These days whenever high-stakes elections happen, all eyes turn towards various social media platforms as hate speeches and fake news begin to be circulated due to myriad vested interests at play.
And as four major States go for polls in India, the Facebook is again under the scrutiny.
But this time, the social media giant has come up with steps to clamp down on malicious content on its platform.
"We believe Facebook has an important part to play in creating an informed community, and helping people access all the information they need to take part in the democratic process. We also remind people to exercise their democratic right to vote," it said.
Facebook has said it would temporarily reduce the distribution of content from accounts that have recently and repeatedly violated the company's policies.
This content will be removed if determined to violate Facebook's policies, but its distribution will remain reduced until that determination is made.
"We recognise that there are certain types of content, such as hate speech, that could lead to imminent, offline harm...To decrease the risk of problematic content going viral in these states and potentially inciting violence ahead of or during the election, we will significantly reduce the distribution of content that our proactive detection technology identifies as likely hate speech or violence and incitement," Facebook said in a blogpost.
Facebook uses tech to weed out hate speech
Facebook said it is taking steps to enhance civic engagement, combat hate speech, limit misinformation and remove voter suppression amid elections across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
"We also continue to closely partner with election authorities, including to set up a high priority channel to remove content that breaks our rules or is against local law after receiving valid legal orders," it said.
Facebook pointed out that under its existing Community Standards, it removes certain slurs that it determines to be hate speech.
Facebook also uses technology to identify new words and phrases associated with hate speech, and either remove posts with that language or reduce their distribution.
Facebook said its policies prohibit voter interference, defined as objectively verifiable statements such as misrepresentation of dates and methods for voting (for example text to vote). It also removes offers to buy or sell votes with cash or gifts.
Facebook fact-checks in 11 Indian languages
Facebook also works with third-party fact-checkers --- it has eight partners in India --- to provide people with additional context about the content they're seeing on Facebook.
In addition to English, these eight partners fact-check in 11 Indian languages including Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam and Assamese.
When a fact-checker rates a story as false, such content is labelled and shown lower in News Feed, significantly reducing its distribution.
For the record, Facebook has been taking such measures during national elections across many countries, including India.
During 2019 national election in India, Facebook had set up a high priority channel with the Election Commission of India (ECI) for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, to receive content-related escalations.
But this is probably the first suo motu announcement from Facebook for Indian State elections.
Its announcement for State polls show how important India is to Facebook. India is among the biggest markets for Facebook and its group companies, WhatsApp and Instagram. India has 53 crore WhatsApp users, 41 crore Facebook users, and 21 crore users of Instagram.
PUBG Mobile India launch has been a roller coaster. It was supposed to be the game's new localized variant tailored for the Indian market -- but it never got to see the light of day. While many have given up their hopes, a new development states that it will be available in a few weeks.
In September of 2020, the Indian government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology blocked 118 apps including PUBG Mobile with Chinese connections over mishandling of users’ data. To return to India, PUBG Corp. decoupled from Tencent for its Indian operations and announced the development of PUBG Mobile India --- a new variant of the game with servers located in India, lesser violence, new visuals and smaller download size. A PUBG India Pvt. Ltd. company was also incorporated.
However, these efforts are yet to bear fruits, as the Government is still to approve of PUBG Mobile India. In fact, subsequent reports even stated that it might never launch in India again.
In a development that will please many gamers, YouTuber GodNixon (Luv Sharma) claims that the required approvals are in place, citing sources close to the government, in a video title “PUBG Mobile India Update! Government Approved”. It needs to be noted that there is no official confirmation of the same, so take this with a pinch of salt.
At the same time, another streamer that goes by the name of Ghatak (Abhijeet Andhare) tweeted about PUBG Mobile India: “I wasn’t going to reveal this, couldn’t hold myself back due to the support from the community. The next two months will be very good for PUBG lovers with interesting news coming soon”, without mentioning a date. While PUBG is likely to involve popular personalities in the re-launch, the partners wouldn’t be allowed to just reveal such a major announcement ahead of time, making us question the authenticity of the tweet.
Nahi batane wala tha par apne londo ka pyaar rok nahi paya next two months are very good for pubg lovers and so many interesting news coming soon for TSM lovers ❤️ please don’t ask for dateMarch 27, 2021
It’s been more than six months since PUBG Mobile was banned from India, with nary a positive announcement. These developments, even if positive, aren’t enough to get excited about its return to India. We will be keeping an eye for an official confirmation.
Samsung is gearing up to expand its F series portfolio with the launch of two new phones early next week. The company will launch the Samsung Galaxy F12 and the Galaxy F02s on April 5 in India.
