Following last summer’s trend of embracing Barbiecore aesthetics, it appears that the trend is making a comeback, with Nokia’s phone makers now joining in for another iteration.

At Mobile World Congress 2024, Human Mobile Devices (HMD) – which has been in the news lately for shifting focus from the Nokia brand – and Mattel have announced a collaboration to work on a new mobile phone that celebrates the Barbie franchise. What’s even more exciting is that it will be a flip phone, a category that resonates with the world’s most iconic doll.

But why now? Why announce a Barbie flip-phone several months after the Barbiecore mania faded away? Although HMD and Mattel haven’t commented on the matter, we assume it has something to do with the Barbie franchise in general and not Greta Gerwig‘s 2023 Hollywood movie.

Unlike the Barbie-themed Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 from last year, HMD’s Barbie flip phone is said to be designed from scratch and will offer a retro twist. This isn’t surprising, given that HMD is the brains behind Nokia’s diverse range of retro feature phones that offer a taste of the ‘90s and early 2000s nostalgia in 2024.

So, if you’re interested in retro phones, are still intoxicated by Barbie mania, or both, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Barbie flip phone.

Barbie flip phone: Is Mattel not done with Barbiecore?

The short answer, no.

The craze of Barbie and HMD’s retro feature phones is spilling into 2024 and based on the brand’s MWC announcements, it looks like the Barbie flip phone is an exercise to grab attention for HMD’s launch of non-Nokia smartphones this summer.

Speaking of smartphones, this phone will not have anything to do with Android or any other conventional operating system. HMD further clarified in its press statement that the Barbie flip phone is a feature phone and its sole purpose is to bring the Barbie franchise’s style to the concept of digital detox.

“The Barbie Flip Phone will arrive this summer 2024. Promising style, nostalgia and a much-needed digital detox, this retro feature phone will flip the script on smartphone culture and will be this summer’s hottest accessory,” says HMD.

Barbie flip phone: Specifications and features

With the possibility of this being a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 rival ruled out, we can limit our expectations from HMD’s Barbie flip phone. After all, HMD and Mattel intend this device to be used as a digital detox accessory for the summer.

And finally, *Drumroll, please… * 👋 Hi @Barbie!#BarbieFlipPhone = promising style, nostalgia and a much-needed digital detox, this retro phone will be this summer’s hottest accessory 🎀#HMD #MWC24 pic.twitter.com/IGb5vIimnm

— HMD (@HMDdevices) February 25, 2024

Considering the press images shared by HMD, it looks like the Barbie flip phone will be devoid of most modern-day perks seen in feature phones and is likely to stick to the basics.

A well-laid out T9 keypad along with a large colour TFT LCD display, a big battery, a USB-C charging port and a 3.5m headphone jack is expected to be part of the standard specifications list. We also expect to see support for 4G connectivity.

No camera for Barbie though, as evident from the pixellated image shared by HMD on the stage. A digital detox taken too far? Or is the phone supposed to be for children? Only time will tell.

Barbie flip phone’s release date

For now, HMD and Mattel have committed to release the Barbie flip phone in the summer of 2024. While there aren’t any hints about the pricing, given the basic nature of this flip phone, you can expect it to cost less than the Nokia 2660 4G flip phone.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy HMD)

This story first appeared here.

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Which iPhone model is the most popular? Here’s a dig into the best-selling smartphones in the world.

After becoming, for the first time in history, the world’s biggest seller of smartphones in 2023, Apple also has been revealed as holding the top seven places in the ranking of the year’s most popular models. The iPhone 14 takes first place.

[Hero Image Credit: Creative Christians/Unsplash]

What are the best-selling smartphones in the world?

While Apple has yet to disclose figures for its iPhone sales, Counterpoint Research has revealed that the world’s best-selling smartphones are iPhones. The Cupertino-based brand’s various handsets rank in the top 7 best-selling devices of 2023. Three Samsung models round out the top 10.

Apple’s iPhone 14 therefore takes the crown as for having been the best-selling smartphone in 2023, with the USA and China alone accounting for half of these sales. In the ranking of the world’s best-selling models in 2023, the iPhone 14 is ahead of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 13. Next come iPhone 15 Pro max, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15. The strong sales of the iPhone 13, released in 2021, are due in particular to its popularity in Japan and India. As for the iPhone 15 range, released in September, it already dominates the sales podium for the fourth quarter of 2023. Rounding out the top 10 are the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, Galaxy A04e and Galaxy A14 4G.

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In 2023, more than one in five smartphones sold worldwide was an iPhone. According to IDC, Apple will have sold 234.6 million iPhones, compared with 226.3 million in 2022, an increase of 3.7%. The American manufacturer benefited above all from record sales in the fourth quarter, with over 80 million iPhones sold in three months, for a market share of 24.7%. Apple’s success can be explained by continued growing interest in high-end devices around the world, but also by its implementation of aggressive trade-in offers and interest-free financing plans.

The last time a manufacturer other than Samsung held the top spot in the smartphone market was in 2010 — and that was Nokia.

This story is published via AFP Relaxnews.

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Whether it was a marketing ploy or not, the Spigen Cryo Armor may have helped this iPhone survive a 16,000-foot drop from an Alaska Airlines accident. 

Earlier this month, a concerning incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight was captured on camera shortly after takeoff. The flight was headed for Ontario, California, and departed from Portland on a new Boeing 737 Max 9 plane. However, at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the cabin window door of the aircraft blew out, putting the 171 passengers and six crew members on board at serious risk. Despite the terrifying experience, no injuries were reported. 

[Hero & Feature Image Credit: Spigen]

All about the Spigen Cryo Armor iPhone case that survived the 16k foot drop from Alaska Airlines

@vee_wins

bffr @Alaska Airlines #alaskaair #planemalfunction

♬ Funny – Gold-Tiger

An iPhone also survived this catastrophic accident, falling approximately 16,000 feet from the sky. The phone was discovered in Washington State by Sean Bates, who was out for a walk. Upon closer inspection, Sean realised the phone was still in airplane mode. It also had a travel confirmation and baggage claim information for the Alaska 1282 flight. Sean quickly notified the authorities, who informed him that this was the second phone they had found that was fully intact and functioning after such an accident.

Now, as everyone wonders what iPhone case helped this device miraculously survive, we found out it was the Spigen Cryo Armor. The company tweeted that the phone was found with their case on it, according to the owner’s friend, who was also on the plane with him. They also sent photo evidence after Cuong finally got his phone back. 

MYSTERY SOLVED: IT WAS US ✈️@AlaskaAir @SeanSafyre

tl;dr: the iphone's case that survived a 16,000 feet drop from alaska airlines was the spigen cryo armor

(receipts below) https://t.co/YoAypHEGaK pic.twitter.com/zFcLWg3Kdu

— Spigen (@SpigenWorld) January 12, 2024

Where to buy the Spigen Cryo Armor

Spigen, a renowned South Korean company, is known for creating exceptional phone cases and accessories with high protection. Their Cryo Armor case is a popular accessory with an AirCube pattern and ArcticFlow Tech. These advanced features help with the phone’s ventilation, making it an excellent choice for gamers or anyone who uses their phone for extended periods of time. Moreover, the case is compatible with wireless charging. 

The Spigen Cryo Armor is currently available in Thailand at THB 1,980 on Lazada for the iPhone 14 series.

