Download: Apple Releases macOS 12.1 and watchOS 8.3 – Here’s What is New

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Download: Apple Releases macOS 12.1 and watchOS 8.3 – Here’s What is New

blognet   Monday, December 13, 2021   Comment  

 

Today, Apple has seen fit to officially release macOS Monterey 12.1 and watchOS 8.3 to the general public. The new updates are available on all compatible Macs and Apple Watch models with a boatload of new features. If you are unfamiliar, check out the changelog and how you can install macOS 12.1 and watchOS 8.3 on your compatible device.

Apple Releases New macOS Monterey 12.1 and watchOS 8.3 Update For Compatible Macs and Apple Watch Models - Check Out The Full Changelog

The final macOS Monterey 12.1 update arrives almost five days after the company issued an RC build of the firmware to developers. If you are looking to install it on your Mac, all you have to do is launch System Preferences > Software Update and you are all set. The new macOS Monterey 12.1 brings a boatload of new additions to the table like SharePlay, Apple Music Voice Plan, New Privacy and Security features for parents in Messages, improvements in Photos, and much more. You can check out the full macOS Monterey 12.1 changelog below for more details.

20 top tips to help you master your Mac

macOS Monterey 12.1 — Restart Required

macOS Monterey 12.1 adds SharePlay, an entirely new way to have shared experiences with family and friends in FaceTime. This update also includes the Apple Music Voice Plan, new safety features for children and parents in Messages, redesigned Memories in Photos, and other features and bug fixes for your Mac.

SharePlay

• SharePlay is a new way to share synchronized experiences in FaceTime with content from the Apple TV app, Apple Music, and other supported apps
• Shared controls give everyone the ability to pause, play, rewind or fast forward
• Smart volume automatically lowers the audio of a movie, TV show or song when you or your friends speak
• Screen sharing lets everyone on a FaceTime call look at photos, browse the web, or help each other out

Apple Music Voice Plan

• Apple Music Voice Plan is a new subscription tier that gives you access to all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music using Siri
• Just Ask Siri suggests music based on your listening history and likes or dislikes
• Play it Again lets you access a list of your recently played music

Photos

• Memories has been redesigned with a new interactive interface, new animation and transition styles, and multiple image collages
• New Memory types include additional international holidays, child-focused memories, trends over time, and improved pet memories

Messages

• Communication safety setting gives parents the ability to enable warnings for children when they receive or send photos that contain nudity
• Safety warnings contain helpful resources for children when they receive photos that contain nudity

Siri and Search

• Expanded guidance in Siri, Spotlight and Safari Search to help children and parents stay safe online and get help with unsafe situations

Apple ID

• Digital Legacy allows you to designate people as Legacy Contacts so they can access your iCloud account and personal information in the event of your death

TV App

• Store tab lets you browse, buy, and rent movies and TV Shows all in one place

This release also includes the following enhancements for your Mac:
• Hide My Email is available in the Mail app for iCloud+ subscribers to create unique, random email addresses
• Stocks allows you to view the currency for a ticker and see year-to-date performance when viewing charts
• Reminders and Notes now allow you to delete or rename tags

This release also includes bug fixes for your Mac:
• Desktop and Screen Saver may appear blank after selecting photos from the Photos library
• Trackpad could become unresponsive to taps or clicks
• External displays may not charge some MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers when connected using Thunderbolt or USB-C
• HDR video playback on YouTube.com could cause 2021 MacBook Pro computers to panic
• Menu bar extras may be obscured by the camera housing on 2021 MacBook Pro computers
• MagSafe may stop charging on 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro computers when lid is closed and system is shut down

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

Other than macOS Monterey 12.1, Apple has also seen fit to officially make watchOS 8.3 available for all compatible Apple Watch models. If you are looking to give it a swing, all you have to do is launch the dedicated Apple Watch app on your iPhone and head over to General > Software Update. Make sure that your Apple Watch is charged above 50 percent and plugged in. Moreover, it should be in the range of your iPhone to complete the installation process.

Similar to macOS Monterey 12.1, watchOS 8.3 is a major update as it expands the functionality of AssistiveTouch. The new addition will allow users to control their Apple Watch using their hand gestures. The new feature will also be making its way to older Apple Watch models. For more details, you can check out the entire changelog of the watchOS 8.3 update below.

watchOS 8.3 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

• Apple Music Voice Plan gives you access to all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music using Siri
• Support for App Privacy Report to record data and sensor access
• Fixes an issue where notifications may interrupt Mindfulness sessions unexpectedly for some users

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

Apple has also seen fit to release HomePod 15.2 software as well which adds Apple Music Voice Plan and much more. It is available for the HomePod and HomePod mini. You can check out the remaining details below.

Software version 15.2 includes support for Apple Music Voice Plan, a new subscription tier designed to access music using Siri, and extends Siri voice recognition to new languages. This update also includes performance and stability improvements.

Apple has also released iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 to the public so be sure to check that out as well. This is all there is to it, folks. What are your views on the latest macOS 12.1 and watchOS 8.3 update? Would you be willing to give the new features a swing? Let us know in the comments.

Hyundai Ioniq Seven electric SUV concept debuts in LA with sofa-style third row, 77-inch roof display

Hyundai Ioniq Seven electric SUV concept debuts in LA with sofa-style third row, 77-inch roof display

blognet   Thursday, November 18, 2021   Comment  

It’s not just Kia that has unveiled a new electric SUV concept at the LA Auto Show 2021 – parent company Hyundai has also taken the wraps off its brand-new electric vehicle (EV) concept, and it’s named the Hyundai Ioniq Seven. Billed a ‘category-bending’ proposition, the Hyundai Ioniq Seven is pretty radical even by concept standards, and while it looks like it’s far away from being production ready at this point, it does provide a glimpse of Hyundai’s future flagship electric SUV – or SUEV, as Hyundai is calling it.

Unlike the Kia EV9 (which it shares its mechanicals with), the Hyundai Ioniq Seven adopts a notably different design language. While the EV9 is all angular and sharp-edged, the Ioniq Seven is softer and more rounded, without compromising on visual muscle. At around five metres in length, two metres in width and 1.8 metres in height, the Ioniq Seven is bigger than Hyundai’s biggest combustion engine SUV at present – the Hyundai Palisade – so it is an imposing SUV and will have plenty of presence. Its wheelbase (3,200 mm) is substantially longer than the Palisade's, and is almost identical to that of the long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Exterior highlights include the ‘Parametric Pixel’ lights up front, chunky five-spoke alloys with integrated ‘Active Air’ flaps, which deploy or retract for brake cooling and low-drag purposes respectively, retracting cameras that replace wing mirrors, beefy wheel arches, pillarless coach doors, a sloping roofline and an almost-bread van-like tail section, which ends with an all-glass tailgate encased by pixel-like tail-lights. All in, the Ioniq Seven looks quite interesting on the outside.

