Multimedia

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    Google Pixel 11 Pro XL features leaked ahead of launch

    ByJustpaste.in

    San Francisco: Key features of the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL have reportedly been leaked with major upgrades expected in its camera and AI technology. According to a report by Geeky Gadgets, details about the design and key features of Google’s upcoming flagship smartphone have emerged ahead of its launch. Google is preparing to introduce new devices at its hardware event on August 12. According to the leaked information, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is expected to receive significant upgrades in several areas, including the camera, artificial intelligence, processor and connectivity. The leaks have attracted considerable attention from technology enthusiasts. Google is reportedly planning major improvements to the phone’s design, camera, performance and AI capabilities. According to the leaked details, the phone’s camera bar has been redesigned and will reportedly include an LED notification ring. Early leaks referred to this feature as “Pixel Glow” but recent reports suggest its possible official name could be “Highlight.” Available in five colours The Pixel 11 Pro XL is reportedly expected to be available in five colours: green, light green, silver, midnight and red. The phone is expected to feature a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with support for a 120Hz refresh rate. Reports also suggest that it will have a 13-megapixel ultra-wide selfie camera on the front. The design is also expected to receive some changes. The Pixel 11 Pro XL may feature a durable aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 3 which could provide greater protection against scratches and accidental drops. Major camera improvements The Pixel 11 Pro XL is expected to have a triple rear-camera setup. According to the leaks, it may include a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera. The telephoto camera is reportedly expected to provide 5x optical zoom. The phone may also feature a 120x Pro Zoom option in its software, designed to capture distant objects and scenes with greater detail. With the help of Google’s Gemini AI technology, the camera could offer improved low-light photography, scene recognition and real-time image processing. A new mode called “Motion Capture” is also reportedly being developed. It could use AI to track moving people or objects and maintain focus on them. Improved performance with Tensor G6 The phone is also expected to feature Google’s new Tensor G6 processor which could provide improved performance for multitasking, gaming, video editing and AI-powered applications. The Tensor G6 is expected to offer enhanced capabilities for on-device machine learning, real-time language translation and intelligent text suggestions. The leaked reports also claim improvements in battery performance. The phone could feature an adaptive power-management system that adjusts energy consumption according to usage patterns to help extend battery life. Range of AI features The Pixel 11 Pro XL is expected to include several new AI-powered features. These may include an Animal Rescue feature designed to help identify and locate lost pets. Other expected features include advanced voice recognition, personalized app suggestions based on user habits, improved security, on-device encryption and real-time threat detection. A new Focus Mode could allow users to temporarily silence unnecessary notifications so they can concentrate on important tasks. Reports have also mentioned improved speakers, spatial audio and potentially advanced augmented reality (AR) features. Although most of the information currently available about the Pixel 11 Pro XL is based on leaks and speculation, it suggests that Google is focusing heavily on AI technology alongside hardware improvements in its new flagship smartphone. Google is expected to officially announce the phone’s final specifications and price at its launch. Until then, the reported details should be considered leaks and speculation rather than confirmed information.

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    Press play on nostalgia

    ByJustpaste.in

    There is an absurdly satisfying drama to slipping a shiny compact disc into a silver portable CD player. Next up, click the lid shut and voila! Listen to that faint mechanical whir-click as the laser reads the track. We live in an era where a glass smartphone screen gives you instant access to 100 million songs. And when one chooses to carry around a plastic disc player, it feels less like a modern inconvenience and more like a heroic act of rebellion. Well! In order to figure out why Gen Z is suddenly obsessing over vintage music players that take up actual pocket space, we have to look at the wild journey of how we got here. From Giant Plastic Discs to Invisible Spotify Soundtracks The evolution of portable music is essentially a history of humans constantly trading physical soul for pure convenience. The Boombox & Tape Era Back in 1979, the original Sony Walkman fundamentally changed society by letting people walk down the street with their own personal soundtrack playing on magnetic cassette tape. It was revolutionary, even if you occasionally had to fix a tangled tape using a No. 2 pencil. The Silver Disc Reign By the late 80s and 90s, the CD player (affectionately nicknamed the Discman, though brands like Goodmans ruled the market too) took over. Suddenly, music was crisp, digital and skip-resistant. The condition that provided your player had a reliable 45-second anti-shock buffer and you didn’t jump off while walking! Albums came with jewel cases, actual artwork and fold-out lyric booklets you could read on the bus. The MP3 Tidal Wave The early 2000s crushed physical media into tiny digital files. The iPod and cheap MP3 players meant you could hoard thousands of low-bitrate songs in your pocket. They effectively killed off the concept of buying an album just to listen to it as a cohesive story. The Infinite Streaming Void Today, platforms like Spotify and Apple Music serve us endless music on demand.  Every track on Earth is accessible with a single tap. That’s why music easily morphs into background noise rather than a meaningful event. The Retro Revival You’d think the generation born into high-speed Wi-Fi would turn their noses up at retro tech. However, physical music sales among young listeners are skyrocketing. It turns out that living entirely online gets exhausting. The antique way of listening to music hits differently for a few fun reasons. Spotify’s algorithm loves to push you into a hyper-specific mood bubble. On the other hand, physical disc into a portable player forces you to listen to an entire album from track 1 to track 20 the way the artist intended. On top, there are no skips, no ads, no doomscrolling while listening. There is a joy in pressing actual spring-loaded plastic buttons instead of tapping a flat screen. The mechanical clicks, volume dials and tangled headphone wires bring a sensory connection. In my opinion, a digital app just can’t match. In the subscription economy, you don’t own anything. If a streaming platform loses licensing rights, your favorite album vanishes overnight. A physical CD on your shelf, however, is yours forever. Now, let’s be honest! Pulled-out wired earbuds connected to a metallic silver CD player looking like straight out of Y2K sci-fi is an undeniable aesthetic flex.

  • YouTube tightens monetization rules for creators

    ByJustpaste.in

    YouTube, the world’s most popular video-sharing platform provides additional income opportunities to millions of people around the world. Yes, YouTube has become an attractive platform for people who want to earn money through videos. Billions of people use the video-sharing platform making it an excellent place for creative individuals to showcase their skills. Anyone can earn money from YouTube by becoming part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). However, earning money from YouTube will now become more difficult for many people as the company has tightened its requirements. YouTube monetization allows users to earn money through advertisements, channel memberships, Super Chat and merchandise. To unlock these features, users need to become part of the YouTube Partner Program. For this, certain requirements must be met and these requirements have now been made stricter. Previously, users needed at least 1,000 subscribers on their channel and more than 4,000 hours of watch time on their long-form videos over the previous 12 months to earn money from the platform. However, this requirement has now been doubled. Under the new requirements, users will need at least 8,000 hours of video watch time within one year to qualify for the Partner Program and earn money. Alternatively, they will need their YouTube Shorts videos to receive more than 20 million views within the previous 90 days. Previously, the requirement for earning through Shorts was 10 million views. The new changes will take effect from February 1, 2027. Google has clarified that users who are already part of the YouTube Partner Program will not be affected by this update. YouTube also stated that, in the future, users will need to maintain 10 million Shorts views within a 90-day period to continue earning from Shorts. If they fail to meet this requirement, they will remain part of the Partner Program and will still be able to earn money from long-form videos. However, they will only be able to earn from Shorts again after reaching 10 million views once more. According to the company, these changes are being introduced to keep pace with YouTube’s continued growth. More than 200 billion Shorts are now viewed on YouTube every day, while users watch the equivalent of one billion hours of video content on television screens alone. However, these changes will make it more difficult for users to join the YouTube Partner Program and maintain their eligibility particularly those who primarily create and post Shorts videos.

  • Google tests AI-powered changes to search homepage

    ByJustpaste.in

    Google rarely makes changes to the homepage of its search engine. So, whenever the company makes such a change, it is considered significant. In fact, a seemingly small but important update is being tested on the page where users conduct online searches through Google. According to a report by Android Authority, Google has been continuously introducing features based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology for its users. Now, the company is testing an AI-based change to its search homepage with the redesigned homepage being tested among a limited number of users. Google has replaced the traditional Google Search button with shortcuts to several AI-powered features. The new version of the Google Search homepage has been spotted by a limited number of users. Instead of the traditional Google Search button, three AI feature buttons are displayed: Create Images, Ask About Files and Brainstorm. According to the report, the new design was seen by some users who visited the Google homepage without signing in. By clicking the Create button, users can generate images using Nano Banana. The Ask About Files option allows users to upload files and ask questions about them while Brainstorm enables users to discuss a topic with Google. Google Search Vice President Robbie Stein confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the change is being tested among a limited number of users. According to him, replacing the Google Search button will not affect the basic search functionality. It is currently difficult to say when the redesigned homepage will be rolled out to all users.

