Having missed an earlier deadline, Samsung has now gone official with its 2022 flagship chipset called the Exynos 2200. The new mobile chip is built on the latest 4nm process, and it's focused on gaming through PC-grade graphics integration with a new AMD GPU.
Samsung says the Exynos 2200 chipset is designed with a powerful AMD RNDA 2 architecture-based Samsung Xclipse GPU.
Along with the latest Arm-based CPU cores and an upgraded NPU, Samsung says the flagship chipset will give users "the ultimate mobile gaming experience and enhanced photography".
That new AMD RDNA 2 graphics architecture will allow for features such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing on a smartphone for the first time.
Rumors suggest the Exynos 2200 will be inside a variety of Samsung Galaxy S22 models, while others will feature its biggest competition - the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Which one will you get? It will likely depend on where you live.
Exynos 2200 - for gaming and game developers?
The Exynos 2200 chipset comes with a tri-cluster octa-core CPU comprising a single Cortex-X2 core, three Cortex-A710 cores, and four Cortex-A510 cores. The company is yet to reveal the frequencies at which these CPU clusters run.
The exciting bit is the AMD RDNA2-based Xclipse 920 GPU that's being positioned between smartphones and gaming consoles. Samsung company claims it could drive 4K displays at 120Hz and QHD+ displays at 144Hz.
What does this really mean? It suggests we'll see some fantastic gaming performance on Samsung's next run of smartphones.
That's not all. It also features hardware-based ray tracing and variable-rate shading, which offers game developers a means to reduce shading rates in certain areas of the frames where changes are fewer.
This leads to reduced power usage, which is also achieved through the advanced multi-IP governor on the chipset.
The company says the chipset supports LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage and that it offers faster game loading, smoother frame rates, and swift multitasking.
In addition, the dual-core NPU within could mean that both the artificial intelligence and photography features will work much faster and more reliably compared to devices with the Exynos 2100.
However, when it comes to the ISP (Image Signal Processor), nothing much has changed in the Exynos 2200.
It supports 200MP camera sensors and can capture 108MP images at 30fps with 64MP and 32MP simultaneous image capture.
On the video front, the new chipset can ensure your phone will record in 4K with 120fps and 8K with 30fps at HDR10+ resolution. The chipset can also play 8K 60fps videos and 4K videos at 240fps.
For connectivity, the new chipset has an integrated 5G modem with support for mmWave and sub-6GHz networks. Samsung claims download speed of up to 10Gbps E-UTRAN New Radio mode with both 4G and 5G networks.
On the mmWave networks, it gets 7.35 Gbps download speed and 5.1 Gbps on the sub-6GHz networks. On LTE networks with 8CA, download speeds can reach up to 3Gbps, and upload speeds top at 422Mbps, the statement says.
Samsung notes that the Exynos 2200 is already in mass production, another indicator that it's soon coming to a Galaxy phone near you.
A month ago, Lenovo had announced that a new clamshell foldable phone is in the works. Now, we have more information around the Motorola Razr third generation smartphone which could boast the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and launch with the Android 12 onboard.
The folks at XDA Developers quoted sources to claim the specifications of the Moto Razr 3, which was actually slated to arrive in 2021, but got postponed.
A report by DSCC, a display expert, claimed that the next Razr isn’t expected until the second half of 2022 as Lenovo looks to re-invent its foldable phoen design.
To put the leaked specs in context, the Motorola Razr 5G, which proved to be a lacklustre successor to the original Moto Razr of 2019 version, had used the Snapdragon 765G while the previous handset came with the Snapdragon 710.
So, Lenovo appears to have gone for the best chipset in the market for its next clamshell handset.
A big upgrade?
The report claimed that the Moto Razr 3 could come in three RAM options of 6GB, 8GB and 12GB and be paired with internal storage choices of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB.
Unlike the previous models, the third generation handset may see the notch being replaced by a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera.
The foldable AMOLED panel could offer a 120Hz refresh rate, too. There was little information around the second screen, specifically related to its size and resolution.
The leaks suggest the device could boast a rear camera setup with a 50MP primary shooter, and a 13MP for ultra-wide and macro shots. The selfie camera could be a 32MP camera.
Both the main camera and the selfie one may be capable of shooting at 120fps FHD slow-motion recording and 60fps 4K UHD video shoots.
In a separate leak, the German publication TechNik News revealed that the Moto Razr 3 is codenamed Maven and would carry a Full HD+ foldable display covering a 20:9 ratio. And the device could also be carrying a 2,800mAh battery.
The report also suggests that the upcoming Moto Razr 3 could arrive with a variant with the wide-brand support enabling accurate positioning and could also support a few other features such as unlocking the car. We've seen similar on other devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Google Pixel 6.
Google confirmed Android 12 way back in June, but it's taken until now for the company to reveal a 'Go Edition' of the software, which is designed for low-end smartphones with less processing power.