It's on the inside where the Ioniq Seven is truly pathbreaking – and even more concept-like, which is to say that most of these elements are unlikely to make it to the production model. While it is a three-row SUV, Hyundai has chosen to break away from the established seating layout and equipped the SUV with swivelling lounge-style chairs for the driver and front passenger (which can also be moved fore and aft), a dedicated footrest housing a 27-inch screen as well as a ‘shoe care’ shelf and a curved sofa-style seat that stretches from the third row to the second row.

There is no steering wheel inside the Ioniq Seven – it’s replaced by a joystick that stows away into the driver’s seat when not needed, and the space liberated on the dashboard is used for a full-length infotainment display as well as a storage shelf. Also part of the package is a giant, 77-inch ceiling display for entertainment purposes, a built-in refrigerator, tube-type ambient lighting lamps placed in the doors, aircraft-style interior ventilation (with horizontal and vertical air flow controls to prevent cross-contamination between vehicle occupants), a panoramic air purifier as well as UVC lighting, which engages once passengers step out, to sterilise the vehicle’s interior.

To lend it more of a home interior feel, Hyundai has used materials such as copper, bamboo wood, mineral plaster and recycled fabric, and also included shelves to store odds and ends. It’s safe to say that while a lot of these elements are promising and forward-looking, safety regulations may prevent them from carrying over into production.

Based on the scalable E-GMP architecture that also underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and the EV9 Concept, the Hyundai Ioniq Seven concept is also said to have a range of over 480 kilometres on a full charge, and thanks to its 800-volt architecture, the Seven is said to go from 10 to 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes when plugged into a 350 kW DC fast charger. The production version of the Ioniq Seven is likely to get a large battery (close to 80 kWh capacity) and a dual-motor setup with varying power outputs, depending on the variant.

It remains to be seen if the production-spec Ioniq Seven – expected to debut in 2023 – will replace any of Hyundai’s existing combustion engine SUVs, or if it will be offered as a standalone model under the Ioniq sub-brand. At present, the only Hyundai EV on sale in India is the Kona Electric, and while there’s no official communication on the same, the production Ioniq Seven may just end up being introduced in India after its global launch, as it would be the perfect halo model for Hyundai’s SUV portfolio.

LA Auto Show 2021: Kia EV9 Concept previews incoming flagship electric SUV, has a range of up to 480 km

LA Auto Show 2021: Kia EV9 Concept previews incoming flagship electric SUV, has a range of up to 480 km

blognet   Wednesday, November 17, 2021   Comment  

Kia has taken the wraps off its latest electric vehicle (EV) concept – the Kia EV9 SUV. Previewed in hazy teasers a few days ago, the Kia EV9 has made its global debut at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show alongside its mechanical cousin, the Hyundai Seven SUV concept, and while the two share underpinnings, the EV9 is a pretty distinct take on what Kia thinks a flagship electric SUV should look like. While it is clearly a concept at this point, the EV9 previews Kia’s upcoming range-topping electric SUV.

Inspired by the ‘contrasts of nature’, the EV9, with its upright proportions, squared-off front-end and block-like body is in the mould of some iconic, burly SUVs and will appeal to fans of this body style. Measuring in at 4,930 mm in length, 2,055 mm in width and 1,790mm in height, the Kia EV9 is taller and wider than Kia’s biggest combustion engine SUV, the Kia Telluride, and also has a substantially longer 3,100 mm wheelbase. In fact, the EV9 is closer in size to the new Range Rover, which will also be available as an all-electric SUV in the time to come.

Design highlights of the EV9 comprise what Kia calls the ‘Digital Tiger Face’, which brings features slim, L-shaped LED lights up front, each flanked by a set of six circular daytime running lights that light up perforations in the otherwise sealed-off front-end. The EV9 has muscular wheel arches, blacked-out pillars (with a triangular shape for the D-pillar), a large glass roof, rear-hinged doors and slender LED tail-lights.

The new air vent design up front is said to reduce the frontal mass of the vehicle and greatly improve aerodynamics, and the hood vent duct area houses a solar panel that helps replenish the battery in sunny conditions. To further refine aerodynamics, the EV9 is equipped with 22-inch aero-focused triangular alloy wheels, retractable roof rails that can be tucked away when not needed, and ditches wing mirrors for cameras.

Inside, the Kia EV9 Concept has a funky pop-up steering wheel and a 27-inch ultra-wide screen that combines the digital driver display and the touchscreen infotainment system a standout in an otherwise minimalistic interior. Recycled fish nets have been used for the EV9’s flooring, and its seat fabrics utilise recycled plastic bottles and wool fibres. The EV9 will only have vegan leather on the inside, and the company is working to phase out the use of leather in its vehicles going forward.

There are three interior ‘modes’ Kia has outlined for the EV9 – ‘Active’, where all seats face forward when the SUV is moving; ‘Pause’, where the front row seats swivel to face passengers seated in the third row, with the second row folding to become a table, and ‘Enjoy’, where all three rows turn around and the tailgate opens to provide a clear view of the surroundings. Pause and Enjoy modes can only be engaged when the SUV is stationary.

Based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP architecture, the production-spec Kia EV9 – in range-topping form – is expected to get a 77.4 kWh lithium-ion battery and a dual-motor setup, which would bless it with a combined peak output of close to 580 hp. Kia says the EV9 has a range of up to 480 kilometres on a full charge, and with a 350 kW DC fast charger, can go from 10 percent to 80 percent charge in less than 30 minutes.

The production version of the Kia EV9 is expected to debut sometime in 2023, and while many of the concept car elements are likely to be dropped, expect the SUV’s design to remain more or less unchanged when it hits the road. Kia has previously revealed its desire to bring electric vehicles to India in the coming years, and while there’s no official communication about it, the EV9 could well serve as a halo product for the Korean carmaker in the Indian market. If it does make its way here, expect the Kia EV9 to be a range-topping offering, possibly brought in as a full import and commanding a fitting premium.

