I am introducing cryptography.
Cryptography is used to secure and protect data during communication. Encryption is a process which transforms the original information into an unrecognizable form. Decryption is a process of converting encoded/encrypted data in a form that is readable and understood by a human or a computer.
In a recent update on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Elon Musk, owner, and Chief Technical Officer (CTO), shared a revealing image showcasing X’s remarkable lead in organic traffic over Meta’s Facebook and Instagram.
The post also shed light on the platform’s significantly lower paid traffic and comparatively modest paid topic prices.
According to the data shared by Musk, in November 2023 in the United States, X on desktop witnessed impressive search engine (SE) traffic, driven organically by Google, reaching 650.9 million.
In contrast, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram trailed behind with 520.7 million and 496.5 million, respectively. The disparity continued in the realm of paid traffic, where X recorded only 1.1K (1100), while Instagram and Facebook reported 99.9K and 708.4K paid traffic, respectively.
The trend extended to mobile traffic as well, with X outpacing Meta’s social media platforms in terms of organic traffic.
Despite the substantial lead in organic reach, X’s paid traffic price remained considerably lower at 14.3K USD, while Instagram and Facebook reported 105.4K and 1.1 million USD, respectively.
However, amidst these positive statistics, Musk acknowledged a significant challenge faced by X, with major advertisers withdrawing their campaigns in response to controversial comments made by Musk on the platform.
Notable companies such as Disney, IBM, Warner Bros, and Discovery have distanced themselves from X, prompting Musk to address the issue at The New York Times DealBook Summit.
Expressing his stance on the advertiser boycott, Musk stated, “I don’t want them to advertise.” He defiantly added, “If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising money, go f— yourself.”
Musk also warned about the potential repercussions, stating, “What the advertising boycott is going to do is it’s going to kill the company. The whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company, and we will document it in great detail. Let’s see how Earth responds.” The situation remains dynamic as X navigates the intersection of organic success and the challenges posed by the advertiser exodus.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Over the last couple of years, tech has become a very integral part of the car, so much so, that more and more car buyers are now making placing certain features higher on their list of priorities, over the engine and the drive train.
In India, the carmaker that saw this trend coming and capitalised on it in a big way would be Tata Motors and their New Forever range. We sat down with Mohan Savarkar, the Chief Product Officer at Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, for a chat about tech in cars, how has the Indian car buyer evolved over the last five years, and if cars really need generative AI, especially in India.
How would you say customer preference in terms of tech has changed in the last 5 years?
The last five years is when tech started making a real difference. Cars from the European markets were stratified into categories like entry-level, mid-level and luxury. This stratification defined what tech was in those cars. But even in the luxury car segment, the experience was more catered towards motoring rather than on tech.
This changed. One of the reasons may have been Covid, when people, who had some disposable income, ended up buying a lot of stuff that is much more high-tech than their cars. This started reflecting in terms of what they wanted to see in their cars.
For example, five years ago, there was not a huge demand for a feature like a sunroof. But now we are seeing that about 92 per cent of our customers of the Harrier and Safari opt for a sunroof. Even for other cars in India, the demand for sunroof has gone up from about 5 per cent in 2019, to over 26 per cent now.
Similarly, five years ago the penetration of ADAS was zero in the country but now it is at about 8 per cent and growing rapidly. Similarly, 360-degree cameras went from zero or maybe 1 per cent to 8 per cent now.
Features like six airbags, telematics, LED lamps, large infotainment screens, automatic transmissions, powered seats and so on are also seeing massive adoption. Automatic transmission, in particular, is becoming really popular and has gone from about 8 per cent to 27 per cent as of last year.
In India, we are set to follow the trajectory of more developed economies when it comes to cars, even though the car penetration per thousand people in the country isn’t that high.
What inspired the new design philosophy for Tata’s New Forever range?
What we are seeing is that people are evolving quickly over a short period. People are quick to adapt to, and then adopt new technology across all spheres of life.
