Google Meet Picture-in-Picture Feature Gets Several New Improvements: All Details

Google has announced several improvements to Meet's picture-in-picture mode bringing in more engaging features. The new update will offer easy interaction as well as navigation on the platform. The development has been shared via a Google blog post. The improvements are available to all Google Workspace customers as well as users with personal Google Accounts. Earlier, users were allowed to turn on or off the camera or microphone or exit the meeting in PiP mode. However, the latest update adds new functionalities. Google in its blog post shared that they are improving the Google Meet picture-in-picture mode to make it more engaging and feature-rich. It has added the ability to raise a hand directly from the picture-in-picture window if users want to say something or ask a question during the meeting. It has also introduced the in-meeting chat within the picture-in-picture mode. Google has also enabled users to turn on or off the captions directly from the picture-in-picture window. This will help users to enable or disable captions without disrupting the meeting. Additionally, the new improvements also include the ability to resize the picture-in-picture view letting participants adjust the size of the window according to their preferences. That's not all, it also includes flexible layouts. Notably, the Google Meet PiP improvements will start rolling out to users from June 7 and will be available to all in a phased manner within the next 15 days. The improvements are available to all Google Workspace customers as well as users with personal Google Accounts. Earlier in April, Google Meet received a 1080p video option allowing users to set their Google Meet video resolution to 1080p. The feature is available to all eligible Workspace users as well as Google One subscribers with 2TB or more storage space on their devices. Interestingly, the new full-HD resolution option is only for Google Meet on the Web when using a computer with a 1080p camera. 

ISRO Decided Not to Rush Its Gaganyaan Project to Space, Says Chairman S Somanath

Indian Space Research Organisation has decided not to rush its Gaganyaan project, the manned mission to space, as it wants to ensure that the country's first human space flight is a 'sure shot safe mission', said its chairman S Somanath here on Thursday. Gaganyaan was set to launch in 2022 but due to COVID-19 there was an inordinate delay, Somanath told reporters during the international conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations (SMOPS-2023). "We have a different thinking now. Our thinking is like this that we don't want to rush. That decision we have taken. The primary objective of the human space flight is a sure shot safe mission," the ISRO chief said. The space agency has redefined the mission in such a way that it will achieve success in the very first attempt. For this, it has enhanced the testing and demonstration mission substantially in recent times. These exercises involve additional abort missions to ensure the safety of the crew, he explained. According to Somanath, the first exercise will probably happen in August, which was earlier planned in July. "So, two abort missions have to take place this year followed by an unmanned mission possibly by the beginning of next year," the ISRO chairman said. The space scientist said all the engine test programmes have been completed within ISRO. Stating that hectic activities are taking place, Somanath said every week at least some major tests are happening. "For me, eight major tests are there and if all the tests successfully happen without any glitch, the launch will between 2024 and 2025 time frame. But if I face problems and challenges, which are natural in this process, I have to discount for the schedule," he added. About India's first solar mission, Aditya-L1, Somanath said the launch window is August this year to January next year. "If we cannot launch it in August then we will go to next year January," he added. Regarding Chandrayaan-3, ISRO's third moon mission, Somanath said it is due to be launched in mid July. ISRO will follow the same process that was adopted during the Chandrayaan-2 mission, he said. "We are going in the same path of Chandrayaan-2 because we have already done that. We have experience to do it in that manner but it all depends on various other factors whether there are any other contingency conditions," Somanath said, adding, "The landing flight is just the same as previously. No change.” To a query on how indigenous Chandrayaan-3 is, the ISRO chairman said, "What we are doing in ISRO is 100 per cent indigenous. We are not buying anything from anybody to do it but of course we buy some components such as electronic chips, processors, some high-end devices, but we don't buy Chandrayaan lander from anybody." 