Microsoft Surface Go 3 launched in India: Check the price, features and specifications here

Microsoft Surface Go 3 launched in India: Check the price, features and specifications here

blognet   Wednesday, November 17, 2021   Comment  

US-based tech giant Microsoft’s Surface Go 3 two-in-one laptop that was introduced globally in September, is now available in India. The Surface Go 3 is said to deliver 60 percent faster performance thanks to the 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, which is an upgraded version of the processor that powers the older Surface Go 2.

Microsoft Surface Go 3: Features and specifications

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 two-in-one device comes with a 10.5-inch, 1080p display with touch support, a 5 MP front camera and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The device can also be had with either the 10th-Gen Intel Core i3-10100Y processor or the dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor.

It comes preloaded with Windows 11, and other highlights include Bluetooth 5.0, up to 11 hours of battery with typical use and Wi-Fi 6. Not to forget, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 further comprises a Surface Connect port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a USB-C port and a MicroSDXC card reader.

As for the price, the Surface Go 3 that features the 10th-generation Intel Pentium Gold processor, 128 GB SSD and 8 GB of RAM is currently available to pre-book on Amazon for Rs 57,999. Sale will commence from 23 November.

Interested customers can also pick the base model that ships with the Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor. Furthermore, the device is available in a Platinum finish, while those pre-ordering it will receive a complimentary Surface Pen worth Rs 9,699.

Additionally, Business customers in India can avail the Surface Go 3 notebook at a starting price of Rs 42,999, with the Intel Pentium Gold processor paired with a 64GB eMMC and 4GB RAM. In addition, there is also another option with 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC and the 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, which is priced at Rs 47,999.

The top-of-the-line variant will cost Rs 62,999, and will pack 8 GB RAM, a 128GB SSD and the 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor. The much-awaited commercial SKUs will be available from December through authorised resellers.

Instagram reportedly asking users to submit video selfie for account verification in a bid to weed out bots

Instagram reportedly asking users to submit video selfie for account verification in a bid to weed out bots

blognet   Wednesday, November 17, 2021   Comment  

Some users have reportedly been asked by Instagram to provide a video selfie taken from multiple angles to verify their account. According to XDADevelopers, several users have said they were asked to take a video selfie to verify their current accounts.

For the uninitiated, the social platform began testing the feature last year, but stopped midway because of technical issues. Instagram has struggled with the issue of bot accounts for a long time, and such accounts usually send spam messages, harass other users and artificially inflate followers. This is the reason why the app is looking to curb the prevalence of bots on the platform.

Instagram's public relations team on Twitter stated that accounts with suspicious behaviour could be asked to submit a video selfie. The company reiterated the feature doesn’t use facial recognition, adding that its teams review the videos to establish if "there's a real person behind the account".

Meanwhile, as per a screenshot posted by a social media consultant Matt Navarra on Twitter, he informed that the photo sharing app is confirming the identity of users by video selfies while “Meta promises not to collect biometric data.”

Instagram is now using video selfies to confirm users identity

Meta promises not to collect biometric data. pic.twitter.com/FNT2AdW8H2

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) November 15, 2021

Another user shared a screenshot of the help screen requesting the user to submit a video selfie. The image showed that on opening the feature, the app asks for a video showing all angles of one's face to prove that they are a real person. Furthermore, it also shows the verification screen for multiple people.

Account users will have to submit the video, after it has been recorded, to the platform for confirmation of identity. Additionally, Instagram promises the video will not be visible on the platform and will be deleted within 30 days from the company's servers.

So far, it is unclear whether this feature is still being tested or being gradually rolled out. But it's clear that through this process, Meta is looking to reduce the number of fake or spam accounts on the platform. However, Meta has not commented on whether everyone would eventually have to submit a video selfie.

The company is also testing its 'Take A Break' feature, which will remind users to close the app after they have been on it for a specified duration.

Honda Navi launched in the US, becomes first developed-in-India Honda 2W to be sold in the States

Honda Navi launched in the US, becomes first developed-in-India Honda 2W to be sold in the States

blognet   Wednesday, November 17, 2021   Comment  

The Honda Navi has gone on sale once again, but this time, in the United States. Yes, the diminutive moto-scooter – which was conceived and developed by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India – has found its latest market in the States, where it has been introduced as the smallest, most accessible and most affordable two-wheeler from Honda, with a base price of $1,807 – or Rs 1.34 lakh, nearly three times the price tag it sported in India.

The Navi is the first Honda two-wheeler developed by the manufacturer’s Indian arm to go on sale in the US, which will certainly serve to flatter the HMSI team responsible for its creation. There is no official statement on the same, but it’s more than likely that the Honda Navi being sold in the US is also made in India, as the plucky moto-scooter is manufactured only at HMSI’s plant in Tapukara, Rajasthan, for export markets.

Launched in India back in 2016, the Honda Navi – a repurposed Honda Activa under the skin – certainly got two-wheeler buyers curious with its funky appearance, peppy performance and even witnessed surprisingly strong demand initially, crossing the one lakh unit sales milestone in August 2018.

However, its small dimensions and quirky looks didn’t go down too well with the Indian audience, with many terming it as comical and possibly even a misfit for the masses. Honda eventually decided to stop selling the Navi in India ahead of the BS6 emission norms coming into effect, but continues to manufacture it for other markets, where it continues to do surprisingly well.

Compared to what we saw, the US-spec Navi remains largely identical, with the only changes being new turn indicators and a mildly modified instrument cluster that now includes MPH markings for the speedometer.

It is a novel offering for budding riders in the US in the way that it is considerably cheaper than the most affordable Honda two-wheeler available in the States, is carburetted in the age of fuel injection, has the Activa’s trusty 110 cc engine and CVT combination, rides on a 12-inch front wheel (10-inch at the rear), has drum brakes at both ends, lacks ABS, weighs just 107 kg and offers a mileage of 110 mpg – or around 47 kpl. The Navi will be available in the US from January 2022 onwards.

HMSI is now developing more two-wheelers specifically for the Indian market, and if the Navi is well received by US buyers, it will be interesting to see if Honda chooses to ship more developed-in-India models to the States. In recent times, Honda’s Indian arm has rolled out motorcycles such as the Honda H’ness CB 350, Honda CB 350 RS and Honda CB200X specifically for the domestic market, with more midsize offerings in the pipeline, and some of those could be ideal candidates for markets overseas, including the US.