The Samsung Galaxy F12 and Galaxy F02s will be launched at 12 noon on April 5 in a virtual event. Both phones were previously spotted on different certification sites and database, so we know a few details about these phones. Also, the Flipkart launch page has revealed several key specifications of the devices.
The Samsung Galaxy F12 will come with a quad rear camera setup with a 48MP primary ISOCELL GM2 sensor. It will feature a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display with a screen refresh rate of 90Hz, a first in the F series. Under the hood, the device will be powered by Exynos 850 SoC. These are the specs that the Flipkart page offers us. These specs are similar to the Galaxy M12 budget phone which was launched back in March.
The Galaxy F series has always a rebranded version of the M series counterpart and with the Galaxy F12, the brand is rebranding the Galaxy M12 and will sell on Flipkart with some changes. One change we can notice is the back panel design of the F12 which comes with a stripe line design as compared to the plain one on the Galaxy M12.
Other features expected include up to 128GB storage and 6GB of RAM, Android 11 OS out of the box, 6000mAh battery, and an 8MP selfie camera.
Samsung Galaxy F02s specs
(Image credit: Flipkart)
The Galaxy F02s will be more affordable than the F12 and will be launched along with the F12 on April 5. The pricing of the same was leaked a few days back. The Galaxy F02s will feature a 6.5-inch HD+ display, a 5000mAh battery, a 13MP triple rear camera, and will be powered by Snapdragon 450 SoC. Again, these specs are similar to the Samsung Galaxy M02s launched back in January 2021.
According to the leaked pricing, the Galaxy F02s will be priced at Rs 8,999 for the 3+32GB variant and the 4+64GB variant will be priced at Rs 9,999.
The Galaxy F12 and F02s will join the Samsung Galaxy F41 and Galaxy F62 in the series.
Update(April 1): The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max will go on sale today at 12 noon via Amazon. Again, the base variant won't be available for today's sale.
The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is Xiaomi’s best budget smartphone yet, bringing quite a few premium features to the mid-range. If you were in the market for one, you can buy it starting today.
Launched on March 4 in India, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is amongst the best smartphones under Rs 20,000 in India. It will go on sale for the first time on March 18 at 12 noon on Amazon.
Redmi Note 10 Pro Max price in India starts at Rs 18,999 for the base variant with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, but it will not be available for today's sale. However, the 6GB + 128GB variant priced at Rs 19,999 and the 8GB + 128GB variant priced at Rs 21,999 will be available. Colour options include Vintage Bronze, Glacial Blue and Dark Night. ICICI Bank credit and debit cardholders will be eligible for a Rs 1,500 discount on the phone.
The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is currently the cheapest smartphone to offer a 108MP camera stack, consisting of a Samsung HM2 primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP tele-macro shooter and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front is a 16MP selfie camera in a punch-hole notch.
The Super AMOLED display spans 6.67-inches and has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 against scratches and cracks. The fingerprint scanner is embedded in the power button on the side, and also supports gestures.
On the inside, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is powered by the Snapdragon 732G chipset and the Adreno 618 GPU, along with UFS 2.2 storage and LPDDR4X RAM. There’s a large 5,020mAh battery inside, which supports 33W fast charging via the included USB Type-C charger. Other features include IP52 water-resistance, dual stereo speakers, Hi-Res audio certification, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an IR blaster, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner with support for gestures and more.
If you have a Nvidia GPU, you'll now be able to use GeForce GPU Passthrough when running virtual machines on Windows.
While the feature has been used for a while now, the company didn't officially support the technology in the past but this has changed with the announcement that GeForce GPU Passthrough for Windows Virtual Machine is now in beta.
GeForce desktop graphics cards that are based on the Kepler, Maxwell or Pascal architectures or newer will be able to take advantage of GPU passthrough when running a virtual machine on Windows. Users that want to leverage GPU passthrough on a laptop though will need a GPU based on the Maxwell architecture or newer.
We've put together a list of the best GPUs available
By using GPU passthrough, developers can use virtual machines to test software and even games on different operating systems while only using one machine. Linux users on the other hand will be able to play Windows-based games using a virtual machine with GPU passthrough enabled.
GeForce GPU Passthrough
In order to start using GeForce GPU Passthrough on your system, you'll need to ensure that you have the R465 driver installed.
While GPU passthrough could be a godsend for developers that want to test code in both Windows and Linux on one machine, there are some limitations.
For instance, Nvidia's GeForce GPU Passthrough technology only allows for one virtual machine to access the host machine's GPU. If you need to run multiple virtual machines using a single GPU, the company's GeForce graphics cards won't suffice. Instead you'll need to upgrade to either a Tesla or Quadro graphics card.
Now that Nvidia officially supports GPU passthrough, we'll likely see further enhancements and features that leverage the technology in the future.