Apple Watch Ultra Gets Auto Night Mode With watchOS 10 Update: Report

Apple introduced watchOS 10, its latest operating system for Apple Watch models, at Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 5. The watchOS update comes with several new upgrades like redesigned apps, a new Smart Stack to display relevant widgets, new watch faces, and more. With the new upgrades, Apple Watch Ultra, the company's top-of-the-line smartwatch offering, also got an auto night mode. The watch already has the hardware-exclusive Wayfinder face that comes with the ability to turn on night mode on the watch. The Wayfinder watch face currently allows users to shift the colour scheme of the watch home screen to a black and red version. According to a report by 9to5Mac, the latest Apple watchOS 10 has brought an auto night mode feature on the Apple Watch Ultra. The mode reportedly doesn't require any manual switching and is said to use Apple Watch Ultra's ambient light sensor to detect lower light conditions and enable Night Mode. The report further adds that it could be a default setting on an Apple Watch Ultra running watchOS 10. However, Apple is yet to share any details about it. Apple Watch Ultra already has a hardware-exclusive Wayfinder face that let users turn on the night mode by shifting the colour mode to red and black. However, it is limited to the main screen only. The watch face comes with a clock bezel that shows location coordinates and elevation data. To turn on the night mode on Apple Watch Ultra in its current state, users will be required to long-press on the display and select the Wayfinder watch face from a list of available watch faces. Once done, they will have to spin the Digital Crown until the watch display turns red and the night mode gets activated. Meanwhile, watchOS 10 has also brought new metrics and Workout Views. It also adds the capability to automatically pair an Apple Watch to Bluetooth-enabled cycling accessories like power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors. Additionally, the new operating system comes with new Maps functionalities that will allow hikers to see trails and trailhead information directly from their wrists. The watchOS 10 update is currently available for developers in beta version and will be rolled out to the public later this fall. Do note that, the watchOS 10 will support the Apple Watch Series 4 or higher models paired with iPhone XS or later, running iOS 17. 

Decentralised Apps' Safety Touted by Former Twitter India Head After Recent YouTube Channel Hacks

