Xiaomi announced a host of new products at yesterday’s launch event. Including Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Pad 6 series, and Smart Band 8. Along with them, the company also launched a new smart TV dubbed the Xiaomi Master Mini LED. So let’s know more about the Xiaomi Master Mini LED TV along with its full specifications and expected price in Nepal.
Xiaomi Master Mini LED TV Overview
Display
This new top-of-the-line TV from Xiaomi comes with an 86″ 4K display with Mini LED technology that divides the screen into 1080 independent light-emitting partitions to precisely control the brightness and color of the screen.
Furthermore, the display boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced feature, and 2000 nits of peak brightness. This TV can show up to 1.07 billion colors and has a 99% DCI-P3 color gamut.
Audio and Performance
Complementing this impressive display, there are 9 unit frequency speakers that contribute to 70W sound output. The speaker system also includes a 20W subwoofer for an immersive audio-visual experience. Moving on, this smart TV supports 3.1 surround sound with Dolby Atmos and DTS X support.
A Cortex A73 quad-core CPU powers the Xiaomi Smart TV Mini LED. Whereas for graphics, a Mali-G52 (2EE)MC1 GPU is integrated. Memory-wise, you get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage capacity. Furthermore, there is support for AMD FreeSync, which helps in ultra-low latency gaming up to 1ms. It runs Xiaomi’s proprietary MIUI TV operating system.
In terms of connectivity, this TV have 3 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x USB, Ethernet, AV, and an optical port. The HDMI port also supports Auto Low Latency Mode for low-lag gaming and eARC for connecting to external soundbars. Wireless connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2.
Xiaomi Master Mini LED TV Price in Nepal and Availability
The Xiaomi Master Mini LED TV launched in China at CNY 14,999. We expect the price of the Xiaomi Master Mini LED TV to be NPR 327,999, if and when it launches in Nepal.
Honor is preparing to launch its new ultrabooks, the MagicBook X14 and X16 2023 in India soon. The duo features a Full HD IPS screen and a 12th Gen Intel processor. So without further ado, let’s get into the specs, features, and expected price of Honor Magicbook X14 and Honor X16 (2023) laptops in Nepal.
Honor Magicbook X14, X16 (2023) Laptop Overview:
Design and Display
The Magicbook X14 and X16 (2023) boast a slim profile with a 4.5mm ultrathin micro-frames design. You get an aluminum chassis on both laptops. However, the X14 is lighter at 1.4kg as compared to X16’s 1.75kg weight. Likewise, both models equip a backlit keyboard with a 1.5mm long keystroke depth.
In terms of display, the X14 sports a 14-inch screen with a screen-to-body ratio of 88% to deliver an immersive viewing experience. While the X16 goes with a 16-inch panel with an 89% screen-to-body ratio.
Regardless of the sizes, both are IPS displays with Full HD resolution, 300nits peak brightness, and 100% sRGB coverage. On top of that, you get double TUV Rheinland certifications: one for flicker-free DC dimming and the other for low blue light emission.
Performance
Under the hood, the MagicBook X14 and X16 share an Intel Core i5-12450H processor. This 12th Gen CPU from last year is based on 8 cores and 12 threads with a max speed of 4.4 GHz, enabling a 30% boost in performance than the previous gen.
As for storage, both laptops come with 8/16GB RAM along with 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage. Users can also further expand the storage up to 1TB via the dual SSD slots.
Fueling the ultrabooks is a 60WH battery with support for 65W USB Type-C Super-charge and multi-device charging. The Magicbook Series X14 and X16 duo feature 1x USB Type-C, 1x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 1x 2-in-1 headphone/mic, and an HDMI port. For wireless connectivity, they both support WiFi and Bluetooth as well.
Additionally, the laptops feature HONOR Share and multiscreen collaboration along with HONOR device clones that can transport data at speeds of up to 70Mb/s. Plus, there is a fingerprint scanner embedded in the power key on both laptops.