Rian Johnson scored a big win with 2019's Knives Out, a star-studded 'whodunnit' that proved both a critical and commercial hit for the writer-director following his successful-yet-divisive Star Wars film, The Last Jedi.
Johnson announced plans for a Knives Out sequel shortly after the first film's release that would see Daniel Craig return as detective Benoit Blanc to solve an entirely new mystery.
Although news on the follow-up has been quiet since then, a major development has occurred today, with Variety reporting that Netflix has purchased the rights to not one, but two Knives Out sequels for the astonishing price of $450 million.
The deal will see Johnson return to write and helm the two sequels, alongside Craig who will reprise his role as the brilliant, Southern-fried investigator who must solve an especially complex murder mystery with numerous suspects.
While $450 million may seem like an outrageous sum to pay for two mid-budget mystery films, the purchase does provide Netflix with a ready-made franchise which already has a built-in fanbase.
Netflix has amassed an enormous audience over the years, but has so far struggled to develop compelling film properties which have lasting appeal.
Recently, the company has attempted to kick off a number of blockbuster-style franchises with the likes of The Old Guard, Project Power and Outside the Wire, but most (with the exception of the Chris Hemsworth's record-smashing actioner Extraction) have faded from memory rather quickly.
On top of this, Netflix now has to compete with Disney Plus and HBO Max, which have a number of enormous franchise films in the pipeline from the likes of Star Wars, Marvel and DC, so it makes sense for the streaming giant to aggressively build its own exclusive properties with legitimate franchise appeal.
The first Knives Out made an impressive $311 million at the global box office from a budget of just $40 million. The film also earned Johnson an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. At present, it's unknown whether Knives Out 2 and 3 will also be released theatrically.
The cloud services giant VMware aims to help customers unlock the power of multi-cloud and deliver modern applications at the speed of business with the launch of its new multi-cloud platform VMware Cloud.
VMware Cloud is a distributed, multi-cloud platform that enables organizations to accelerate app modernization across the data center, edge and any cloud. The new platform also provides distinctive advantages to both developers and IT operators who are often forced to make trade offs.
With VMware Cloud, developers can be more productive as it allows them to build and deploy applications to any cloud. At the same time though, the platform enables IT departments to modernize their infrastructure and operations with better economics and less risk.
COO of products and cloud services at VMware Raghu Raghuram provided further insight on the advantages of VMware Cloud in a press release, saying:
“We are on the cusp of the next evolution of cloud and apps. Architectures are becoming distributed and increasingly multi-cloud, while modern applications will soon outnumber traditional apps. The challenge for any CIO is to take advantage of this new innovation without introducing more complexity and risk. VMware Cloud is the only cloud solution today that customers can use in the datacenter and on any cloud, accelerating their modernization journey with speed, simplicity, and better security. With VMware Cloud Universal, customers make a single purchase and gain the ability to deploy apps across any environment, then move them as business or application requirements change.”
VMware Cloud
By using VMware Cloud, customers can deploy apps to VMware Cloud Foundation running in AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud and Oracle Cloud on VMware Cloud on Dell EMC and across hundreds of VMware Cloud Verified partners.
With the launch of VMware Cloud, the company is also announcing new offerings that bring a more integrated experience to customers including VMware Cloud Universal, VMware Cloud Console and VMware Cloud Navigator.
VMware Cloud Universal is a flexible subscription that simplifies the purchase and consumption of VMware multi-cloud infrastructure and management services. Once customers purchase credits they can apply them to deployments of VMware Cloud Foundation on premises, VMware Cloud on AWS, or VMware Cloud on Dell EMC. The subscription also includes built-in Kubernetes through VMware Tanzu Standard.
VMware Cloud Console supports this new subscription and delivers end-to-end visibility and control of all VMware Cloud infrastructure across on-premises, cloud and edge environments. This integrated portal allows customers to allocate, manage and better optimize all of their VMware Cloud resources.
Finally, organizations can use VMware App Navigator to prioritize app modernization initiatives and deliver results faster. The new offering uses automated tooling and hands-on experimentation to plan just enough to get started, then quickly scale app and cloud transformation initiatives.
The sex trafficking scandal surrounding Florida U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz is getting gnarlier by the day, both because of the circus sideshow of supporting characters it brings with it and the good questions it raises about why we, as a country, insist on electing people to our federal government who seem like…
Helping startups succeed has been an integral part of AWS since its beginning which is why Amazon's cloud computing arm has announced the launch of its new accelerator for space-focused startups.
AWS Space Accelerator is a four-week business support program open to space startups that are seeking to use AWS to help solve the biggest challenges in the space industry. Through its new accelerator, AWS will provide technical, business and mentoring resources to space startups around the globe.
