The tech industry was abuzz with activity this week. Apple and IBM both announced layoffs, while Apple also revealed the dates for its highly anticipated launch event. Telegram‘s CEO faced charges related to the app’s misuse, and Vivo and Realme launched new smartphones.
Apple announces date for iPhone 16 series launch event
Apple has officially announced a special event on September 9, where it will unveil the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series.The event, tagged “It’s Glowtime,” will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 10:30 PM IST. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to feature four models: the standard iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Alongside the new iPhones, Apple is also expected to introduce new Apple Watch models, including the Watch Series 10, Watch Ultra 3, and the budget-friendly Watch SE.
IBM shuts down research labs in this country, lays off 1,000 Employees
IBMhas reportedly shut down its research and development (R&D) operations in China, joining a growing list of major tech companies scaling back their presence in the country due to geopolitical challenges. According to a Chinese publication, the closure of IBM’s China Development Lab and China Systems Lab has led to layoffs of over 1,000 employees in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Dalian.
The South China Morning Post reported that over the weekend, IBM’s R&D staff in China lost access to the company’s intranet and services. The report, citing multiple employee posts on Chinese social media platforms, stated that IBM, based in Armonk, New York, officially announced the job cuts during an internal meeting.
Telegram CEO charged over app’s “criminal use”
French prosecutors have charged Pavel Durov, the CEO and co-founder of Telegram, with facilitating various criminal activities on the messaging app. A French judge has placed Durov under formal investigation and granted him bail on the condition that he pay Euros 5 million, report to police twice a week, and remain within French territory.
The Paris prosecutor stated that the judge found sufficient evidence to investigate Durov on all charges related to his arrest on August 24th at a Paris airport. Durov was detained for the maximum legal period of four days before being charged.
Vivo T3 Pro with 50MP camera launched in India, price starts at Rs 24,999
Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has expanded its T-series lineup with the launch of the Vivo T3 Pro in India. This mid-range smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm chipset and features a 5,500 mAh battery. The Vivo T3 Pro boasts a curved AMOLED display and a 50MP main camera.
The Vivo T3 Pro is available in two variants: 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 24,999 and 8GB+256GB priced at Rs 26,999. Customers can choose between two color options—Sandstone Orange and Emerald Green. The smartphone will be available for purchase online via Flipkart and the Vivo India e-store, as well as offline at authorized retail stores, starting September 3.
Realme 13, Realme 13+ smartphones launched
Realme has unveiled its new Realme 13 series of smartphones, featuring two models: Realme 13 and Realme 13+. Both smartphones come with FHD+ displays and are powered by MediaTek Dimensity chipsets. They each feature a 50MP main camera and are backed by 5000 mAh batteries.
The Realme 13 is available in two variants: 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 17,999 and 8GB+256GB priced at Rs 19,999, with color options of Dark Purple and Speed Green. The Realme 13+ offers three variants: 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 22,999, 8GB+256GB at Rs 24,999, and 12GB+256GB at Rs 26,999.
RBI launches new UPI feature
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a new feature that allows customers to deposit cash at ATMs using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), removing the need for physical debit cards. Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar launched the UPI Interoperable Cash Deposit (UPI-ICD) service at the Global Fintech Fest 2024 in Mumbai. This feature enables users to deposit cash into their own or any other bank account via UPI at ATMs operated by both banks and white-label ATM operators.
Apple sees third round of layoffs
Apple has recently laid off around 100 employees from its services group, signalling a strategic shift within this division. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the affected employees were notified of the job cuts.
The layoffs primarily impacted the team responsible for the Apple Books app and Apple Bookstore, but other services teams, including Apple News, also experienced reductions. Engineering roles were among the positions eliminated, according to sources. These job cuts within the services division coincide with Apple’s increased focus on artificial intelligence programs. While Apple Books is still expected to receive updates, it appears to be a lower priority for the company. Despite the layoffs, insiders maintain that Apple News remains a crucial focus for Apple.
Beats launches Solo Buds, Solo 4, and Pill in India
Apple’s audio brand, Beats, has launched its newest premium products in India. The lineup includes the Beats Solo Buds true wireless earphones, Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones, and Beats Pill portable Bluetooth speaker.
The Beats Solo Buds, priced at Rs 6,900, offer up to 18 hours of battery life and come in four color options. The Beats Solo 4, retailing for Rs 22,900, features Personalized Spatial Audio and boasts up to 50 hours of battery life. The redesigned Beats Pill, priced at Rs 16,900, promises enhanced sound quality and 24 hours of playback time.
Reliance Jio announces Jio TvOS, JioHome and JioTV+
At Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM), JioTvOS, a homegrown operating system for the Jio Set-Top Box, was officially unveiled. Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Infocomm Limited, also introduced JioHome for smart living and the JioTV+ live TV platform.
JioTvOS is now integrated with the Hello Jio voice assistant, allowing users to control their Set-Top Box using voice commands through the mic button on the Jio Remote. Simply say “Hello Jio, find action movies” to search across apps like Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hotstar, and more.
Jio Home aims to create smarter and more connected homes through the Internet of Things (IoT). Jio envisions IoT as the foundation of smart Indian homes, offering enhanced convenience, security, and energy efficiency. Jio Home IoT solutions, integrated with JioTvOS and adhering to the Matter standard, enable users to control various appliances.
Jio AI-Cloud welcome offer with up to 100GB free storage announced
At its 47th annual general meeting (AGM), Reliance Jio unveiled its Jio AI-Cloud Welcome offer, providing up to 100GB of free cloud storage. Additionally, the company introduced the Connected Intelligence concept – a delivery model where AI services and the data they process are hosted in the cloud. This allows users to access their data and AI services from any device, anywhere, over low-latency broadband networks.
