Will Democrats meet their two week deadline to pass the stimulus bill, and if so, what does that mean about when the IRS could send your next payment? Here's what could throw a wrench in the schedule.
There's a slim chance anyone has managed to avoid video or voice calling services that rely on internet connections by this stage, thanks in no small part to the global pandemic.
There's an even slimmer chance that these calls have been entirely free from dropouts, glitches, latency and other disruptive artefacts, but the latest advancement from Google's AI division should help out on this front.
As published in the Google AI Blog, a new audio codec dubbed Lyra has been developed by the team, aimed specifically at compressing speech into a lower bitrate.
At merely 3kbps (that's kilobits per second), Lyra uses significantly lower data than the most widely used codec at present – the open-source Opus, which "obtains transparent speech quality, indistinguishable from the original" at 32kbps but can be operated at lower rates.
In fact, in Google's studies, it was found that the Opus codec operating at 8kbps was less preferable than Lyra at 3kbps, representing a 60% reduction in bandwidth.
In the blog post, Google AI announced that it's "currently rolling out Lyra [in Google Duo] to improve audio call quality and reliability on very low bandwidth connections".
So, if you're a Google Duo user on either Android or iOS, and you suffer from poor or inconsistent internet connections, you could soon see a significant improvement to call quality and stability.
There's no specific mention of when the codec will be widely available, but it's likely that it will be a behind-the-scenes update, so it may not arrive with much fanfare when it does land.
Lyra's advancements are brought about by Google AI's combination of existing codec technology and "advances in machine learning with models trained on thousands of hours of data". This data includes speakers in over 70 languages, available freely in open source libraries, to ensure that it's universally applicable.
The blog itself dives much deeper into the details of how this machine learning has enabled the new technology, as well as using audio snippets to demonstrate the difference between the original audio, Lyra, and other codecs at various bitrates.
The team plans to continue optimizing Lyra, improving its quality and reliability in the hope that it will be adopted outside of the Google Duo app. This will likely mean that other VOIP and video conferencing apps and services will benefit from the codec in the future.
What's more, the post also states that the team is "also beginning to research how these technologies can lead to a low-bitrate general-purpose audio codec", which could mean that non-speech use cases such as music and other audio could see the same improvements.
Despite being a film from 2017, the upcoming 'Snyder Cut' of Justice League is set to be one the biggest movie events of 2021, thanks largely to the reduced number of blockbuster films set to release this year.
Following Snyder's exit from production for personal reasons, the theatrical cut of Justice League was completed by director Joss Whedon (The Avengers), who reportedly scrapped much of Snyder's original vision for the film.
The final product was not only a huge disappointment for fans of the existing DCU 'Snyderverse', the superhero team-up film also underperformed at the box office, bringing in just US$658 million at the box office – significantly less than what the standalone Wonder Woman film made just a few months earlier.
Now, thanks to the enormous support of fans online, Snyder is finally getting the chance to deliver his 4-hour original vision of the film, with Warner Bros. ponying up big money so that the director can complete the film's visual effects (and even film some new material involving Jared Leto's Joker).
In the US, the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League is part of a big push for HBO Max, and is expected to be a huge hit for the new streaming service.
Of course, we don't have HBO Max in Australia, which is why the film is coming to Binge – Australia's streaming home for HBO content. The film will arrive on the service direct from the US on March 18, streaming from 6PM AEDT.
While Zack Snyder's Justice League will stream in 4K Ultra HD on HBO Max, we have received confirmation from Binge that the film will only stream at a maximum resolution of 1080p in Australia, as the service's capacity to stream in 4K is not available at this time. Disappointing, sure, but hopefully the film's dark and moody visuals will come through clearly at FHD.
Here's how to watch Zack Snyder's Justice League online in Australia.
Zack Snyder's Justice League: how to watch the film online in Australia
Folks Down Under will be able to stream Zack Snyder's Justice League from 6pm AEDT on Thursday, March 18 on Australia's home for HBO content, the streaming service Binge
Pricing starts at just AUD$10 a month, but you can check out a FREE Binge trial first to see if it's right for you, essentially making Zack Snyder's Justice League free to watch as part of your subscription – no extra rental or purchase fees necessary.