AWS is also collaborating with the investment group Seraphim which focuses exclusively on the space industry to provide business development and investment guidance. Together, the two companies will select a cohort of space startups to participate in their intensive, four-week program with AWS Cloud and technical training to help accelerate their research, development and growth using AWS.
Director of aerospace and satellite at AWS Clint Crosier explained in a blog post how the new accelerator will help startups in the space industry succeed, saying:
“Startups provide a catalyst for bold new experimentation in the space industry. We are proud to announce the AWS Space Accelerator as part of our ongoing commitment to help startups succeed, and to shape the future of aerospace. We look forward to helping the first cohort of companies launch and grow through this new program.”
AWS Space Accelerator
AWS and Seraphim are now accepting applications from innovative startups at all stages of maturity working with space technology or space-derived data that have a clearly defined and unique mission. Some examples of qualifying missions include (but are not limited to) earth observation, electronics and robotics, spacecraft launch and delivery, spacecraft hardware and software, launch manufacturing and launch operations.
Applications will be judged on several factors such as the innovative and unique nature of the project, the overall value the solution will bring to the industry, creative application of AWS to solve problems and the team's ability to deliver on an identified opportunity.
AWS and Seraphim will select a total of 10 companies to participate in the AWS Space Accelerator that is scheduled to take place in June. Selected startups may receive up to $100k in AWS Activate credit as well as mentoring from space domain and technical subject matter experts with experience working on AWS.
Interested space-focused startups can apply now and their proposals will be due on April 21.
iOS 14.5 is the next version of iOS, and while it won’t be as big an update as iOS 15, which isn’t expected to land in finished form until September, it’s still set to add a bunch of new features and improvements.
We know this because iOS 14.5 is already in beta, so developers and members of the public have turned up all sorts of interesting additions. Some of these are handy upgrades, like an alternative to Face ID that lets you unlock your iPhone by wearing an Apple Watch.
iOS 14.5 beta 6 has arrived with another promising feature – recalibrating your iPhone's battery life estimates to correct faulty readings. Unfortunately, that feature's only for the iPhone 11 range at first, though we can't imagine why it won't come to other Apple phones.
Below, we’ve highlighted the four best things we’re expecting in iOS 14.5. It’s worth noting that there’s a chance some of these things won’t turn up, as occasionally features in beta don’t make it to the finished release, but we’d certainly expect most of them.
We’ve also included information on when iOS 14.5 is likely to land, so that those who don’t want to brave the beta will know how long they have to wait.
Latest news
The iOS 14.5 beta 6 for developers came out, and with it the capability to recalibrate battery life estimates. This takes time – up to several weeks – and only seems to be for the iPhone 11 range for now.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next upgrade for your iPhone
When is it out? Possibly in March 2021
How much will it cost? It will be free
iOS 14.5 release date and beta
There’s no news on exactly when iOS 14.5 might launch, but we have reason to believe it’s coming very soon.
There are a couple of reasons for that. Firstly, it’s already available in both public and developer betas, which suggests it would probably arrive soon. But secondly and more significantly, Apple has launched a new 14.x version every calendar month since the launch of iOS 14, and iOS 14.4 landed in January, so we could see iOS 14.5 this month (March).
That said, iOS 14.4 started rolling out at the end of January, and the actual gap between new versions is over a month on average, so it might be towards the end March by the time we get iOS 14.5.
Expect to hear an exact date for the rollout before it arrives on your phone, but it's likely to be a quick turnaround between us hearing the new software upgrade is out and it actually landing on your iPhone.
We’re expecting a bunch of updates as part of iOS 14.5, but below we’ve listed the five most interesting ones that we’ve heard about so far.
1. Mask support for Face ID
(Image credit: Future)
Face ID was great until we all started wearing masks, but with iOS 14.5 Apple is making it great again, at least for Apple Watch owners.
That’s because as long as your Apple Watch is unlocked, you’ll now be able to use it to authenticate your identity on your phone, meaning you can simply raise your phone as if to use Face ID, and it will unlock, with a buzz on your wrist to tell you your watch has done the heavy lifting.
However, while this will work for unlocking your iPhone, it doesn’t currently work for other things that rely on Face ID, such as authenticating purchases. Still, it's a handy workaround for users who have had facial recognition blocked when wearing face masks – and given the feature arrived in iOS 14.5 beta 2 for developers, we'd expect this to land in the full release.
2. A change to your music players
Previously, we'd thought this change meant that you'd be able to change your default music player in iOS 14.5. A new update from Apple has confirmed that it won't work in the exact way we had expected though.