Honor Magicbook X14, X16 (2023) Specifications:
Display:
X14: 14-inch FHD display, 88% screen-to-body ratio
X16: 16-inch FHD display, 89% screen-to-body ratio
Resolution: FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H
Graphics: Intel UHD (Integrated)
RAM: 8/16GB DDR4
Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Ports:1x USB Type-C, 1x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 1x 2-in-1 headphone/mic,HDMI port
Battery: 60Wh battery
PowerAdapter: 65W USB-C fast charger
Honor Magicbook X14 and X16 Price in Nepal
The X14 and X16 laptops are launching in India on April 21st. The company has also revealed the price of the Honor Magicbook series laptop to start from INR 48,990 on the Amazon India site. We can expect the Honor Magicbook X14 price in Nepal to begin from NPR 89,999 when it launches here.
Meanwhile, you can watch our best laptop buying guide video.
Apple Watch Series 7 was launched back in 2021 and has now been succeeded by the Watch Series 8. In this article, we will go through the specs, features, price, and availability of the Apple Watch Series 7 in Nepal.
Apple Watch Series 7 Overview:
Body
To begin with, the new Watch Series 7 has a 70% brighter display than the one on the Watch Series 6. Also, the screen now extends to the edge of the device resulting in thinner bezels of just 1.7 mm wide. It comes in 41 and 45-mm case options and features an Always-On Retina display.
The watch now has more rounded corners and the display is more durable than last year’s as well. It uses reinforced glasses and the case is IP6X rated for dust resistance. In addition, it is WR50 certified for water resistance too.
Similarly, the aluminum body comes in Black, Gold, Blue, and Green colors. Likewise, there are varieties of strap colors to choose from—including Solo Loop like on the Watch Series 6.
Features
Furthermore, due to the larger screen real-estate, users will be able to view 50% more text on Watch Series 7’s screen. It runs on watchOS 8 which includes new cycling workouts and even has bike fall detection. Other features include more workouts modes like Pilates and Tai Chi, respiratory rate tracking while you sleep, an electrical heart sensor, and an ECG app.
The new OS also brings a redesigned interface that displays larger menu tiles in apps like Stopwatch, Activity, and Alarms. It aids in making the interaction easier, and, the watchOS 8 also comes with a full swipe-based keyboard.
Rest of the specs
The Apple Watch Series 7 packs a rechargeable battery that can go up to 18-hour on a single charge. For charging, it uses a USB Type-C port-based wireless charger that takes only 45 minutes to juice up the battery to 85%.
Apple Watch Series 7 Specifications:
Body: 44/41mm
Body: Glass front, Aluminum frame
Display: Always-on Retina OLED screen
Control: Touch, Swipe, Digital Crown with haptic feedback
Battery Life: 18 hours, 85% charge in 45 minutes
OS: Apple watchOS 8
Certification: IP6X, WR50 (50m water-resistant)
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Built-in GPS
Apple Watch Series 7 Price in Nepal and Availability
The price of the Apple Watch Series 7 in Nepal is Rs. 45,499 for the 41mm (GPS) variant. Likewise, you can get the 45mm version of the Apple Watch Series 7 for Rs. 48,499.
Apple Watch Series 7
Price in Nepal
41mm (GPS)
Rs. 45,499
45mm (GPS)
Rs. 48,499
Meanwhile, check out our review of the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Huawei has launched its newest midrange phones under the Nova 11 series in China. It consists of three models: the regular Nova 11, the Nova 11 Pro, and the high-end Nova 11 Ultra, all of which come with a striking green color scheme. Let’s get into the detailed specifics of the Huawei Nova 11 series (Nova 11, 11 Pro, 11 Ultra), along with its expected price in Nepal.
Huawei Nova 11 Series Overview:
Huawei Nova 11
First off, let’s talk about the vanilla Nova 11. It’s the least expensive model in the lineup but still has a 6.7-inch 10-bit AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is also lightweight and slim, measuring 6.8mm thick and weighing only 168 grams. And you also get a premium glass sandwich build.
But unfortunately, there’s no extra hardened-glass protection here. Although Huawei has used its in-house Kunlun glass protection on display, it’s surprisingly an optional add-on that costs an extra CNY 200 (roughly NPR 4,400).
