Apple has released the third developer beta of iPS 18.1, bringing more Apple Intelligence features such as “Clean Up” in Photos, which removes background objects, and improved notification summaries. 

Along with the iOS 18.1 beta, Apple has also released the iOS 18 public beta 6. The latest public beta will likely be the last version before the company rolls out the stable release of its new operating system to users.

The upcoming iPhone 16 series, scheduled for launch on September 9, is said to come with iOS 18 to other eligible iPhone models shortly after. Apple has separated the iOS 18.1 beta cycle from the iOS 18 beta cycle. While the iOS 18 beta versions focus on offering a new user interface, app redesigns, and other changes, the iOS 18.1 beta update brings new Apple Intelligence features.

Also Read: Motorola Razr 50 To Launch On September 9 In Indian Market

New Apple Intelligence Features In iOS 18.1 Developer Beta

Apple has introduced the new “Clean Up” image editing tool to the Photos app with iOS 18.1 developer beta 3. This AI-powered tool automatically detects and removes distracting objects in the background. Users can also select a specific object by tapping or circling it and asking the tool to remove it.

Once the object is removed, the feature leverages gen AI to fill in the blank spaces appropriately. This feature is similar to Google’s Magic Eraser and Oppo’s AI Eraser. Apple had already made AI-generated notification summaries available for native apps, such as Mail and Messages with previous betas of iOS 18.1.

However, with the latest update, the company has extended this feature to include notifications from third-party apps. As per a report from MacRumor, Apple now lets users to opt for notification summaries for third-party apps as well. Notification summaries use Apple Intelligence to pick up key details from multiple notifications from an app and group them together, providing information at a glance.

While Apple continues to bring significant changes in the iOS 18.1 betas, iOS 18 beta updates bring only minor changes such as improved stability, bug fixes, and better optimization.

Also Read: Google Brings Gemini’s Onscreen Awareness To More Phones

Apple iPhone 16 Series Launch Slated For September 9

Apple has confirmed the launch of its next flagship smartphone, the iPhone 16 series. The tech giant will be hosting its “Glowtime” event on September 9 where fans can expect to see the iPhone 16 series announced and also get a closer look at the Apple Intelligence features coming to iPhones later this year.

That’s not it, fans could also witness the launch of the new AirPods 4 and the Watch Series 10 at the same event. Apple iPhone 16 launch event is on Monday, September 9  and users can watch the keynote at 10:30 PM IST for Indian fans.

The company will be live-streaming the event on the YouTube channel and Events page. The company is hosting an in-person event where the announcements will be broadcast.

With RCS coming to the iPhone recently, Google is planning to bring new features including cross-platform end-to-end encryption (E2EE) between Android and iPhone. The GSMA body says the “next major milestone is for the RCS Universal Profile to add important user protections such as interoperable end-to-end encryption.” 

“This will be the first deployment of standardized, interoperable messaging encryption between different computing platforms, addressing significant technical challenges such as key federation and cryptographically-enforced group membership. Additionally, users will benefit from stronger protections from scams, fraud, and other security threats.”

Google added that it’s “working with the broader ecosystem to bring cross-platform E2EE to RCS chats as soon as possible.” The Google Messages app on Android now provides its own E2E encryption for RCS 1:1 and group conversations that does not extend to iPhone chats.

Also Read: Apple Rolls Out macOS Sequoia Without Apple Intelligence

Apple Working With GSMA To Add Encryption

Google said, “We’re proud to have offered end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in Google Messages with RCS since 2020. We believe that E2EE is a critical component of secure messaging, and we have been working with the broader ecosystem to bring cross-platform E2EE to RCS chats as soon as possible. Google is committed to providing a secure and private messaging experience for users, and we remain dedicated to making E2EE standard for all RCS users regardless of the platform.”

In 2023, the company detailed plans to support the MLS protocol for interoperable E2E encrypted messaging. When RCS for the iPhone was announced, Apple said it wanted to work with GSMA members to add encryption to the messaging standard. Google also said that it is looking “forward to Apple adding the ability to react to media, reply directly to messages in group chats, and more.”

The RCS Universal Profile 2.7 was finalized in June with two new features:

• Enabling Replies and Reactions (including Custom Reactions) to send and receive messages.
• For the message sender, to Edit, Recall and Delete messages that they sent earlier for themselves and the message recipient

Also Read: Apple Plans To Withdraw Its Legal Case Against Pegasus Spyware

Google’s Circle To Search Feature Coming To More Smartphones

Google’s visual lookup feature Circle to Search is being rolled out to more Android devices, according to a new leak. The AI feature that enables users to quickly run a web search on any visual element on the screen is currently only available on a few Samsung and Pixel smartphones. However, this could change as tipster claims that the Circle to Search feature is being added to the Tecno V Fold 2, launched recently.

