Worldwide smartphone shipments have declined for the eighth consecutive quarter. According to a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC), 265.3 million units of smartphones were shipped globally in the second quarter of 2023. The shipments have dropped by 7.8% since last year’s Q2. IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report claims that the market struggles with soft demand, inflation, macroeconomic uncertainties, and excess inventory.However, there’s a silver lining as the report notes that the rate of decline is slowing compared to previous quarters. Commenting on the current market scenario, IDC’s research director Nabila Popal said: “The good news is that inventory levels are improving and the latest market chatter suggests that by Q3 excess inventory in finished devices and components should clear up. As inventory levels normalize, we are finally hearing optimism from key OEMs and supply chains and expect the market to return to growth by the end of the year and into 2024. As the market ramps back up, it is also an opportunity for vendors to gain share. IDC expects a shift in the vendor rankings at the bottom of the stack, as we already see happening this quarter with Transsion entering the Top 5 for the first time.”Smartphone markets in different regions After five quarters of significant double-digit contractions, China witnessed a year-over-year decline of 2.1% in Q2 2023. The report adds that the market performance is better than in past quarters, however, consumer sentiment and spending remain low. As per the report, 618 online shopping festivals in June were expected to boost sales in China, but smartphone sales saw a 6.5% YoY drop at this time. Other major regions include Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan and China), the US and Europe and the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) also saw shipments decline by 5.9%, 19.1%, and 3.1%, respectively in 2Q23. Another research director at IDC, Anthony Scarsella said: “Although the first half of the year has presented many challenges to the market, we believe that there remains plenty of opportunity awaiting in the second half of the year. The foldable market remains an exciting product to consumers, and the arrival of new models and new vendors joining the race will hopefully translate to wider adoption and lower prices. Moreover, we expect the foldable market to grow nearly 50% in 2023 while the total market remains down.”Biggest gainers and losers Company 2Q23 Shipments 2Q23 Market Share 2Q22 Shipments 2Q22 Market Share Year-Over-Year Change 1. Samsung 53.5 20.2% 63.1 21.9% -15.2% 2. Apple 42.5 16.0% 45.4 15.8% -6.3% 3. Xiaomi 33.2 12.5% 39.5 13.8% -16.0% 4. Oppo* 25.4 9.6% 27.4 9.5% -7.6% 4. Transsion* 25.3 9.5% 18.8 6.5% 34.1% Others 85.4 32.2% 93.3 32.4% -8.4% Total 265.3 100.0% 287.6 100.0% -7.8% Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, July 27, 2023

Last weekend, I turned to Google Search for help figuring out how many stamps I needed to put on an 8-ounce piece of mail. (Naturally, I was sending a copy of the latest issue of WIRED!). It’s the exact sort of question that I hoped Google Search’s new generative AI feature, which I’ve been testing for the past month, would solve much faster than I could through my own browsing. Google’s clunkily named Search Generative Experience, SGE for short, infuses its search box with ChatGPT-like conversational functionality. You can sign up at Google’s Search Labs. The company says it wants users to converse with its search chatbot, which launched to testers in May, to dive deeper into topics and ask more challenging and intuitive questions than they would type into a boring old query box. And AI-generated answers are meant to organize information more clearly than a traditional search results page—for example, by pulling together information from multiple websites. Most of the world’s web searches run through Google, and it’s been developing AI technologies longer than most companies, so it’s fair to expect a top-notch experience. So goes the theory. It turns out that in practice the new feature is so far more nuisance than aide. It’s slow, ineffective, verbose, and cluttered—more artificial interference than intelligence. The first thing I noticed about Google’s vision for the future of search was its sluggishness. Once you gain access to Google’s test, the search box looks unchanged. But in response to a query like “How many stamps to mail 8 ounce letter,” a new section takes up a good chunk of the screen, pushing down the conventional list of links. Within that area, Google’s large language models generate a couple of paragraphs similar to what you might find from ChatGPT or Microsoft’s Bing Chat. Buttons at the bottom lead to a chatbot interface where you can ask follow-up questions. The first thing I noticed about Google’s vision for the future of search was its sluggishness. In tests where I controlled a stopwatch app with one hand and submitted a query with the other, it sometimes took nearly six seconds for Google’s text-generator to spit out its answer. The norm was more than three seconds, compared to no more than one second for Google’s conventional results to appear. Things could have been worse: I did my tests after Google rolled out an update which it claims doubled the search bot’s speed last month. Yet I still often find myself deep into reading the regular results by the time the generative AI finishes up, meaning I end up ignoring its tardily submitted dissertations. Cathy Edwards, a Google Search vice president, tells me speed optimizations of the AI software underpinning the tool are ongoing. One could excuse the slowness of this new form of search if the results were worthwhile. But accuracy is spotty. Google’s five-sentence generative AI response to my stamps question included apparent errors of both multiplication and subtraction, stamp prices outdated by two years, and suggested follow-up questions that ignored crucial variables for shipping costs, such as shape, size, and destination. The disclaimer Google displays at the top of each AI-generated answer rang resoundingly true: “Generative AI is experimental. Info quality may vary.” In the same response, Google’s new search feature suggested that I would need either $2.47 or $4 worth of stamps. Navigating to the US Postal Service’s online calculator provided the official answer: I needed $3.03, or five stamps at 66 cents each with a 27-cent overpayment. Google’s Edwards says my humble query pushed the technology’s current boundaries. “It’s definitely on the frontier,” she says. Unfortunately, dumbing down didn’t end well either. When asked for just the price of a stamp, Google responded with an outdated figure. Only specifying that I wanted the price as of this month got the system to correctly reflect this month’s 3-cent cost hike. To be fair, ChatGPT would flunk this query too because its training data cuts off in 2021—but it is not positioned as a replacement for a search engine.