If you're currently out of the country but want to catch Zack Snyder's Justice League via your Binge or Foxtel Now subscriptions, you'll need to get yourself a VPN to connect.
The iPhone 13 is rumored to look a lot like its predecessor, but Apple might finally be ditching the unsightly notch cutout in its smartphones – just not until the iPhone 14 in 2022, according to a new report. And perhaps a year later, the company may finally release its much-rumored iPhone Flip foldable in 2023.
These and other iPhone predictions come courtesy of noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who presented a new report for supply chain investors, according to 9to5Mac. What will replace the notch on the iPhone 14 lineup? A punch-hole, though it isn’t clear what Apple will do with the suite of sensors – a dot projector, infrared camera, and flood illuminator – that occupy newer iPhone notches to make Face ID work and add depth to selfies.
It’s possible that only the higher-end iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max get this upgrade, Kuo hedged, leaving the iPhone 14 and/or 14 mini with a notch.
Phone 13 could come with 1TB of storage, according to new report
iPhone 13 release date, price, news, leaks and what we know about the new iPhone
Kuo also suggests Apple could launch a 7.5- or 8-inch model of the iPhone Flip foldable, or whatever it ends up being called, by 2023, per 9to5Mac. But he didn’t have any other details about Apple’s version of a foldable phone to share.
Apple will make its whole lineup 5G by 2022, Kuo predicts
Below the presumed 'flagship' level of iPhone 14 models (mini/standard/pro/pro max) are the more affordable and lower-featured models of iPhones, but Kuo predicts these will get 5G versions by 2022 as well.
First is a 5G-capable replacement for the iPhone 11, should Apple end up replacing that model (which first came out in 2019), though it will still be a 6-inch display model with Face ID...and 5G connectivity . Given its place between flagship and affordability, this suggests Apple wants to keep a model in this slot around the $599 / £599 / AU$999 price point, which is where the iPhone 11 currently resides.
Kuo also anticipates that Apple will release an update of last year's iPhone SE in the first half of 2022 that’s 5G-capable, finally bringing connectivity to the low end of the iPhone lineup. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, the new mid-range iPhone is expected to retain the iPhone 8-like design and 4.7-inch display, meaning only a new chipset and connectivity may be added.
In summary, Kuo’s predictions outline a focus from Apple on just getting 5G across its iPhone portfolio in the next 2-3 years – with any advancements coming solely to the top of the lineup and, once again, years after they’ve debuted on Android flagships.
Keeping up with the latest news from your favorite websites such as TechRadar could be about to get a lot easier for Google Chrome users as Google is reportedly testing out a new Follow button.
The news outlet Chrome Story first spotted the new button in a recently released build of Chrome Canary which allows developers to test out the latest features coming to the search giant's browser.
Currently you can already follow specific topics using the Google app's 'Discover' feed that also appears when you open a new tab in Chrome for Android. In the Discover feed, you can add topics you're interested in following or exclude ones that don't interest you. For instance, if you're interested in learning more about cloud computing, you can follow the topic and Google will show you news stories related to it.
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Google also recently added the option to share and like content on its Discover feed which is why adding a Follow button makes a great deal of sense.
Return of Google Reader
While Chrome Story believes the new Follow button will be integrated with Google's Discover feed, others have speculated that the company could be building a replacement for Google Reader.
For those unfamiliar, Google Reader was an RSS feed aggregator operated by the search giant that was discontinued back in 2013 to the dismay of many users.
Before social media apps and services existed, many WordPress blogs featured RSS buttons that allowed users to follow a site for new updates without having to check back manually each time. Although RSS still exists, Google's decision to discontinue Google Reader and the rise of social media have made it a less popular way for people to get their news.
We'll have to wait for a formal announcement from Google on whether or not the company will add a Follow button to Chrome but until then, you can always download Chrome Canary to test out new features coming to Chrome before their added to stable builds of the browser.
With so many shows and movies to choose from on Australia's major streaming services, it can often be difficult to find the best new stuff to entertain yourself with each week.
In an effort to make things easier, every Monday we'll be highlighting the best new shows and movies to watch on Aussie streaming platforms, covering the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Binge, Foxtel Now, Stan and Amazon Prime Video.