  • X launches Rewards Program for original content creators

    ByJustpaste.in

    X has discontinued its previous Creator Revenue Sharing Program and introduced a new Original Content Rewards Program in its place. The purpose of X’s Original Content Rewards Program is to reward content creators who share original content on the social media platform. Earnings will depend particularly on the qualified impressions generated through a creator’s original content. Rewards will be distributed every two weeks with the first payment scheduled for August 28. Only impressions from Premium subscribers will be counted toward payments. Existing participants will be able to earn revenue until September 7 while eligible creators can apply for the new program starting September 8, 2026. Under the new initiative, posts containing misinformation and disinformation as well as posts carrying Community Notes will be ineligible for advertising revenue. It is worth noting that new users can no longer access the previous Revenue Sharing Program which has now been discontinued.

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    PTA cuts eSIM fee to Rs1,500, allows 10 free transfers

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reduced the charges for eSIM services. The PTA has set the initial eSIM fee at Rs. 1,500 and allowed users to transfer an eSIM from one phone to another up to 10 times free of charge. The new policy will come into effect on August 17, 2026. The decision was taken following directions from a parliamentary committee which had asked the PTA to make eSIM services more user-friendly. The committee also sought to reduce the need for subscribers to visit customer service centres for eSIM-related services. According to the PTA, the existing system already allows users to transfer an eSIM between phones multiple times by using the same QR code provided during the original purchase and activation. As a result, no additional charges are applied for these transfers. However, following consultations with cellular operators, the regulator has now formally revised the charging structure. The maximum initial eSIM fee has been reduced to Rs. 1,500 while subscribers will be allowed up to 10 free eSIM transfers between compatible devices. In addition, the PTA is working with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and cellular operators to improve SIM security. The regulator plans to introduce a new multi-factor subscriber verification system to strengthen the verification process for SIM issuance and ownership.

  • Meta fined $570 million over children’s mental health

    ByJustpaste.in

    A US court has fined Meta, the parent company of Facebook, hundreds of millions of dollars for causing harmful effects on children’s mental health. A court in New Mexico announced the decision during the second phase of a landmark case against Meta. In March 2026, the social media company suffered a setback in the case. At that time, a jury found that the company had knowingly harmed children’s mental health while concealing details related to child sexual exploitation. Meta was fined $375 million as a result. Now, in its latest ruling, the court has imposed an additional fine of $567 million on the company, bringing the total penalty to $942 million. Judge Brian Biedscheid said that $420 million of the fine would be allocated to services providing medical treatment to young people in New Mexico. The remaining amount will be spent over the next five years on awareness campaigns, service screening and other related areas. During the March hearing, the court found that Meta was responsible for activities taking place on its social media platforms. The second phase of the trial began in May. Prosecutors asked the court to require fundamental changes within Meta to control features that make its social media platforms addictive, improve age-verification procedures and prevent child sexual exploitation. The court’s ruling also ordered other changes including the creation of banners and informational screens for Facebook and Instagram that clearly explain their safety features and tools. The ruling also directed Meta to launch an educational campaign in New Mexico. Meanwhile, a Meta spokesperson said that the company disagrees with the court’s decision and plans to appeal it. According to the spokesperson, the company is working hard to ensure the safety of people on its platforms by removing harmful content and taking action against bad actors.

  • OpenAI brings GPT-5.6 Leona to free ChatGPT users

    ByJustpaste.in

    OpenAI has announced a major benefit for users who use ChatGPT for free. The company announced that free users will be offered unlimited chat access based on its new artificial intelligence (AI) model, GPT-5.6 Leona. Currently, free and Go subscribers use GPT-5.5 on ChatGPT but the Leona model will soon become available to them. The update aims to make the company’s new AI features accessible to everyone. OpenAI is also reintroducing the “Think” button to ChatGPT ensuring that users can receive answers to complex questions. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said these changes reflect the company’s goal of making its advanced AI technology more accessible. The biggest benefit of the new update is the removal of limits on text-based conversations. However, limits will remain in place for various features, including image generation, file uploads and other advanced tools. According to OpenAI, new features are also being added to GPT-5.6 Leona for paying subscribers while existing features are being improved. The new AI model is already available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers while it will soon become available to free and Go users.