For long, cars have been lagging, when compared to our devices. It was like stepping back in time, once you enter your car.
That was the trigger for us that made us reconsider how can we keep up with the other aspects of people’s lives and the pace with which they were adopting new tech. That’s what set the course for New Forever.
Tech outside the car is ever-evolving and ever-changing. We had to make sure that we were able to match that in our cars. If we don’t do that, then people will start thinking that our cars are lagging behind what they experience otherwise in their lives. This helps us to make sure that we are staying on course in regard to what people expect and what we give.
What are the most demanded tech and features that buyers are looking for?
All the features that we spoke of earlier — sunroof, LED headlights, large infotainment screens, automatic transmissions, powered seats etc. — are in demand, in varying degrees, in various cars.
In cars like the Tata Nexon, most of these things are taken for granted, customers just want these things. The sunroof, in particular, is something that everyone wants.
Has the preference even for car enthusiasts moved from the experience of driving to the creature comforts of a car?
Yes, it has. People are now looking at how they experience a car more than just getting from point A to point B, so carmakers are also adapting to that. Not just the people in the front seat, but people in the rear sets also want some tech or some feature from the car.
What is Tata’s strategy in terms of tech and features for their new cars? What is their philosophy regarding tech in cars?
It would be timing. It’s not as if we are not aware of a lot of tech that is available. We like to make sure that we time it in a way that will reflect where the Indian consumer is going, and what is it that they want.
For example, we have gone for more of a digital theme for the Harrier, Safari and Nexon. The interior as well as the exterior focuses a lot on the digital, and this has been received rather well by our customers. Had we done this three years ago, it may have been too early, and perhaps would not have received the kind of response it does today.
We have to strike a balance in this regard and keep track of technology, developing new tech, and making sure that we’re delivering new features and tech at the right time.
Is India ready for higher levels of assisted driving features like ADAS Level 3 or higher?
OEMs can add features for up to level 2 ADAS on their own. From level 3 onwards, the infrastructure on the road starts making a difference. In some places, the infrastructure in India is becoming better, whereas in other places, a lot of work has to be done. It may be too soon for level 3 ADAS systems in India.
But there is a silver lining in India’s case. Countries like China have only been able to do it recently. And even in countries like the US, it has not been widely adopted. Moreover, our journey to up to level two ADAS is driven more by economics than other things. This is where India will surely catch up.
In the US, ADAS started appearing at level zero around 2010-11. Almost 12-13 years later, they hardly have any cars that come with ADAS Level 2. In India the first cars to have ADAS started appearing in 2020 and in about three years, about 8 per cent of cars have ADAS at some level.
Take ABS or anti-lock braking systems as another example. ABS came to India around 2006, as a differentiating feature. Now, you don’t have a car without ABS. That journey took us 14 years. With ADAS the journey will be much shorter.
There is a huge appetite in India for adopting such tech as we have seen in the case of smartphones, or say emission norms among other things. Plus, we are well known for jumping generations.
We are seeing some car manufacturers in the West integrate generative AI technology like ChatGPT in their cars. Is there any need for generative AI in cars, especially in India?
Generative AI is on its own separate path. It is something that will integrate into other aspects of our lives first before you start seeing it in cars. The question is, will it be a journey that is as long as other tech?
Perhaps not, given that every new tech that is made available, gets adopted quicker than the one before, and usually has a shorter timeline requirement for getting adopted at a large scale.
A case in point would be our journey from 3G to 4G and then 4G to 5G. The kind of acceptance rates that we had for 5G in India is phenomenal. AI also has to be used in a meaningful way for us to start seeing its real-life uses and then trying to bring it into cars. Although it may take a little time, it won’t take too long.
What kind of technology can buyers expect to see more of in cars in the next 5 years?