A new feature will allow you to better use your own choice of music players rather than your iPhone defaulting to Apple Music, but it isn't a specific change you can make within a Settings menu.
Instead, Siri will use its learning of how you listen to music, audiobooks and podcasts. When you ask it to play a specific piece of audio, it'll then ask you where you want to listen to it.
Then it'll gently integrate that into your future listening, and that likely means that in the future your iPhone will learn you listen to music on Spotify and podcasts on the Apple Podcasts app.
iOS 14.5 is also expected to include a big new privacy feature called App Tracking Transparency. This will require apps to get your permission before sharing your activity and data with websites and apps owned by other companies.
This sharing of data is often used for adverts, with Facebook for example making big use of it, but with App Tracking Transparency you’ll be able to opt out if you’d prefer, and Apple is insisting that users still have full access to apps even if they do opt out of this.
4. PS5 and Xbox Series X controller support
If you’re a gamer then you’ll probably appreciate the addition of support for PS5 and Xbox Series X controllers as part of iOS 14.5. The Verge reports that this feature has been found in the public beta, and it should be a handy upgrade for anyone who owns one of these consoles, especially those who also make use of Apple Arcade.
Arguably this would be even more useful for gaming on an Apple TV, and while the feature isn’t yet confirmed for tvOS, we’d expect it will soon be added to that too.
5. Crowdsourced alerts in Apple Maps
(Image credit: Apple / MacRumors)
Many of us aren’t really going anywhere at the moment, but for those who do have much use for Apple Maps, there’s a potentially handy new feature in the iOS 14.5 beta.
MacRumors reports that you can now report accidents, hazards, and speed checks on your journey, and presumably if enough people flag the same thing a warning about it will appear on Apple Maps – though with so many people staying at home and the feature still being in beta, it’s not getting enough use for that to have been confirmed as far as we can see.
Look out, n00bs. Hackers are apparently deploying fake game “cheats” for Call of Duty: Warzone. They won’t help you merk your opponents, unfortunately. Instead, they will just inject malware onto your computer.
Now’s the time of year when it pays to be extra wary of pranks and promotions that seem too good to be true. But starting tomorrow, yes, on April 1, Verizon has some big discounts on phones and trade-ins for broken devices that are totally legit.
The best cordless vacuum cleaners can now match, and in many cases, outperform their wired competitors when it comes to suction power, large dust bins, and a good selection of tools. Nowadays, many of the best vacuum cleaners on the market have cut the cord completely.
Brands like Dyson, Vax, and Shark offer some of the best cordless vacuum cleaners, which are sometimes known as stick vacuums, that are lightweight, compact, and easy to store without compromising on power or battery life.
In fact, vacuum superbrand Dyson is so over wires these days that during the launch of its super-popular Cyclone V10, it vowed never to make a corded vacuum again. So with everyone cutting the cord, is it time you did too?
Before we get stuck into the best cordless vacuums available right now, we've got another high-tech option for you to consider. The best robot vacuums on the market can roam and tidy your home without you so much as lifting a finger. These certainly have no wire holding them back either, but you do have to pay a little extra for the convenience.
But robot vacuums aren't for everyone, setting them up can be a bit of a hassle and even the best ones tend to miss those dusty corners. So, if you're looking for a thorough clean from one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners of the year, we have all the best options for you to choose from below.
UPDATE:Dyson recently unveiled its newest cordless vacuum, theDyson V15 Detect, which has a built-in laser to highlight hidden dust. The powerful cordless vacuum, which is available to buy in the US now and is listed as coming soon in the UK, can even count and size the dust particles, displaying this information on the LCD screen so you have visual evidence you’ve thoroughly cleaned your home.
The Dyson V15 Detect generates 230 Air Watts, which is 24% more suction power than offered by the V11, and has a swappable battery built-in to the handle, which reduces interruptions to your cleaning, too. We'll be putting this cordless vacuum cleaner to the test to see if can better the results the Dyson V11 range achieves.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Dyson V11 Absolute
The Absolute best cordless vacuum you can buy
Weight: : 3.3kg | Bin size: : 0.76L | Run time: : Up to 60 minutes
Is this the perfect cordless vacuum cleaner? A few niggles aside, it very nearly could be. It’s more potent than its best-in-class predecessor, cleans even better on all surfaces, is quieter, and has a longer-lasting battery too.
Even on the lowest power setting, it delivers powerful suction. It’s easy to switch between the power settings manually, alternatively use it in Auto mode with the new High Torque cleaner head and let the V11 automatically adjust the power for the floor type you’re using it on. It’s also got a new color LCD display that adds a touch of class with in-depth information such as the exact run-time remaining, where blockages are located, and how to clear them.