Camera-wise, there’s an array of three sensors on the back consisting of a 50MP sensor and an 8MP ultrawide lens. On the front, there’s a single 60MP selfie camera. The phone is touted to shoot 4K@30fps videos from both the front and rear cameras.
Under the hood, it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor based on 6nm fabrication technology. Even though the 778G supports a 5G modem, the Nova 11 is limited to LTE cellular connectivity only.
Storage options include 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, although the RAM capacity hasn’t been confirmed by the brand yet. The phone comes with the latest HarmonyOS 3 operating system from Huawei. Last but not least, there’s a 4500mAh battery powering everything everywhere all at once and it charges via a 66W adapter.
Connectivity:4G, Dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
Battery: 4500mAh; 66W wired fast charging
Colors: Dawn Gold, Snowy White, Luminous Black, Color 11 Green
Huawei Nova 11 Price in Nepal
The smartphone is launched in China at a starting price of CNY 2,499. We expect the price of Huawei Nova 11 to start in Nepal at NPR 54,999 if and when it launches here.
Continuing with the Nova 11 Pro and 11 Ultra, they both feature a curved glass front and leather back. They also have a similar dimension measuring 7.8mm in thickness and 188 grams in weight.
Likewise, both smartphones are built around a large 6.78″ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz. The Ultra variant comes with Kunlun Glass protection. But if you want the same protection for the Pro variant, you’ll need to pay extra, just like with the vanilla Nova 11.
Moving on, the rear camera configuration includes a 50MP primary lens which can toggle between f/1.4 and f/4.0 aperture. Also, this is an RYYB sensor and has laser Auto Focus (AF) built-in. Accompanying it is an 8MP ultrawide camera and a “ten-channel color temperature sensor”, which helps adjust colors the main and the wide lens.
Even for selfies, you get two cameras on the front consisting of a 60MP primary and an 8MP portrait lens with 2x optical zoom. On the other hand, the performance, memory configuration, and OS of the smartphone are the same as the Nova 11. The same 4500mAh battery also fuels these smartphones, but you now get faster 100W charging support.
Although there are many similarities between the Nova 11 Pro and Ultra, the main difference is that the Ultra supports two-way satellite messaging via the Beidou constellation. This feature, of course, adds to the overall cost of the device.
Dawn Gold, Snowy White, Luminous Black, Color 11 Green
Luminous Black, Color 11 Green
Huawei Nova 11 Pro and Ultra Price in Nepal
In China, the Nova 11 Pro and 11 Ultra have a starting price of CNY 3,499 and CNY 4,999, respectively. If and when the phone launches in Nepal, we expect the prices for the Nova 11 Pro and 11 Ultra to start at NPR 76,999 and NPR 98,999, respectively.
Xiaomi has launched its latest fitness band along with Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Pad 6 Series in China. The Smart Band 8 is the latest addition to the already popular Mi Band lineup and the successor to the last year’s Band 7. So, let’s find out more about the newly launched Xiaomi Smart Band 8, along with its expected price in Nepal.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Overview:
Design and Display
At a quick glance, the Band 8 doesn’t look that different from its predecessor, or every other Mi Band for that matter. That is, it retains the same pill-shaped design. But this time, Xiaomi has also added a few new ways how you can wear and use the band.
The Smart Band 8 arrives in five different straps, all unique in their own way. What’s more interesting is that the brand also decided to go with a two-piece band, breaking away from its traditional single-strap approach.
The company mostly highlighted its capability to wear it as a pendant around the neck. The necklace-style design is an interesting addition, giving users more options to wear the band as a fashion accessory. This time, you will also be able to put the band on your shoes. Xiaomi uses pegs to achieve this. It can monitor your regular running data along with 13 other professional data such as stride frequency, ground impact force, etc.
Talking about the display, it comes with the same 1.62-inch AMOLED display as its predecessor. It now refreshes at 60Hz, and Xiaomi has added a few built-in games. Now, you can play games like Soduko and 2048 straight from the watch faces. This band comes with 5ATM water resistance that prevents water damage up to a depth of 50 meters.