There was a time when things did not change for 20 odd years, but now, five years is a very long time in our industry. But some of the things that will be prevalent are software-defined vehicles or SDVs, and I am keeping them separate from ADAS. With SDVs, you put the software together first, and then let the software decide what kind of hardware is required. This is still on the horizon and is yet to go mainstream, but once they are here, it will overtake us very fast.
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In a major boost for Make in India, and for Apple’s plan to manufacture components of the iPhone locally in India, Japanese electronic parts manufacturer TDK Corp will manufacture lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cells for Apple iPhones in India, announced IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
This development is part of Apple’s ongoing efforts to diversify its production base and shift some manufacturing operations away from China, with India emerging as a pivotal growth driver.
Another big win for PM @narendramodi ji’s visionary PLI scheme in shifting the mobile manufacturing ecosystem to India.
TDK, a leading supplier of cells to Apple, is setting up a 180-acre facility in Manesar, Haryana to build cells for batteries which will be used in the… pic.twitter.com/hyJAf6yeqO
Apple’s foray into Indian production commenced in 2017, initially through Wistron and subsequently through Foxconn. The tech giant currently collaborates with a total of 14 suppliers in India, emphasizing its commitment to the Indian market as a key manufacturing hub.
TDK will establish a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in the northern state of Haryana, a move expected to generate several thousand job opportunities in the region, as highlighted by Deputy Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a social media announcement.
The news, initially reported by Business Standard on Sunday, underscores TDK’s role as a leading electronic component and device maker from Japan. According to sources familiar with the matter, TDK will manufacture the battery cells in India to power iPhones assembled within the country. This strategic alignment with Apple’s supply chain diversification efforts is anticipated to strengthen India’s position within the global production network.
The Li-ion battery cells produced by TDK will be supplied to Apple’s designated Li-ion battery assembler, Sunwoda Electronics, which is already operational in India. Sunwoda Electronics currently imports battery cells from various global markets.
This collaboration is poised to streamline the supply chain for Apple’s iPhone production in India, supporting the company’s vision of sustainable and localized manufacturing.
TDK, known for its acquisition of Hong Kong-based Li-ion battery and cell maker Amperex Technology Ltd in 2005, recently acquired land in Haryana for the establishment of a manufacturing unit. This facility is expected to play a pivotal role in producing Li-ion battery cells, including those destined for Apple iPhones.
Commercial production, with a focus on supplying cells to Apple, is slated to commence in the near future, signalling a significant milestone in the collaboration between TDK and Apple in the Indian manufacturing landscape.
(With input from agencies)
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In a recent quarterly threat report released by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, it was revealed that Meta has successfully dismantled a large network of over 4,700 fake accounts originating from China. These accounts, pretending to be Americans and Indians, were actively involved in disseminating misleading information on divisive topics related to US politics and US-China relations as well as Indian politics.
While Meta did not explicitly tie the profiles to Chinese officials in Beijing, the company expressed concerns about the surge in such networks originating from China, especially with the approaching 2024 US elections. According to Meta, China now ranks as the third-largest geographical source of such deceptive networks, trailing behind Russia and Iran.
The deceptive Chinese network, as outlined in the report, engaged in a variety of topics such as abortion, culture war issues, and aid to Ukraine. The accounts utilized profile pictures and names stolen from legitimate users worldwide, sharing and liking each other’s posts. Notably, some of the content appeared to be directly copied from X, formerly Twitter.
Among the accounts’ activities, some were found to copy verbatim posts from US politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, including figures like Nancy Pelosi, Gretchen Whitmer, Ron DeSantis, Matt Gaetz, and Jim Jordan. Meta emphasized that the network displayed no consistent ideological stance.
Meta’s report raised questions about the network’s objectives, stating, “It’s unclear whether this approach was designed to amplify partisan tensions, build audiences among these politicians’ supporters, or to make fake accounts sharing authentic content appear more genuine.”