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In our Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT comparison, we take a look at which AI chatbot app gives you more bang for your buck.

Microsoft is pulling all the stops in its goal to become the ultimate harbinger of generative AI to the masses. As a result, soon after the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT app, Microsoft brought its Copilot app from Windows to Android. Hence, for all the enthusiasts of generative AI chatbots out there, we have prepared the ultimate Copilot vs ChatGPT app comparison.

If the name Copilot sounds familiar, that’s largely down to the fact that Microsoft has been pushing it a lot lately on Windows 11 PCs. The app intends to bring all the benefits of a GPT -4-based chatbot within arm’s reach instead of redirecting users to the Bing chat interface on the Edge browser, as it was before. Think of it as a smarter and more up-to-date replacement for Microsoft’s Cortana assistant.

With a dedicated Android app, Microsoft now presents mobile users with the luxury of directly accessing the GPT-4-based chatbot without separately downloading the Edge browser.

Microsoft Copilot: Is it trying to be a Google Assistant replacement?

Not really! Microsoft’s Copilot is more of an alternative to Google Bard and OpenAI’s ChatGPT app.

Microsoft describes Copilot as an AI-powered chat tool that uses the latest OpenAI models like GPT 4 and DALL-E 3 to offer solutions to most queries. Just like its Windows counterpart, you can ask it to write essays, create imaginary paintings, engage in an interesting conversation or whatever your mind fancies.

Simply put, it is a one-stop solution for all your AI creativity needs, whether you seek office productivity, help with school homework or are in search of creative inspiration.

However, in a world where the pioneering OpenAI also offers a dedicated ChatGPT app, which one should you download for all your generative AI needs?

Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT: Looking at the features of both apps

One of the biggest competitors of the Copilot is OpenAI’s ChatGPT app, which was made available on mobile platforms a few months ago. While both apps rely on OpenAI’s GPT models, only one of them offers a real advantage over the other.

Price

The biggest difference between these AI chatbots lies in their price tags. The official ChatGPT app from OpenAI is free to download and use, provided that you are content with the previous generation GPT-3.5 model. The free model relies on an older database that fails to answer queries related to recent happenings of the world. Additionally, the capabilities are limited to textual output, which is fine as long as you are a casual user.

However, OpenAI offers the advanced GPT-4 model along with DALL-E 3 under a paid subscription plan. For USD 20 per month, you get access to new features like browsing, image creation and a smarter overall AI chatbot.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Copilot app offers the benefits associated with ChatGPT’s paid subscription plan for free to the masses. Whether you are creating a new codebase or seeking reference designs for your home interior makeover, the Copilot app can do it all for free.

Winner: Microsoft Copilot

Creativity capabilities

If you are subscribed to ChatGPT Plus, the ChatGPT app provides all kinds of solutions relying on its newest generative AI features.

The app gains multimodal capabilities, which means you can now upload images and illustrations as part of your queries. The bot will also be able to read formulas, understand the subject in images, recognise handwriting, create job resumes, visualise film storyboards and more. It can even process multiple conditions effectively and summarise complex texts, thereby helping with complex solutions. Additionally, it can understand up to 26 languages, help with coding and creating wireframes and even generate social media captions.

For those subscribed to GPT-3.5, however, the capabilities are limited to basic essay writing, code creation and casual conversation.

On the other hand, the Microsoft Copilot extends all the advantages of GPT-4 to you for free. Be it creating images via DALL-E 3 or creating a website code with instructions drawn on paper, Copilot can do everything without asking for a penny.

Winner: Microsoft Copilot

Platform availability

This is possibly the only aspect where OpenAI’s official ChatGPT app takes advantage in comparison to the Copilot. The ChatGPT app is available on both iOS and Android platforms as a free-to-download AI chat assistant.

Copilot is only available on the Android platform for now and Microsoft hasn’t revealed any date for an iOS release. That said, the possibility of the app coming to iOS is highly likely given that Microsoft usually brings most of its apps and services to iOS.

Winner: ChatGPT app

Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT: Our verdict

Winner: Microsoft Copilot

Despite their current unavailability on iPhones and iPads, the Microsoft Copilot app emerges victorious in our quick comparison between the two chatbot apps. The fact that you get all the benefits of ChatGPT Plus without paying a penny is the sole reason it wins this comparison.

Moreover, there are no observable performance drawbacks despite getting access to premium perks for free.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Levart_Photographer via Unsplash)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What is the difference in the price of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot?
The Microsoft Copilot app offers all the benefits of a ChatGPT Plus premium subscription for free of cost.

– What is the difference in features of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot?
The Microsoft Copilot offers all the benefits and features of a ChatGPT Plus subscription, including support for 26 languages, multimodal input capability, advanced problem-solving, generating images and more, for free.

The story originally appeared in AugustMan India.

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’Tis the season for awkwardly pulling a name out of a hat at your company Christmas party, and being assigned the Secret Santa for a colleague you’ve never even heard of. For all these troubles and more, read on for our office Secret Santa gift guide, all under THB 500.

Secret Santa always sounds like a good idea in theory. You put a bunch of names into a hat, and every participant draws a name before being assigned the “Secret Santa” for that person that year. Days and weeks then go by as the Secret Santa tries to figure out what the Secret Santee would enjoy, before the big day comes around and the gift exchange is publicly performed. Laughter, cheer, and applause ensue, and everybody goes back with a unique, often humorous present.

Whilst it is already a daunting experience for those who don’t have performance anxiety, the whole shebang is heightened even more when the activity is brought into the office. For many years now, under the approving nods of the HR department, management teams across the globe have brought Secret Santa to the workplace, forcing colleagues to get gifts for one another, as if the gift of hours in the office together wasn’t enough.

Ah, festive spirit.

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Jokes aside, engaging in Secret Santa activities with your colleagues can be nerve-wracking. How well do you really know them? How far are you willing to go? What feels appropriate? If you’re looking for a little inspiration, we’ve put together a few Secret Santa gift ideas, all under a friendly budget of THB 500, inspired by our own team. Most popular employee of the year award? Consider yourself nominated.

[Hero and Featured Image Credit: Max Burchill/Unsplash]

A Secret Santa gift guide for any kind of colleague

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Meta announced last week that their brand new Ray-Ban smart glasses will not only be an improvement from its predecessor but also run on AI.

It’s becoming clearer and clearer now that AI isn’t going anywhere whether we like it or not. It’s one of the major issues that the Hollywood strikes revolve around but is also the reason for the “Yearbook AI” trend. As debate continues on whether AI will ultimately be for our good, Meta is continuing to use it in its various services like chatbots with the likenesses of Snoop Dogg and Kendall Jenner. Whether these will be successful is yet to be seen, and the same goes for their latest upgrade to something they released two years ago: the Ray-Ban smart glasses.

[Hero image: Meta]

The Ray-Ban Meta Smartglasses are powered by AI 

The Ray-Ban Stories were first launched in 2021 and signaled Meta’s hopes that the Metaverse would become a place people would regularly visit. Sadly, the Metaverse hasn’t really taken off as they hoped, and it seems to be the same case for the Ray-Ban Stories. According to The Verge, only 120,000 pairs were sold, which was significantly fewer than their projected 300,000.