In a detailed blog post, Google provided some details about how it has improved this version of its software from Android 11 Go. Besides faster app launches, the blog says Android 12 Go will also prolong battery life on low-end devices. This could be a boon for regions with bustling cheap phone markets.
This isn't the first Go Edition we've seen from Google - it typically makes a barebones version of its newest operating system (OS) for phones that can't run the full-fat version, and Android 12 Go is just the latest.
Knowing how Google goes about providing its updates, we may be well into 2022 before the Android 12 Go edition arrives on phones, and we don't know which phones will be compatible, or launch with the software - we'll have to wait and find out.
What does Android 12 Go edition bring?
According to Google, Android 12 Go brings a faster, smarter and more privacy-friendly experience to users. The company claims that the new OS will launch apps up to 30% faster and that animations will be smoother too.
In addition, Google says that the updated version would again feature the Android 12 SplashScreen API that allows developers to program something eye-catching when the apps are actually loading up. This means you're not staring at a blank screen for ages.
The company also promises that some tweaks in the updated version of its OS will extend the battery life of devices. It would achieve this by hibernating apps if they're not used for extended periods of time - users would be notified when it happens though.
Another welcome update is that the updated Files Go app will allow recoveries within 30 days if you accidentally delete something. This results in better utilization of storage space as people won't need to worry about removing stuff by mistake.
The updated Android 12 Go edition also provides users with the option to listen to news and translate any on-screen content into their preferred language. This feature isn't actually available on 'standard' Android 12, curiously.
Users will also be able to use Nearby Share and Google Play to share data directly with other devices. The Android 12 Go edition also allows an easy switch to a guest profile before such sharing as well as an instant reset of that profile once the shared information is used and exited.
Finally, the new Android 12 privacy dashboard also makes an appearance on this toned-down version of the operating system. Thus, users can now get a snapshot of apps that are accessing sensitive data.
Our first tryst with Oppo's foldable future began way back in 2019 when the Chinese manufacturer showed off a folding concept device. Then, in 2020, the company showcased a pair of concept flexible phones – one with a rollable display and one with a trifold display.
While these phones were never made commercially available, the brand is now officially ready to enter the foldable market with the Oppo Find N, which is scheduled to be unveiled during Oppo's Inno Day 2021 on December 15.
In the leadup to the event, Oppo has now offered a rather significant look at the device via a teaser posted to Twitter earlier today. You can check out that teaser below.
This is the exquisitely engineered #OPPOFindN. Hold. Fold. Enjoy. Repeat.Coming December 15. #OPPOINNODAY2021 pic.twitter.com/LVZKNgYiAvDecember 9, 2021
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Oppo Find N foldable phone
The teaser shows that the foldable phone will have a large near-bezel less external display which unfolds into a much larger primary display on the inside.
It's worth noting that the interior display appears to be almost square-shaped, rather than the longer rectangular design found in Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3. It also looks shorter and wider when closed, likely a decision made to avoid a long and narrow front screen.
Interestingly, it is impossible to spot a selfie camera on both the displays as Oppo has used a dark coloured wallpaper. This could mean that either the phone will come with under-display camera's like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 or it has a punch-hole camera that has been camouflaged due to the wallpaper.
Additionally, we can also see curved sides with a chrome finish and a massive camera bump, housing at least three camera sensors which can be spotted on the rear panel.
Pete Lau, OnePlus' CEO who is also overseeing brand synergy between Oppo, Oneplus and Realme, has mentioned that the company has ironed out issues that plague most foldable phones including a crease and durability.
Meanwhile, a report on GizChina quotes tipsters to suggest that the device, bearing model number PEUM00 was spotted on Geekbench. The same model had bagged the MIIT certification some time back. The tipster shared a screengrab of the latter's website via his Weibo account earlier in December.
The Geekbench listing provides additional information around the device, which has since been reportedly arriving under the name Vivo Find N. Of course, the teaser carries the name with the tipster also suggesting that it could find its way to the company's annual conference scheduled for next week.
Oppo Find N - specifications (rumored)
The listing suggests that the Oppo Find N could have the Snapdragon 888 chipset under its hood, which corroborates some of the earlier rumors around the device. We also get indications that the handset will ship with 12GB RAM and could be running the Android 11 out of the box. The data around benchmarks indicates that the new device scored 925 points in the single-core test and 3,364 points in multi-core test.
The device is also expected to feature a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display. There were rumors of Sony's IMX766 50MP camera being the choice for the primary shooter, though we haven't heard anything concrete about the number of cameras on the back panel yet.
The listing on Camera FV-5 website indicates a 12.6MP shooter with f/1.8 aperture, EIS support, OIS, and a resolution of 4096×3072 pixels. This effectively means that the Oppo Find N could capture 50MP images using pixel binning. On the front, the device could house an 8.1MP camera.
There were reports that the device would sport an 8-inch OLED display (the size appears consistent in the teaser) with a 120Hz refresh rate. It was expected to draw its power from a 4500mAh battery with 65W fast charging options.