The company’s moderation policies strictly prohibit “coordinated inauthentic behaviour,” referring to posts from groups of accounts working together with false identities to mislead users. While the content shared by these networks often references accurate news stories, Meta highlighted that the intent is to manipulate public opinion, sow division, and artificially boost certain viewpoints.
According to Meta, the extensive Chinese network was thwarted before gaining traction among real users. Ben Nimmo, leading investigations into inauthentic behaviour at Meta, commented that these networks “still struggle to build audiences, but they’re a warning,” emphasizing the ongoing efforts by foreign threat actors to influence people online ahead of the upcoming elections.
In addition to the large Chinese network, Meta also uncovered two smaller networks—one from China focusing on India and Tibet, and another from Russia posting primarily in English about the invasion of Ukraine and promoting Telegram channels. The report underscored that Russian networks, previously scrutinized since the 2016 election, have shifted focus to the Ukraine conflict, attempting to undermine international support for Kyiv.
In a notable development, Meta highlighted that the US government ceased sharing information about foreign influence networks with the company in July, following a federal ruling related to a First Amendment legal case. This decision is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court, contributing to the broader debate about the collaboration between the US government and tech companies and its potential impact on the free speech of social media users.
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Microsoft has officially launched its art generator, Cocreator, within the classic Paint app for Windows 11, allowing users to easily create original images by describing their desired visuals.
Initially available to Windows Insiders testing early releases, the text-to-image generator, powered by OpenAI’s DALL-E model, is now accessible to all users.
To utilize Cocreator, users can open a new Paint project and click the “Cocreator” button on the toolbar. By typing a description of the desired image, the AI will provide three options for users to choose from.
Microsoft has previously incorporated DALL-E’s advanced image generation into products like Bing and Copilot, but integrating it into Paint aims to enhance accessibility for everyday users.
Microsoft has included a 4-step tutorial for newcomers to get started with AI artistry. Some users may need to join a waitlist before using Cocreator, and there is a daily limitation on image generation, with each generated image consuming 1 credit out of the 50 allocated upon sign-up.
While Cocreator is currently limited to users in the United States, France, the UK, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Germany, those within these regions can check for availability by ensuring their Paint app is updated and signing up through the side panel.
(With inputs from agencies)
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After facing numerous delays and obstacles over four years, the long-anticipated Tesla Cybertruck has finally hit the road.
CEO Elon Musk showcased the electric truck’s impressive features, including towing capabilities, bulletproof doors, and remarkable straight-line speed, during a delivery event at the company’s Austin, Texas factory.
Despite the excitement surrounding the launch and the presence of numerous attendees, the event did not unfold as smoothly as Tesla had envisioned.
Production woes and delays
Initially slated to commence production in late 2021, the Cybertruck faced setbacks due to supply chain shortages and manufacturing complications. The company, grappling with these challenges, is expected to roll out a limited number of units initially as production gradually scales up.
The automaker, at the time of unveiling back in 2019 had said that the base variant of the truck would cost $39,900. Then came the pandemic, and more delays. As a result, we see the original price ballooning up by at least 50 per cent.
Pricing leaves a sour taste
Tesla initially announced a single-motor Cybertruck variant in 2019, which would come with rear-wheel drive and towing capacity of 7,500 pounds and a 250-mile range, all for under $40,000 The base variant’s promised price of $39,900 surged by 33-50 per cent due to pandemic-related delays and the challenges posed by the Cybertruck’s rigid steel body.
As seasons changed, so did Tesla’s price estimates for the Cybertruck. The base variant now costs $60,990, or $53,490 after factoring in $7,500 in federal tax credits. The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version is priced at $79,990, while the top-end Cyberbeast commands a hefty $99,990.
Critics have wasted no time in lambasting Tesla, highlighting the comparatively higher costs of the Cybertruck when compared to rival vehicles that aim to provide similar features at more affordable prices.