The feature first made its debut with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in January and was later expanded to older Galaxy smartphones and the Pixel smartphone series. Nine months later, the feature has not been released for any other brand of smartphones. However, tipster Mishaal Rahman claimed that Circle to Search is being added to the Tecno V Fold 2.

Snap Inc. chief executive Evan Spiegel believes that augmented reality (AR) hardware will be the next big thing in computing. He hopes that the social media company's early leaps with the budding technology will give it an advantage over rivals, including Apple, Google, and Meta.

At the company’s annual Partner Summit, Spiegel revealed a new operating system called Snap OS that is purpose-built to power its fifth generation of Spectacles AR glasses and future hardware.

The new OS comes with a natural interface that uses the person’s hands and voice and the main menu is in the palm of their hand, with no controllers needed, as per the demos shown by Spiegel at the event.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Providing 1-Year Free Jio AirFiber Connection

Spiegel Wants to Attract Developers To The New Platform

"Snap’s Spatial Engine understands the world around you, powering immersive Lens experiences that integrate into your natural environment. An astounding 13-millisecond motion-to-photon latency renders Lenses with incredible accuracy," Spiegel said.

Lenses are a kind of AR experience that allows people to add 3D effects, objects, characters, and transformations to the environment before taking a picture or a video. The Snap chief also wanted to attract developers to build software for the new platform.

"We’re developers ourselves. So we know what it feels like to deal with the arbitrary rules and high developer taxes that platforms demand today. We know how hard it is to build something great and we want to make it easier for all of you" Spiegel said.

The company is also joining forces with ChatGPT maker OpenAI to offer developers access to multimodal large language models, letting them easily build Lenses that recognize objects around them and provide more context. "We want developers on Spectacles to be able to invest in building amazing Lens experiences. So we’re launching Spectacles with no developer tax," he said.

Also Read: Samsung Starts Pre-Reserve For Its Next-Gen Galaxy Tabs In India

Developers To Face Some Initial Hurdles

Developers who wish to build and test lenses for the new platform will face some big initial hurdles: a big upfront cost. The new Spectacles are available for developers to access through the Spectacles Developer Program in Lens Studio, which costs $99 plus the tax per month with a one-year commitment, which effectively translates to $1,188 plus tax per year. The program is currently available only in the US.

During the keynote, Spiegel said that developers and partners, like LEGO Group, ILM Immersive, Niantic, and Wabisabi Games are using Lens Studio and Snap OS to create new Lenses for Spectacles.

This move comes as Meta is said to bring its AR glasses to its Connect conference soon. In April, the company announced that it is opening up Meta Horizon OS, the OS powering its Meta Quest mixed reality headsets, to third-party hardware makers.

OnePlus has announced the launch of its latest budget true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones, the Nord Buds 3 in India today. The highlights of these earbuds include support for active noise cancellation (ANC), up to 43 hours of battery life, and support for Google Fast Pair. It is a more affordable offering than the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro, which was launched in India a few days ago.

The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 comes at a price of Rs 2,299 and will be available for buying starting September 20. They will be available on Amazon, Flipkart, OnePlus’ official website, and several offline partners. It comes in two stylish colors: Harmonic Gray and Melodic White.

Prospective buyers will get a Rs 200 discount on ICICI Bank and OneCard credit card transactions. Additionally, OnePlus is offering a Rs 200 discount to students on its website and its app.

Also Read: Motorola Edge 50 Neo With Dimensity 7300 SoC In India

OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Under The Hood

The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 comes with a 12.4mm dynamic driver with a bass-rich audio experience. It has the company’s native BassWave technology which allows users to fine-tune bass frequencies specifically to match their listening style.

The TWS earphones offer up to 36dB of active noise cancellation (ANC) and also come with a Transparency Mode, which seamlessly combines ambient external sounds with audio from the connected device. The Nord Buds 3 come with an IP55 rating which makes the earbuds resistant to sweat and water.

The earbuds come with a 58mAh battery on both earphones, while the charging case features a 440mAh battery and a USB Type-C charging port. The company claims that Nord Buds 3 can offer up to 43 hours of total battery life with ANC disabled and with ANC enabled, users can expect up to 28 hours of usage. Connectivity options include dual device support, Google Fast Pair, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Also Read: Apple Plans To Withdraw Its Legal Case Against Pegasus Spyware

OnePlus 13 To Launch In October 2024 With SD 8 Gen 4 SoC

Chinese tech giant OnePlus has officially confirmed the launch of its much-anticipated OnePlus 13 flagship smartphone, slated to launch next month. The announcement was made by Louis Lee, President of OnePLus China, who revealed that the upcoming device will likely be backed by Qualcomm’s latest offering, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset, according to GSM Arena.

This launch marks a notable moment for OnePlus, as it will be one of the first smartphone manufacturers to introduce a flagship device so soon after the debut of Qualcomm’s latest chipset, which is expected to be announced in mid to late October. The timing of the launch showcases the company’s focus on keeping pace with the latest advancements in mobile technology.