Russian anti-satellite weapon test creates 'space junk': What it is and how to deal with the debris

Russian anti-satellite weapon test creates 'space junk': What it is and how to deal with the debris

blognet   Tuesday, November 16, 2021   Comment  

On 15 November 2021, U.S. officials announced that they had detected a dangerous new debris field in orbit near Earth. Later in the day, it was confirmed that Russia had destroyed one of its old satellites in a test of an anti-satellite weapon. Wendy Whitman Cobb is a space security researcher. She explains what these weapons are and why the debris they create is a problem now – and in the future.

What do we know?

Russia launched an anti-satellite test that destroyed one of its older satellites. The satellite broke up and created thousands of pieces of debris in orbit, ranging in size from tiny specks up to pieces a few feet across. This space junk will linger in orbit for years, potentially colliding with other satellites as well as the International Space Station. The space station crew has already had to shelter in place as they passed near the debris cloud.

What’s an anti-satellite weapon?

Anti-satellite weapons, commonly referred to as ASATs, are any weapons that can temporarily impair or permanently destroy an orbiting satellite. The one that Russia just tested is known as a direct ascent kinetic anti-satellite weapon. These are usually launched from the ground or from the wings of an airplane and destroy satellites by running into them at high speeds.

A similar weapon type, called co-orbital anti-satellite weapons, are first launched into orbit and then change direction to collide with the targeted satellite from space.

A third type, non-kinetic anti-satellite weapons, use technology like lasers to disrupt satellites without physically colliding with them.

Space agencies have been developing and testing anti-satellite weapons since the 1960s. To date, the U.S., Russia, China and India have demonstrated the ability to attack satellites in orbit that support services like GPS, communications and weather forecasting.

Why is debris a problem?

Regardless of the cause, space debris is a serious problem.

Larger pieces are easier to track and avoid but it’s difficult to track pieces smaller than 4 inches (10 centimeters). Even small debris can still pose a major threat though. Space debris is often traveling faster than 17,000 mph around the Earth. At that speed, pieces of debris could destroy any spacecraft or satellite it collided with. In the 1980s, a Soviet satellite broke up as a result of a suspected debris strike.

More worrisome is the danger debris poses to crewed space missions. In July 2021, one of the International Space Station’s robotic arms was struck by a piece of debris that put a 0.2-inch (0.5 cm) hole clean through a part of the arm. While the damage did not need to be fixed, officials characterized it as a lucky strike – if it had struck a different part of the station, the situation could have been a lot worse.

Space debris is also a significant threat to people on Earth. Satellites play a vital role in the global economy through GPS, communications and weather data. If services such as these were disrupted, there would be significant economic cost. One study found that a GPS outage could cost the U.S. up to $1 billion a day.

There are currently thousands of pieces of space junk circling the Earth, with sources as varied as old rocket bodies, dead satellites, debris from previous collisions and tests, and lost items from astronauts. The problem – like with the environment – is that there is little incentive for individual countries to avoid generating debris or cleaning it up.

The amount of space debris has only increased over time. For years, scientists have been warning about the possibility of a collision cascade. As the amount of debris increases, the chance of collisions between it and other satellites and debris also goes up. More collisions might then leave certain orbits completely unusable. While this could take decades to play out, events like the Russian test will only make such an outcome more likely.

What to do now?

In the short term, little can be done to mitigate this new cloud of space debris, but anyone with anything in space is on high alert to avoid it.

The US government and commercial companies are tracking the new debris, and the crew on the International Space Station have been ordered to keep certain modules closed off as they continue to pass through the debris cloud. As the new debris spreads out and the pieces are tracked, station controllers will have a better understanding of the danger posed to the crew.

In the long run, experts recommend working on global solutions to remove debris. This includes taking measures to prevent debris in the first place and removing debris that is already in space. Several governmental and international organizations have proposed ways to prevent new debris, but these are informal and not legally binding.

Remediation is a tougher challenge. Technology to remove debris has not yet been fully developed, but even still, its deployment is a sensitive subject. The same technology that might be used to remove a piece of space junk could also be used for attacking a satellite. This dual-use technology poses challenges, as it can raise suspicions that countries are testing anti-satellite weapons under the cover of debris removal.

Despite the difficulties, there is growing international recognition that space debris is a dangerous problem. A consortium of private companies recently created the Net Zero Space charter to reduce debris, and the U.S. Space Force is looking for ways to combat the problem as well. While the world still does not yet have a full understanding of Russia’s actions, this event is a wake-up call on the importance of efforts to reduce pollution in Earth’s orbit.

Wendy Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Battlegrounds Mobile India developer Krafton permanently bans over 25 lakh accounts for cheating

Battlegrounds Mobile India developer Krafton permanently bans over 25 lakh accounts for cheating

blognet   Tuesday, November 16, 2021   Comment  

PUBG Mobile’s India version, Battlegrounds Mobile India’s developer Krafton has said that it has banned 25 lakh accounts permanently, and over seven lakh accounts temporarily in a roughly 40-day time frame. The company has banned these accounts on account of cheating and has listed out the steps to remove cheaters. The South Korean developer has said that it has cleaned out most of the cheaters in the game. Krafton previously banned about 88,000 accounts in a week in October, and 1,40,000 accounts in September.

The company was quoted as saying in a statement that it has banned exactly 25,19,262 accounts permanently and 7,06,319 accounts temporarily between October 1 and November 10. “Krafton is constantly taking major efforts to eradicate cheating on cheaters on Battlegrounds Mobile India. In line with its efforts, Krafton now has cleaned out most of the cheaters in the game, making BGMI a much more fun experience, and will continue to take whatever steps are necessary to keep BGMI fair and fun," the developer said in a Facebook post.

“We had initially worked on the model that first offenders will be handed out temporary bans, but as of now, we have shifted all bans to permanent bans. There’s no room for second chance now," Krafton said in its Facebook post. Krafton has also listed some of the steps it took to remove cheaters from BGMI, which include a cheat detection and banning mechanism that allows the system to track cheaters in real time, helping Krafton ban players who use unlawful methods.

Krafton also said that it does manual verification and banning of accounts that use or promote illegal programmers among high-rankers. There is also a real-time monitoring of YouTube for any channels that promote illegal programmes.

WhatsApp working on two vital new features for Android and iOS users: Check out the incoming additions

WhatsApp working on two vital new features for Android and iOS users: Check out the incoming additions

blognet   Tuesday, November 16, 2021   Comment  

WhatsApp is said to be working on a couple of new features that will allow users to hide their last seen, status, and profile picture from specific contacts, and a feature where users will be able to listen to a voice note before sending it to their contacts. Both the features are currently in a beta stage and will be rolled out in a future build of WhatsApp, according to WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo.

The ability to hide last seen, status, and profile picture from specific contacts comes as the company’s extension of the privacy features that are already available on the Facebook-owned instant messaging app. Currently, WhatsApp allows users to hide their profile picture, status and last seen for all contacts at once, without the option of selecting who all can view it.

Now, this is set to change as WhatsApp has been found testing new privacy settings that will allow users to choose whom they want to hide their statuses and pictures from. The feature is being tested on the beta versions of both Android and iOS. WhatsApp currently gives users three options - to show their Status, Profile Picture, and Last Seen to 'Everyone,' 'Nobody,' and 'My Contacts.' The report in WABetaInfo has now said that WhatsApp will add a new option that will be 'My Contacts…Except,' and will allow users to select who all to hide their last seen status and profile picture from. The WABetaInfo report, does not show how the feature will work on WhatsApp, but has shared a screenshot of the new option being added to the privacy settings on the Facebook-owned messaging app.

WABetaInfo said that the feature is currently under development and will be rolled out with a future build.

Apart from this, WhatsApp will soon let its users preview and pause the voice messages. This feature will improve the app’s usability. You will be able to pause the voice message once this functionality is updated. Previously, the app could not pause when recording a voice note.

Along with that, WhatsApp will show waveforms while you record voice notes. According to WABetaInfo, the development of this new feature is still in the early stages but is still available for beta testing on Android and iOS. Until the official release of the feature, there is an easy way you can preview your voice note before sending it: To hear your WhatsApp voice note without sending it, launch the instant messaging app and navigate to the chat to which you’ll be sending the voice note. Slide up the audio recording option to lock it, so you do not have to keep your finger on the audio button while recording.

Once the recording begins, record your audio and, when done, touch the back button to return to WhatsApp’s homepage. Be careful you don’t release the audio by accident. Don’t worry about hitting the back button; your audio will not be discarded. Return to the conversation where you want to share the audio, and the audio clip will be ready for you. To listen to your audio, use the play button. If everything appears to be in order, press the send button. If you wish to re-record your audio, you can even delete it by tapping on the trash icon.

Best phones under Rs 25,000 (Nov 2021): iQOO Z5 5G, Samsung Galaxy F62 to Mi 10i 5G

Best phones under Rs 25,000 (Nov 2021): iQOO Z5 5G, Samsung Galaxy F62 to Mi 10i 5G

blognet   Tuesday, November 16, 2021   Comment  

Our collection of the best phones within a budget of Rs 25,000 this month caters to different types of users. Be it the brand-conscious, the gamer or the photography enthusiast or simply someone looking for a slim and stylish phone, we have you all covered. Here, we have phones with powerful processors, impressive cameras, AMOLED screens with high refresh rates, 5G compliance and more in this budget. Take a pick basis what’s most important to you.

Best phones to buy under Rs 25,000 in India

iQOO Z5 5G/Z3 5G

Let’s start with the two best all-round phones in this price segment from Vivo's sub-brand. We have included the iQOO Z3 5G as well as the Z5 5G in this line-up as they aren’t too different from each other (though not identical) and offer impressive features and performance. The top variant of the iQOO Z3 5G with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB of internal storage can be comfortably purchased in this budget. It is powered by Qualcomm’s recent midrange Snapdragon 768 SoC.

It has a vibrant 6.58-inch HDR10 compliant Full HD+ LCD screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling in compatible apps. Photography is taken care of by three cameras at the back comprising a 64 MP primary camera, an 8 MP ultrawide shooter and a 2 MP macro camera. A 16 MP selfie camera resides in a drop-notch at the top of the screen. A 4,400 mAh battery keeps the phone running for well over a day of moderate use. The company bundles a 55 W fast charger to juice it up in super-quick time.

The iQOO Z5 5G offers small but important upgrades over the Z3. For starters, it has a faster and more recent Snapdragon 778 SoC. Internal storage is upgraded to UFS 3.1 from 2.2, however, you get half the capacity in this budget. It has a larger 6.67-inch Full HD+ LCD screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Battery capacity has been bumped up to 5,000 mAh, and while the fast charger is relatively slower at 44 W, it does promise to charge half the battery in 23 minutes.

Both phones run Android 11 with FunTouch UI on top, and the company promises two major Android updates on both devices. While the Z3 ships with FunTouch UI 11.1, the Z5 offers the newer version 12 out of the box. The camera department is identical on both phones.

iQOO Z3 5G price in India: Rs 22,990 for 8 GB RAM/256 GB storage
iQOO Z5 5G price in India: Rs 22,490 for 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage (on Amazon India)

Mi 10i 5G

The Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G is a phone photography enthusiasts will be interested in, courtesy of its 108 MP camera that clicks some crisp shots in various conditions. The support cast consists of an 8 MP ultrawide camera, 2 MP macro camera and a 2 MP depth sensor. The 16 MP front camera does a good job with selfies and video calls. This 5G phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 SoC, and you get either 6 GB or 8 GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage that can be expanded further using a micro-SD card.

The Mi 10i 5G has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ HDR10 compliant LCD display that can get up to 450 nits bright. This too supports a 120 Hz refresh rate for a flicker-free experience in compatible apps, and is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. A 4,820 mAh battery keeps it running for close to a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 33 W fast charger claims to take it from 0 to 100 percent in under an hour. The smartphone runs Android 10 with MIUI 12. An Android 11 update has started rolling out for this phone.

Mi 10i 5G price in India: Rs 21,999 for 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage; Rs 23,999 for 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage

Poco X3 Pro

The Poco X3 Pro has the most powerful processor of all phones on this list. It is powered by a near-flagship grade Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC and accompanied by 8 GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. This phone is ideal for gaming on a budget and that too at reasonably high settings. This phone too has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The screen has a layer of Gorilla Glass 6 for protection against scratches.

The X3 Pro has quad cameras at the back starting with a 48 MP primary camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide shooter, 2 MP macro camera and a 2 MP depth sensor. A small punch-hole at the top of the screen hosts a 20 MP camera for selfies and video calls. Its 5,160 mAh battery easily lasts over a day and a half of moderate use, unless there’s heavy gaming involved. The bundled 33 W fast charger juices it up quickly. The phone runs Android 11 with MIUI 12 on top.

Poco X3 Pro price in India: Rs 20,999 for 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage

Samsung Galaxy F62

The Samsung Galaxy F62 is quite a handful (literally) courtesy of its large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display and weight in excess of 200 grams. One key contributor to its weight is its mammoth 7,000 mAh battery that can keep the phone powered for close to two-and-a-half days of moderate use. The bundled 25 W fast charger promises to recharge the high-capacity battery in a couple of hours. If you like big-screen phones with extremely long battery life, this is a great option for you.

The F62 is powered by Samsung's Exynos 9825 chip, and you get 6 GB RAM along with 128 GB of internal (expandable) storage. The camera department is quite versatile with a combination of 64 MP primary camera, 12 MP ultrawide shooter, 5 MP macro camera and a 5 MP depth sensor to capture some quality photos in various modes. The 32 MP front-facing camera embedded in a tiny punch-hole at the top of the screen should impress selfie enthusiasts. The Samsung Galaxy F62 runs Android 11 with One UI 3.1.

Samsung Galaxy F62 price in India: Rs 23,590 for 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage

Vivo V20 (2021 edition)

The Vivo V20 (2021 edition) is for those looking for a stylish and slim phone. It is less than 7.5 mm thick; a refreshing change from the bulky phones we get these days. Despite the slim profile, it has a respectable 4,000 mAh battery that lasts over a day of moderate use and supports 33 W fast charging. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 730 SoC, along with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage that can be expanded further to 1 TB with a micro-SD card.

The phone has a 6.44-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display and a glass back. The rear camera department is handled mainly by the 64 MP primary camera and supported by an 8 MP ultrawide snapper and a 2 MP depth sensor. This phone will also enthuse selfie enthusiasts with its 44 MP front camera with autofocus that can also record 4K videos. This phone runs Android 11 out of the box with FunTouch UI 11 on top.

Vivo V20 (2021 edition) price in India: Rs 22,990 for 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage

Updated Aprilia SR 160, SR 125 scooters launched in India: Check out the prices, design and features

Updated Aprilia SR 160, SR 125 scooters launched in India: Check out the prices, design and features

blognet   Tuesday, November 16, 2021   Comment  

To freshen up its performance-oriented scooters, Piaggio India has rolled out the updated-for-2021 Aprilia SR 125 and Aprilia SR 160, both of which get minor design changes, a couple of feature additions but are also notably pricier than before. The 2021 Aprilia SR 125 range starts at Rs 1,07,595, which is around Rs 13,000 more than the pre-facelift SR 125, while the 2021 Aprilia SR 160 range starts at Rs 1,17,494, which makes it around Rs 11,500 more expensive than the version it replaces. The SR 160 will also be available in racier-looking Carbon and Race variants, and while prices for these versions weren’t disclosed at the launch, they will almost certainly cost close to Rs 1.30 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom, Pune).

In terms of changes, the Aprilia SR – which has, in effect, stayed largely the same from a design perspective since its launch a good five years ago – gets a new, V-shaped LED headlight with DRLs, a reshaped apron with a redesigned handlebar cover, split seats, an X-shaped motif for the LED tail-light, and the SR 160 Race packs factory-fitted knuckle guards.

When it comes to equipment, the only fundamental addition comes in the form of an all-digital instrument cluster – taken from the more expensive Aprilia SXR 160 – which relays vital info, and surprisingly includes a tachometer, which isn’t necessarily expected on a scooter. However, there's still no Bluetooth connectivity.

No mechanical changes have been outlined, so the SR 125 and SR 160 continue with their existing powerplants. The Aprilia SR 125’s 124.45 cc, three-valve single-cylinder engine makes 9.9 hp and 9.7 Nm of torque, while the SR 160’s 160 cc unit produces 11 hp and 11.6 Nm of torque. Both scooters continue to ride on 14-inch wheels and have a disc brake up front, but the SR 125 only has a combi-brake system, while the SR 160 comes with single-channel ABS.

At this price, the 2021 Aprilia SR 160 is priced precariously close to the more powerful Yamaha Aerox 155, which costs Rs 1.29 lakh (ex-showroom).

Longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years to occur on 19 Nov; all you need to know

Longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years to occur on 19 Nov; all you need to know

blognet   Tuesday, November 16, 2021   Comment  

This year, the longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years will take place overnight on 18-19 November, as per the National Aeronautics and Science Administration (NASA). The eclipse will be visible in all parts of the US and parts of Australia, East Asia and South America as well.

The eclipse will last for about 3 hours 28 minutes and 23 seconds, according to the agency. If we count the time of the penumbral eclipse, meaning when the Moon is in the Earth's outer shadow, the eclipse will last for over six hours.

In India, the eclipse will be visible from some areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for a short while. The eclipse in India will last from 12:48 pm to 4:17 pm.

The partial lunar eclipse will peak around 1:30 pm in the country, when 97 percent of the Moon would be in the Earth’s shadow.
As the excitement among space enthusiasts and astronomers grows for the partial lunar eclipse, here is everything you need to know about lunar eclipses:

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Sun and Moon are in such an alignment that the Earth blocks the sun’s rays from reaching the moon. This leads to the moon being ‘eclipsed’ by the Earth’s shadow.

There are three types of lunar eclipses- partial, total and penumbral eclipses. A partial eclipse means that the Earth’s shadow obscures the moon partly, while in a total lunar eclipse the celestial body is completely covered by the Earth. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon is in the Earth’s faint outer shadow or penumbra.

Can lunar eclipses occur twice in the same month?

A lunar eclipse can occur twice in a particular month, while in rare cases, three eclipses can also take place. A total of 228 lunar eclipses will take place in the 21st century, as per NASA.

When will the last lunar eclipse occur in 2021?

The last lunar eclipse will occur on 19 November this year, with the moon being partially obscured by the Earth’s shadow.

When will the next lunar eclipse take place?

The next lunar eclipse is scheduled to take place on 16 May next year.

McLaren refutes news of Audi buyout in official statement, terms report of sale ‘wholly inaccurate’

McLaren refutes news of Audi buyout in official statement, terms report of sale ‘wholly inaccurate’

blognet   Monday, November 15, 2021   Comment  

Following a media report that claimed German carmaker Audi had bought British auto marque McLaren, the McLaren Group put out a statement refuting the news, clarifying that no sale has taken place and that the report is incorrect. On 15 November, British trade magazine Autocar UK cited a source it said was close to the dealing, claiming Audi had bought the McLaren Group outright in a bid to make a full-fledged entry into the world of Formula 1 racing. Shortly after the report was published, McLaren released a statement terming the news ‘wholly inaccurate’.