Fitness / Health Tracking
Xiaomi’s latest wearable features a PPG heart rate sensor for continuous heart monitoring, SpO2 level measurement, 24/7 sleep tracking, and female health tracking – much like their previous band model. New to the Xiaomi Band 8 is the ability to track VO2 Max. Additionally, it supports 150+ workout modes, including interactive boxing mode and running beam mode.
Rest of the secs
Xiaomi Band 8 is fueled by a 190mAh battery with fast charging support. In terms of connectivity, it features Bluetooth 5.1 connection, and select models also feature NFC. For pairing, one has to use the Xiaomi Sports Health app.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Specifications:
Dimensions: 48 x 22.5 x 10.99 mm, 27g
Display: 1.62″ AMOLED panel, 600 nits
Control: Touch, swipe
Ingress Protection: 5ATM
Health tracking: 24/7 Heart-rate / SpO2, Sleep, Step, Women’s Health
Sports Mode: 150+
Battery: 190mAh
Connection: Bluetooth 5.1
Compatibility: Android 6.0 or iOS 12.0 and above
Companion App: Xiaomi Sports Health
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Price and Availability
This new Xiaomi Band 8 is currently up for sale in China at a starting price of CNY 239. We expect the price of the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 in Nepal to start at NPR 5,999 if and when it launches here.
After a long wait, Xiaomi has finally pulled the curtains off of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The device joins the lineup of already impressive handsets, including the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro, both of which offer Leica co-branded cameras and top-shelf Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipsets. So, let’s see what make Xiaomi 13 Ultra stand out from its siblings and also its expected price in Nepal.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra Overview:
Cameras
Xiaomi’s Ultra series has always placed emphasis on cameras, and the 13 Ultra is no exception. Like the 13 Pro, it boasts a 1″ main sensor and Leica tuning for its cameras. But of course, there are upgrades that justify its “Ultra” title.
First off, the 13 Ultra combines its large 1″ camera sensor with a variable aperture ranging between f/1.9 to f/4.0. This allows users to have control over the amount of light and depth of field in their photos and videos.
But, Xiaomi is not the first to offer this feature on a smartphone. Samsung introduced variable aperture on the Galaxy S9 series way back in 2018. It’s just that the feature hasn’t been democratized over the years.
Anyways, the main camera is accompanied by three 50MP Sony IMX858 sensors, each dedicated to their respective roles. Among them, one serves as an ultrawide camera with a 122-degree FOV, while another functions as a telephoto lens with a 75mm focal length, equivalent to a 2.5x zoom.
The third one is also a telephoto sensor, but with a longer focal length of 120mm, providing a 5x optical zoom capability. The cameras are all equipped with a Leica Vario-Summicron lens. Likewise, selfies and video calls are handled by a 32MP lens on the front.
Photography Prowess
Now, the photography prowess of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra goes beyond its hardware specs. As usual, Xiaomi and Leica have joined forces to bring an array of impressive features to the device.
For starters, similar to the Xiaomi 13 Pro, there are two Leica modes available—Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic. Additionally, Xiaomi has added the capability to shoot 50MP UltraRAW photos from the main camera.
Moreover, the 13 Ultra brings a new Fast Shot mode for aspiring street photographers. This mode will allow you to take focus-free snapshots by setting the focus point manually. Fast Shot will then snap a photo in just 0.8s.
The brightest screen on a smartphone
Besides exceptional camera capabilities, the 13 Ultra shines the brightest with its display. Quite literally! As a flagship phone, it comes with all the bells and whistles you can expect—including an AMOLED panel, WQHD+ resolution, and a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate. And it also supports HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision standards.
But the standout feature of this screen is its incredible brightness of 2600 nits. This makes the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s display the brightest in the world, surpassing the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 2000 nits of brightness.
According to the brand, the display is also calibrated using the new CIE 2015 colorimetry, which supports automatic color management to ensure accurate and consistent color presentation across all recently launched Xiaomi devices. Additionally, the panel supports 1920Hz PWM dimming and in-display heart rate monitoring.
Design
As for the design, like previous flagships, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra takes design inspiration from cameras. It has a large circular ring on the back which is complemented with a new second-generation faux leather layer with an antibacterial and dirt-resistant coating, as well as a special anti-yellowing coating.