These new smart glasses lack the “Stories” in its name and are instead called “Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. Meta touts that the new smart glasses improve on “all the core features of the first generation while adding new capabilities that have never been seen on a pair of smart glasses.” Some of the improvements include improved audio, an ultrawide 12MP camera similar to the iPhone 14, and a 36-hour battery life with the charging case, which was a major criticism about the first generation.

But perhaps the biggest addition to the new Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses is the integration of Meta AI which will allow users to have a “hands-free, on-the-go experience”. Users will also be able to ask the AI for information about what they’re looking at once a major update rolls out sometime in the next year.

Pre-orders for the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are open now starting at a price of USD $299. 

The post The new Ray-Ban smart glasses are powered by Meta AI appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok.

Germany’s contribution to the world of motoring is, no doubt, significant. When the IAA Mobility 2023 was announced, we were quite excited. Despite the country going through a rough phrase of economic troubles, German automakers never fail to impress us with their exhibits. Munich was, once again, home to some of the coolest wheels we have seen this year. Be it the radical Batmobile-like offering from Cupra, the staid 2024 Tesla Model 3 or the wild off-road-themed Mercedes E-Class, we’ve compiled a list full of impressive vehicles and concepts from some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world that you might see in the events.

Although the event had lots of exhibits from various manufacturers, we are going to take a look at those that truly swept us off our feet. Concept cars and platform demonstrations are easier to choose, courtesy of their dreamy designs and mind-blowing features. However, we have also handpicked some production-ready models that should keep most of you excited, whether they run on electricity or petrol. After all, these are the cars that will be gracing the showrooms near you sooner than those swanky concepts.

So without further ado, let’s check out some of the coolest cars displayed at the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich.

The coolest cars from IAA Mobility 2023

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Bulletproof luxury, BMW’s i7 masterfully combines opulence with security in its first armoured electric sedan. Discover a seamless fusion of luxury and armour here.

This new series represents the 6th generation of Protection vehicles from BMW and the first powered by an electric motor.

Created for high-profile clients that need all the comfort one expects with the 7-Series, but with the added protection from threats and danger, the new 7-Series features full protection from ballistic attacks or explosions, automatic doors, BMW’s Protection Command Touch System, and Run-Flat tires.

In addition, options like all-door emergency exits, pennant holders, flashing lights, a fresh-air supply system, a fire extinguisher, and beacons can be added on.

The idea was to keep the car as unassuming as possible without drawing too much attention. While it is an armoured vehicle, all the comforts found in BMW‘s vehicles are present in this i7 Protection model, seen in the spacious interior, multifunction seats, privacy shades, and 28-speaker – 1,265-Watt Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System.

The BMW i7 Protection still moves considerably fast given all the additional weight from the amour plating. This is all due to the dual electric motors that put down 536 horsepower and 549 lb-ft of torque. It’s 0-100 km/h acceleration time is nothing impressive at nine seconds, and its top speed of just 160 km/h is nothing to brag about, but what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in survivability.

Currently, the i7 Protection model will be offered only to European customers while a standard 7-Series Protection model will be available to the rest of the world. Look for this to make an official debut at the IAA Mobility Show in September.

All Images: BMW

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You have to hand it to Elon Musk: he may be whining about Threads, but he’s still got time to set up a brand new AI company, X.AI Corp. Here’s what we know about it.

It seems like ChatGPT is soon about to get some competition! With artificial intelligence taking over our lives rapidly, most tech companies are coming up with their own version of chatbots or other AI technology-related solutions. Now, Elon Musk has stepped into the game by launching his own AI company.

Elon Musk has created a new artificial intelligence company called X AI that is incorporated in Nevada

According to experts, Mr. Musk has spent the past months recruiting researchers as part of his AI goals, with the objective of building a rival to OpenAI pic.twitter.com/JxEaLLgW0Z

— Darwin Protocol (@Darwin_Protocol) April 15, 2023

What we know about Elon Musk’s AI company

Dubbed ‘X.AI Corp’, a recent corporate filing in Nevada suggests that the billionaire filed for the company in March 2023. It looks like the Twitter CEO is quite serious about entering the world of artificial intelligence, just like Microsoft did earlier this year. Recently, Musk also recruited Igor Babuschkin, a scientist working at the artificial intelligence lab DeepMind which is owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet. 

According to the state filing, Musk is listed as the sole director while Jared Birchall is listed as the secretary of X.AI Corp. For the uninitiated, Birchall is also the CEO of Musk’s chip-implant company Neuralink and serves on the board of Musk’s The Boring Company. He is also the managing director of Musk’s family office Excession. The company was registered on March 9.

Two weeks after filling for the company, Musk signed an open letter along with other prominent tech leaders asking for a six-month pause on the development of AI, highlighting the “danger of training AI to be woke.” Other tech leaders signing the letter included Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and businessman Andrew Yang.

Elon Musk is working on a new AI chatbot

It was also reported that Musk has been eager to start an alternative to ChatGPT, which he tentatively called TruthGPT.

In an interview with Fox News, the billionaire explained his vision for his AI chatbot: “I’m going to start something which I call TruthGPT or a maximum truth-seeking AI that tries to understand the nature of the universe. And I think this might be the best path to safety in the sense that an AI that cares about understanding the universe is unlikely to annihilate humans because we are an interesting part of the universe.”

This isn’t the first time Musk has mentioned TruthGPT. In February, the billionaire tweeted:

What we need is TruthGPT

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2023

We still aren’t sure if ‘TruthGPT’ is actually in the works, but by the looks of it, Musk is quite serious about it. Over the years, he has openly opposed OpenAI, the AI organisation that he co-founded in 2015 but walked away from in 2018.

This article first appeared on Augustman India

(Hero and feature image credits: Courtesy Wikipedia/ Maurizio Pesce and The Royal Society)

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Imagine how more complicated your social media persona would be if Instagram allows you to see those who stalk your profile. Well, it is not entirely impossible. Here’s how you can see who viewed your Instagram profile.

Keeping aside its endless recreational benefits, Instagram has glued many people into a cycle of mindless scrolling and stalking. We’ve all snooped into the accounts of our crushes, exes or potential matches, brimming with curiosity to get their life updates. Whether it’s screenshotting (or even watching) someone’s stories or DMing someone’s posts to your pals, there are a few ways you might get caught in your stalking escapades. But does Instagram notify users who viewed their profile?

Thankfully (or not), Instagram doesn’t have any in-built feature that allows users to check who has been investigating their profile, ensuring the anonymity of everyone on the platform. While certain third-party apps claim to breach this privacy and help users get detailed footprints of their Instagram handles, they need more credibility if they actually work.

We’ve listed different ways to decipher who viewed your Instagram profile. Whether by monitoring your stories/ highlights or using a business account to access important information, here are some methods worth trying. Keep reading.

How can you see who viewed your Instagram profile?

• Monitor your Instagram stories/highlights

The best and the most hassle-free way of figuring out who viewed your Instagram profile is to review the list of people who regularly view your stories. If you find any malicious account or someone who doesn’t follow you constantly tracking your feed, this might be your stalker.

The only limitation to this feature is the 24-hour time limit, as the stories and their viewers disappear post that. Even if you add these stories to your highlights, you’ll only be able to see who viewed them within the first 48 hours, post which the viewers’ list is gone forever.

After figuring out the wary users, you can block or hide suspicious users from your stories. You can also create a ‘close friends list’, adding only trusted accounts to view your updates.