The YouTube accounts of senior Indian journalist Barkha Dutt and YouTube creator Tanmay Bhat, were recently hacked, denying them access to the content uploaded to their YouTube channels. The incidents occured after their accounts were breached by hackers. Addressing the issues and challenges with keeping accounts and content safe online, former Twitter India head Manish Maheshwari says that people should give decentralised apps (dApps) a fair chance. An element of the Web3 space, dApps are built on the blockchain and are claimed to offer complete ownership and independence for users around decisions for their content. Blockchain-based dApps keep content on their platforms away from the control of a single authority, protecting them from censorship to a certain extent. Despite constant ups and downs in the crypto market, Web3 developers are releasing dApps across verticals such as gaming, social media, and finance. In conversation with Gadgets 360, Maheshwari pointed out unlike traditional Web 2.0 platforms where data is stored centrally, Web3 platforms distribute the storage of data across multiple nodes via the blockchain, making the process of hacking accounts on dApps more challenging. “The threat landscape changes significantly with Web3 platforms. Traditional Web3 platforms store data centrally and thus they become an enticing target for hackers. Web3 platforms have the potential to be safer, owing to the decentralisation and encryption at their core,” said the 46-year-old Twitter India head-turned-entrepreneur. In the beginning of the week, journalist Barkha Dutt revealed to her 180,000 Instagram followers that the YouTube channel of her news venture Mojo was compromised by hackers. She revealed that the hackers erased 11,000 videos from the channel. “Felt violated and cried a lot,” Dutt wrote on Instagram. The issue was flagged to the YouTube team and Dutt's content was restored on Mojo's YouTube channel — the entire process took two days. A post shared by Barkha Dutt (@barkha.dutt) In the same way, YouTuber Tanmay Bhat took to Twitter to reach out to Google and YouTube after his accounts on YouTube and Gmail were breached by malicious actors earlier this month. “2FA (two factor authentication) bypassed. Need help urgently,” the 35-year-old had tweeted at the time. In Bhat's case, the hackers streamed a YouTube live — which drew YouTube a lot of criticism from Bhat's followers for not identifying this hack and tackling it timely. While pitting dApps as a replacement for centralised platforms, Maheshwari explained how similar situations would have unfolded if accounts on decentralised apps fall prey to cyber criminals. High time you have a digital destination of your own and not be so dependent on @YouTube . We can help via @FanoryMe . DM me. “If a YouTube-like channel existed on a decentralised platform, the hacking scenario would have unfolded differently. In the case of a decentralised platform, there is no single point of failure, which makes hacking more difficult. If a hacker tries to modify the content of a channel, they would have to take control of more than half of the nodes in the network to achieve consensus, which is practically unfeasible and economically prohibitive,” he noted. As per a 2022 report from DappRadar, over 12,000 dApps are already up and running on multiple blockchains. The report had also highlighted that the growth of dApps registered a 1200 percent spike since 2018, when only around a 1,000 dApps existed. Maheshwari currently heads Web3 app Fanory, that lets creators monetise their content. The platform allows creators to build an engaging community of ‘superfans' while retaining ownership of their work. This effectively reduces the risks associated with their reliance on centralised platforms like YouTube or Instagram that sometimes mistakenly or under legal pressures, end up removing certain accounts from their platforms. Web3 platforms flaunt their reliance on blockchain technology, that offers transparency and immutability in record-keeping, making it extremely difficult for unauthorised changes to be made unnoticed. “Web3 social networking platforms will introduce a paradigm shift in the way we think about online interactions and personal data. They will allow users to own and control their own data, rather than surrendering it to central platforms. This means that users decide who gets to access their data and under what circumstances, offering an unprecedented level of privacy and control. Additionally, token economies inherent in many Web3 platforms provide both incentivisation and penalty mechanisms, which encourage fair play and deter malicious activities,” Maheshwari added. It is worth noting that hack attacks on dApps or their use to trick unsuspecting victims for financial gains of the scammers cannot be completely ruled out. In April, Binance listed 191 dApps on its Red Alarm list, warning that the named dApps could pose financial threats to unsuspecting members of the crypto community. Many of the dApps listed on the Red Alarm index have raised suspicions about offering fake tokens or high tax fees, raising the number of ways unsuspecting investors could lose their hard-earned investment capital. “While decentralisation reduces the risk of such attacks, it's not a magic bullet. Much depends on the specifics of how the platform is designed. A decentralised YouTube would need to have rigorous security measures in place, both at the blockchain level and at the user level, to mitigate such risks,” Maheshwari concluded. Cryptocurrency is an unregulated digital currency, not a legal tender and subject to market risks. The information provided in the article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, trading advice or any other advice or recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by NDTV. NDTV shall not be responsible for any loss arising from any investment based on any perceived recommendation, forecast or any other information contained in the article. 

NDTV & Gadgets 360 Exclusively Sign Gaurav Chaudhary AKA Technical Guruji as the Face of Their Technology Content