“The McLaren Group is aware of a news media report stating it has been sold to Audi. This is wholly inaccurate, and McLaren is seeking to have the story removed”, read the official statement.

While Autocar UK did modify its original story to include McLaren’s statement, its original tweet claiming Audi had bought the McLaren Group still remains live on Twitter, and has over 3,200 retweets and 5,300 likes at the time of this piece being filed.

While it rubbished the news of the Audi buyout, McLaren said it does have discussions and collaborations ongoing with ‘relevant partners and suppliers, including other carmakers’, but did not name any of them.

“There has been no change in the ownership structure of the McLaren Group”, the statement concluded.

In response to the developments, an Audi spokesperson told Reuters, “As part of our strategic considerations, we are constantly looking at various cooperation ideas.”

Recent rumours have suggested the McLaren Group had attracted interest from Audi as well as BMW, with the former keen to make an entry into the pinnacle of four-wheeled motor racing. Acquiring McLaren would have given Audi control of its second supercar brand alongside Lamborghini, and could have potentially resulted in technology transfer and powertrain sharing.

The Volkswagen Group is understood to be keen on making a return to F1, and is said to be pushing group brands Porsche and Audi to find a way into the championship.

McLaren has been dealing with financial pressures of late, despite a refinancing of up to 500 million pounds last year. Mike Flewitt – who had been CEO of McLaren Automotive for the last eight years – also quit his role in October.

McLaren is also understood to be gearing up for its India entry, having appointed Infinity Cars as its exclusive importer for our market earlier this year.

Apple and Google bow to pressure in Russia to remove Kremlin critic’s tactical voting app

Apple and Google bow to pressure in Russia to remove Kremlin critic’s tactical voting app

blognet   Friday, September 17, 2021   Comment  

Apple and Google have removed a tactical voting app created by the organization of jailed Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny, from their respective mobile app stores in Russia.

Earlier this week Reuters reported that the Russian state had been amping up the pressure on foreign tech giants ahead of federal elections — appropriating the language of “election interference” to push US companies to censor the high profile political opponent to president Putin.

On Twitter today, a key Navalny ally, Ivan Zhdanov, tweeted that his organization is considering suing Apple and Google over removal of the apps — dubbing the act of censorship a “huge mistake”.

Zhdanov has also published what he says is Apple’s response to Team Navalny — in which the tech giant cites the Kremlin’s classification of a number of pro-Navalny organizations as “extremist” groups to justify its removal of the software.

(Image credit: Screengrab of detail from Apple’s notification to the developer, via Zhdanov’s tweet)

Apple and Google routinely say they comply with ‘all local laws’ in the countries where they operate.

However in Russia that stance means they have become complicit in acts of political censorship.

“We note that the Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation and the Prosecutor’s Office of the City of Moscow have also determined that the app violates the legislation of the Russian Federation by enabling interference in elections,” Apple writes in the notification of takedown it sent to the developer of the tactical voting app.

“While your app has been removed from the Russia App Store, it is still available in the App Stores for the other territories you selected in App Store Connect,” Apple adds.

Apple and Google have been contacted for comment on the removal of Navalny’s app.

Формальное основание удаления приложений: признание ФБК экстремистской организацией.
То, как ФБК признавали экстремистской организацией – было не судом, а издевательством над здравым смыслом. @google @Apple совершают огромную ошибку. pic.twitter.com/3AG4tHXdZp

— Ivan Zhdanov (@ioannZH) September 17, 2021

 

Also via Twitter, Zhdanov urged supporters to focus on the tactical voting mission — tweeting a link to a video hosted on Google-owned YouTube which contains recommendations to Russians on how to cast an anti-Putin vote in the parliamentary elections taking place today until Sunday.

Navalny’s supporters are hoping to mobilize voters across Russia to cast tactical ballots in a bid to unseat Putin by voting for whatever candidate has the best chance of defeating the ruling United Russia party.

Their tactical voting strategy has faced some criticism — given that many of the suggested alternatives are, at best, only very weakly opposed to Putin’s regime.

However Navalny’s supporters would surely point out they are having to operate within a flawed system.

After Apple and Google initially refused to remove Navalny’s ‘Smart Voting’ app, last month, the Russian state has been attempting to block access to his organization’s website.

It has even reportedly targeted Google docs — which supporters of Navalny have also been using to organize tactical voting efforts.

Screengrab of the Smart Voting app on the UK iOS app store (Image credits: Natasha Lomas/TechCrunch)

Earlier this month Reuters reported that Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, had threatened Apple and Google with fines if they did not remove the Smart Voting app — warning that failure to comply could be interpreted as election meddling.

Russian press has also reported that Apple and Google were summoned to a meeting at the Federation Council on the eve of the election — as Putin’s regime sought to force them to do his anti-democratic bidding.

According to a report by Kommersant, the tech giants were warned the Russian Federation was preparing to tighten regulations on their businesses — and told to “come to their senses”, facing another warning that they were at a “red line”.

The last ditch effort to force the platforms to remove Navalny’s app did then pay off.

In recent weeks, Roskomnadzor has also been targeting VPN apps in the country for removal — making it hard for Russians to circumvent the local ban on Navalny’s app by accessing the software through the stores of other countries.

Local search giant, Yandex, has also reportedly been ordered not to display search results for the Smart Voting app.

Earlier this year, Putin’s regime also targeted Twitter — throttling the service for failing to remove content it wanted banned, although Roskomnadzor claimed the action was related to non-political content such as minors committing suicide, child sexual exploitation and drug use.

TikTok emerges as a political battleground in Navalny-stirred Russia

In internal memo, Apple says it is monitoring legal challenges to Texas abortion law

In internal memo, Apple says it is monitoring legal challenges to Texas abortion law

blognet   Thursday, September 16, 2021   Comment  

In a message posted on an internal employee message board today, Apple said that it was monitoring the legal challenges to what it refers to as the “uniquely restrictive abortion law” that was recently passed in Texas. Apple confirmed the authenticity of the message to TechCrunch.

“We are actively monitoring the legal proceedings challenging the uniquely restrictive abortion law in Texas,” the unsigned memo reads. “In the meantime, we want to remind you that our benefits at Apple are comprehensive, and that they allow our employees to travel out-of-state for medical care if it is unavailable in their home state.”

