Aug 2 Tech Roundup: Honor Magic6 Pro, Sony PS Portal, Chrome AI Features, and More

5 minutes of reading Last updated: August 2, 2024 | 20:03 IST

The Chinese importer of Honor smartphone brand in India, HTech, launched the Magic 6 Pro smartphone in the country on August 2. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 system-on-chip, the premium flagship smartphone runs on MagicOS 8.0, powered by Android 14, which comes with several AI features and tools for content generation, image editing and enhancement, and text summarization. Offered in a 12GB RAM and 512GB storage configuration at a price of Rs 89,999, the Honor Magic 6 Pro will be available on e-commerce platform Amazon India and select retail stores starting August 15.

Japanese electronics giant Sony announced the launch of PlayStation Portal in India on August 2. Dubbed as a remote player for the PlayStation 5 gaming console, the PlayStation Portal supports wireless connectivity and console quality control. It also supports Sony’s acclaimed DualSense gaming controller, features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games. Sony said the PlayStation Portal Remote Player lets users play compatible games they have installed on their consoles without having to use a TV.

The Chrome browser for desktop computers of the American software giant Google is to receive three new features, based on artificial intelligence using AI and Gemini models. Among the new additions are Lens integration for easier searching, comparing products from multiple tabs, and intelligent searches in history using text suggestions.

OnePlus will debut the OnePlus Open Apex Edition in a new Crimson Shadow color on August 7, Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has announced. Set to launch in 2023, the OnePlus Open is an Android-based foldable smartphone powered by OxygenOS. The smartphone is expected to receive new features along with a new color version to match other foldable devices in 2024.

Google Photos app for Android and iOS is set to get AI tools that were only available on select devices at launch. The American software giant announced that Google Photos AI editing tools – Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur and Portrait Light – will be coming to all Google Photos users. They won’t require a subscription, Google confirmed.

Apple has revised its App Store guidelines for emulator apps to explicitly allow for the download of games for PC emulators. Apple has updated its app notarization guidelines for third-party apps that are submitted for distribution outside of the App Store in the European Union. App Store guidelines 4.7, 4.7.2, and 4.7.3 have subsequently become part of the EU notarization review process. The new guidelines will simplify the approval process for PC emulator apps.

The OnePlus Nord 4 is now available for sale in India. Launched in July, the mid-range smartphone from the Chinese brand boasts of an aluminum unibody design that is reminiscent of the OnePlus 3 series. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 system-on-chip (SoC), paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM. The OnePlus Nord 4 offers multimedia editing tools like “AI Best Face”, “AI Eraser”, and more. Apart from the multimedia editing features, both the OnePlus Nord 4 and the Pad 2 will come with AI productivity features like AI Speak, AI summarise, AI Writer, and more.

The Redmi Pad Pro Android tablet powered by Xiaomi HyperOS is available for purchase now. Offering both Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity options, the Redmi Pad Pro 5G boasts of a 12.1-inch 2.5K LCD display at 120Hz, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support, a 3.5mm jack with support for high-res audio out, a 10,000mAh battery, and Xiaomi HyperOS based on Android 14. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, the Redmi Pad Pro is offered with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. Apart from this, there are also supported accessories for the Redmi Pad Pro like the Redmi Smart Pen, a keyboard, and a case.

The OPPO K12x 5G is now available for purchase in India. Touted by the Chinese smartphone maker as the toughest 5G smartphone in its segment, the OPPO K12x 5G boasts of a MIL-STD-810H military-grade certification and an IP54 rating against dust and water. The smartphone boasts of “Splash Touch” technology, allowing users to operate its touchscreen even with wet fingers, OPPO said.

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q is an enterprise-focused laptop with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) features, performance, design, and battery life. It is one of the first AI laptops in India, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. This Windows 11 ARM-based laptop introduces Microsoft’s inaugural AI PC features, called Copilot+, available exclusively on Qualcomm platforms, along with a suite of HP software to provide a customized user experience.

Smartphone sales in India crossed $10 billion in April-June period this year, the highest recorded during the weak April-June period, The Economic Times reported, citing market analysts.

First published: August 2, 2024 | 20:03 IST