Reliance Jio has released a new offer ahead of Diwali, offering users a chance to claim a 1-year free JioAirFiber connection under its ‘Diwali Dhamaka’ promotion. The offer, which is available to both new and existing JioFiber as well as JioAirFiber users, can be availed by shopping at Reliance Digital stores or opting for a special Diwali plan. However, there’s a catch.

New customers looking to get a JioAirFiber connection can claim this offer by spending Rs 20,000 or more at any Reliance Digital or MyJio store. The price seems pretty high for eligibility, but the offer could likely benefit people who are already planning to purchase products such as AC, fridge, TV, or a phone.

Also Read: First ROG Phone 9 Leak Reveals SD 8 Gen 4, Upgraded Display

How To Get 1-Year Free Jio AirFiber Connection

Apart from this, the existing JioAirFiber users can also claim this offer by recharging with a 3-month Diwali plan priced at Rs 2,222, which will make them eligible for the 1-year free service. Existing users will be able to take advantage of the offer by making a one-time advance recharge of the same plan.

As per Reliance Jio, the eligible customers will get 12 coupons over the course of the year, starting from November 2024 to October 2025. These coupons will be the same as the value of the user’s active JioAirFiber plan and can be redeemed at any Reliance Digital, MyJio, JioPoint, or JioMart Digital exclusive store.

However, to use a coupon, customers must make a purchase of Rs 15,000 or more on electronics within 30 days of receiving each coupon. The Diwali Dhamaka offer is valid from September 18, 2024, to November 3, 2024.

Also Read: Black Myth: Wukong DLC To Reportedly Come Out In Early 2025

JioPhone Prima 2 Feature Phone Launched At Rs 2,799

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has launched yet another budget 4G feature phone -- JioPhone Prima 2. The feature phone is powered by a Qualcomm chip with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage.

Compared to its precursor, the JioPhone Prima 2 is capable of making direct video calls without any third-party app. The latest 4g phone from Jio comes at a price of Rs 2,799 and has a candy bar-style design with an easy-to-replace 2,000mAh battery. The device has two cameras, one on the rear panel and a selfie camera, which users can use for video calls and selfies.

The JioPhone Prima 2 runs on KaiOS and comes with apps like YouTube, Google Assistant, Facebook, and JioPay with support for UPI payments, JioCinema, and JioChat. The phone does not support WhatsApp, as Meta recently removed WhatsApp support from KaiOS. The phone also supports 23 different Indian languages.

Samsung has started pre-reservations for its upcoming flagship Galaxy tablets in India. Consumers can already pre-reserve these devices through multiple channels, including Samsung.com, Samsung India Smart Cafés, e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.in and Flipkart.com, and authorized retail stores.

Consumers will be able to secure the upcoming Galaxy tablets by paying a token amount of Rs 1,000. Those who pre-reserve will receive benefits worth Rs 3,499. The pre-reservation is open across online and offline platforms. Customers will be able to access Samsung’s website, Smart Cafés, Amazon.in, Flipkart.com, or authorized stores to secure their devices.

Also Read: Apple Plans To Withdraw Its Legal Case Against Pegasus Spyware

What To Expect From New Samsung Galaxy Tablets

Samsung has yet to announce the release date for the new Galaxy tablets, but early access benefits are available for people who pre-reserve.

Samsung flagship Galaxy tablets are set to bring performance optimization, creative tools, and adaptive features designed to boost productivity. These tablets will build upon the company’s previous innovations in the tablet market, aimed at multi-taskers seeking a productivity solution.

Consumers can pre-reserve the device by paying Rs 1,000 through any of the listed channels. Early customers will be eligible for benefits worth Rs 3,499. Additional details regarding the specifications and pricing of the new Galaxy tablets are said to be launched closer to their official release.

Also Read: Motorola Edge 50 Neo With Dimensity 7300 SoC In India

Samsung Planning To Launch Rollable Phone In 2025

Samsung is reportedly gearing up to launch a groundbreaking smartphone featuring a rollable display, which could hit the market as early as 2025. This innovative device is said to have a flexible display that will extend outward, transforming into a significantly larger display when needed. If the launch timeline turns out to be true, this would mark six years since the company launched its first foldable device.

Although Samsung has yet to officially confirm the development of this new device, the company has a track record of launching cutting-edge technologies, including a hybrid model that both folds and slides.

As per a report from The Elec, Samsung’s upcoming rollable might expand to a 12.4-inch display, matching the size of some tablets. If accurate, this display would surpass the recently launched Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design, which sports a 10.2-inch display.

Samsung’s rollable device is also rumored to come with an under-display camera (UDC), curbing the need for a visible camera cutout and offering a seamless viewing experience. However, with its advanced technology and expansive screen, the phone might carry a premium price tag.