• Switch to Instagram Business account

After switching to a business account, Instagram helps you access important information via the ‘Insights’ tab. This additional feature, which is not accessible for personal accounts, allows influencers, companies, and other business pages to build their marketing strategy.

A business account provides you with the location, age range, gender and other details about users visiting your profile. But it will NOT REVEAL THEIR NAMES. So, if that’s the sort of data that’ll float your boat, go ahead.

Here’s how you can set up your Instagram business account:

1. In settings, go to Account and tap Switch to a professional account.
2. Select a category that best describes your business, then select ‘Business’, and you’re good to go.

Please note that Instagram doesn’t provide historical data and will only gather information once your business profile is set up.

• Try third-party apps with caution

If you want to find out who’s visiting your Instagram profile, try your luck with third-party apps. These apps claim to help you discover profile views once you give them access to your Instagram account. But with their questionable reliability, we suggest you stay wary of them. Available on both App Store and the Play Store, these applications not only put your privacy in jeopardy but hardly succeed at their claims. Here are a few of them:

Social View for Instagram: While the app promises to show you Instagram profile views, make sure you read the reviews before giving it a try.

Follower Analyzer for Instagram: This application claims to help you track your follower details and reveal who unfollowed you on Instagram among other things. Again, there’s no credibility to it.

While these tips might help you stay alert of stalkers, the best way to prevent someone from viewing your profile is by making it private. Even if your account is private, make sure to churn out all the unknown contacts in your list and steer clear of unwanted followers.

(Hero and feature image credit: Freepik)

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If you’re one to constantly use your phone outdoors especially in this Bangkok heat, your phone may overheat constantly. Here’s how to cool it off.

The summers are in full swing and that means everything around you heats up considerably. You can cool your home and car with an air conditioner and even yourself with some chilled beer. But what about your precious smartphone?

That small slab of cutting-edge technology in your hand right now is probably toasty and you might be wondering how to keep it cool. Unlike laptops that feature big cooling fans to vent out hot air from within, smartphones usually have the entire motherboard and other technical bits secured in an air-tight package. This is the reason your phone starts overheating when exposed to strenuous tasks or the sun. This also explains why, when the room temperature gets too hot, your phone stops charging itself to avoid overheating.

How can you cool down your overheating phone?

While smartphone technology is yet to figure out a way to bypass the laws of thermodynamics, we have some simple tips that will help you keep your phone’s temperature down.

1. Avoid keeping it in direct sunlight

While sunlight is a godsend for humans with its rich supply of Vitamin D, it’s not so beneficial for smartphones. Exposing your phone to the hot summer sun can heat up its insides, especially the battery. If you see your smartphone overheating when you’re outdoors, put it in a cooler, shadier area as soon as possible and avoid direct sunlight. You can even switch off the device for a while to let the hardware cool down.

2. Keep its display brightness low

The bright sunlight causes your phone’s auto brightness feature to max out the display’s brightness. Since the display hogs the most battery life, it ends up draining it a lot faster and warming it up substantially. The simple way to get around this issue is to manually lower the brightness and disable the auto-brightness feature for some time. Additionally, you can lock your phone for some time to help with its cooling. Doing so will help bring down the phone’s temperature.

3. Avoid playing games

The temptation to complete the next level of Candy Crush can be hard to resist but doing so can overheat your phone a lot faster in the sweltering heat. If you are outdoors, avoid running demanding apps and games. Even if you absolutely need to, ensure that the duration of use is short. Games often overwork the processor, leading to the generation of excessive heat.

4. Avoid usage while charging your phone

While charging your phone, it is advisable to not use the handset at all. Not only does it put you at risk of an electric shock but it also heats up the battery, which ends up overheating the phone. In some extreme cases, severe overheating during charging can also cause battery explosions.

5. Uninstall buggy/malware apps

Sometimes, one of your installed apps can drain the battery more than usual and overheat the phone. Some apps even send data in the background to malicious sources, which also compromises your data privacy. Head into the Settings app and look for apps that drain a lot of battery or engage in high background usage of data. It is wise to delete these apps and report them to the app store, especially if they are not from reliable publishers.

6. Avoid outdoor videography for prolonged periods

Just like the display, the camera system on your smartphone chugs at its battery life like there’s no tomorrow. This happens more when you are recording a video. Other than draining the battery, image processing is a resource-intensive task and therefore, overheats the chipset. As such, it is advisable to use the camera for a short duration while outdoors, especially under the sun. If the phone overheats a lot, simply close the camera app or shut down the phone for a while to let it cool down.

7. Put it on Airplane mode

If you can’t figure out the reason for your phone overheating even when you’re indoors, the simplest thing to do is turn off the phone or put it in Airplane Mode. Smartphones often update apps or download a system update in the background, which leads to rigorous processes, thereby generating heat. Cutting off the data connectivity stops those background processes which automatically stops the heating.

8. Remove your phone’s case

Your smartphone is designed in a way to transmit heat via its back and sides, making its body warm but keeping its insides cool. Putting a case on it blocks the natural heat transmission, eventually overheating your phone.

In case you feel your phone has gone toasty, simply remove your phone’s protection case and let it breathe in some cool air. If possible, try going without a case in the summer as much as possible (you can still use a screen guard to protect the display).

9. Dunk it into the water if the phone has an IP rating

It sounds crazy but dunking your phone into a water bucket is the quickest way to dismiss all of its overheating issues. Even tap water will do. No kidding here! The only thing you have to ensure is that your smartphone carries an IP rating of IP67 or higher. All iPhone models sold today, including the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13, can survive a bucket of water easily. The same goes for Samsung’s Galaxy S series, Google’s Pixel 7 series and a few flagship phones from other manufacturers.

Pro tip: Avoid salt water

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Pexels/Screen Post)

This story originally appeared on Augustman Singapore

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Life in Bangkok is a constant cruel and hateful state of being, but some apps on your phone definitely help. Here are the must-have apps you should download in Bangkok.

Being in Bangkok is quite a unique—there’s always a lot going on at all times. Luckily, there are a lot of apps, many made by Thai people, to help you navigate through this big traffic jam we call a city.

[Hero and Featured Image Credit: Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash]

Must-have apps in Bangkok every tourist and Bangkokian should download

ViaBus

Out of the different modes of transportation that Bangkok offers, many would agree that the bus system is one of the most complicated ones to really get used to. Sometimes many routes take you to the same destinations, but how much longer would you have to wait for a specific bus? This app will take care of all those problems. Just fill in your destination and let the app tell you which routes you have to take, as well as how long you have to wait.

QueQ

Bangkok is filled with great food, and we love great food—so much so that we can wait for hours before actually sitting down and indulging. QueQ offers a streamlined, simple process to queue up for restaurants while you go chill and wait somewhere else. While it doesn’t feature many local spots, you can find the majority of mall restaurants in there. Gone are the days swarming BBQ Plaza when they have buffet deals.

Grab

Thailand has a very large, distinct motorcycle culture, in the sense that we consider motorbikes as public transportation, and that it’s very common to take the motorbike basically anywhere. Just call a Grab bike and you’re set. If it’s your first time, then just hang on for dear life. The Grab app also offers other very handy services from food delivery to personal messenger services.