Alongside the new foldable phones and tablet series, Samsung announced the latest generation of its Galaxy smartwatch series – Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The all-new Galaxy Watch 6 succeeds Galaxy Watch 5. The new smartwatch comes with several new features including a new design, faster processor, and enhanced health tracking. The Galaxy Watch 6 has two models, based on size: 40mm and 44mm. The Galaxy Watch6 comes in 44mm in Graphite and Silver and 40mm in Graphite and Gold. The Galaxy Watch6 Classic features a rotating bezel — available in Black and Silver in 43mm and 47mm sizes. Galaxy Watch 6 series support Tap & Pay via Samsung WalletIn a first for India, Samsung has introduced the Tap & Pay feature to the Galaxy Watch 6 series. The feature enables users to make payments on the go right from their wrists. Galaxy Watch 6 supports Tap & Pay via Samsung Wallet. This means users can use their watch to make contactless payments at participating merchants. It’s been a long time since Samsung’s smartwatches haven’t supported NFC payments via Samsung Pay in India. However, that is changing with the latest Galaxy Watch 6 series as the company launched Samsung Wallet in India earlier this year. It is to be noted that the feature currently works with the Galaxy Watch 6 series paired with a Samsung smartphone.Samsung introduced Magnetic Secure Transmission in the first Galaxy WatchThe first Galaxy Watch from Samsung had a Magnetic Secure Transmission or MST, a method of sending data using magnetic waves. MST replicates a card swipe by wirelessly transmitting magnetic waves from the supported Samsung device to a standard card reader. MST turns every card reader into a contactless payment. However, the company ditched MST from its smartwatches, starting with the Galaxy Watch Active, which means users could no longer make mobile payments via their Galaxy Watches. While newer watches still featured NFC, mobile payments via Samsung Pay weren’t supported in India.NFC in Samsung smartphonesSamsung has activated Near Field Communication or NFC for mobile payments in India. NFC is a technology which enables radio communication between devices when brought in close proximity. NFC ensures seamless data sharing and has a few more applications and advantages attached to it.Users can use Samsung Wallet to register their supported credit and debit cards and pay via their Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. It remains to be known whether this feature will come to older Galaxy Watches like the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 5 with the One UI 5.0 Watch and Samsung Wallet update.How to set up Tap & Pay on Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy Watch 6 Classic To set up Tap & Pay on your Galaxy Watch 6, users will need to have a compatible credit or debit card added to their Samsung Wallet. This can be done by opening the Samsung Pay app on your phone and following the instructions.Once you have added a card to your Samsung Wallet, you can start using Tap & Pay on your Galaxy Watch 6. To do this, simply hold your watch near the contactless reader at the checkout counter. You will see a confirmation message on your watch when the payment has been processed.

