Top Tech News Today: Some Apple Watches Won't Be Sold In The US, New Telecom Bill To Allocate Satellite Internet Spectrum Without Auction, More

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, being the new models on the company's website, are affected, while the older Apple Watch SE model, not covered by the ruling, will remain available.

Apple Watches sold prior to the ban will not be impacted by the US ban.

Source : ABP Live

Sales Of Some Apple Watches To Be Stopped In The US 

Apple is set to stop sales of its smartwatches soon to comply with a US import ban. This ban, ordered by a federal trade agency, was issued after finding that the company infringed on patents owned by a competitor, says a report by The Wall Street Journal. Starting December 21, the tech giant will temporarily halt online sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the US. In-store sales in the US will cease after December 24. This move removes a popular Christmas gift from the market just days before the popular holiday season. The Series 9 and Ultra 2, being the new models on the company's website, are affected, while the older Apple Watch SE model, not covered by the ruling, will remain available. Apple Watches sold prior to the ban will not be impacted.

New Telecom Bill To Allocate Satellite Internet Spectrum Without Auction

India has proposed adopting a licensing approach for allocating spectrum for satellite Internet services, eliminating the requirement for companies, including Elon Musk-owned Starlink, to participate in bidding -- a win for Starlink, which has actively campaigned against auction-based methods. The suggestion is part of the Telecommunications Bill 2023, which intends to replace the archaic Indian Telegraph Act. Once introduced, the new Bill is poised to reshape the regulatory landscape governing the telecommunications sector in India.

Google Maps In India To Get Fuel-Efficient Routing

With most drivers in the country concerned about fuel economy, Google India on Tuesday introduced its fuel-efficient routing feature for Google Maps. Since its launch in several countries between October 2021-September 2023, the feature is estimated to have prevented more than 2.4 million metric tons of CO2e emissions globally -- equivalent to removing approximately 500,000 fuel-based cars from the road for a year. Starting January next year, Google Maps users in India will be able access fuel-efficient routing feature for both four-wheelers and two-wheelers, which will provide more sustainable travel options. India and Indonesia will be the first countries for which the fuel-efficient routing feature will also support two-wheelers.

OnePlus 12R To Launch Alongside OnePlus 12

OnePlus has officially announced the global and India launch of its upcoming flagship, the OnePlus 12, on January 23. Additionally, the handset maker has confirmed the release of the OnePlus 12R, alongside, and it will succeed the OnePlus 11R. As seen in the teaser image, the OnePlus 12R is likely to bring notable enhancements, as compared to its predecessors. According to leaks, the device will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Additionally, the smartphone is expected to showcase a substantial design upgrade, and possibly incorporate a curved display and a glass sandwich design complemented by a metallic mid-frame.

Xiaomi To Introduce HyperOS For More Devices Next Year

Earlier in October, handset maker Xiaomi unveiled plans to replace its proprietary MIUI OS with new HyperOS and discontinue the older OS skin. The new HyperOS UI debuted with the Xiaomi 14 lineup and the company intends to expand the HyperOS developer version to several Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models in China. The global rollout of the HyperOS developer version has now been confirmed for select Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models.