The frames of the phone are made of alumnium, and it comes equipped with necessary protections like Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and an IP rating to ensure long-lasting durability. The phone is available in Black, Olive Green, and White colors.
Performance
Moving on, in charge of things inside is Qualcomm’s current best Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. With such raw inside, the brand has taken necessary measures to keep the smartphone’s temperature in check.
The 13 Ultra comes with a new in-house Loop LiquidCool technology which will not only help users play demanding games for long hours; but will also help to capture 4K videos at 60fps without any frame rate drop, says the brand. Additionally, the phone features an upgraded USB 3.2 port that can offer peak data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, which is ten times faster than the previous model.
Memory-wise, you get to choose between 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256/512GB or 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. The smartphone ships with MIUI 14, which is based on the latest version of Android.
Others
Besides this, the smartphone gets its juice from a 5000mAh battery that supports 90W fast wired charging. With this, Xiaomi claims the smartphone can go from 0-100% in just 35 minutes. Likewise, you also get support for 50W wireless charging.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra Specifications:
Body: 163.18mm x 74.64mm x 9.06mm, 227 gm; IP68 rating
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
Battery: 5000mAh (single-cell)
Charging: 90W wired, 50W wireless
Xiaomi 13 Ultra Price in Nepal and Availability
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is available for pre-order in China with a starting price of CNY 5,999 for the base 12/256GB variant. Although Xiaomi has not yet announced the global price for the 13 Ultra, the company has confirmed that it will launch in the international market in the next few months. If and when it launches in Nepal, we expect the price of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra to start at NPR 150,000.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
12/256GB
CNY 5,999
NPR 150,000
16/512GB
CNY 6,499
NPR 160,000
16GB/1TB
CNY 7,299
NPR 170,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Xiaomi 13 Pro.
The 2023 edition of Huawei MateBook D14 and D16 have just been announced with the latest 13th Generation Intel processors. Alongside these new Ultrabooks, the company also unveiled the Nova 11 series of smartphones, the Huawei Band 8 fitness tracker, and more in China. Here, we will be looking at the specs, features, and availability of Huawei MateBook D14 and D16 2023, along with their expected price in Nepal.
Huawei MateBook D14 and D16 (2023) Overview:
Design and Display
Both these laptops feature a sleek metal body design with an IPS LCD display covering a 100% sRGB color gamut. As the name indicates, you get a smaller 14-inch screen on the D14 while the D16 has a larger 16-inch display. Likewise, they carry the same 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution and a tall 16:10 aspect ratio.
These displays also have a 90% screen-to-body ratio and 300 nits of typical brightness. For security, Huawei has embedded a fingerprint reader into the power button. And while the laptop’s 1080p webcam doesn’t have a physical privacy shutter, there is a dedicated shortcut button to shut it off. You can find Huawei MateBook D14 and D16 2023 in either in 2 colors: Bright Moon Silver and Space Grey.
As mentioned earlier, these new Huawei Ultrabooks are packed with the latest 13th Generation “Raptor Lake” Intel mobile processors. The MateBook D14 can be configured with either Core i5-1340P or Core i7-1360P CPU. On the other hand, the D16 has 3 configurations: Core i5-13500H, Core i7-13700H, or Core i9-13900H.
Both of them come equipped with 8 or 16GB LPDDR4x RAM and either 512GB or 1TB of NVMe PCIe SSDs. Since there is no discrete graphics here, you’ll have to make do with the integrated Iris Xe GPU here.
Rest of the specs
Getting to the battery, Huawei MateBook D14 has a 56Wh cell while its bigger brother gets a bigger 60Wh unit. They both support 65W fast charging which can juice the laptop to 50% in about 30 minutes only. Huawei also claims a 57% increase in file download speed and wider connection thanks to their new generation WiFi antennas.
As for wireless connectivity, there’s Bluetooth 5.1 and WiFi 6 support. Whereas the I/O options include two USB-C (only one in D14), two USB-A, one HDMI, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. They also have dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support and dual microphones. These Ultrabooks have a standard backlit chiclet keyboard with a 1.5mm travel distance and a 5-point trackpad.