Khee

This app holds a special place for everyone who frequents the skytrain system. Khee is basically a large map with community-based additions, where people can look up the nearest toilet. Their tagline is “pin a toilet, be a hero,” and we thank them for their service.

Whoscall

A Thai phone number not only comes with great responsibility, it also comes with a frequent, annoying swarm of scam calls. Government impersonation, romance scams—we have it all. Whoscall allows the number to be identified before you pick up. It’s also great for avoiding random sales calls, because we’re sure you don’t need another TV box.

ClearScanner

While the rest of the world is going digital, a large portion of Thailand’s governmental sectors still require physical copies of your documents. ClearScanner provides you an easy way to get a digital file to print out later—just take a photo using your phone camera and everything will be rendered just like going to the shop.

Shazam

When you hear that song at the club and you want to know the name, Shazam is a huge help. It has an automatic history log so after using the app to listen to the songs you like, you can add those songs to your playlist even the morning after.

The post Apps everyone in Bangkok should have on their phones appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok.

Diablo 4 marks a brand new entry in the popular dungeon-crawler franchise after almost a decade. Fans may not agree with us considering the release of Diablo II Resurrected in 2021, but that was basically a remastered version of the older Diablo II. Hence, after Diablo III’s release in 2012, publisher Blizzard Entertainment is back with its successor that was long overdue. The best part is that Diablo 4 is coming on all consoles, including the PC.

Diablo 4 is an important release in the RPG genre, one that should be appealing to newcomers to the franchise as well as returning players who have loved the previous Diablo titles. If you are one of those eager fans waiting to play Diablo 4, here is everything you should know about the popular game.

Diablo 4’s release date

Blizzard Entertainment had previously confirmed June 6 to be the release date for Diablo 4. However, those who had pre-ordered the game will get early access from June 1. Hence, if you had pre-ordered Diablo 4, you can download and play the game as you read this.

What platforms is the game coming to?

Diablo 4 will be released on the PC, just like its predecessors. However, Blizzard Entertainment is also releasing the game on the Sony PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X|S consoles. The game will also be published on older consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Diablo 4’s PC system requirements

The minimum system requirements on the PC to play Diablo 4 are as follows:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11
• Processor: At least Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-8350
• RAM: 8GB
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon R9 280
• Storage: SSD with at least 90GB of space

However, if you want to play the game at its best, your PC needs to have the following recommended system requirements.

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11
• Processor: At least Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD R3-1300X
• RAM: 16GB
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 470
• Storage: SSD with 90GB space for installation

What will be Diablo 4’s plot?

In Diablo 4, players will get to fight against a hoard of monsters controlled by Lilith, who is the daughter of Mephisto and is also called the ‘Mother of the Sanctuary’. The gameplay incorporates classic RPG elements and lets you play as multiple characters. Early reviews also hint at Diablo 4 being bigger and darker than the previous games.

What is Twitter saying about Diablo 4?

Twitter is quite hyped up about the release of Diablo 4.

It’s me! Also, I am 39. Lol. Just a few days until #DiabloIV pic.twitter.com/8PHkwX8sAT

— TechOdyssey | #TechRejects (@AdamJMatlock) May 31, 2023

Fields of Hatred are areas made for PvE/PvP.

Enemies drop “Seeds of Hatred”, a currency used to buy unique cosmetics/items.

It’s similar to the Dark Zone. You can play PvE only, but must “Extract” the seeds to keep them. You can also activate PvP if you want to… #DiabloIV pic.twitter.com/Yf28pYXnZQ

— Ains : Son of Lilith (@Porshapwr) May 31, 2023

How your preparations are going? 😈#DiabloIV pic.twitter.com/yCdaMmZfqw

— AnnacakeLive (@AnnacakeL) May 31, 2023

Another #DiabloIV cartoon :) Which class will you pick?@Diablo @Blizzard_Ent #fanart pic.twitter.com/7S67rH5DqA

— Armin M (@a_scientoonist) May 31, 2023

TOMORROW #DiabloIV

Oh lawd she’s comin’! pic.twitter.com/BcZpOU2gNq

— Jules ✨💙 (@JuliaKernan) June 1, 2023

Might be in the hospital, fighting cancer. But I’m still ready for #DiabloIV launch @Diablo pic.twitter.com/Pc9XQBvKCu

— Shyla (@Dreamonic13) May 31, 2023

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Blizzard Entertainment)

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Meta unveiled its brand new headset, the Meta Quest 3. Here’s what you need to know.

Meta announced the Quest 3 mixed-reality headset on 1 June, boasting of incredible features, just days ahead of Apple possibly revealing its own mixed-reality device at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

The revelation was made by Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a post on Instagram. Zuckerberg called it a “real breakthrough in bringing mixed reality to everyone.”

Mixed reality combines augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) elements.

What to know about Meta Quest 3

Features and capabilities of Meta Quest 3

Zuckerberg said that the Meta Quest 3 will be 40 per cent thinner than its predecessor when not including the foam facial interface. It will be powered by a new Qualcomm chipset with twice the graphics performance of the Quest 2.

In the video that Zuckerberg posted on Instagram, the device can be seen with three new sensor areas at the front. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg had reported earlier that there are four cameras in total placed evenly on either side of the device and a single depth sensor in the middle. Two of the cameras are full-color and the other two are standard.

In a statement Meta said that users can interact with virtual content and the physical world simultaneously with “high-fidelity color Passthrough, innovative machine learning, and spatial understanding.”

The device comes with redesigned Quest 3 Touch Plus controllers and can also work with the fully self-tracked Meta Quest Touch Pro controllers.

 

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A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)

The company added that the Quest 3 is compatible with over 500 playable games, apps, and experiences available in the Quest 2’s VR catalog.

Pricing and other details

Meta said that the Quest 3 is the company’s “first mass-market offering to deliver both cutting-edge VR and MR experiences in a single device.”

Meta Quest 3 will come with a 128GB version priced at USD 499.99 with an “an additional storage option” for an extra price that has not yet been specified yet.

No date of launch was announced but Zuckerberg said it will drop in autumn and that more details will be shared at Meta’s annual AR/VR conference on 27 September.

Quest 2 prices slashed

Meta said that prices of Quest 2 will drop by USD 100 to retail at USD 299.99 for the 128GB version. The 256GB Quest 2 will also see a drop of USD 80 from its current price of USD 429.99. The price drops will come into effect on 4 June. Interestingly, the price of the base model had been hiked in 2022.

Quest 2 will also get a software update. Meta will also improve the performance of its Quest Pro.

Meta’s Quest devices command almost the entire market of virtual reality devices. Citing an estimate by market research firm IDC, Reuters reports that Quest 2 and Quest Pro together comprised around 80 per cent of the 8.8 million virtual reality headsets sold in 2022. It was followed by TikTok owner ByteDance’s Pico device at 10 per cent of the market share.

Apple’s AR/VR debut has been one of the most anticipated events in technology for quite some time and many believe that it could potentially alter the current market share. The debut is expected to take place at the keynote event of the WWDC on 5 June.

(Hero image: Screenshot/Meta Quest/YouTube; Featured image: Mark Zuckerberg/@zuck/Instagram)

This story originally appeared in Augustman India

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There’s a new Spider-Man game coming to town and based on everything we have seen so far, it might be an absolute banger.