While we now know when the device will be officially unveiled, we've yet to receive word of an exact launch date for the phone, which faces the tough task of matching up to Samsung's array of foldable devices.
Samsung has announced an internal reorganization that sees the South Korean giant merging its smartphone division into its consumer electronics business.
The new SET division will sit alongside a seperate entity representing Samsung's semiconductor unit, with both businesses gaining a new CEO.
The move seems to indicate the company's plans to maintain focus across a wide range of interests and technology, whilst still keeping a tab on both internal and overall hardware, particularly its Samsung phones.
Reorganization
The announcement was part of a detailed statement from the South Korean giant revealing several changes at the leadership level.
The news means Samsung will now have two CEOs overseeing two divisions (instead of the previous three), effectively reversing an earlier decision made in 2017 when the company appointed three business leaders.
Jong-Hee Han, who was credited with making Samsung the leading television brand as global head of TV sales, now becomes the co-CEO of the new SET division.
The company says that in his new role, Jong-Hee Han is, “expected to strengthen the synergies among the different businesses in the SET Division and help drive new businesses and technologies.”
The semiconductor division will be headed by Kyehyun Kyung, previously head of Samsung's electro-mechanics division, who is credited with success at the company's flash memory product team and the DRAM (dynamic random access memory) design team.
Samsung has long been engaged in keeping track of the competition in the lucrative semiconductor business against the likes of Intel and TSMC.
Following the recent launch of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, Qualcomm indicated it would continue its association with Samsung foundry for its flagship processors.
Samsung announced in 2019 that it had set aside $115 billion to take on Intel and Qualcomm in the advanced semiconductor business, with the aim of becoming the world leader in the logic chip market by 2030.
The company noted in today's statement that Kyehyun Kyung will be expected to “maintain the company’s semiconductor leadership and lead innovation in the components business.”
The Oppo Find X4 series is expected in early 2022, and a new leak suggests that some members of that family could sport some of the best fast-charging speeds we've seen on any smartphone.
According to a new leak, the Find X4 series may be making the jump to 125W charging speeds. We've seen a variety of phones with 120W charging, including the Xiaomi 11T Pro and the Vivo iQOO 8 Pro, but this could be the first commerically available phone to hit that 125W spec.
This information comes directly from trusted tipster Digital Chat Station who says that they expect some of the Oppo Find X4 series to feature the 125W charging spec. They don't specify which models, but we'd expect this on the sequel to the Oppo Find X3 Pro rather than the standard Oppo Find X4.
Oppo previously revealed this technology in July 2021 with an example that showed a smartphone with a 4,000mAh battery that could be charged from empty to full in just 20 minutes.
It'll depend on other factors how long the Find X4 will take to charge, but those stats above were from Oppo's own 125W tech so we'd expect similar results if it does make its way to its flagship devices.
In the past, the Oppo Find X series has come up with a mid-range Lite model and a top-end Pro device that boasted impressive specs. We expect the company to follow that same template with its 2022 smartphones, although we don't know much about any of these devices yet.
The Oppo Find X3 series in 2021 brought us a true premium and mid-range champions with each packing top specs for their price, and it's likely the Find X4 counterparts will be the same.
Oppo's Find X line has come to represent the premium category of smartphones and took on the likes of closest rivals of Xiaomi's Mi series, Samsung Galaxy S handsets and OnePlus phones that came out around the same time.
We would have loved to see a dip in prices compared to last year, but given the dire shortage of processors this appears unlikely to happen. We'll keep you updated with anything further we learn about the Oppo Find X4 series in the coming months.
Streaming platforms in India appear to have started relaxing bandwidths that were suppressed for close to three months following government orders. Reports suggest that Netflix has started to rollout its streaming service at the same bitrate as it does in the United States.
While the video resolutions of streaming platforms had stayed constant, Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime had reduced the amount of data they use per stream by about 25% following the orders from the federal government in anticipation of a surge in demand as people stayed home due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Reports had it that internet service providers in India were witnessing a 15% surge in the volume of daily traffic and data consumption.
The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) had written to the federal government requesting it to tell streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and others to initiate measures that will ease pressure on network infrastructure, whose use was needed in other critical areas.
Bitrate, in general, determines the size and quality of video and audio files. Higher bitrate indicates better quality.
Following the government's request, the OTT platforms started to lower the data consumption that streaming takes up on their platforms.
The platforms also suspended high definition and ultra high definition content on mobile networks in a move to decongest the mobile networks for smooth digital operations of essential services, including digital payments, online/digital education, digital banking and online healthcare.
Now, though the lockdown is being persisted with varying amounts of severity across the country, OTT platforms are said to be slowly restoring the suppressed bitrate to their original levels.
According to a report in Medianama, “bitrates seemed to be returning to normal across at least ACT Broadband and Reliance Jio, and perhaps for all internet users in India. 1080p video without HDR, which was mostly capped at around 4Mbps, is now streaming at the same bitrate as it does in the US."
The report said it was not sure whether things have returned to normalcy on Amazon Prime.
But sources in the industry confirmed that all other OTT platforms would follow suit soon (if they have not already) as there is no compulsion any more to maintain a watch over their bitrate.
In any case, there is a small controversy going around that there was really no need in India to reduce the bitrate as there was no significant increase in Wifi usage across India.
The Director General of Cellular Operators Association of India, Rajan Mathews, has been quoted in the media as saying that streaming services can now figure out restrictions individually with networks.
With sports activity showing signs of picking up, the returning to higher quality of streaming would come in handy for fans to watch the action on some of these platforms as stadiums continue to be out of bounds for spectators in these social distancing times.
Close on the heels of launching the Android 11 beta version, Google appears to have also updated some developer tools that allow app makers to market subscriptions on the Play Store itself. In other words, customers can purchase the subscription for an app without actually downloading it.
And how would this happen? Google would change the Play Store layout to showcase subscriptions options alongside the "install" button on any app's page. So, if an app is offering a free trial, it will provide users a "Free Trial & Install" button and in case there is no free trial, users could find a "Subscribe" link next to the one asking them to install, Google says in a blog post.
Android 11 Update: release date, beta, features and everything we know so far
The blog written by Steve Hartford, Product Manager at Google Play, further says that these changes would roll out with the launch of its Billing Library version 3. Users, however, would have to wait close to a year, since for now only a few select developers are testing the new feature.
"Starting August 2, 2021, all new apps must use Billing Library version 3 or newer. By November 1, 2021, all updates to existing apps must use this version or newer ones," the blog post said. The update will allow users to buy a subscription directly from the Play Store listing page without clicking through an in-app pop-up.
What all would change?
At this moment, we are not sure how the feature would work as Google is pretty vague about it and only suggests that it would simplify the manner in which users discover and purchase items outside the app. However, we understand that Google will also provide developers with a UI that describes features that a subscription will offer.
The blog post also clarifies that the Android Billing Library version 3 can be used to redeem free trials of an app before a user installs it and the payments to subscribe can be made directly from Google Play Store subscription centre.
Developers are benefitted too
From the point of view of app developers, the new feature would allow them to sell their subscriptions directly from the details page of their app. Consumers would find a new button next to the "Install" button where they can get a free trial or purchase the app. This is indeed a welcome policy change as it benefits both consumers and developers.
Google is seeking more transparency
These changes from Google are a result of user angst at being tricked by app makers into taking subscriptions that do not adhere to Play Store guidelines. Of course, this isn't just an Android problem as even iOS users have complained about being tricked. In fact, a recent research by security firm Sophos claimed over 3.5 million iOS users had installed fleece-ware apps from Apple's App Store.
On its part, Google had introduced new Play Store policies in April with the avowed motive of guarding user interests and providing upfront clarity over subscription offers, free trial periods and how-tos around their cancellations. The policy had strictly banned hidden pricing, terms and opaque billing norms.
Since the new feature would provide users with the option of taking a free trial without having to actually subscribe, Google is hoping that it would cut churn and differentiate quality developers from the fly-by-night variety.
The onus shifts to developers
The new policy also puts the onus on developers to enhance clarity for users. It requires them to present users details about the app's subscriptions such as the extra benefits, the cost they pay for it and the frequency at which they get billed. In addition, it would also offer users the option to dismiss the sign-up offers.
Additionally, Google is also putting the onus on app developers to provide a clear and definite reason that they seek user location tracking in the background. This has been an issue that most smartphone makers have been battling since the issue of privacy and data security came to fore over the past couple of years.
Though the rollout is scheduled to be completed by next Fall, Google is keen to change the way users interact with their subscriptions even earlier. The company would start enforcing features that allow users to pause subscriptions without the default settings getting switched back to "on" when dealing with an app. This is a welcome break, when it happens, given that several users have complained about vague billing cycles.
After a few epic delays (no pun intended), the new season of Fortnite has finally arrived and submerged large areas of the island. The Fortnite: Chapter 2, Season 3 was released by Epic Games with extra focus on aquatic gameplay that even includes Jaws like music for effect.
Earlier this week, the company held its major "Doomsday" event that saw the game's battle royale island surrounded by water which made it quite obvious that the next round would get players involved in water games in a big way.
The story makes its way forward and drops players into a partially flooded island with a slew of activities that they can attempt. It includes battling computer-aided marauders, exploring areas that have adapted to the floods and even a ride atop a shark.
However, a big change is the map where the western portion of the island is underwater rendering the older locations such as Weeping Woods and Slurpy Swamp inaccessible. However, this loss is made up by the reappearance of the Agency area with a fortified base. The map itself adds to the fun making the boats more visible with the addition of more mobility options such as water skiing and the above-mentioned marauders.
Epic Games says that these changes would be for a short time. "As the time goes on and the water recedes, even more locations will be uncovered and as the roadways become more open, you will discover new ways to get around," the company says.
One of the ways to get around now are cars that would join boats and helicopters as the modes of transportation on the island. However, players would be encountering some new challenges in the form of whirlpools across the island that requires skill to avoid. And, not all sharks are friendly enough to give you a ride as there are also those who are "hungry and dangerous" unless there's a fishing rod handy.
The new season has taken a long time coming, given that Chapter 2, Season 2 had debuted back in February. Since then, there have been quite a few changes on Fortnite including a violence-free social space, in-game additions of helicopters etc. That these changes are working is evident from the 350 million players that Epic Games says have come on board, making Fortnite one of the most popular titles ever.
Like with every new season, there is a new Battle Pass too. If last time it revolved around Marvel favourite Deadpool, this time round it is a DC character Aquaman. The players can unlock new drifter skins, spacesuits and the Kitten who rides a motorbike.
India's eCommerce business was the hardest hit due to the lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic during April and May. However, a new study predicts that in the next five years the country will add more than 200 million new online shoppers. And, players like Jio Platforms are all set to take on existing players Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart for a share in this lucrative market.
What's unique about the growth prospects is the expectation that these new shoppers will come from tier-2 cities and small towns, says a research paper released by Bain & Company, the Boston-based management consulting firm.
India's retail market, pegged at $850 billion and the fourth largest in the world, is largely unorganized at present. However, spurred by cheap mobile data, could enable nearly 1 billion internet users by 2030 who would form the backbone of the e-retail revolution, the study says.
The eCommerce revolution would be further spurred by growing online spending and supply-side innovations such as vernacular-based user interfaces and voice and visual search, says the report prepared in collaboration with Walmart-owned Flipkart, India's largest eCommerce player which holds 39% of the market share.
"The Indian e-retail market is primed to reach nearly 300 million to 350 million shoppers over the next five years, propelling the online gross merchandise value to between $100 billion and $200 billion by 2025," the report says.
Fashion categories and smartphones will play a major role in acquiring new customers, who will get convenient access to an assortment of products across all geographies and income segments. For sellers, including mom-and-pop shops, artisans, and traders, it will provide easy access to a large base of customers, keeping the stores open 24x7.
Currently eCommerce forms barely 3.5% of India's total retail market and future growth would be driven by drop in internet data rates, growing ratio of Millennials in the overall population mix and high digital reach of categories such as smartphones, accessories, and electronics.
As part of the research, Bains & Company proffered their analysis and insights into the nuances of India's online shopping behavior, which is presented below:
Insights into India's online shopping habits
Nine minutes is all you have: Over the past year, consumer engagement with online platforms has increased, but a potential shopper spends less than nine minutes per visit on an e-retail platform.
Pictures speak louder than words: One in two visitors browse the image gallery, and only 1 in 15 click the detailed product description. Brands and sellers should invest in images and videos as well as pithy, high-impact product highlights.
Product discovery on e-retail platforms: Consumers are increasingly opting for e-retail platforms for product searches—nearly one in three in India and almost two in three in the US.
Vernacular searches are gaining popularity: For example, “parda” was one of the top three searches in curtains.
Browse, browse, browse: Online shoppers browse more than 20 product pages before making a purchase. For some categories, such as mobile phones and women’s ethnic wear, consumers browse about 50 to 60 product pages before making a purchase.
Different horses, different courses: Search attributes and preferences vary significantly across categories and consumers. Online shopping data provides interesting insights into specific product preferences of Indian shoppers at a granular level.
Bains & Company says that online platforms in India would innovate to onboard the next hundred million shoppers over the 12-24 months ahead. The new wave of digital natives would have different needs and interact differently compared with the current set of online shoppers.
The report lists out some trends that it believes would be visible over the coming months:
Some trends for the future
Voice and vernacular: The Indian vernacular language Internet user base, which is expected to reach more than 500 million users by 2021. This is more than double the 200 million for the English-speaking Internet user base the country. This new crowd prefers voice search and vernacular-based user interfaces.
Visual and video: Video content consumption in tier-2 and smaller cities in India grew more than four times over just the past year. Visual search tools, live-streaming sessions, influencer videos and the like are gaining significant traction.
Social shopping: For the next wave of online customers, peers and communities will play a much larger role in influencing purchase decisions than they do for the current online shopping base. Over the past five years, we have seen more than 50 private equity and venture capital deals in India focussed on social commerce.
Digital ecosystems: As e-retail evolves, platforms will increase their number of consumer touch points to gain greater customer mindshare. Top e-retail companies have started to develop ecosystems that combine their core e-retail business with sticky customer services, such as video streaming, gaming, booking and payments, in a single platform or application.
Not only has e-retail broken go-to-market barriers for new brands but it has also helped traditional brands accelerate new product launches. Digitally born brands have scaled rapidly and are being built more efficiently.
Large incumbents have also leveraged the online channel to launch multiple online-first brands, get real-time customer feedback and use those learnings to improve the effectiveness of their national offline launches, says the report, a PDF version of which can be downloaded right here.
The Chris Hemsworth action thriller Extraction continues to be a hot favourite with Netflix watchers in India, thanks to the presence of Indian actors and characters in the Netflix exclusive movie. Such has been its success that writer Joe Russo has already signed up to pen another instalment of the movie.
Russo, who runs AGBO with his brother Anthony, said they are putting the story together and are hopeful at this point that Sam Hargrave would be back as director and Chris Hemsworth would reprise the role of mercenary Tyler Rake. However, these decisions would be taken only after the script is completed.
The movie, which premiered on April 24 on Netflix had viewers glued to their screens during the opening weekend with many expecting a sequel as the first instalment had an open ending that could allow Rake to return. Given that several of the characters had past stories, there is even a possibility that Russo could come up with a prequel.
Russo revealed the details to Deadline and said he hoped that "a muscular action director like Sam" would be back at the helm of the next edition as well. However, he is not sure about Hemsworth, given that even the storyline is not yet ready. Once we write the story and the script is when we bring him in, Russo said.
Given the fact that Hemsworth has been tweeting enthusiastically about Extraction and its growing fan base on Netflix, it doesn't look as though the writers or the director would need to hard-sell the idea of a sequel to the actor. The actor tweeted that the movie would be streaming to a record 90 million households over the next four weeks.
The Sam Hargrave, Russo Brothers and Hemsworth team had earlier worked together on Avengers: Infinity Wars and Avengers: Endgame. The second title had become the biggest box office grosser of all time with a combined earning of $2.79 billion.
In case, Extraction goes on to attract more than 90 million views over the next four weeks, it would surpass the Mark Wahlberg action comedy Spenser Confidential (85 million) and the Ryan Reynolds action movie 6 Underground (83 million). These numbers are based on Netflix's methodology of counting a view when the movie plays for just two minutes.
The Russo brothers believe that the massive numbers garnered by Extraction was also due to their decision to shoot in India, which they first visited during media tours for their Avenger movies. The idea of Extraction germinated 12 years ago and the intention was to shoot in South America, Joe Russo said.
However, the decision to pack the movie with Indian names and shoot a substantial portion in India and in neighbouring Bangladesh appears to have considerably added to the movie's fortunes.
And Indian audiences seem to have loved Tyler Rake enough for the Russo brothers to create another adventure in the near future.
ByteDance, owners of the highly popular TikTok video sharing platform, will discontinue two of their lesser known apps in India. In spite of being their largest market outside of China, the company's decision appears to be based on the lack of interest for their Vigo Video and Vigo Lite apps.
In a message to its Vigo app users titled "A farewell letter", ByteDance says it was saddened to shut down the apps but did not proffer a reason for doing so. "We want to thank you for the time you've spent with Vigo. It's you who made us who we are today. We regret to inform you that we'll discontinue our service after 31st October, 2020," Bytedance said.
Simultaneously, the company nudged the Vigo users to shift to TikTok and said it would facilitate the move till it shuts down formally. Both Vigo Video and Vigo Lite allowed sharing short-form sketches and lip-syncing Bollywood songs.
While TikTok boasts of more than 200 million users in India, Vigo Video had just about 4 million active users per month while Vigo Lite fared worse with just about 1.5 million users, according to market research information published by TechCrunch. It said that while a million new users joined Vigo Video over the past 12 months, as many left Vigo Lite during the same period.
Though India was its biggest market in the region, these two apps were also introduced in neighbouring Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well. At this juncture, it is not clear whether ByteDance is bidding adieu to just one country in the region or the entire region.
ByteDance has three products currently in India of which TikTok is the best-seller followed by Vigo, Lark and Helo, which functions as a platform for individuals to share their thoughts and ideas as a content creator. The company had also stopped subscriptions from India for Lark, which was a productivity suite similar to Google Drive.
ByteDance had committed to expand its business in India with an investment of $1 billion in April last year though there has hardly been any move since. However, there have been several recruitment posts on Indian job sites suggesting that the company was looking to hire executives in the sales and marketing functions.
Despite facing backlash over the contents on TikTok and facing social media pressure over the anti-China sentiment, ByteDance was working towards setting up a second corporate entity in India. News reports suggested that the second entity would provide IT and IT-enabled services to the ByteDance platforms globally from India.
Meanwhile, wire agency Reuters had also reported poaching Disney's Kevin Mayer and appointing him CEO of the company was part of a broader strategy from ByteDance to shift its centre of power out of China. The report said the company had made a series of moves in recent months to transfer global decision-making and research capabilities out of the home country.
The battle for instant messaging apps just intensified. Barely a day after Snapchat announced a slew of new offerings at its virtual Partnership Summit, news has started filtering in of WhatsApp testing upgraded search functionalities and a slew of other new features.
Various reports published on WABetaInfo.com, a blog that tracks developments around WhatsApp, suggest that the search functionality would allow users to identify messages using dates. The instant messaging app, owned by Facebook, already supports in-chat search, which doesn't allow users to search a sent or received message on a specific date.
The feature, currently in alpha phase of development, would permit users to filter out results of other dates though it remains to be seen how many of us actually would be able to recall specific dates or time periods when messages were exchanged.
Screenshots provided by WABetaInfo indicates that a calendar icon would appear once the company rolls out the feature. The icon is seen positioned right above the keyboard about the Chat Search on WhatsApp for iPhone. Tapping on the icon opens up the calendar on which users can pick the month, year and date for the search. There is no indication that the feature would be available on Android but in the past WhatsApp has always launched new stuff on both platforms.
This is not all. WhatsApp could also be readying a redesigned storage usage section that allows users to view large files that get stored upon receipt. There would also be a Forwarded files option in the Storage usage that helps users filter files that have been forwarded via the messaging app. Looks like WhatsApp is taking user complaints around storage issues quite seriously.
Image Credit: WABetaInfo.com
The Storage usage section also appears to have a Sort option according to the images available that suggests a facility to view photos shared by one contact. We hope the feature provides users with the capability to sort photos chronologically as well as by the file size. This would go a long way in retaining pictures and discarding those that carry everything from memes to motivational messages.
In addition, WhatsApp also appears to be working on an easier Delete message option whereby users can remove all messages barring the starred ones. The screenshot shared by WABetaInfo suggests that a Delete All except Starred option would be placed alongside the Delete All button. A similar Delete all functionality could be in the works for Storage as well where users can junk all messages except the starred ones.
In another report, the blog post indicates that WhatsApp could have a dedicated player for ShareChat videos that could seamlessly play videos within the app just as Instagram and YouTube videos can do at present. In other words, the picture-in-picture format for videos from ShareChat could be another feature readying for launch on WhatsApp.
The picture-in-picture format was introduced in January 2018 for iPhone users and quickly expanded to Android thereafter. It included support for Facebook, Instagram and YouTube videos last year and with developers working on getting the same format for ShareChat, it looks like WhatsApp is getting ready for easing the way all types of videos play within it.
Other features said to be in the development phase include an image search on the Web for iPhone users that could go a long way in curbing fake news circulation. A similar feature for Android has also been in testing for some time now though there is still no update on this front.
All the news features mentioned by WABetaInfo are reportedly in the testing state and may undergo multiple tweaks before they actually get rolled out on WhatsApp. In the past the blog has been largely accurate with its predictions, so we believe that some, if not all of these may soon become a reality.
The advent of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos and HotStar has seen several welcome developments in the entertainment industry. And breaking down of language barrier resulting in a larger audience for non-English titles could be considered the biggest.
When Netflix first arrived in India and Amazon Prime followed suit immediately, Indian viewers got a wider choice of international cinema with subtitles. In fact, not just movies, even episodic content gained popularity. Narcos received tremendous following in India as did Money Heist, both being Spanish. In fact, our very own Sacred Games found itself in several global lists of popular Netflix series.
It was not just movies and series in foreign languages that gained acceptance. Even movies made in various Indian languages began crossing over territory as the presence of subtitles meant that all was not lost in translation. Starting with this list, TechRadar India would bring you weekly doses of movies in various languages that would enrich your movie experience.
Prithviraj and Biju Menon from Ayyappanum Koshiyum Malayalam Movie
Director: Sachy
Actors: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Biju Menon
Synopsis: The story revolves around the conflict between Koshy Kurien, an influential and wealthy retired army jawan and Ayyappan Nair, a Sub-inspector in Attappadi, a reserve forest and scenic part of Kerala. It is a story of bloated egos and a sense of entitlement that certain public roles bring to the person carrying it out. Such has been the popularity of the movie that it is already being remade in multiple south Indian languages and may even find itself converted into a Bollywood script.
Virus (2019)
Rima Kallingal, Tovino Thomas, Kunchako Boban, Asif Ali
Synopsis: The movie is set in the backdrop of the 2018 Nipah virus attack and the manner in which Kerala handled it without allowing it to spread. The movie was shot in a single schedule at the Government Medical College in Kozhikode and featured some of the top actors from Malayalam cinema. The story features a man who gets admitted to hospital and dies thereafter after passing on a unknown virus to 18 other people. The movie takes us through a tension-filled few days as doctors and staff battle the virus using isolation and treatment protocols. In fact, it was this real life experience that helped Kerala tackle the Covid-19 virus more effectively.
Driving License (2019)
Prithviraj in a scene from Driving License
Director: Lal Junior
Actors: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu
Synopsis: What happens when a top movie star loses his cool at a fan, who happens to be a traffic inspector and when the actor needs to get a duplicate driving license? Yet another story of clashing egos where the slighted traffic inspector uses every rule in the book to harass the actor and force him to accept his conditions. Of fulfilling all formalities where usually people in India procure a driver's license after paying a fixed bribe to the local touts. Both actors are in peak form in this movie which went on to garner tremendous crowd support.
Kumbalangi Nights
Srinath Bhasi, Shoubin Shahir and Shane Nigam
Director: Madhu C Narayanan
Actors: Shoubin Shaheer, Shane Nigam, Srinath Bhasi and Fahadh Faasil
Synopsis: Set in the quaint fishing village of Kumbalangi in Kochi, the movie revolves around the strained relationship between two brothers and their two step-brothers living in a dysfunctional home. The movie was produced by actor Fahadh Faasil who plays a negative role in the movie, of someone suffering from acute emotional disorder. The movie became a sleeper hit with viewers from across the world hailing it as a coming of age film for the debutant director.
Synopsis: Inspired by the 2012 Hollywood movie Robot and Frank, this one tells the story of a man who heads out to Russia for work and leaves behind his ageing father with a robot for company. The father makes his son quit earlier jobs because he fears a lonely death and to guard against that the son gets him a robot caregiver. How the man first resents the machine and then accepts it into his life makes for the rest of this heartwarming story, which also hands out a message of elderly care.
Unda (2019)
Mammootty plays sub-inspector Manikandan in Unda
Director: Khalid Rahman
Actor: Mammootty, Shine Tom Chacko, Arjun Ashokan, Ranjith
Synopsis: Those who have seen the Bollywood flick Newton featuring Rajkumar Rao and Pankaj Tripathi would resonate with this story involving a police unit from Kerala that is deputed to provide security during an election in faraway Chhattisgarh. Based on a real incident during the 2014 general elections, the story revolves around the sub-inspector leading a nine-member team and how they battle the odds, including one that relates to their having never fired a rifle. Mega-star Mammootty essayed the role of the inspector who is comfortable with his lathi than his pistol.
Trance (2020)
The real-life couple Nazriya Nazim and Fahadh Faasil in a still from the movie
Synopsis: The plot follows the events in the life of Viju Prasad, a Kanyakumari-based despondent motivational speaker, an atheist, who is hired by a couple of business tycoons to work as a Christian pastor and miracle worker. The logic being that religion is where the money is underlines the story and its shift from motivating people to heal themselves to eventually creating a money-spinning empire that is complete with places for congregation, schools, digital offerings and the works. Fahadh Faasil was appreciated for his nuanced performance as a high-strung pastor.
Helen (2019)
Anna Ben and Lal act in this survival thriller
Director: Mathukutty Xavier
Actors: Anna Ben, Lal, Aju Varghese, Noble Babu Thomas
Synopsis: The story of a nursing graduate who works at a cold storage and gets locked inside the facility by mistake makes the crux of the story. Upon realizing her predicament, Helen doesn't lose faith and tries everything to keep herself alive in the deep freeze where temperature is maintained at minus 18 degrees celsius. Outside, the predicament of her father, who disapproves of her relationship with a boy outside of his community and his fears for her wellbeing is played out. This mix makes for an edge of the seat thriller where the audience, for once, feels empathy for all the characters.
This is the first of our lists from regional Indian cinema. We hope you take time off and watch at least a few of these movies and savour the flavours of "God's Own Country" while appreciating the cinematic excellence of their movies. Each one of these films fared well at the box office and received critical acclaim.
Faced with poor ratings and a general lack of acceptance, Amazon has put its Crucible game into pause mode suggesting that it would remain in the pre-season phase till such time that all the complaints from reviewers are met and features included.
It started off by retiring two of Crucible's three modes barely three weeks after the game's launch on March 20. The game received largely average reviews and ratings with GameSpot rating it 5/10 and PC Gamer giving it an even lower 48% acceptance.
In a note published on the PlayCrucible website, the developers said while they were happy with the response to the premise of the game, they were also aware of the feedback around some features that need to be added as a top priority, such as a voice chat. “We agree, and we’re going to stay in Pre-Season until those features and polish are in Crucible. We’re also going to use our time in Pre-Season as a chance to go all-in on the parts of Crucible that are resonating most strongly with you, our community,” the note said.
Relentless Studios, which developed the game, also said the developers would be refining Crucible's focus quite dramatically. It would retire the Alpha Hunters and Command modes and retain only the Heart of the Hives mode.
"The community has rallied around Heart of the Hives in an amazing way. Moving forward, we will be putting all of our efforts towards Heart of the Hives and what we can do to make that mode shine. Focusing on one mode allows us to refine the design of core systems without the compromises we needed to make to support three game modes,"says Colin Johanson in the update which also shared a developer roadmap.
A two-phase approach
This change would come in two phases with the initial "build and iterate" one focusing on core aspects of adding must-have features. In addition, reviewers had also sought a wider ping system, a possible mini-map and a surrender system besides the capability of dealing with idle players in the multi-player game.
As for the second phase, it would focus on polishing the game to improve overall experience besides bringing on additional systems and refinements. This could include customising the maps for Heart of Hives mode, better social functionalities and upgrading the creatures.
Crucible, which was launched on May 20, is a team-based action shooter that competes with the likes of Fortnite and Apex Legends. The gameplay on Crucible is based on player choices right through the game.