Below, you'll find a list of this week's highlights, separated by streaming service, with binge-worthy new shows sitting alongside some great big-budget new movie arrivals – and a couple of oddball left-of-field entries, just for some variety.
Thankfully, there's a nice selection of new shows and great movies landing on Australia's streaming services for watching Monday through Sunday. Here are our streaming picks for the week of March 1-7, 2021.
Disney Plus
WandaVision (TV series – series finale available 5/3/2021)
After all these years, last week's episode of WandaVision saw Wanda finally receive the title of Scarlet Witch from her new nemesis. Now, it's time to see what Wanda will do to get herself out of her current predicament. One thing's likely: we imagine this week's finale will have big consequences for the future of the MCU.
A sequel over thirty years in the making, Eddie Murphy's beloved comedy classic Coming to America is getting an official follow-up in the ingeniously titled Coming 2 America. Now King of Zamunda, Akeem (Murphy) discovers he has an estranged son in America and must go back to Queens, New York in order to find him. Of course, his trusted confidante, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), will also be along for the ride, much to his chagrin. Expect all your favourite characters from the original film to return, including the Barbershop guys and even Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate!
Directed by the funny and talented Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), the new Netflix Original comedy Moxie sees a shy 16-year old girl anonymously publish a zine as a way to stick it to the sexist, toxic guys at her high school. The zine immediately picks up traction with her classmates, starting a school-wide revolution of sorts.
The Walking Dead (TV Series – Season 10C returns 1/3/2021)
After an extended break, The Walking Dead's 10th season returns today with the first of six new episodes. Picking up after the fall of Alpha (Samantha Morton) and the end of the Whisperers War, we find the survivors trying to put the pieces back together and rebuild.
Manhunt: Deadly Games(TV Series – season premieres 5/3/2021)
The latest season of Manhunt is once again inspired by true events, this time the story of Richard Jewell (Cameron Britton), a security officer who partly foils a bombing and then is immediately hung out to dry by the media who sell the narrative of a man who orchestrated the whole thing to pretend to be a hero.
Broadband users across the country can be broadly divided into three parts. One that has access to blazing-fast internet connections with almost 100% uptime and thanks to the competition, these fibre broadband connections are affordable as well. The second category is of the users who are stuck at a place with poor infrastructure or are of low interest to the service providers, hence these users may have broadband access but at abysmal speeds and exorbitant costs.
Then comes the category where there is no connectivity. Forget broadband, even being able to connect to the internet using your phone is a luxury.
A satellite-based internet system may not be of huge interest to the first category apart from the users who are facing troubled connectivity and for the rest, this can be life-changing. Starlink is one such company that plans to bring fast internet connectivity regardless of their physical locations.
With the help of over 12000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Elon Musk’s Starlink will beam high speed, low latency internet across the globe. These satellites are being deployed in Earth’s orbit in a phased manner and will form an array around the Earth to relay internet connectivity from the ground-based stations.
These satellites will be interconnected with the help of lasers to offer seamless coverage across the globe.
Is Starlink feasible in India?
Starlink or any other satellite internet service can be of major help in a country like India. It can offer high-speed wireless connection in congested metro cities and tough terrains where installing wired connectivity is still a challenge.
From villages in the desert of Rajasthan to the hilly Himachal, forests in central India or the coastal regions, high-speed internet will not only help people to connect easily but can be a gamechanger when it comes to education, farming, transport, local commerce etc and can boost the economy.
Apart from metros and some tier 2 cities, a wired broadband connection is scarce. The high cost of setting up and maintaining infrastructure turns out to be the biggest roadblock for ISPs, hence an internet connection that doesn’t cost much is easy to set up and can offer seamless connectivity is a godsend in a country like India.
Additionally, offering connectivity in remote locations of the country will be in line with the federal government's “Digital India” dreams. Though, the government prefers local manufacturing and promotes local businesses under Vocal for Local, however, letting Elon Musk’s ambitious project connect rural India to the world could be a massive step in the direction to support innovation.
Starlink, like Tesla, has plans to offer its services in India. SpaceX has already written to the Indian government to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for facilitating approvals to use satellite technology for internet access in remote areas.