It comes with an arsenal of tools too including a soft roller cleaner head, mini motorized tool, crevice tool, and quick-release mini soft dusting brush. There's also a docking station and charger.
A smidge heavier than its predecessor, now tipping our scales just over the 3kg mark, it still felt balanced in use, but the V11 Absolute doesn't come cheap. That said, we think it’s worth the money if you want simply the best cordless vacuum cleaner available today.
A cordless vacuum cleaner with style and substance
Weight:: 2.4kg | Bin size:: 0.4L | Runtime: : Up to 40 minute
Super lightweight
Quiet
Sleek Design
Suction could be stronger
While the Roidm S1E doesn’t match the Dyson on suction power or run-time, at a fraction of the price it's a worthy entrant in our line-up of the best cordless vacuums. Easy to carry and use in both stick cleaner or handheld mode, this lightweight cordless vacuum excels when it comes to noise too. Even though its decibel levels are similar to other cordless vacuums, we found the tone was softer making it easy to chat while cleaning without the need to shout.
With six design awards under its belt, the Roidmi S-series ticks the style and substance boxes. There’s a good selection of tools too, including a motorized mattress brush that makes light work of upholstery cleaning.
The battery lasts for 40-minutes on standard power or 10 minutes of super suction if needed, which can’t quite match some competitors but considering the affordable price tag is a compromise we’re willing to make. The suction also could be stronger, on full power it wasn’t quite the oomph needed for deep-cleaning carpets, but it’s still a great everyday floor care option.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog review
Miele’s first cordless vacuum is as powerful as its corded models
Power supply: Cordless | Weight: 4kg | Bin size:: 0.5L | Run time: Up to 60 minutes
Powerful suction
Can be used as a stick vacuum or a handheld cleaner
Swappable battery means fewer interruptions to your cleaning
Expensive
Heavy to use as a handheld cleaner
Miele’s first-ever cordless vacuum cleaner is, in our eyes, one of the best vacuum cleaners you can buy right now. It offers extremely powerful suction and has a similar floor-sensing cleaning head, which will automatically adjust the speed of the brush bar for a deep clean on carpets, to the Dyson V11 Absolute.
However, it differs from Dyson's rival vacuum cleaner, as it can be converted into a cordless upright cleaner by moving the main unit closer to the cleaner head. Not only does it mean the vacuum can be left free-standing rather than having to be lent against a wall or piece of furniture, but it’s also easier to maneuver but it did struggle to get under some furniture in this mode.
The battery lasted 60 minutes between charges on the lowest power setting - although this reduced to 16 minutes when we ran it on the highest power setting. We like that the battery is removable, so you can swap it with a fully charged one if you’ve purchased an additional battery, to ensure your cleaning session isn’t interrupted. At 4kg this is one of the heavier vacuum cleaners we’ve tested and it is expensive, but we think it’s worth it.
Weight:: 3.5kg | Bin size:: 1.9L | Run time: Up to 60 minutes
Covers more ground
Much larger bin
Helpful LCD screen
Quite heavy
Very expensive
For those with bigger homes, the Dyson V11 outsize combines everything that’s great about the Dyson V11 absolute with a larger dust bin and wider cleaning head, to ensure you don’t have to abandon cleaning half way through to empty the vacuum cleaner.
Just as powerful as its smaller sibling, we were impressed that the Dyson V11 outsize sucked everything from discarded biscuit crumbs and ground-in dirt to cereal and cat biscuits. The stiff nylon bristles of the brush bar, which spins up to 60 times a second, are great at removing ground-in dirt from carpets. There are three power settings, which you can switch between manually, or use the Auto Mode couples with the High Torque cleaner head and let the vacuum cleaner decide how much power you need based on the floor type you’re cleaning. It’s got the same color LCD display that displays the remaining run-time, and if any blockages; where they are, and how to clear them.
The 1.9-liter bin is 150% bigger than the dust bin on the V11 Absolute but you’ll still only get 60 minutes maximum run-time, and the vacuum cleaner is considerably more expensive too. But it could be worth the extra investment if it means your floor cleaning isn’t interrupted.
Weight: 3kg | Bin size: 0.7L | Run time: Up to 65 minutes
Great app control
Powerful turbo mode
Difficult to set up the app-
Edge cleaning isn't great
Not only is this cordless vacuum excellent at cleaning pet hairs from rugs and dry spills from tiles, it’s also a high-tech choice that comes with an app to let you know when the bin needs emptying and provides the battery-level too. It’ll even keep track the calories you've burned while cleaning.
It doesn’t quite manage the deep cleaning we’ve seen on the very best cordless models, but with three cleaning modes and a collection of eight different tools, it’s certainly versatile.