Sony’s award-winning developer Insomniac is back with a heavy dose of Spider-Man for fans. Taking hints from the multiverse trend that has taken over pop culture lately, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 brings together two iterations of Spider-Man (both Peter Parker and Miles Morales) together to fight a common villain, one of their own kind. The game will grace the PlayStation 5 console as an exclusive title later this year and if its trailer has already gotten you pumped, we have some more information that will further fuel your excitement.

While Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is yet to get an official release date, the studio has been teasing fans with exciting details. Case in point, the ‘Fall 2023’ launch that Insomniac Games is planning. So, given that the game’s release is just a few months away and with the developers probably adding the finishing touches right now, here’s everything you need to know about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

What will be Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s release date?

On the PlayStation blog, Sony mentioned ‘Fall 2023’ as the release window for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for the PlayStation 5. However, voice actor Tony Todd (playing Venom) has further narrowed down the release date. In one of his tweets, Todd mentioned that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could see an early release in September 2023. His tweet was later deleted, so make of that what you will (we believe that’s further confirmation).

Are there two ‘Spider-Men’ in the game?

Yes! For the third game in the franchise, Insomniac is bringing together both protagonists from its previous games. So we will get to see Peter Parker’s Spider-Man in the iconic red suit fighting villains alongside Miles Morales’ Spider-Man. This is also the first time that the multiverse concept is being incorporated into the game’s universe. Marvel had earlier done the same with the MCU by bringing together all three Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Who will be the villain in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2?

If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is bringing in Venom as the main antagonist for the game. However, Insomniac is yet to reveal the powers and/or special moves Venom will be able to use in the game.

Gameplay: Can you play in co-op mode?

Unfortunately, no. Ryan Schneider, Insomniac’s Head of Franchise Strategy, says, “We’re so thrilled to continue the journey of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales in their most epic single-player adventure yet”.

In layman’s terms, this means you will be able to play in a single-player mode with both characters. This could be somewhat similar to the single-player campaign of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, wherein players would be able to choose and switch between the two protagonists during the course of the game.

The game’s trailer also gave us a glimpse of all the new technology and fighting abilities our ‘Spider-Men’ will get to use. You can expect to see similar gameplay dynamics and missions as the previous Spider-Man games albeit with new weapons and skills.

Is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 coming to the PS4 or PC?

PS4 players will miss out on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 as Insomniac Games has announced it as a PS5 exclusive. “We’re so thrilled to continue the journey of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales in their most epic single-player adventure yet, coming exclusively to PlayStation 5 consoles in 2023,” they said in the PlayStation Blog.

As for PC players, they need to wait for the next big announcement from the studio as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is currently confirmed to be a PS5 exclusive for 2023. Considering the late arrival of the previous games to the PC, we expect Spider-Man 2 to also, eventually, migrate to the PC later in its lifecycle.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy PlayStation Blog)

This story first appeared on Augustman India.

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It’s time to get that guy out of your DMs. Keep reading to know what the difference is when you restrict versus when you block a user on Instagram. 

Navigating Instagram can be challenging at times. Whether you wish to hide photos from your ex or block your boss from your feed, Instagram can feel a bit of a minefield. Fortunately, nifty features like ‘Block’ and ‘Restrict’ allow you more control over your profile. And while ‘Block’ eliminates any form of communication with a user, ‘Restrict’ is a little less aggressive. 

[Hero and featured image credit: Solen Feyissa/Unsplash]

What happens when you restrict a user on Instagram?

When you restrict a user, they won’t be able to see whenever you are online, or you have read their messages. Also, when you restrict a user, their direct messages won’t land in your inbox, and their comments will only be visible to others if you approve them.

Messages won’t land in your inbox

Messages from restricted users land in your inbox’s ‘requests’ tab. Instagram will not even send a notification for these messages. Further, the sender will not see a ‘read’ receipt even if you read their chat.

However, you must first un-restrict the account to reply to the chats.

Their comments won’t be visible

The ‘Restrict’ feature is handy for hiding comments from an unwanted user. And while the restricted person can comment on your posts, they won’t be visible unless you approve it. So technically, the restricted user can view the comment and won’t even know you’ve limited them. 

To make them visible, you must head to your post’s comments by tapping on ‘View Comments’. Next, tap on ‘See Comments’ to approve it. 

Your ‘active’ status will be hidden

When you restrict someone, they won’t be able to see your activity status. So, you can happily scroll through your feed without them bothering you. 

How to restrict a user on Instagram?

Restrict comments

If someone continuously bothers you with inappropriate comments, you can restrict that account through comments. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open a post’s ‘Comment Section’ with a comment from the user.

2. If you are using Android, press and hold the comment and tap on the ‘i’ icon. Then tap on ‘Restrict’.

3. On iPhone, swipe left on the comment, tap the ‘i’ icon, and choose ‘Restrict‘ from the pop-up menu.

Note: You can restrict multiple people from your comments to keep your profile clean from unwanted comments. 

Restrict messages

Here’s how the ‘Restrict’ option works:

1. Open the conversation of the user in your inbox. Then, tap on their ‘Profile Name’ at the top.

2. If you are using Android, scroll down and tap ‘Restrict’ to limit the account.

3. Tap the ellipsis (three-dot) icon on iPhone for more options. Then, choose ‘Restrict’.

Restrict the user’s profile

Here’s how you can restrict an Instagarm user profile:

1. Open the user profile and tap the ellipsis (three-dot) icon at the top left corner.

2. Now, tap on ‘Restrict’ from the pop-up menu. 

What happens when you block an account on Instagram?

While deleting users is a good option, sometimes more is needed. That’s where the block feature comes in. The block feature offers a way to filter out a user from seeing your posts or even finding your profile on Instagram. 

Blocking a user is super simple. Users aren’t notified when you block them. However, a user can click on your profile and discover that you have blocked them. Blocking a user restricts them from seeing your posts — and vice versa.

Image credit: Souvik Banerjee/ @rswebsols/ Unsplash

How to block a user on Instagram?

Go to the user’s profile and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Next, click ‘Block’. Instagram will confirm that you are looking to block said user. You can either select ‘Block’ or cancel the request altogether. 

You can unblock a user by following the same steps and clicking ‘Unblock’ instead.

The post Instagram Block vs Restrict: What’s the difference? appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok.

Tapping into the needs of millennials more than a decade ago, Casetify reinvented the phone case industry and has become one of the biggest tech accessory brands across the world. Who would’ve thought that a eureka moment while scrolling through Instagram could build a multi-million-dollar empire? Well, the Hong Kong company’s co-founder and CEO Wesley Ng made it possible with his visionary approach.

Founded in 2011, the Hong Kong-based brand has sold more than 15 million cases worldwide, bringing $300 million in revenue in 2022, as per the company. Casetify’s quirky accessories have (sort of) made phone cases an extension of one’s personality. The brand has always managed to keep up with the millennial and Gen Z trends. Their uber-cool collaborations are a treat for all tech accessory lovers.

From Kylie Jenner, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo to K-pop supergroup BTS, numerous high-profile celebrities have sported the brand’s collection and collaborated with them over years. Curious to know how Casetify (a brand which cemented Hong Kong’s position on the global map) revolutionised the phone case industry? Read on.