The new law essentially bans the vast majority of abortions from occurring in the state and is currently being legally challenged In a variety of ways. A series of companies in and outside of tech have taken public stances against the law in recent days. Salesforce has offered to relocate any employees in Texas that are concerned about the ability to access reproductive care in the state post-enactment of the law. Offers to cover travel expenses for employees that needed care out of the state were set up by Match Group and Bumble, both Texas-based companies.

The message does not detail any further actions that Apple is taking to actively oppose the bill but says that Apple supports “our employees’ rights to make their own decisions regarding their reproductive health.”

Apple is a large employer in Texas where it has a campus of thousands in Austin, as well as a manufacturing plant and many Apple stores across the state.

The full text of the message is below:

A message about women’s reproductive health care

At Apple, we support our employees’ rights to make their own decisions regarding their reproductive health.

We are actively monitoring the legal proceedings challenging the uniquely restrictive abortion law in Texas. In the meantime, we want to remind you that our benefits at Apple are comprehensive, and that they allow our employees to travel out-of-state for medical care if it is unavailable in their home state. If you need help in navigating your care or that of your dependents, your health plan carrier can confidentially assist you.

Your health and well-being remain our highest priority, and we will continue to do all that we can to ensure that you and your families have access to the care that Apple provides.

 

Watch Apple unveil the new iPhone live right here

Apple

Watch Apple unveil the new iPhone live right here

blognet   Tuesday, September 14, 2021   Comment  

Apple is set to announce new iPhone models today. The company is holding a (virtual) keynote at 10 AM PT (1 PM in New York, 6 PM in London, 7 PM in Paris). And you’ll be able to watch the event right here as the company is streaming it live.

Rumor has it that there will be a new generation of iPhone models. Reports suggest that the company is going to call it the iPhone 13 and that there will be four different models just like last year. Today, you can expect to learn more about the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

When it comes to new features, it’s safe to say that there will be big camera upgrades. This year, the company seems to be focused on video improvements in particular. The iPhone 13 should also come with a better display and a faster chip.

But that’s not all. Apple is likely to use this opportunity to announce a new Apple Watch model. There will be bigger design changes with the Apple Watch Series 7 with sharp edges.

There could be more product announcements as Apple has been working on the AirPods 3. They will replace or complement the entry-level AirPods 2 in the audio lineup. The AirPods Pro and AirPods Max will remain unchanged for now.

Finally, there’s a small chance that we get to hear more about new Macs with custom designed Apple chips as well as new iPad models…

You can watch the live stream directly on this page, as Apple is streaming its conference on YouTube.

If you have an Apple TV, you can open the TV app and look for the ‘Apple Special Event’ section. It lets you stream today’s event and rewatch old ones.

And if you don’t have an Apple TV and don’t want to use YouTube, the company also lets you live stream the event from the Apple Events section on its website. This video feed now works in all major browsers — Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.

We’ll be covering the event and you can follow our liveblog for live commentary.

Apple Music is using Shazam to solve the streaming industry’s problem with DJ mixes

Apple Music is using Shazam to solve the streaming industry’s problem with DJ mixes

blognet   Thursday, September 09, 2021   Comment  

Apple Music announced today that it’s created a process to properly identify and compensate all of the individual creators involved in making a DJ mix. Using technology from the audio-recognition app Shazam, which Apple acquired in 2018 for $400 million, Apple Music is working with major and independent labels to devise a fair way to divide streaming royalties among DJs, labels, and artists who appear in the mixes. This is intended to help DJ mixes retain long-term monetary value for all creators involved, making sure that musicians get paid for their work even when other artists iterate on it. And, as one of Apple’s first major integrations of Shazam’s technology, it appears that the company saw value in

Historically, it’s been difficult for DJs to stream mixes online, since live streaming platforms like YouTube or Twitch might flag the use of other artists’ songs as copyright infringement. Artists are entitled to royalties when their song is played by a DJ during a live set, but dance music further complicates this, since small samples from various songs can be edited and mixed together into something unrecognizable.

Apple Music already hosts thousands of mixes, including sets from Tomorrowland’s digital festivals from 2020 and 2021, but only now is it formally announcing the tech that enables it to do this, even though Billboard noted it in June. As part of this announcement, Studio K7!’s DJ Kicks archive of mixes will begin to roll out on the service, giving fans access to mixes that haven’t been on the market in over 15 years.

“Apple Music is the first platform that offers continuous mixes where there’s a fair fee involved for the artists whose tracks are included in the mixes and for the artist making those mixes. It’s a step in the right direction where everyone gets treated fairly,” DJ Charlotte de Witte said in a statement on behalf of Apple. “I’m beyond excited to have the chance to provide online mixes again.”

Image Credits: Apple Music

For dance music fans, the ability to stream DJ mixes is groundbreaking, and it can help Apple Music compete with Spotify, which leads the industry in paid subscribers as it surpasses Apple’s hold on podcasting. Even as Apple Music has introduced lossless audio, spatial audio, and classical music acquisitions, the company hasn’t yet outpaced Spotify, though the addition of DJ mixes adds yet another unique music feature.

Still, Apple Music’s dive into the DJ royalties conundrum doesn’t necessarily address the broader crises at play among live musicians and DJs surviving through a pandemic.

Though platforms like Mixcloud allow DJs to stream sets and monetize using pre-licensed music, Apple Music’s DJ mixes will not include user-generated content. MIDiA Research, in partnership with Audible Magic, found that user-generated content (UGC) — online content that uses music, whether it’s a lipsync TikTok or a Soundcloud DJ mix — could be a music industry goldmine worth over $6 billion in the next two years. But Apple is not yet investing in UGC, as individuals cannot yet upload their personal mixes to stream on the platform like they might on Soundcloud. According to a Billboard report from June, Apple Music will only host mixes after the streamer has identified 70% of the combined tracks.

Apple Music didn’t respond to questions about how exactly royalties will be divided, but this is only a small step in reimagining how musicians will make a living in a digital landscape.

While these innovations help get artists compensated, streaming royalties only account for a small percentage of how musicians make money — Apple pays musicians one cent per stream, while competitors like Spotify pay only fractions of cents. This led the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) to launch a campaign in March called Justice at Spotify, which demands a one-cent-per-stream payout that matches Apple’s. But live events remain a musician’s bread and butter, especially given platforms’ paltry streaming payouts — of course, the pandemic hasn’t been conducive to touring. To add insult to injury, the Association for Electronic Music estimated in 2016 that dance music producers missed out on $120 million in royalties from their work being used without attribution in live performances.