Xiaomi is all set to launch its new Redmi smartphone in India next week. The company has confirmed that it will launch the Redmi 12 5G smartphone in the country on August 1. The Chinese smartphone has also revealed that its a global launch of the smartphone. Now ahead of the official launch the company has revealed some of the specifications of the Redmi 12 5G smartphone. Redmi 12 5G confirmed specificationsXiaomi has created a microsite for the Redmi 12 5G smartphone. On the landing page the company confirmed that the Redmi 12 5G smartphone will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The is also confirmed to pack up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB internal stoarge. The images shared also highlight that the smartphone will feature a curved display with a punch hole cutout in the centre which will house the selfie camera. The smartphone will flaunt a crystal glass design and dual rear camera setup. The smartphone will sport a 50MP main sensor and backed by a 5,000 mAh battery. The smartphone will come in three colour options — Jade Black, Pastel Blue and Moonstone Silver. Along with the smartphone, Xiaomi will also launch a new Redmi branded smartwatch at the event.Redmi Watch 3 ActiveRedmi Watch 3 Active smartwatch comes with a sleek metallic finish and a rectangular dial. A notable feature of this upcoming Redmi smartwatch is its Bluetooth calling support, enabling users to make and receive calls directly from the smartwatch in a convenient manner.Fitness enthusiasts will find the Redmi Watch 3 Active particularly appealing as it offers more than 100 sports modes, allowing seamless tracking of various physical activities. Additionally, the smartwatch keeps a close track of routine health metrics. Users can also personalize their experience with a vast selection of over 200 watch faces to choose from.The Redmi Watch 3 Active is designed to be water-resistant, ensuring its durability even during aquatic activities. Furthermore, the smartwatch boasts an impressive battery life, with the company claiming up to 12 days of usage on a single charge, making it a reliable companion for extended periods.

“We don’t take ID or anything. So long as you look over 18, we scan your iris,” said Ana Howard, the contractor hired to lead onboarding in London. But everyone that registers is “one hundred percent informed and knows what they’re signing up for,” she added. Everyone who got scanned got a free T-shirt. On the front was emblazoned the Worldcoin logo and the words “unique human.” Over the next three hours, a steady trickle of people arrived for their own appointments with the Orb, but with a varying degree of knowledge about the project and differing motivations for being there. Of the seven that spoke to WIRED, none had much if any trepidation about their eyes being scanned: There’s no such thing as privacy these days, anyway, I was told. But almost all said they would have given more thought to their decision had Altman not been associated with the project. “I’m a fan of Sam [Altman] for ChatGPT, so I thought: Let me give it a whirl,” says Greg King, after he had been scanned. “I know a little bit [about the Worldcoin project], but not masses—I thought I’d catch up later.” Altman was also the attraction for Michael Aldridge, another new signup, who until that morning had never heard of Worldcoin. “I may still have come along,” he said, “but would probably have done some more research.” Others, even if they had a passing interest in the proof of personhood proposition, were primarily there for the crypto reward. James Bryant explained he was making a calculated gamble on the possibility that Worldcoin might be the next cryptocurrency to skyrocket in value; he was hoping to get in on the ground floor. “I think this might be the next chance,” he said. “It’s the next big bet. How else can you move up the social ladder?” “It sounds greedy,” said Joe Sims, another new registrant, “but the crypto giveaway [was the reason I came.] I remember hearing about bitcoin 10 years ago, when it cost $8, but ignoring it. Maybe nothing will come of this, and yes, I’ve given up my iris—but it’s only taken five minutes.” That logic seems to be driving a lot of the interest in Worldcoin. On the Discord server, the talk is almost exclusively about the 25-token “genesis grant”—worth about $50—awarded to those that sign up either within the first week or prelaunch. “It’s been two days already,” wrote one verified user, who was still waiting to receive their payout. “Now it feels like my three days of travel for Orb verification is wasted,” said another, in a similar boat. Experts in tokenomics—the issuance and supply dynamics of crypto tokens—have expressed concern that the structure of the Worldcoin launch may jeopardize the project’s bold ambitions from the outset, and, potentially, disadvantage regular people that now purchase the token. The total supply of Worldcoin tokens will be capped initially at 10 billion. Three quarters of that amount will be distributed to users over the next 15-plus years, with the remainder split between Tools for Humanity staff and investors, who must refrain from selling any for at least the next 12 months.

