Monday, November 25
Netflix is increasing prices for its Basic and Premium plans in the US, UK, and France. The Basic plan will now cost $11.99 per month, while the Premium plan will cost $22.99 per month. However, the prices for two tiers -- the ad-supported plan and the Standard tier will remain unchanged.
Google has announced DigiKavach, a solution aimed at protecting Indian users from scams, malware, and online fraud. The initiative will involve collaboration with industry partners and experts to combat online financial fraud. Google Pay has also prevented scams worth Rs 12,000 crore in the past year. The company aims to develop countermeasures to new emerging scams by studying how scammers operate.
Lotus Electronics, a retail chain, has announced Navratri Festival Deals on electronics, including up to 85% off on smartwatches and 70% off on audio devices and TVs. They are also offering 50% off on air conditioners and laptops, and 40% off on smartphones.
Google has announced that it will manufacture its Pixel series of smartphones in India. The announcement was made by Rick Osterloh, Google's Senior Vice President for Devices and Services, at the company's annual Google for India event. The move highlights India as a priority market for Pixel smartphones. Google will partner with international contract manufacturers to produce the phones in India. This follows a trend of international device makers establishing manufacturing facilities in India.
Nokia is reportedly planning to cut up to 14,000 jobs due to reduced investment in 5G infrastructure by US and European operators. The company has confirmed the job cuts but has not disclosed the exact number. The layoffs are expected to save up to €400 million ($421 million) next year and an additional €300 million in 2025.
HP has introduced refurbished laptops in India as part of its refurbishment program. The program allows businesses to access the latest technology for 6, 12, or 24 months. HP's certified partner will source devices from enterprise and retail consumers, refurbish them, and sell them with comprehensive post-sales support.
Elon Musk is reportedly considering removing his social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, from Europe due to frustration with complying with the Digital Services Act. The Act requires platforms to have effective moderation systems in place. Musk is said to be considering blocking users in the European Union from accessing the app, similar to how Meta is blocking users from using its app Threads.
OnePlus is launching its first foldable smartphone, OnePlus Open, in India today. The event will be held in Mumbai and live-streamed on the company's YouTube channel. The device is rumored to have a triple rear camera setup with a periscope lens, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a punch-hole camera display. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and run on Android 13 with OxygenOS Fold interface. The price is expected to be around $1,699, making it a more affordable option than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Google is currently facing a trial with the US government and 38 US states over claims that it locks in a data advantage through exclusive contracts and payments to be the default search engine on smartphones and PC browsers. Google's defense has been centered around its innovation and the quality of its search products. I
Google has laid off around 40 employees from its Google News division. This is the third time the company has announced job cuts in 2023, with thousands of people being let go previously. Other tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Intel have also been cutting jobs this year. Even startups and unicorn startups have been affected by layoffs. The tech industry continues to see a wave of job cuts in 2023.