(Image credit: Future)
How can I sign-up for Starlink internet in India?
As of now Starlink is offering public beta connections and has over 10,000 users enrolled in the service across various countries like the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, and Australia etc.
Anyone can apply for a Starlink connection in India. Since it’s a beta phase, the connection is being rolled out in a phased manner. Its official website states that the service “is available to a limited number of users per coverage area at this time. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.”
You can enter your street address to check the availability. This availability date may depend on the area that you live in. In most cases that we’ve come across (including ours), the website mentions limited availability and probably 2022 is when you can expect the services in the country.
What is the cost of a Starlink subscription in India?
Starlink does not have any tie-ups with local payment services in India. Hence all the payments you make will be in US dollars. The payments can be made using a credit card, debit card as well as Apple Pay. The subscriptions charges are as below:
Upfront deposit - $99. This will be deducted from the monthly subscription fee once the connection is activated. This is a refundable deposit that will be refunded, in case, Starlink isn’t able to provide services in your area.
Monthly subscription fee - $99. This includes unlimited data access
Hardware cost - $499 + shipping. The Starlink kit includes an antenna similar to DTH antennas installed all around us, a router, a power supply, and a mount.
This Starlink kit is sent across when the company is able to offer connectivity services in your area. Apart from shipping, customs charges could be additional.
What kind of speed can I expect from Starlink in India?
The speeds offered by Starlink may vary initially depending on the satellite coverage. The website itself warns you to be ready for occasional no connectivity periods as well. Though this is subject to improve as SpaceX deploys more satellites into orbit.
As of now, users who’re a part of the beta test are reportedly getting download speeds of 100 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of 20 Mbps with latency is at or below 31 milliseconds.
While the current speeds may not be extremely impressive as in most cases wired broadband can offer way faster services, however, Starlink is currently offering internet with the help of one-twelfth of the planned satellites. Once fully deployed, according to the company’s claims, Starlink can offer up to 10Gbps download speeds.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I apply for a Starlink subscription?
Since the service is already in its beta testing phase, it may soon go live for a wider audience. However, in India it may go live sometime next year, subject to regulatory approvals. That being said, you still can sign up for the beta program.
However, keep in mind the below points before paying the upfront fees:
No specific date mentioned for the services to go live
Currently, the speeds are limited. You may get faster internet speeds already on fiber in your area or may get it before Starlink goes live
The subscription charges are $99 per month that translates to Rs. 7000 approximately every month and compared to other ISPs in India, this is the costliest service at the moment.
It is ideal for places with no connectivity.
There could be periods of total blackout as mentioned above
It may not have any local support centre, at least initially
Its services are impacted by bad weather just like your DTH connection
Are there any Starlink competitors in India?
The idea of space on the internet is not new and Starlink is not the only company in its segment. India has Bharti-backed OneWeb with similar plans. It will launch over 640 satellites across 21 launches to offer satellite internet services across the globe. Like Starlink, even OneWeb is expected to start offering services in India in 2022.
Even Amazon’s Project Kuiper is one such service that could beam the internet directly from space and may use over 3,236 satellites. Project Kuiper is also expected to go live next year.
Also, worth mentioning is Google’s Project Loon, which was recently shut down but was working on similar principles. Though rather than using satellites, Google deployed balloons in the stratosphere to deliver wireless internet in remote areas of the world. This project was shut down recently because Google felt that it was not commercially viable. Even Facebook’s Aquila solar-powered internet plane that wanted to beam internet via laser was found impractical and was closed down prematurely.
Having said that, the space internet industry is hotting up. Apart from these multinational corporations, there are smaller companies that are planning to launch similar services, however, for a specific geo-location like a country-specific. We’re yet to hear any such announcements for India.
Aside, State-run BSNL in collaboration with Skylo is also looking to set up the world’s first satellite-based IoT network. This is aimed at offering connectivity to billions of sensors and machines in maritime, agriculture, railway, logistics, and the ones that help in disaster management. Though this may not offer satellite internet commercially, however, works on similar principles.
Oppo F19 Pro+ and Oppo F19 Pro will launch in India soon, a dedicated Amazon page reveals. The Oppo F19 series was first in the news back in December of 2018 but only now has been confirmed to launch in the country.