NDTV, India's leading and most trusted news network and Gadgets360.com (Red Pixels Ventures Limited, An NDTV Venture), one of the most frequented and credible technology content portals in the world, today announced Gaurav Chaudhary aka Technical Guruji as the new face of their technology vertical. To begin with, NDTV and Technical Guruji are coming together to present two weekly technology shows – ‘Gadgets 360 with Technical Guruji' and ‘Tech with TG'. The marquee shows are scheduled to go live on Saturday, June 10th on both NDTV 24x7 and NDTV India. Along with this, he will exclusively be present on NDTV's digital platform gadgets360.com, fulfilling its commitment to making the world of technology accessible to a wider audience. Gaurav Chaudhary aka Technical Guruji, is the world's most followed tech influencer. With over 35 million followers on the internet, Gaurav also has one of the biggest tech channels on YouTube. He will be joining NDTV as the face of their technology content, bringing his expertise, passion, and unique perspective to the media giant's technology news coverage. Gaurav has amassed an incredible following with millions of subscribers on social media, who trust and admire his insights into the latest technological advancements. As a seasoned tech enthusiast, Gaurav has established himself as a trusted voice in the industry, providing comprehensive reviews, in-depth analysis, and valuable tips to his audience. On the announcement, Senthil Chengalvarayan, Executive Director NDTV Networks said, “NDTV has been a forerunner in innovative and path-breaking shows that bring great insights into the ever-evolving world of technology. It's our pleasure to have Gaurav – the renowned and affable Technical Guruji – on board, as part of the NDTV family. We are confident that his expertise, ability to connect with a wider set of audiences, and unique presentation style of such a vast subject will enhance our offering and reinforce our position as a leader in this important genre. Technology is not only part of our daily lives but also an empowering tool for the masses and in this respect, Technical Guruji, Gaurav will bring out the latest, most effective aspects of technology in a format that the masses will be able to relate.” On the announcement, Vaibhav Sehgal, CEO, Gadgets360.com (Red Pixels Ventures Limited), said, "The amalgamation of the world's most popular tech influencer with one of the world's most frequented and credible tech news portal and the pioneers in TV tech programming, is going to change the world of technology forever. Gaurav's inclusion into the NDTV and Gadgets360 family marks an exciting chapter for us. His immense social-media presence, expertise in simplifying complex tech concepts, and his personality, have made him a household name. His presence will add impetus to our commitment to deliver high-quality & cutting-edge tech content so that we will be at the forefront of delivering the best to our visitors, audience, and readers making sure that we continue to be the go-to hub for technology and gadget enthusiasts.” Gaurav Chaudhary aka Technical Guruji said, “I am honored to be a part of the NDTV family. My passion for technology has found another credible platform with which I can reach out to the deepest roots of India, making it more simplified for the masses. I am truly thrilled and believe my presence at NDTV and Gadgets 360 will act as a catalyst for change in the technology space, taking it to new horizons. I'm thankful to all my viewers and subscribers, it's because of their belief in me that I have reached these new heights. I am excited for this new journey, Chaliye Shuru Karte hain!”   About NDTV New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company. NDTV is, and has been for more than a quarter century, a pioneer in India's news television and digital journalism. Founded in 1988 by Radhika Roy and Prannoy Roy, NDTV is today the most watched, credible and respected news network in India and a leader in Internet. From the path-breaking “The World This Week” (nominated as one of India's 5 best television programmes since Independence), the first private news on Doordarshan “The News Tonight”, producing India's first 24-hour news channel “Star News” and the country's first ever 2-in-1 channel Profit-Prime, NDTV has been at the forefront of every single news revolution. NDTV is now primarily a digital company with the flagship website - ndtv.com - India's number 1 destination for general news.

India, New Zealand to Increase Cooperation for Facilitation of UPI System

India and New Zealand on Thursday decided to increase cooperation in areas such as facilitation of UPI system, timely resolution of trade issues, work visa, and improving the banking relations. Looking at the present quantum of bilateral trade between the two countries, both sides acknowledged the huge potential and the need for bringing in synergy for enhanced economic relations in areas of mutual interest. These issues were discussed during a joint meeting between India and New Zealand with the industry and industry associations of both the countries here. The discussions also focused on taking forward the objectives of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC), formed under the Bilateral Trade Agreement of 1986. The meeting was co-chaired by the Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agarwal, and High Commissioner of New Zealand in India David Pine. The additional secretary "appreciated the positivity in discussion leading to tentative identification of various areas of cooperation including the facilitation of UPI system, carbon credit, package proposal on Kiwi fruits, trans-shipment hub, prioritization of bilateral trade issues for their timely resolution, collaboration on technology issues, cooperation in services such as work visa related issues, improving the banking relations further," the commerce ministry said. It said that some of the areas explored by the New Zealand High Commissioner included promotion of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) system, carbon credit co-operation, and working together on specific issues like the comprehensive proposal made by Zespri and prioritization of requests on non-tariff measures for bilateral gains. He also emphasized on increasing the air connectivity links between the countries.