Microsoft has been incorporating AI in all its products and services, including LinkedIn. The professional networking platform is said to be working on an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that will help users look and apply for jobs. The tool may be called LinkedIn Coach, and reportedly, the company is testing it. The toll is aimed at supporting users through the application processes, teaching them new skills and helping in networking on the platform.The feature was first spotted by app researcher Nima Owji, who shared an image on Twitter — now X – suggesting the name and working of the feature. “Introducing LinkedIn Coach. Apple for jobs, learn new skills and find more ways to connect with your network — all backed by the power of AI,” the screenshot reads. The platform also gives an explainer saying, “Coach is new, and it may get things wrong.” The chatbot can provide answers to questions like, “How does Coach work?” or “What is the culture of Microsoft?”In an email sent to The Verge, LinkedIn spokesperson Amanda Purvis said that the company is “always exploring” new ways to improve user experience on the platform. Purvis adds that the company “will have more to share soon.”LinkedIn’s AI journeyMicrosoft-owned LinkedIn is one of the products where the technology giant is incorporating AI chatbots. As of now, the company has introduced Bing Chat to the Office suite of apps, Windows, Microsoft Edge, and GitHub. LinkedIn is already testing an AI chatbot that can quickly write posts about users. These posts then can be shared in the form of updates with their network. In a LinkedIn post, Keren Baruch, Director of Product at LinkedIn, said that the company is “starting to test a way for members to use generative AI directly within the LinkedIn share box.”LinkedIn has already introduced an AI-powered tool for suggesting multiple copies of an ad based on data from the marketer’s LinkedIn page and Campaign Manager settings. There is also an AI chatbot that can generate content for user profiles and job descriptions.

The rebranding of Twitter to X is now in full swing. The official Twitter account has been shut down. On the web and Android version, the bird has been replaced by the logo X. The logo is also set to go some other changes. It seems like a lot is happening and Elon Musk is set to bring another massive change. Musk feels that X should only have dark mode. “This platform will soon only have “dark mode”. It is better in every way,” Musk said in a reply to a tweet. Musk’s tweet does indicate that users will not have the option to move to the light mode. Currently, Twitter gives users the option to choose from both the modes. It also has a “Dim” mode which is a darker shade of blue. So the background is completely black but is still sort of dark. It’s not clear whether the Dim mode stays on Twitter or not. What is dark mode? As the name suggests, dark mode is nothing but an interface setting that changes the colour scheme of an application, website, or device from predominantly light colours to predominantly dark colours. In dark mode, the background is usually black or a dark shade of gray, and the text and other UI elements are displayed in lighter colours. This contrast reversal makes the content easier to read in low-light environments and can also reduce eye strain.Is dark mode beneficial?In low-light conditions or during nighttime, staring at bright screens with a predominantly white background can lead to eye fatigue and discomfort. Dark mode, with its muted colours, can alleviate this strain and provide a more comfortable viewing experience.Blue light, which is emitted by most electronic displays, has been linked to disruptions in sleep patterns and potential eye damage with prolonged exposure. Dark mode, especially when combined with blue light filters, can reduce the amount of blue light reaching the eyes.On devices with OLED or AMOLED screens, dark mode can save battery life, as each pixel in these displays emits its own light.

Earlier this year in June, Apple made quite a splash when it unveiled Vision Pro, a brand new product which marks the company’s entry in a new category. Vision Pro is a headset designed to blend augmented reality, mixed reality or what Apple calls it spatial computing. This week Apple revealed that a Vision Pro Developer Kit will be sent out to a select developers to test, develop and run apps on the Vision Pro. A report by 9to5Mac reveals Apple’s strict guidelines for developers before using it. Passwords, locks and more Apple is an extremely strict company when it comes to secrecy. With the developer kit now being in open — in some way at least — Apple has issued strict guidelines for developers before they sign the agreement. According to the report, developers are not authroised to give access to or let anyone else use the Developers Kit (or DK as Apple has called it). Furthermore, developers are told that it should be used within areas that are “fully enclosed with solid doors, floors, walls and ceiling, and locks that can be engaged”. Apple has also said that no one else — including any family, friends, roommates or household employees — do not access, view, handle, or use the DK. The guidelines get stricter as Apple has told developers that the “DK should be in your positive control (on your person or within Your direct line of sight) at all times.”The developers kit shouldn’t be left unattended (in a bar or any public place) and that it is passcode protected. “When not in use, turn off the DK and store it in its locked Pelican case in a locked space that only You have access to (e.g., a locked room or closet, a safe or locked drawer).” Yes, Apple wants developers to keep it in a safe. Developers are also not allowed to move it from the address it has been shipped to without Apple’s prior written consent. “If you will be away from your workspace for more than 10 days, consult with your Apple point of contact about how to keep the DK safe while You are away,” Apple has advised developers.