The super-powerful turbo mode doesn’t disappoint, although the run-time is relatively short in this mode.
cordless vacuum cleaner excellent at The Hoover H-Free 800 is a high-tech cordless cleaning option, coming with an app t.
and it's nicely lightweight too. It’s excellent at cleaning pet hairs from rugs and dry spills from tiles, and it's no slouch over carpets, even if it doesn’t manage the deep cleaning of the very best cordless models. The H-Free 800 is an excellent all-round cleaner for a decent price.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Dyson)
Dyson Cyclone V10
Powerful suction at an affordable price
Weight: 2.6kg | Bin size: 0.75L | Run time: Up to 60 minutes
Unrivaled design
Powerful suction
Battery drains fast on highest setting
Expensive
The predecessor to Dyson’s V11 range, the Dyson V10 cyclone offers impressive cleaning power but at a slightly more affordable price, although not quite as competitive as other models on the market. In fact, Dyson was so confident about the performance of its cordless vacuums when it launched the V10 Cyclone that at the same time it announced it would no longer be building corded vacuum cleaners.
It’s on par with the V11 when it comes to cleaning performance. We found on carpets and hard floors it did a sterling job of sucking up fine dust, pet hair, and even larger debris such as cereal and cat litter. It’s got the same size dust bin and matches the V11 on an up-to 60-minute runtime, though do be aware that if you push it to its most powerful suction settings that figure drops dramatically. At full power, it doesn’t last quite as long as the V11 either, and it doesn’t have the ability to automatically adjust the suction power to suit the floor type you’re cleaning. There’s no LCD display either, but it is lighter and cheaper.
Weight: : 4.1kg | Bin size: : 0.4L | Run time: Up to 40 minutes
Flexible for reaching under furniture
Powerful suction
Handy trigger for boost mode
Heavier than some competition
Can't turn off the LED headlights
The Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute is superb, but it's also superbly expensive. If you're after something a little less extravagant, but just as well served in the sucking stakes, consider the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Flexology IZ201UK cordless vacuum cleaner instead.
A smidge cheaper than the Dyson V10, you can often pick-up Shark’s cordless vacuum for 30% less than the list price, making it a comparable option. It can only run for 40 minutes on a single charge compared to Dyson’s 60 minutes, but there is the option to purchase a version with two batteries for easy switching when you run out of battery
The brush-roller features Anti Hair Wrap technology that prevents hair from getting tangled up, so you no longer have to spend hours picking out the strands yourself, and the main ‘stick’ of the cordless vacuum is bendable which makes it much easier to clean under furniture and in tight spaces. It also comes with three additional tools
Power supply: : Cordless, battery | Weight: : 2.61kg | Bin size: : 0.54L | Suction power: 22AW (115AW in MAX mode)
Lightweight
Portable and modular
Strong suction
Expensive
Were it not for the Shark and newer Dyson models above, the Dyson V8 Absolute would still be our top pick of the cordless vacuum cleaners on the market. And though it's getting a bit long in the tooth, as an older model now commanding more affordable pricing, it's still well worth giving a try.
Another transforming cordless vacuum cleaner, like the Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute and Dyson V11 Absolute, it too features a pistol-grip power button, meaning it's only drawing from the battery and sucking up grime when it's actually being held down and used. As such, its 40 minute running time can feel much longer than that – though again the more powerful settings and motorized heads will see that figure drastically reduced.
Fitted with a large bin and sold complete with a ton of accessories, it's a great package and, best of all, it's fun to use – its sci-fi aesthetic will make you feel like a Ghostbuster while you're doing your chores.
Bin size: 0.8L | Weight: 3.5kg | Battery: 40 minutes
Lightweight, easy to carry and move
Easily accessible bin
Bin is small
No attachment tools
"AirRam" sounds almost like too cool a name for a white goods product – it could be a special move in Street Fighter or something like that. But the Gtech AirRam MK2 backs it up with respectable sucking action, and at a palatable price point too.
Designed like an upright, you'll get about 40 minutes out of the AirRam MK2 per charge, giving the Dyson V8 Absolute a run for its money. It'll run off a mains power supply too, though don't expect to go very far with the short cable that's supplied.
Gtech Airlock technology adapts the head for different flooring types which guarantees a good suction seal whether tackling carpet or hardwoods, while a removable cylinder bin lets you easily dispose of any collected grime.
But though it's not too heavy, the lack of a hose or different attachments makes it less versatile than some of the other products on this list. Still, it gets the job done, and at a far more affordable price than the competition to boot.
Aussie boxer Tim Tszyu and Brisbane-based Irishman Dennis Hogan are set to begin their ring walks tonight at 10.30pm AEDT. There’s a lot on the line for the two super-welterweight fighters, with both eyeing a path to a world title shot. Here, we’ll let you know how to watch the Tszyu vs Hogan live stream in Australia.
Tszyu, the son of legendary boxer Kostya Tszyu, has an undefeated record of 17-0, with 13 wins by knockout. The 26-year-old most recently demolished former welterweight champion Jeff Horn, and later made quick work of New Zealander Bowyn Morgan with a first round knockout in December, 2020.
Fight night is here. Tonight’s (March 31) Tszyu vs Hogan match-up airs live from the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in NSW, Australia, and the two fighters are set to begin their ring walks at around 10.30pm AEDT (local time). Australians can watch Tszyu vs Hogan on Kayo Sports as a pay-per-view event, or on Foxtel’s Main Event.
The 36-year-old Hogan is no amateur boxer, but he has been away from the ring for over a year. He last fought Jermall Charlo in December 2019, which saw Charlo win by TKO by way of a devastating left hook in the seventh round.
Before losing to Charlo, Hogan was defeated by Mexican boxer Jaime Munguía via majority decision, a controversial decision that Hogan and his corner called out as robbery.
Hogan will be looking to end his two-fight losing streak, as he makes his play to get back onto the world stage. Tszyu is a young star on the rise who will be looking to cement his status as a title contender with another assertive win.
Whoever gets their glove raised at tonight’s fight could be in with a shot at the WBO title against current champion Brian Castano. The stakes are high for both fighters, and here’s how you can live-stream the action.
Tszyu vs Hogan live stream: how to watch in Australia
The Tszyu vs Hogan card is scheduled to begin at 7pm AEDT, with the main event expected to start around 10.30pm AEDT.
The Tszyu vs Hogan fight will be shown as a pay-per-view event on Kayo Sports, but you don’t have to be a subscriber to watch the bout – anyone can order it for AU$59.95.
(If you are interested in taking up a subscription, the basic tier on Kayo gets you access to over 50 sports, ready to live stream or watch on demand for just AU$25p/m. There’s no lock-in contract, so you’re free to cancel anytime.)
How to watch Tszyu vs Hogan live online from anywhere
If you want to watch the boxing outside of Australia, you may find that the content is geo-restricted. That could mean that, despite having access when on home turf, you are blocked while away. Don’t sweat it, as all you need is a VPN to make things right – a way better option than hunting for a dodgy stream in the less salubrious corners of the internet.
It’s simple to install, boasts strong security features, and is compatible with just about any streaming device out there, including the Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox and PlayStation. You can also use it with Android and iOS mobile devices, so to get that home broadcast and stay safer online, this is our pick of the litter.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition 5G variant has been launched in India today to take on the likes of the OnePlus 9, Vivo X60 Pro, and more in the affordable flagship space. The Galaxy S20 FE 4G variant with Exynos processor was launched back in October 2020.
The 5G variant of the Samsung Galaxy S20 was initially available in countries like the USA, UK, and more with a Snapdragon 865 chipset inside. The Indian variant of the Galaxy S20 FE was powered by the in-house Exynos 990 SoC – which had issues such as inconsistent performance and battery life.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and is available for an effective price of Rs 47,999. We say effective price because Samsung is currently offering an instant cashback of Rs 8,000 on the real price of the phone which is Rs 55,999. It is available on Amazon starting today in Cloud Navy, Cloud Mint, and Cloud Lavender colour options.
With the Galaxy S20 FE 5G launch in India, this becomes the only flagship smartphone in India from Samsung to be powered by a Snapdragon chipset (excluding foldables). The previous one was the Galaxy S10 Lite. While phones such as the Galaxy S21 series, Note 20 series are great flagship phones, we couldn't wholeheartedly recommend them as they were powered by Exynos chipset. But, with the S20 FE 5G edition, we can easily recommend this phone to anyone who's looking for a Samsung-made flagship phone with no compromises.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G specs
Apart from the one major change that comes in terms of the silicon, everything else remains similar to the 4G variant. As pointed out earlier, the device is powered by Snapdragon 865 chipset which also comes with Snapdragon X55 modem that offers 5G capability. The device is available in x variants with up to 12GB and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
The Samsung S20 FE flaunts a 6.5-inch super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also houses an optical fingerprint scanner and it is also IP68 water-resistance. There’s a 12MP f/1.8 primary camera with OIS followed by a 12MP ultra-wide shooter with a 123-degree field-of-view and an 8MP telephoto lens with OIS. Selfies are handled by a 32MP shooter housed inside the Infinity-O cutout.
The Galaxy S20 FE packs in a 4,500mAh and supports 25W fast charging support and you also get wireless charging and USB PD standard support. The device runs on Android 11 out of the box.