[Hero and Featured Image Credit: Casetify]

Tech

CASETiFY teams up with Barbie for a very pink collection

Tech

CASETiFY launches a pop-up in Thailand and our phones are ready for a makeover

Casetify: Diving into the Hong Kong brand’s success story

Casetify’s inception: Who is the founder and how did it all begin

Just like many other trailblazing companies, Casetify was born with a mission – a quest to rebuild as well as remodel one of the most used tech accessories in the world. Wesley Ng and Ronald Yeung founded the company in 2011. Wesley Ng is also the company’s CEO. In an interview with Highsnobiety, the co-founder Wesley Ng revealed that the idea sprung up after he ventured into the world of social media and was fascinated by Instagram, right after purchasing his first iPhone.

After trying hard and failing to find a phone case that he liked, Wesley thought to himself about how great it would be to create a case that best expressed its user. This finally led to the creation of an app called Casetagram, which allowed people to turn photos from their Instagram feed into a phone case. A perfect crossover of social media and technology, the idea got major attention from the start.

Thanks to great reviews from international press including The New York Times, TechCrunch, Mashable and more, Casetify was brimming with customers wanting to get their hands on the brilliant product. It’s quite an overnight success story!

Interestingly, one of the very first celebrities who popularised the brand was Jamie Oliver. The restaurateur posted about the brand on his Twitter and Instagram, causing massive traffic on the website. That was one of the turning points when Wesley realised it was finally time to quit his day job and make Casetify a flourishing business.

RT @jamieoliver: Hi guys i think this is a Cool web site if you keep dropping your phone like me http://t.co/1ILDLhpc Thanks for the love!

— CASETiFY (@Casetify) October 23, 2011

How the Hong Kong brand is making it big overseas

From their extensive product selection and a plethora of customisation options to their super-hit collaborations, Casetify’s unique market position arises from a number of factors.

Wide range of products

Casetify thrives on its unique phone cases, providing options for iPhone and Android users. Apart from phone cases, you’ll find accessories for Airpods, iPads, MacBooks, AirTag holders and other lifestyle accessories.

Extensive customisation options

Casetify allows you to choose the print/design of the case, colour and any text or photos you like. Their collection of designs runs into thousands, and they keep launching innovative designs now and then.

Each device has multiple case types, and for cases that allow adding text, you can also choose the font, colour and layout. Lastly, customers can select photo grid cases with different layout options and add pictures from their social media handles or device. The customisation options connect the user to the brand and nurture loyalty.

Brand collaborations 

From collaborating with the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art and featuring renowned paintings worldwide to minting deals with blockbuster shows, K-pop stars and Hollywood celebrities, Casetify has done it all. The brand also partners with artists, designers, and illustrators to tap into undiscovered creativity. 

Efforts towards sustainability

Casetify’s sustainability initiative is worth mentioning. The brand has produced the world’s first 100% biodegradable ​custom​ phone cases, taking a giant leap towards conserving the environment.

The brand wants to ‘eliminate all virgin plastic from their supply chain by 2030’. You can contribute to the cause by giving away your old phone cases, which are further recycled or donated. Or you can shop from their ‘Re/CASETiFY‘ collection, which offers spectacular designs made by sustainable methods.

Wesley Ng’s vision for the company

Authenticity and creativity are at the heart of Casetify. Wesley has often emphasised the importance of being flexible and agile as well as promptly giving users what they want. In a conversation with South China Morning Post, Wesley stressed that “trying new things and trusting your people” is important. “Without the [right] people you can’t grow – you are nothing,” he further mentioned.

In another interview with Highsnobiety, the co-founder also credited the ‘one product, one mission’ policy for their success. Wesley remarked that patience is key to establishing global dominance over one key product, and they’ll always strive to make the best phone cases rather than venturing into other verticals.

While the majority of Casetify’s sales happen through its website, the brand has built physical stores over the years for customers to experience their magic first-hand. Casetify’s flagship store opened in Hong Kong’s (HK) Landmark Atrium in October 2020. They have expanded at an amazingly fast pace since then, proudly owning eight stores in Hong Kong alone. The brand even tapped into multiple Southeast Asian countries as well as the United States, Australia and more.

The Landmark store is a gorgeous attraction for all tech accessories aficionados, boasting a fancy Casetify Cube room. The mirrored room, filled with LED screens presents Casetify’s latest releases in a larger-than-life manner with stunning graphics or video clips. The Cube draws inspiration from Yayoi Kusama’s mirrored installations, which have a huge fanbase across the world.

 

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A post shared by CASETiFY Hong Kong (@casetify_hk)

Explore the amazing range of products on Casetify’s website, with a virtual immersive experience like no other.

The post What is Casetify’s secret sauce? A dive into the tech accessory brand’s success appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok.

LEGO has added Land Rover Classic Defender 90 to its Icons collection in celebration of the 75th birth anniversary of the British automobile giant.

The LEGO Land Rover Defender 90 is meant for adults. According to LEGO, the toy variant is a faithful interpretation of the original 1983 model of the car.

The Land Rover 90 model isn’t the first Land Rover car LEGO has produced as a set. In 2020, the Danish toy maker released a 2,573-piece version of the 2019 Land Rover Defender model.

What to know about the LEGO Land Rover Defender 90

Two variants can be constructed

The LEGO Land Rover Defender 90 has 2,336 pieces, combining which builders can create either a stock Land Rover Estate or an off-roader.

LEGO has given great attention to the interior details of the car. The set comes with functioning steering and working suspension.

It comes with a roof rack, side rails, toolbox and other accessories such as jerry cans, traction plates, working winch, mudguards and fire extinguisher, all of which can be used to give the Land Rover its off-roader appearance.

Once completely built, it measures 32 cm in length, 16 cm in width and 16 cm in height.

Special campaign featuring Raha Moharrak and Aldo Kane

As part of the launch, the LEGO Group and Land Rover carried out a special campaign featuring adventurers Raha Moharrak and Aldo Kane.

In the campaign, Moharrak and Kane are seen racing to the top of the 316-metre-tall Rotmell Hill in the Scottish Highlands, each in a real Land Rover Classic Defender 90. Once at the top, they have to complete the challenge by constructing the LEGO version of the car.

 

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A post shared by LEGO (@lego)

Pricing and other details

In a statement, LEGO design master Kurt Kristiansen said, “Bringing the Classic Defender to life in bricks was no easy challenge. Defender can take you anywhere, so during the design process we wanted to infuse the set with that sense of adventure. We can’t wait to see fans’ reactions.”

Paul Barritt, director of Land Rover Classic, said, “Defender is synonymous with adventure and this new LEGO® set is a perfect way to capture the spirit of an incomparable, unstoppable automotive icon, whilst also sharing the playful side of the vehicle.”

The LEGO Land Rover Defender 90 will be available for VIP early access on 1 April at LEGO stores and online at www.lego.com/Defender. It is scheduled to be widely released on 4 April. The toy is set to be priced at USD 239.99.

(Main and Featured images: LEGO)

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The Apple Watch has long been touted by the company as an indispensable tool to track everything important about your health. It’s possible that soon, it may allow you to even monitor your blood glucose levels.

Apple has made some major progress on a project that it has been working on behind the scenes. If reports are to be believed, Apple is one step closer to incorporating a no-prick glucose tracking feature in its smartwatch. The project, which has been dubbed ‘E5’, can be an absolute game-changer in the health sector.