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    Multimedia pioneer Cao Fei captures the human heart

    ByJustpaste.in

    Among contemporary Asian creators, Beijing-based multimedia artist Cao Fei stands out as a defining narrative voice. Working across video, virtual reality, installation, and photography, her globally acclaimed career centers on a simple yet profound premise: amidst the whirlwind of rapid industrial advancement, hyper-capitalism, and sweeping technological change, art must always return to the core of the human condition. Born in 1978 in Guangzhou, Cao Fei grew up on the frontlines of staggering societal evolution. Watching the countryside surrender to megacities, factory complexes, and high-tech infrastructure gave her a unique point on the modern world. Rather than viewing this rapid transition with nostalgia or pessimism, her works connect reality and imaginative fantasy. A hallmark of Cao’s career is her fascination with the workplace, particularly automated logistics hubs and manufacturing floors. In iconic pieces like Whose Utopia and Asia One, she embeds her cameras inside functioning industrial facilities from textile plants to highly automated e-commerce distribution centers. Yet, instead of focusing solely on the cold efficiency of machinery or output metrics, she shifts her lens toward the individual laborers maneuvering through these vast, mechanized systems. Her films document the quiet desires, personal dreams, and unspoken emotional bonds of workers who navigate a world increasingly driven by algorithms and quotas. Parallel to her exploration of physical industry, Cao Fei has consistently operated on the cutting edge of digital frontiers. Long before the concept of the metaverse entered mainstream vocabulary, she was constructing RMB City within online platforms like Second Life, exploring how virtual avatars allow people to seek identity, escape, and community in digital environments. Her projects often feature young people engaging in subcultures like cosplay, stepping out of suburban construction sites and into elaborate alter egos. For Cao, these virtual realms are not merely frivolous distractions; they represent vital spaces of self-expression where individuals reclaim agency against the pressure of uniform urban life. Despite her focus on futuristic landscapes, automated networks, and virtual platforms, Cao Fei maintains that rootedness in heritage remains essential. Traditional culture, memory, and personal history act as indispensable anchors in a world constantly shifting beneath our feet. Whether reflecting on regional Cantonese roots, exploring local neighborhood history in Beijing, or depicting surreal futures, her work grounds high-tech environments in real human memory and emotion.   Ultimately, Cao Fei’s artistic vision offers a thoughtful, multi-layered reflection on modern life. By balancing documentation with surreal storytelling, her art reminds us that no matter how complex our machines, algorithms, or cities become, the central narrative of our time remains fundamentally human.

  • After OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta AI model hacks company in test

    ByJustpaste.in

    Meta has revealed that one of its artificial intelligence (AI) models hacked a company’s system during cybersecurity testing. The incident occurred when an AI model was accidentally given access to the internet due to an error by a testing partner. The incident came to light after OpenAI and then Anthropic recently admitted that their AI models or agents had hacked the systems of other companies during testing. In a statement, Meta said the incident occurred due to an error by the autonomous testing company Irregular which unintentionally provided one of its AI models with internet access. An investigation into the incident is now underway. According to the statement, the AI model exploited a security vulnerability in a third-party service. Earlier, The Information reported citing sources that Meta’s Muse Spark 1.1 model had modified the internal systems of a company. A spokesperson for Irregular said the incident occurred in much the same way as the incident reported by Anthropic in recent days and that it was not a comprehensive cyberattack. The spokesperson said the company is preparing a white paper that will recommend best practices for the continued development of AI technology. Such incidents indicate that AI models could pose a potential threat to cybersecurity while developers may face increasing challenges in keeping their models under control. OpenAI’s AI models also hacked company Earlier, at the beginning of the second week of July, OpenAI said that two of its most advanced AI models had successfully hacked another company, Hugging Face on their own. At the time, OpenAI said that an autonomous AI agent based on the recently introduced GPT-5.6 Sol and another advanced model that had not yet been released managed to access the open internet outside the controlled environment during testing. Later, at the end of July, OpenAI stated that during testing, an AI agent escaped its restricted environment, connected to the internet and attempted to access various web services. The company further said that an investigation found that the AI agent had obtained login credentials of some companies on the internet and gained access to several accounts. Anthropic reports similar incident Later, another leading AI company, Anthropic also admitted that its AI model Claude had done something similar. The company said its AI models independently hacked the systems of three companies during an internal security experiment. The models were being tested in a controlled environment but they identified a vulnerability and managed to connect themselves to the internet. Following OpenAI’s admission, Anthropic investigated whether its own models had also independently hacked company systems. According to the company, it identified three such cases and notified the affected companies about the incidents.