India’s fifth largest IT services company Tech Mahindra reported a rough first quarter (April-June) as net profit plunged due to a sharp narrowing of margins. The Mahindra group company had reported a net profit of Rs 1,131.6 crore in the same period last year. In the preceding quarter, the same stood at Rs 1,117.6 crore. The company’s revenues slid to Rs 13,159 crore in the reporting quarter. Profit dips 40%Tech Mahindra has reported a nearly 40% year-on-year (YoY) decrease in net profit in the three months ending in June Toughest quarter in five yearsChief executive officer CP Gurnani said that the quarter was marked by large-scale slowdowns, particularly across communication clients. “This quarter is probably one of the toughest quarters I have seen in the last five years, but we believe that we will be able to bring back our growth trajectory,” Gurnani said. “There’s a speed breaker right now and it has influenced the industry. Deal conversions have been impacted. The numbers are not satisfactory on the EBITDA front. My belief is some of the challenges are temporary and we will bounce back over the next few quarters,” Gurnani said.Earnings breakupThe communications, media, and entertainment (CME) vertical, which accounts for about 38% of its revenue, was down 8.2% from a year ago. BFSI revenue was down 3.2% sequentially and 5.4% on-year. Its Europe revenues are down 6.7% over the prior quarter, while US revenues are down 0.5% on-quarter. The Americas, Europe, and RoW (rest of world) all witnessed sequential declines in revenue. The number of active clients dropped by 42 sequentially.CEO-designate and former Infosys president Mohit Joshi was part of the press conference to announce the June quarter results. Joshi will succeed CP Gurnani later this year.

Domestic brand Ptron has expanded its TWS product portfolio with new earbuds called Zenbuds Ultima. These new earbuds come with Hybrid ANC technology, TruTalk Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) technology, a quad-mic system and an IPX5 water-resistant rating. Ptron also promises 50 hours of total playtime for Zenbuds Ultima. These earbuds also offer the Apt Sense 40ms low-latency mode, Transparency mode and a gaming/ music mode. Announcing the launch, founder and CEO of Ptron, Ameen Khwaja said, “Zenbuds Ultima is an example of advanced products with its exceptional premium feature and with affordable pricing. 35dB Hybrid ANC blocks out distractions for pure auditory bliss, Quad Mic system with TruTalk ENC ensures crystal-clear calls, Apt Sense 40ms Low-latency mode for exceptional audio performance, Transparency Mode enables interaction with the external world & Impressive 50 hours of playtime- making this product competitive to the market trend. The launch of Zenbuds Ultima is just the beginning of an exciting new era for pTron and we remain dedicated to creating ground-breaking products that enrich the lives of its customers, setting new benchmarks in the industry”.Ptron Zenbuds Ultima: Price and availability The Ptron Zenbuds Ultima TWS earbuds will be available starting July 28 at a special launch price of Rs 1,499. These new earbuds will be available on the e-commerce website Amazon. Zenbuds Ultima will be available in a single black colour variant. Ptron Zenbuds Ultima: Key specsThe Zenbuds Ultima feature a quad-mic setup that supports the TruTalk Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) technology. These earbuds are also equipped with 35dB hybrid ANC technology along with an Apt Sense 40ms Low-latency mode that claims to offer improved audio performance. The earbuds also promise 50 hours of playtime and come with IPX5 water-resistant rating. Ptron Zenbuds Ultima Technical Specifications: Bluetooth Version BT v5.3 with 10m range, 1-step pairing & auto-reconnect Driver size 13mm Quad Mic, TruTalk ENC Audio Technology Quietsmart ANC (Active Noise Cancellation Technology) + ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation Technology) Playtime Up to 50 Hours with charging case Charging Case 500 mAh Type-C Charging Case Product Weight 32g Charging case, 3.7g each earbud Other Features Touch Controls with Voice Assistant + IPX5 Water resistant Low Latency Audio & Video Sync with Stereo & Mono Bud Capability