Science and technology

NEW DELHI: South Korean tech LG recently announced its exit from the smartphone business. The company confirmed that it will completely shut down the business by July this year. However, despite exiting the business, LG confirmed that it will continue to offer software updates for some of its devices. The company has now revealed the list of LG smartphones that will receive Android 12 and Android 13 . Along with this, the company has also listed the roadmap for Android 11 update. The list of LG smartphones which will receive Android 12 and Android 13 updates include LG Wing , LG Velvet , LG V50S, LG V50, LG G8, LG Q31, LG Q52 and LG Q92. On the other hand, the company confirmed that LG Velvet will get Android 11 update this month, while LG G8X will get the update in Q3 2021. The LG G8S, LG Wing, LG K52 and LG K42 will receive Android 11 update by Q4 2021. As mentioned above, LG will completely shut down its mobile business and will exit the … [Read more...] about These LG smartphones will get the next two big Android updates

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are recommending a pause in administration of the Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. after six people developed a rare and severe type of blood clot within two weeks of vaccination. More than 6.8 million people have been given the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine in the U.S. so far, according to the CDC . "Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare," Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the C.D.C., said in a statement . "We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution." Related: Quick guide: COVID-19 vaccines in use and how they work On Wednesday, the CDC will convene a meeting with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to review these cases, according to the statement. … [Read more...] about US may pause J&J coronavirus vaccines due to rare cases of blood clots

Google has worked for years to position itself as a responsible steward of AI. Its research lab hires respected academics, publishes groundbreaking papers, and steers the agenda at the field’s biggest conferences. But now its reputation has been badly, perhaps irreversibly damaged, just as the company is struggling to put a politically palatable face on its empire of data. The company’s decision to fire Timnit Gebru and Margaret Mitchell — two of its top AI ethics researchers, who happened to be examining the downsides of technology integral to Google’s search products — has triggered waves of protest. Academics have registered their discontent in various ways. Two backed out of a Google research workshop, a third turned down a $60,000 grant from the company, and a fourth pledged not to accept its funding in the future. Two engineers quit the company in protest of Gebru’s treatment and just last week, one of Google’s top AI employees, a research manager named Samy Bengio who … [Read more...] about Google is poisoning its reputation with AI researchers

By Dennis Normile Apr. 13, 2021 , 10:25 AM Japan announced today it will release 1.25 million tons of treated wastewater contaminated by the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. The government said it is the best way to deal with tritium and trace amounts of other radionuclides in the water. "Releasing the treated water into the sea is a realistic solution," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a Cabinet meeting endorsing the plan. “We will do our utmost to keep the water far above safety standards.” A Japanese government official later clarified that details of the release need to be worked out and approved. Gradual, trial releases could start in 2 years and might take 40 years to complete. Industry groups and nuclear scientists say other nuclear plants have disposed of wastewater this way with minimal impacts. But environmental groups, fisheries organizations, and neighboring countries immediately condemned the decision, citing the vast amounts … [Read more...] about Japan plans to release Fukushima’s contaminated water into the ocean

Acer has launched a new pair of true wireless earphones called the Gateway GAHR012. The wireless earbuds feature a stick form factor and come with touch control features. The Acer Gateway GAHR012 earbuds were launched with a price tag of Rs 3,499. But they are listed at a discounted price of Rs 2,999 on leading e-commerce websites. We have been using the earbuds for some time and here’s the review Acer Gateway GAHR012: Design The Acer Gateway GAHR012 earbuds feature an in-ear form factor with a stem design. It comes in a white case with a gloss finish. It's not too shiny that makes it look cheap. The glossiness is perfect to the amount that it does not look dull either. There are no other colour options for the Acer earbuds and it only comes in White colour. The case is slightly small which is a good thing. This means it can be slipped into your jeans pocket easily. It is also lightweight and easy to carry. The case has four LED indicators to reveal battery levels. There … [Read more...] about Acer Gateway GAHR012 review: Good design, average sound