Huawei Matebook D14 and D16 (2023) Specifications:
Design and Build: Aluminium body
Display: 14-inch / 16-inch IPS LCD panel, 100% sRGB, 90% screen-to-body ratio, 1920 x 1200 resolution, 1200:1 contrast ratio
Keyboard: Full size, Backlit, 1.5mm travel
Processor:
D14: Intel 13th Generation (Core i5-1340P or i7-1360P)
D16: Intel 13th generation (Core i5-13500H or i7-13700H or i9-13900H)
RAM: 8/16GB LPDDR4x (non-upgradable)
Storage: 512GB or 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD (D16 doesn’t have a 512GB variant )
Ports: 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (only one on D14), 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 56Wh (D14), 60Wh (D16)
Charging: 65W fast charging
Huawei MateBook D14 and D16 2023 Price in Nepal
In China, the MateBook D14 and D16 cost CNY 5,099 (~USD 740) and CNY 5,699 (~USD 830), respectively for their base configuration. We expect the Huawei MateBook D14 and D16 2023 price in Nepal to start at NPR 116,999 and NPR 130,999 if and when they launch here.
Configuration
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
MateBook D14 (2023)
i5, 16/512GB
CNY 5,099
NPR 116,999
i7, 16/1TB
CNY 6,099
NPR 139,999
MateBook D16 (2023)
i5, 16/1TB
CNY 5,699
NPR 130,999
i7, 16/1TB
CNY 6,699
NPR 153,999
i9, 16/1TB
CNY 7,199
NPR 164,999
Meanwhile, check out our review of Intel Arc graphics here
As per a recent revision of China’s export control law, the country is looking to impose a total ban on exporting rare earth technologies needed to manufacture highly powerful magnets. Rare earth elements like neodymium (aka NdFeB or NIB) and samarium cobalt are essential to make magnets used anywhere from smartphones and TVs, to spacecraft. So if this proposed export ban on rare earth magnet technology by China actually goes through, the price of electronic gadgets, EVs, and other high-tech devices may end up skyrocketing.
China ban on rare earth magnet technology:
As of August 2022, China owned about 85% of rare earth processing and over 90% of high-strength rare earth magnet production. Since the ban includes technologies for refining and processing rare earth elements, it could pose a huge problem in the global supply of powerful rare earth magnets.
But why?
China claims this to be a “national safety” concern but it’s likely something else. Many speculate that China is strengthening its hold on its dominant markets. And they might use them later as bargaining chips against the US and Europe. After all, it’s no secret that China is trying to build itself as a self-sufficient economy by as soon as 2025.
Alternatives to China’s ban
Although the ban is a terrifying thought, there are already some strong alternatives present. According to Investor Intel, this news is nothing more than a “paper tiger”. The experts at Critical Minerals Institute (CMI) seemed to share the consensus that it would have little to no impact in the long run.
Their reasoning is that rare earth refining is already up and running in countries like Estonia, France, and Japan. Likewise, the most popular of rare earth technologies—neodymium magnets—are already in production in Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Germany, the UK, and the US. While NdFeB alloys are made in Vietnam and Thailand. These alternatives may serve to fulfill some of the demand if the ban does go through. But it’s hard to imagine them pumping out the same quantity as China.
China ban on rare earth magnet tech: Conclusion
Geo-political issues like these often have multiple facets to them so it’s hard to land on a single objective conclusion here. Though the technology is not exclusive to China, the country still holds a dominant market share. So only time will tell how the ban on rare earth magnet technology by China plays out in the global economy.
Bhoos Games has just announced its latest game—Snadder. The social game maker has taken our favorite childhood game, Snaked and Ladders and redesigned it to favor puzzle-solving skills over pure luck. So, let’s get deeper into Snadder.io, what’s is all about and how to play.
Snadder — A unique take on Snakes and Ladders
Snadder is an online game involving snakes, ladders, and dice. Like in traditional Snakes and Ladders, you start at the position ‘0’ and try to get to the destination ‘100’ by rolling the dice. And unsurprisingly, ladders take you up while snakes bring you down. What’s so unique about Snadder is that it is a puzzle-solving game. You don’t have to rely on random dice rolls to move ahead. Instead, you will have to carefully plan the moves from the pool of limited dice rolls. The objective is to reach the final destination with the least number of possible moves.