Delays continue
Moreover, the most demanded variant of the vehicle won’t be delivered at least for another year. The cheapest of the batch, a rear-wheel version with 250 miles of range, a 6.9-second zero to 60 miles per hour acceleration rate and a $60,990 base price, won’t be available until 2025.
The Cyberbeast trim will also be available later, with deliveries starting from mid-2024.
Elon Musk had previously outlined a production target of approximately 250,000 Cybertrucks annually by 2025. However, no updates were provided during the recent event, leaving the future production rate unclear.
Range concerns
While Tesla had initially promised a 500-mile range, the Cybertruck’s longest-range version is estimated at 340 miles, with a range extender option pushing it to 470 miles.
Critics, including Sam Abuelsamid from Guidehouse Insights, express scepticism about the Cybertruck’s real-world performance, saying that Tesla, like other EV makers are known to exaggerate their EV’s declared ranges.
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In a significant move towards promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable mobility, the Delhi government has unveiled the ‘Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023.’
This initiative aims to regulate and license aggregators providing passenger transport and delivery services, with a focus on enhancing the quality of transportation services in the national capital.
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot emphasized the long-standing need for licensing and regulation of aggregators to ensure smoother operations for the people of Delhi.
Notably, this scheme is the first in India to define phase-wise electrification targets for operators, aligning with India’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
The scheme outlines a commitment to completely electrify the entire fleet of aggregators in Delhi by 2030. It also marks the introduction of bike taxis in the city.
Gahlot highlighted that the scheme aims to enhance public safety and convenience by providing guidelines on vehicle cleanliness, driver behaviour, and timely resolution of customer complaints.
To address environmental concerns, the scheme mandates a phased transition to electric mobility to combat air pollution and promote green mobility.
The Delhi government stated that aggregators will be permitted to operate electric vehicle-only bike taxi services, with operational guidelines specified in the scheme.
The scheme establishes stringent standards for service quality to enhance customer satisfaction. This includes requirements for vehicle cleanliness, driver behaviour, and prompt resolution of customer complaints. To ensure public safety, the scheme outlines compliances that operators must adhere to.
The scheme’s applicability extends to aggregators, delivery service providers, or e-commerce entities operating within the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Operators with 25 or more motor vehicles (2W, 3W, and 4W, excluding buses) in their fleet, utilizing a digital intermediary such as an app or web portal to connect with consumers, fall under the scheme’s purview.
Operators, both existing and new, are required to obtain a license within 90 days of the scheme’s notification or before commencing operations. Licenses will be valid for five years, with annual fees applicable. Electric vehicles will be exempt from fees, and a 50 per cent rebate is provided for vehicles under two years old.
The scheme emphasizes strict enforcement, with violations incurring monetary penalties ranging from Rs 5,000 up to Rs 1,00,000 per instance.
This comprehensive regulatory framework aligns with the Delhi government’s commitment to fostering sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Alphabet Inc.’s Google has identified a significant increase in cyberattacks originating from China targeting Taiwan, according to cybersecurity experts.
In the past six months, the tech giant’s threat analysis division noted a “massive increase” in Chinese-sponsored hacking campaigns, with hackers adopting intricate tactics to obfuscate their origins.
Kate Morgan, a senior engineering manager at Google, highlighted that Chinese hackers are utilizing tactics that complicate tracking efforts.
These include infiltrating small home and office internet routers and repurposing them to launch attacks while concealing their true source.
Morgan revealed that Google is monitoring over 100 hacking groups in China alone, targeting various sectors in Taiwan, including defence, government, and private industry.
Concerns have risen globally over the potential for conflict in Taiwan, exacerbated by the strained relationship between the US and China. While the US does not formally recognize Taiwan as a nation, it has committed to assisting the island in defending itself against what it perceives as an increasingly aggressive China. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory.
Despite the tensions, outgoing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen acknowledged during a summit that China currently appears “overwhelmed” to consider a major invasion of the island.
However, she emphasized Taiwan’s resilience and commitment to enhancing defence capabilities amid military intimidation, cyberattacks, and information manipulation.
Google’s findings come as part of its broader observations on global cybersecurity threats. Kate Morgan mentioned that North Korea and Iran continue to pose significant hacking threats, while Russia’s cyber focus has predominantly been on Ukraine since its invasion in February 2022.
In a move to address cybersecurity challenges, Google has launched a new cybersecurity centre in Malaga, Spain.
The “safety engineering centre” will house around 100 security experts, aiming to collaborate with European businesses and government officials to enhance cyber resilience on the continent.
Google already operates safety engineering centres in Dublin, Ireland, and Munich, Germany, focusing on various aspects of cybersecurity, content moderation, and privacy engineering.
Kent Walker, Google’s President of Global Affairs, cited Malaga’s pro-innovation policies and its digital profile as key reasons for choosing it as the location for the new hub.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Over the past decade, about 200 elephants lost their lives due to collisions with trains, posing a significant threat to both wildlife and railway operations.
In a bid to address the rising concern of elephant deaths in train collisions, Indian Railways has rolled out a groundbreaking, indigenously developed new technology called Gajraj Suraksha, that is aimed at preventing such tragic incidents.
Gajraj Suraksha, which is a kind of Intrusion Detection System or IDS, is based on an AI algorithm and claims to detect 99.5 per cent of potential collisions, providing a much-needed solution to this longstanding issue. What makes this system unique is that it primarily relies on OFCs or Optical Fibre cables for quick transmission of signals.
Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced plans to install these AI-powered systems in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Kerala, certain parts of Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.
How does the Gajraj Suraksha Intrusion Detection System work?
Gajraj Suraksha senses pressure waves generated by the movement of elephants along the tracks. While explaining how exactly the mechanism works, officials revealed that as elephants move, the optical fibres detect vibrations caused by their footsteps.
These vibrations trigger signals within the optical fibre network, enabling the system to identify the presence of elephants up to 200 meters ahead of their arrival on the track.
The OFC-based Intrusion Detection System works by sending alarms to station masters whenever movement is detected along the tracks.
The network is designed in such a way that it can track the movement of the elephant with great accuracy and report it to nearby station masters. This allows them to promptly inform locomotive drivers in the affected areas.
This quick communication ensures that trains can be slowed down or stopped, preventing potential collisions with elephants.
Cost-effective, easy-to-deploy
One of the key advantages of this technology is its cost-effectiveness. On a vast network spanning 700 kilometres of railway tracks, the implementation cost is estimated at Rs 181 crores, making it a viable and scalable solution for Indian Railways. The Indian Railways plans to deploy this solution across all elephant corridors in the country in the next 8 months.
The Indian Railways has chosen the Northeast Frontier Railways to pilot this programme and implement this new, cutting-edge technology in some of the worst affected areas.
The system is being installed over a large area and is already fully operational along a specific stretch covering approximately 70 kilometres. Authorities believe that this proactive approach will significantly reduce the number of elephant casualties caused by train accidents in the region.
The introduction of this indigenous technology marks a significant step forward in the efforts to protect wildlife and enhance the safety of railway operations.
As India continues to grapple with the delicate balance between modern infrastructure and environmental conservation, innovations like the Gajraj Suraksha, showcase the potential for technology to mitigate the impact on the country’s rich biodiversity.
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NASA has drawn up plans to set up a permanent base on the Moon and is roping in France’s Thales Alenia Space and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to help them build it. This will be a key element in NASA’s Artemis mission.
The dream of establishing a permanent lunar base has been a recurring theme in science fiction, notably portrayed in iconic films like “2001: A Space Odyssey” and TV series like “Space: 1999.”
On November 23, Thales Alenia Space announced a contract with ASI to develop the Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH), a crucial component of NASA’s Artemis program aimed at establishing a sustainable long-term human presence on the Moon. While specific costs and deployment timelines were not provided, the module is not expected to reach the lunar surface before the 2030s.