For the unversed, people suffering from diabetes have to constantly monitor their blood sugar levels. To do so, they need to prick their skin (usually with a needle) for blood that is later tested by a glucometer. As the Apple Watch can already monitor your O2 levels and heart rate, the tech giant has been working on a project that will let it monitor your blood sugar levels as well. Now, according to Bloomberg sources, the company has made major progress on Project E5 which, if successfully implemented, will be revolutionary.

Why is project E5 so significant for Apple’s smartwatch?

According to the World Health Organisation, 422 million people around the world suffer from Diabetes. So Apple’s plans for no-prick glucose tracking are highly welcome, especially since they can help make the process of monitoring one’s blood sugar a lot smoother.

As the Apple Watch is known for its health features, and since no gadget currently offers no-prick monitoring of blood sugar levels, it’s understandable why this project might be a priority for Apple. While Apple is yet to officially comment on the project, it traces its origin back to 2010 under Steve Jobs’ leadership.

Other Apple products and features in development

2023 will see a plethora of exciting Apple products get launched. The Apple Watch Series 9 will be coming out this year, along with the iPhone 15. In addition to the popular flagship devices, people are also looking forward to seeing what new features will come with iOS 17. Most exciting, however, is the rumoured launch of a VR headset that Apple might be planning this year.

(Main image credits: Courtesy Pexels/Artem Podrez, Cottonbro Studio)
(Feature image credits: Courtesy Pexels/Ingo Jose)

This story originally appeared in Augustman India.

The post Could the Apple Watch monitor your glucose levels soon? appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok.

The 2022 iPad Air is described by Apple as the most versatile iPad Air to date, with the tech giant even going further on to say it can replace a traditional desktop or laptop. But can it really?

Here’s a quick review of the newest addition to the iPad range.

Since the introduction of the first iPad by Steve Jobs in 2010, Apple has shown no signs of slowing down. The iPad portfolio has welcomed newer and more innovative products since, including iPad Pro, the iPad (currently in its ninth generation), and iPad Mini.

Launched in March 2022, the latest iPad Air (follow-up to 2020’s generation) is made to be powerful yet super light. With the Apple-designed M1 chip and iPad OS, the iPad Air is said to be able to deliver a massive leap in performance — making it easier and faster to get your tasks completed on the device. However, the question on everyone’s mind is: can the iPad Air finally replace your laptop (like the MacBook Air)? I had the opportunity to give the iPad Air a little test run of my own and here’s what I found out.

The experience

Similar to Apple’s more recent product launches, the iPad Air is now also a happy recipient of the breakthrough M1 chip. The iPad Air is said to be able to boost performance for all kinds of apps and workflows, especially with 8-core Central Processing Unit, 8-core Graphics Processing Unit, and a 16-core Neural Engine. These all sound super impressive on paper, but how do they translate when it comes to next-level experiences with the iPad Air?

Although I primarily use the tablet for work purposes (such as writing articles), the iPad Air has also been a faithful companion for streaming shows on Netflix and catching up with my favourite channels on YouTube. Hence, battery life is of utmost importance to me. In my experience, the iPad Air — designed to have an all-day battery life for light uses — can last about seven to eight hours before it needs to be charged again. This includes binging the latest season of  ‘Stranger Things’, working on my assignments, and catching up on the newest K-Pop releases on ‘Music Bank’.

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In terms of writing articles on the iPad Air, there’s the Magic Keyboard — which eases the process remarkably. With its built-in trackpad and floating design, the addition of a keyboard does make the overall user experience feel like you’re using a laptop instead; albeit, a smaller version. Personally, if I know I’ll be away for some time but would rather not have my MacBook with me, I can just opt for the lighter iPad Air because the tablet works just as well for me.

Another feature on my list of pros is the 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display on the new iPad Air. You can’t go wrong with an immersive visual experience and the anti-reflective screen coating doesn’t hurt either. Available in blue, purple, pink, starlight, and space grey, the 2022 iPad Air is also equipped with landscape stereo speakers, Touch ID function, as well as front and back cameras. While I did not make excessive use of the Ultra Wide 12 Megapixel front camera and the 12 Megapixel Wide back camera, I understand that the iPad Air can be used like your own ultra-portable mobile studio. That’s pretty cool, if you ask me!

For many, one downside to the iPad Air is that the device does not come with Face ID. In addition, you might find multitasking to be quite complicated. However, you can still use Split View to work with multiple apps concurrently. If you’re just using the iPad Air for quick tasks and enjoyment, you’d find that the tablet’s actually rather smooth. So, if I’m just watching Apple TV+’s  ‘The Afterparty’ on my bed or furnishing an article in a cafe, the iPad Air works pretty well for me.

The verdict

From the smooth user experience to a long battery life, the new 2022 iPad Air sure packs a mighty punch without compromising on lightness and portability. Apple’s sleek gizmo is no slouch after all. The all-encompassing question, however, is if the iPad Air can be a worthy complete replacement for laptops.

Personally, I find the 2022 iPad Air to be superbly efficient and the tablet ticks all the right boxes for me. It’s portable, easy to use, integrates well within the Apple ecosystem, and allows me to complete my tasks as well as binge-streaming programmes without having to constantly check on the battery status. The iPad Air would not be the best device for you if you’re considering heavy usage, such as editing videos and storing a massive amount of files.

Deciding between the iPad Pro and iPad Air? Your choice truly depends on how much storage you require but if space is not the main requirement for you, opt for the latter. In summation, I’d give the iPad Air a go if I want a practical and convenient gadget for more on-the-go purposes (together with additional accessories like the Magic Keyboard) but I’ll still find myself reaching out to my faithful MacBook to get more complicated tasks done — especially those that would benefit from a larger screen size.

The 2022 iPad Air is priced from THB 11,400. For more information about iPad Air, head over to this website.

(All images by Apple)

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Luxury fashion house Gucci is now taking blockchain in fashion to a whole new level. After entering the metaverse earlier this year, Gucci will now be accepting crypto payments at some select stores in the U.S., according to a report published in Vogue Business.

The fashion brand will begin a pilot project at five stores later in May, with the move being an extension of Gucci’s Web3 and physical communities.

Gucci jumps on the crypto bandwagon

 

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The report says that Gucci will start accepting crypto at its stores at New York’s Wooster Street, Los Angeles’ Rode Drive, Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza, Las Vegas’ The Shops at Crystals, and Miami Design District. The Italian high-end fashion brand will accept digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Shiba Inu.

Customers will receive an email, which will have a QR code. They can scan the code and pay through their digital asset wallet. Gucci is providing cryptocurrency and NFT education and training to its staff members. The brand is all set to launch the facility at its stores in North America this summer.

 

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Crypto payments are usually made using a QR code or NFC reader via smartphone cryptocurrency apps. Retailers can either convert the payment to fiat currency or keep it in the form of cryptocurrency. Many brands across the world have already been accepting crypto payments. Italian luxury fashion label Off-White also started crypto payments recently.

Earlier this year, Gucci had bought a virtual land in the decentralised blockchain game The Sandbox. The brand is building a virtual Gucci Vault for Gucci-themed Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

Popular brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Adidas, Nike, Vans, and Balenciaga have also entered the digital world. They will face competition from crypto-native fashion brands like Digitalax, Red DAO, DRESSX, and Blanksoles.

Hero and featured image: Courtesy Shutterstock

This article first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India.

The post The future is definitely here: Gucci is now accepting payments through crypto appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok.