Weekly Tech Wrap: New Apple iMac On The Horizon, Xiaomi 14 Becomes Official, More Top Technology News

From PM Modi unveiling grand 6G visions to Meta getting sued over mental health crisis, here are the biggest tech news stories from the week that was.

Apple is expected to launch new iMacs on October 30. ( Image Source :Getty )

Apple announces a surprise Halloween event, which might see the launch of a 24-inch iMac and new MacBook Pro models. Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro, powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, are now official. The world of technology news was dominated by these headlines, and more, over the past week. Here’s a deeper look. 

Apple Announces Halloween Launch Event

Apple has officially extended invitations for its highly-anticipated "Scary Fast" event, scheduled to take place on October 30. The event is generating significant buzz, as it is widely believed to mark the debut of new iMacs and MacBooks. Apple has remained discreet about the event's specifics, keeping the complete lineup under wraps. The event is set to commence at 5 pm PT, equivalent to 5:30 am IST on October 31 for viewers in India.

In a recent newsletter by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, insights have emerged regarding Apple's plans for the event. The information suggests that Apple is preparing to unveil an updated 24-inch iMac. Additionally, there are strong indications of the introduction of two new MacBook Pro models. Gurman's report also alludes to the impending release of a larger Pro version of the iMac, expected to arrive in late 2024 or 2025. However, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously hinted at the unveiling of the 24-inch iMac in the coming year.

Zuck Strings Praises For Threads

Meta, the parent corporation overseeing the Facebook platform, shared promising advancements in its foray into the realm of social media. CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled noteworthy achievements during the company's quarterly earnings call, held this Wednesday. The focal point of Meta's recent strides is its novel social media venture, Threads, which has achieved a commendable milestone. Threads, introduced to the public in early July, serves as a direct contender to Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter). In just a short span of three months, Threads has successfully attracted nearly 100 million monthly users.

Zuckerberg expressed his contentment with the platform's rapid growth trajectory, echoing sentiments he previously conveyed in an interview with The Verge. He underscored Meta's commitment to the continued expansion of the Threads community, citing the positive reception it has received thus far.

In addition to these developments, the Meta CEO delved into the burgeoning progress of Click-to-Message advertisements within the Indian market. He disclosed that the revenue generated from these ads has doubled on a year-over-year basis, highlighting the substantial potential of business messaging for Meta. Zuckerberg further noted that more than 60 per cent of WhatsApp users in India engage with business app accounts on a weekly basis. While precise figures regarding revenue and user statistics were not disclosed, it's imperative to recognise India as a pivotal market for the company, boasting over 500 million WhatsApp users.

Xiaomi 14 Series Now Official

Xiaomi's latest flagship series, the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro, made their debut in China at a recent launch event. These new smartphones mark a significant technological advancement, featuring Qualcomm's cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and Xiaomi's freshly developed HyperOS, which replaces the longstanding MIUI that has been in use for over a decade. Among their notable features are LTPO OLED displays with a sharp 2K resolution and an impressive Dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. Both models also boast a triple rear camera setup fine-tuned by Leica and come with IP68 water and dust resistance. Moreover, they offer substantial memory and storage options, with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of onboard storage.

Starting with the Xiaomi 14, the base configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage comes at a price of CNY 3,999 (approximately Rs 45,500). Additional variants are available, offering 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage for CNY 4,299 (roughly Rs 48,900), 16GB of RAM with 512GB of storage for CNY 4,599 (roughly Rs 52,300), and a top-tier model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs 56,900).

Turning to the Xiaomi 14 Pro, the 12GB/256GB variant is priced at CNY 4,999 (approximately Rs 56,500). There are higher-tier configurations as well, with the 16GB/512GB model at CNY 5,499 (approximately Rs 62,000), the 16GB/1TB version at CNY 5,999 (approximately Rs 68,200), and a premium 16GB/1TB option at CNY 6,499 (approximately Rs 74,000).

As of now, there is no official information available regarding the release of the Xiaomi 14 series in the Indian market

Meta, Instagram Sued Over Mental Health Crisis

Meta and Instagram, the social media juggernauts, find themselves entangled in a legal battle as multiple US states mount accusations against them, alleging a detrimental impact on youth mental health due to their highly addictive nature. This development was reported by various media outlets.

In a lawsuit recently filed in a federal court located in Oakland, California, 33 states, among them California and Illinois, contend that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has consistently misled the public regarding the significant hazards posed by its platforms. The legal action goes on to assert that Meta deliberately lured young children and teenagers into compulsive usage of their social media offerings, as per information from the Reuters news agency.

The potential financial ramifications for Meta are significant, with civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 per violation. Given the vast number of youthful users on their platforms, this could quickly accumulate into substantial sums. The lawsuit aims to secure various remedies, including substantial civil penalties.

Meta, in response, has defended its actions by claiming it made efforts to enhance the safety of young users in the online environment.

PM Modi Lauds India's 6G Vision

Commencing the seventh iteration of the India Mobile Congress (IMC), the nation's leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has officially unveiled India's significant strides in the realm of 6G technology. The event took place at the prestigious Bharat Mandapam convention center, located within Delhi's Pragati Maidan, a site that recently hosted the G20 Summit and now stands as a beacon of innovation and technological progress.

In a pivotal address, Prime Minister Modi shed light on India's notable progress in mobile broadband speed, propelling the country from the 118th global rank to an impressive 43rd position. Additionally, he commended India's exceptional achievement in rapidly implementing 5G mobile telephony, boasting an impressive network of 400,000 5G base stations deployed within just one year of its rollout.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized the profound impact of these ongoing technological advancements on the present and future of the nation. Speaking to the audience amidst the backdrop of the ever-evolving 21st-century landscape, he underscored the immense potential for these innovations to positively impact the lives of millions.

That’s it from the world of tech headlines this week. Stay tuned to this space for more top stories next week.

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