The MPH project marks a historic milestone as the first Italian habitation module designed to operate on the lunar surface. Franco Fenoglio, head of human planetary exploration and robotics programs at Thales Alenia Space, expressed pride in the company’s technical and organizational capabilities to overcome the challenges posed by such an endeavour.
The collaboration between NASA and ASI on this project began in 2020 with a joint statement of intent supporting the Artemis program. The initial agreement focused on developing crew habitation capabilities and related technologies for short-term lunar stays.
In June 2022, ASI signed an agreement with NASA to conduct a preliminary design of the module. The project achieved a significant milestone in October by passing NASA’s Element Initiation Review, leading ASI to assign Thales Alenia Space the responsibility of further developing the lunar base.
The MPH, as depicted in an image released by Thales Alenia Space, features a cylindrical design with telescopic legs and solar arrays. While details are limited, the pressurized module appears to be approximately 33 feet (10 meters) in length.
This lunar base will serve as a starting point for Artemis astronauts, enabling missions to conduct experimental science in the lunar environment, deploy and test new technologies, and investigate potential exploration risks. Additionally, it could lay the groundwork for NASA’s proposed lunar base camp, accommodating up to four astronauts at a time.
The next significant step for the project is the Mission Concept Review scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. This review is crucial for advancing to subsequent phases, focusing on developing critical technologies for extended lunar stays.
Thales Alenia Space’s responsibilities include forming an industrial consortium to move the project into its implementation phase. Notably, the company is also working on developing three pressurized modules for the Lunar Gateway, a planned space station orbiting the Moon.
While the project represents a small step, it is a crucial one, bringing us closer to realizing the lunar bases once confined to the realm of science fiction. This foundational multi-functional lunar habitat is a promising start toward humanity’s long-envisioned presence on the Moon.
(With input from agencies)
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The much-anticipated OnePlus 12 is set to be unveiled on December 5th, marking a significant milestone after the company’s 10th-anniversary celebration event.
Although the global and Indian launch is slated for January 24th, eager enthusiasts can expect the phone to hit the Chinese market first before making its way to international markets.
For a sneak peek into what’s in store, interested individuals are encouraged to explore the promotional microsite, particularly the dedicated section for the Indian market.
OnePlus 12’s images have already been made public on both the global and Indian editions of the OnePlus website. Upon visiting these pages, users are treated to an engaging promotional video that highlights the phone’s green variant, inspired by the beauty of nature.
As an added incentive for fans, the website prompts visitors to subscribe to the OnePlus 12 launch event, with the opportunity to win the phone itself or other upcoming products from the company. Positioned alongside the Subscribe button is a link to the Terms and Conditions, providing crucial details for those interested in participating.
For a closer look at the campaign duration, users can explore the oneplus.com/uk page. Clicking on the Terms and Conditions link redirects to a new page, disclosing that the campaign will run from November 27, 2023, to January 23, 2024.
A few key details also crop up when you go through the Indian website, oneplus.com/in. The campaign concludes a day before the much-anticipated OnePlus 12 launch event. This insightful detail provides a clear indication of the highly awaited launch date.
As for the rumoured and some of the confirmed specs of the upcoming OnePlus flagship, it will feature a 6.82-inch 2K LTPO BOE X1 OLED screen, promising an immersive visual experience.
Camera enthusiasts can look forward to a potential 32MP front shooter and a triple-camera setup on the back featuring 50MP+50MP+64MP lenses. The cameras, again, have been fine-tuned by Hasselblad. The OnePlus 12 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, coupled with up to 24GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.
Keeping everything running smoothly is a robust 5,400mAh battery, supporting 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging for added convenience. Tech enthusiasts and OnePlus fans alike eagerly await the official unveiling, counting down the days until December 5th.
As for the colours, the device is likely to be available in a bunch of colors, including green, black, and white.
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