Apple announces date for iPhone 16 series launch event
Apple has officially announced a special event on September 9, where it will unveil the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series.The event, tagged “It’s Glowtime,” will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 10:30 PM IST. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to feature four models: the standard iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Alongside the new iPhones, Apple is also expected to introduce new Apple Watch models, including the Watch Series 10, Watch Ultra 3, and the budget-friendly Watch SE.
IBM shuts down research labs in this country, lays off 1,000 Employees
IBMhas reportedly shut down its research and development (R&D) operations in China, joining a growing list of major tech companies scaling back their presence in the country due to geopolitical challenges. According to a Chinese publication, the closure of IBM’s China Development Lab and China Systems Lab has led to layoffs of over 1,000 employees in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Dalian.
The South China Morning Post reported that over the weekend, IBM’s R&D staff in China lost access to the company’s intranet and services. The report, citing multiple employee posts on Chinese social media platforms, stated that IBM, based in Armonk, New York, officially announced the job cuts during an internal meeting.
Telegram CEO charged over app’s “criminal use”
French prosecutors have charged Pavel Durov, the CEO and co-founder of Telegram, with facilitating various criminal activities on the messaging app. A French judge has placed Durov under formal investigation and granted him bail on the condition that he pay Euros 5 million, report to police twice a week, and remain within French territory.
The Paris prosecutor stated that the judge found sufficient evidence to investigate Durov on all charges related to his arrest on August 24th at a Paris airport. Durov was detained for the maximum legal period of four days before being charged.
Vivo T3 Pro with 50MP camera launched in India, price starts at Rs 24,999
Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has expanded its T-series lineup with the launch of the Vivo T3 Pro in India. This mid-range smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm chipset and features a 5,500 mAh battery. The Vivo T3 Pro boasts a curved AMOLED display and a 50MP main camera.
The Vivo T3 Pro is available in two variants: 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 24,999 and 8GB+256GB priced at Rs 26,999. Customers can choose between two color options—Sandstone Orange and Emerald Green. The smartphone will be available for purchase online via Flipkart and the Vivo India e-store, as well as offline at authorized retail stores, starting September 3.
Realme 13, Realme 13+ smartphones launched
Realme has unveiled its new Realme 13 series of smartphones, featuring two models: Realme 13 and Realme 13+. Both smartphones come with FHD+ displays and are powered by MediaTek Dimensity chipsets. They each feature a 50MP main camera and are backed by 5000 mAh batteries.
The Realme 13 is available in two variants: 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 17,999 and 8GB+256GB priced at Rs 19,999, with color options of Dark Purple and Speed Green. The Realme 13+ offers three variants: 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 22,999, 8GB+256GB at Rs 24,999, and 12GB+256GB at Rs 26,999.
RBI launches new UPI feature
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a new feature that allows customers to deposit cash at ATMs using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), removing the need for physical debit cards. Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar launched the UPI Interoperable Cash Deposit (UPI-ICD) service at the Global Fintech Fest 2024 in Mumbai. This feature enables users to deposit cash into their own or any other bank account via UPI at ATMs operated by both banks and white-label ATM operators.
Apple sees third round of layoffs
Apple has recently laid off around 100 employees from its services group, signalling a strategic shift within this division. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the affected employees were notified of the job cuts.
The layoffs primarily impacted the team responsible for the Apple Books app and Apple Bookstore, but other services teams, including Apple News, also experienced reductions. Engineering roles were among the positions eliminated, according to sources. These job cuts within the services division coincide with Apple’s increased focus on artificial intelligence programs. While Apple Books is still expected to receive updates, it appears to be a lower priority for the company. Despite the layoffs, insiders maintain that Apple News remains a crucial focus for Apple.
Beats launches Solo Buds, Solo 4, and Pill in India
Apple’s audio brand, Beats, has launched its newest premium products in India. The lineup includes the Beats Solo Buds true wireless earphones, Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones, and Beats Pill portable Bluetooth speaker.
The Beats Solo Buds, priced at Rs 6,900, offer up to 18 hours of battery life and come in four color options. The Beats Solo 4, retailing for Rs 22,900, features Personalized Spatial Audio and boasts up to 50 hours of battery life. The redesigned Beats Pill, priced at Rs 16,900, promises enhanced sound quality and 24 hours of playback time.
Reliance Jio announces Jio TvOS, JioHome and JioTV+
At Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM), JioTvOS, a homegrown operating system for the Jio Set-Top Box, was officially unveiled. Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Infocomm Limited, also introduced JioHome for smart living and the JioTV+ live TV platform.
JioTvOS is now integrated with the Hello Jio voice assistant, allowing users to control their Set-Top Box using voice commands through the mic button on the Jio Remote. Simply say “Hello Jio, find action movies” to search across apps like Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hotstar, and more.
Jio Home aims to create smarter and more connected homes through the Internet of Things (IoT). Jio envisions IoT as the foundation of smart Indian homes, offering enhanced convenience, security, and energy efficiency. Jio Home IoT solutions, integrated with JioTvOS and adhering to the Matter standard, enable users to control various appliances.
Jio AI-Cloud welcome offer with up to 100GB free storage announced
At its 47th annual general meeting (AGM), Reliance Jio unveiled its Jio AI-Cloud Welcome offer, providing up to 100GB of free cloud storage. Additionally, the company introduced the Connected Intelligence concept – a delivery model where AI services and the data they process are hosted in the cloud. This allows users to access their data and AI services from any device, anywhere, over low-latency broadband networks.
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