You can play access Snadder through Bhoos’s official website. The game interface is fairly simple. There is a traditional Snake and Ladders setup in the middle with the possible dice moves on the bottom. After you start the game, options for undo and reset appear just above it. Bhoos releases a new puzzle daily, and you can track your daily score by clicking on the calendar icon at the top. Placed to its right are the player’s statistics and the rule book. There are also toggles for Dark and Silent modes.
Google is planning to fuse its search engine with AI features in what’s been labeled as “Project Magi”. The company is also planning to launch a brand new AI-based search engine altogether. There’s a lot to discuss here, so let’s get right to it.
Google Search and Project Magi Overview:
It’s no secret that Google is falling behind the competition in the world of generative AI in the public eye. After all, Microsoft and Open AI beat them to the punch by releasing ChatGPT last November which exploded in popularity very quickly. Google fell behind again when Microsoft’s Bing Chat proved to be superior to Google’s late offering: Bard. No matter how powerful models they have been cooking in their labs at DeepMind, Google has been unable to launch AI products that beat the competition.
But that might change very soon.
Project Magi to the rescue
Google has essentially been enjoying a monopoly in the search business for more than 25 years now. But AI-supercharged Bing, ChatGPT is starting to change things around. More and more people are switching over to an AI-enriched search experience. And it’s not just regular folks, even big corporations have been steadily looking past Google’s solutions it seems.
According to a recent report from New York Times, South Korean tech giant Samsung is considering switching over to Bing as the default search engine in all its smartphones after the company’s contract with Google ends later this year. The news reportedly surprised Google employees and set everyone in panic mode.
On the off chance that Samsung eventually makes the switch, it will be a massive hit to Google in terms of revenue as it earns more than USD 3 billion dollars annually from the said contract. But Google has decided to fight back by powering its search engine with AI through Project Magi.
Google has implemented a two-stage plan to maintain its dominance in the market, with 160+ designers, engineers, and executives working on this project. The first is supercharging Google Search with AI features through Magi. But the second stage is even more exciting. For this, Google is planning to launch a brand-new AI-powered search engine from the ground up. But the development timelines and release dates for this have not been decided yet.
What can you expect from Project Magi?
As expected, Google Search will become much more personalized with Magi. It will be able to offer varied perspectives and suggest an answer even for complex questions. Search will also be able to anticipate the user’s needs and show results accordingly. But taking a look at Google’s other AI projects, we can guess what the other new features may be.
First is “GIFI”, an AI art generator. This might mix in AI-generated art in your search results. It’ll make it easier for the user to find matching images.
Then there is “Searchalong”, an AI-powered chatbot that makes Search more conversational and follow-up searches reliable. It’s similar to Bing Chat.
“Tivoli Tutor” can help users learn a new language. It’ll work through open-ended natural text conversations.
Though none of these AI features have been confirmed to be integrated into Google Search with Project Magi, these are the likely ones.
Google Search and Project Magi: Conclusion
Google Search is still the dominant player in the game by far, but the company needs to seriously step up its game if it wishes to maintain the status quo. Bing’s AI chatbot sure is impressive but Google also has a lot more powerful models in its arsenal. And the company might just knock it out of the park with the next Search update fusing Google’s unrivaled search algorithms with AI.
Project Magi is a step in the right direction and it might just cement Google’s position in the generative AI space once and for all. As for the billions of search users this will impact sooner or later, we might be in for a fun ride. The New York Time report suggests Google is expected to launch the new Search tools to the public next month. Possibly at the I/O 2023 event which is rumored to kick off on May 10.
As for storage, both laptops come with 8/16GB RAM along with 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage. Users can also further expand the storage up to 1TB via the dual SSD slots.![Apple Watch Series 7 Price in Nepal [Updated]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple-Watch-Series-7-Price-in-Nepal-2022.jpg "Apple Watch Series 7 Price in Nepal [Updated]")
