contrast remains a mystery, but the analysis and comparison of the samples here on Earth promise to shed light on both the similarities and distinctions between these celestial bodies.
As Lauretta aptly put it, this collaborative effort is seen as a single, extensive sample analysis program, uniting researchers worldwide in a common quest for knowledge.
Asteroids: Flying time capsules
When scientists seek to unravel the mysteries of Earth’s formation, they extend their gaze beyond our planet into the broader solar system. It is well-established that star systems originate from vast clouds of gas that collapse into a central star, subsequently forming a disk of material around it.
This is evident not only in other star systems but also within our own solar system, where the planets orbit the sun in a shared direction and within a single plane. This alignment supports the notion that they emerged from a solitary disk of material.
A portion of this material coalesced to create planets, while the rest found its way into the earliest asteroids, some of which still endure to this day.
Bennu, the asteroid from which OSIRIS-REx acquired its sample, is believed to consist of material dating back around 4.5 billion years, potentially serving as a time capsule preserving the earliest stages of the solar system. However, definitive confirmation of its age awaits a comprehensive and meticulous analysis.
Qualcomm, a major US chip company with a significant presence in China, is reportedly planning job cuts at its Shanghai office. The move comes as the company navigates ongoing technology tensions between the US and China and faces economic challenges. While Qualcomm has confirmed the layoffs in its Shanghai office, it has not disclosed the exact number of job reductions.
According to reports in China Business News, Qualcomm has denied that the job cuts will be extensive enough to lead to an office closure or a complete withdrawal from Shanghai. The reports also mentioned that Qualcomm is offering generous redundancy packages to affected employees.
A Qualcomm employee in Shanghai, speaking anonymously, confirmed that layoffs were already underway, but the scale of the job cuts appeared to be limited.
Qualcomm has a presence in over 12 Chinese cities, primarily for its semiconductor and mobile telecommunications businesses. The company has emphasized its commitment to developing advanced technology in China, particularly in the field of mobile telecommunications.
Qualcomm had previously announced its expectation of “workforce reductions” as part of its restructuring efforts to invest in key growth opportunities, citing ongoing macroeconomic and demand uncertainty. The company stated that a significant portion of these changes would occur in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.
Qualcomm’s revenue and profit have faced challenges due to weak demand for consumer electronics. In the third quarter of fiscal 2023, the company reported a 23 per cent year-on-year drop in revenue and a 52 per cent decline in net income.
The US-China trade tensions and Beijing’s partial ban on iPhone usage by government staff may also contribute to pressure on Qualcomm, as it is a major supplier to Apple. However, the successful launch of the new iPhone 15 in mainland China could offset some of these challenges.
The overall smartphone market in China has faced headwinds, with a 4 per cent decline in sales during the second quarter of 2023, the lowest second-quarter sales since 2014, according to market research firm Counterpoint. Other US chip companies have also announced job cuts in China amid economic challenges and industrial downturns.
In a recent scientific discovery, researchers have identified a viral organism residing in the depths of the Mariana Trench. This virus is believed to be the deepest of its kind ever found and primarily preys on specific types of bacteria.
The Mariana Trench, named after the nearby islands, is located in the Pacific Ocean and represents the Earth’s deepest oceanic trench, reaching depths of up to 36,000 feet below the surface.
Despite its almost alien environment, life has managed to adapt and thrive in this extreme habitat. Scientists have previously uncovered various life forms in the Mariana Trench, including fish, shrimp, and a variety of microorganisms. Wherever life exists, viruses are often present, seeking to exploit it.
Viruses are still a subject of debate when it comes to categorizing them as living organisms since they can only reproduce by hijacking the cellular machinery of other organisms. However, our understanding of these deep-sea viruses remains limited, and their diversity is largely unexplored.
The latest discovery of this virus was made by a team of researchers from China and Australia, and it has been given the name vB_HmeY_H4907.
The scientists isolated this virus from sediment retrieved from a depth of 8,900 meters, equivalent to over 29,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. Genetic analysis has revealed that this virus belongs to a previously unidentified family of viruses that are widespread in the world’s oceans, and the researchers have named this family Suviridae.
Furthermore, vB_HmeY_H4907 is classified as a bacteriophage, a type of virus that utilizes bacteria to replicate itself. The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum.
Min Wang, a virologist at the Ocean University of China and one of the study’s authors stated, “To our best knowledge, this is the deepest known isolated phage in the global ocean.”
Remarkably, this virus specifically targets Halomonas bacteria, a group of bacteria known to inhabit deep-sea environments and areas near hydrothermal vents. Surprisingly, the virus and its host appear to have a rather amicable relationship.
Genetically, the virus closely resembles its host and is classified as a lysogenic phage. This means that it inserts its genetic material into the bacteria but usually does not kill it. Instead, both the virus and the bacteria replicate simultaneously. The researchers hypothesize that vB_HmeY_H4907 may have co-evolved with these bacteria to ensure its survival in the harsh conditions of the deep sea.
The research team intends to further investigate the molecular-level interactions between deep-sea phages and their hosts. Additionally, they will continue their quest to uncover other unique viruses in the world’s most inhospitable environments.
Min Wang emphasized, “Extreme environments offer optimal prospects for unearthing novel viruses.”
While the discovery of an enigmatic oceanic microbe unknown to humanity may evoke thoughts of a horror movie plot, it’s important to note that viruses, in general, are highly specialized to their hosts and environments.
Therefore, it is highly unlikely that a deep-sea phage would pose any threat to humans on land if encountered. In contrast, terrestrial phages are being studied for their potential use as weapons against drug-resistant bacteria.
When Taylor Swift visits a city for a tour, her impact on the local economy shoots up. This phenomenon, even has a name, and is referred to as the “TSwift Lift.” Even the US Federal Reserve has taken notice and incorporated it into its studies on the economic effects of her concerts. Elon Musk also hopes that he can replicate the TSwift Lift, but on his platform X.
In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, has reached out to Swift for assistance in revitalizing his platform. Musk, who acquired Twitter’s parent company for $44 billion almost a year ago, responded to Swift’s post about new tracks from her re-recorded 1989 album, addressing her 94 million followers.
Swift’s Era tour is expected to be the first to break the $1 billion mark in ticket sales and could result in nearly $5 billion in total spending. Fans are willing to shell out more than $1,300 each for the privilege of attending her live performances.
Musk suggested, “I recommend sharing some music or concert videos directly on the X platform.” He recently celebrated the exclusive debut of Tucker Carlson’s new show on the platform.
Musk has faced challenges with X, including controversies involving conspiracy theories and positions favoured by the alt-right, resulting in a 60 per cent decline in US advertisers.
Consequently, X fell short of its goal to achieve cashflow break-even in the second quarter, and despite laying off 80 per cent of its workforce, it continues to deplete its cash reserves.
Musk also recently announced plans to introduce a new monthly fee to combat bot farms that deter advertisers from reaching real consumers.
Bluesky, a new competitor platform supported by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, attracted a record number of users after Musk’s fee announcement.
Musk later clarified that he intended to introduce a new, lower-priced subscription tier below the existing $8 per month premium subscription but did not provide details on the benefits users would receive for “a few dollars” a month.
While Musk sought Swift’s assistance in boosting his platform, Swift did not respond to his request. Given Swift’s track record of generating prosperity wherever she goes, it’s probable that Musk’s financially struggling platform needs her more than she needs it.
Additionally, Musk’s well-publicized friendship with Kanye West, who has had public disagreements with Swift, could pose a challenge in itself. Musk claimed to have more monthly users than ever, with 550 million on X, surpassing Twitter’s last reported figure as a publicly traded company by more than twice.
