Microsoft Bing chatbot now produces more answers with less disengagement

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Microsoft Bing chatbot now produces more answers with less disengagement
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Microsoft is rolling out an update to its ChatGPT-powered Bing chatbot that creates fewer refusals and reduces disengagement.

Microsoft Bing is currently operating on GPT-4, which is the most powerful language model developed by OpenAI. However, the chatbot sometimes refuses to answer specific questions, which frustrates users. The latest Microsoft update, known as Bing Chat v98, wants to address the issue.

According to Mikhail Parakhin, Microsoft’s head of Advertising and Web Services, the Bing Chat v98 update will take effect in two stages. The first stage reduces the number of cases when Bing refuses to provide an answer for a query, like writing a code. The second stage would also reduce disengagement.

Microsoft Bing chatbot now has fewer refusals and reduced disengagement

AI chatbots sometimes refuse to help because they might identify the question as sensitive. There are numerous cases of racist, biased, or sexual answers by these chatbots. The Bing Chat v98 aims to reduce these refusals while ensuring that answers are not problematic.

The Microsoft Bing chatbot also aims to engage more with users. The disengagement instances are yet to be discovered, but they might refer to when the Bing chatbot thinks a chat or task is completed while it’s still open.

Mikhail Parakhin also alluded to the Bing Image Creator, which allows users to create artwork using AI. In response to a user who called the feature “very very restrictive.” Parakhin said the feature is “rapidly improving,” and it’s now much better than in its early days. AI image creators have become controversial for copyright infringements and copying other artists’ work.

Additionally, Microsoft’s head of Advertising and Web Services addressed the false answers sometimes produced by Bing Chat Creative Mode, saying, “We are trying to have faster responses: have two pathways in the model, run the fast one, check if the answer is good, if not – run the slower pathway. In this case, it decided incorrectly that the additional wait is unwarranted.” He also promised a fix is on the way.


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Alcasec Hacker, aka “Robin Hood of Spanish Hackers,” Arrested

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Alcasec Hacker, aka “Robin Hood of Spanish Hackers,” Arrested
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Alcasec whose real name is Jose Luis Huertas (19) is accused of allegedly claiming to steal the taxation details of 90% of the Spanish population and boasting about it in a podcast.

The most wanted Spanish hacker “Alcasec,” also known as the “Robin Hood of Spanish Hackers,” has been arrested in Madrid, Spain. The 19-year-old hacker, Jose Luis Huertas, was apprehended by Spanish police for allegedly hacking and stealing the sensitive data of millions of taxpayers from the national revenue service.

Huertas, who went by the aliases Alcasec and Mango, was booked by the police for stealing sensitive data of over 575,000 taxpayers. Spanish law enforcement authorities classified him as one of the country’s most notorious hackers believed to have expertise in money laundering and cyber assets. Authorities have kept him in custody as the judge declared him a flight risk.

Spanish intelligence agencies identified Huertas by tracking the cryptocurrency wallets he used to make payments for servers that stored the stolen data. Investigators discovered more than $543,000 worth of crypto in the wallet he allegedly controlled.

In addition, according to local Spanis media, authorities found a considerable amount in cash, which hinted that he was involved in money laundering.

Watch as Spanish authorities arrest Alcasec.

Huertas is accused of allegedly claiming to steal the taxation details of 90% of the Spanish population and boasting about it in a podcast. Reportedly, he invaded a centralized file transfer system that connected the executive branch tax agencies with the judiciary, leading to a cyberattack.

During the attack, he stole sensitive data of taxpayers, including salary amounts, financial account numbers, telephone numbers, credit card numbers, addresses, online shopping histories, and geolocation. The incident occurred in October 2022.

He also allegedly developed a search engine called Udyat, where he stored the data stolen from numerous cyberattacks, offering it for sale on Dark Web forums and earning millions of euros.

Jose Luis Huertas started hacking in 2019 when he was 15 and got noticed after hacking HBO and creating over 150,000 free accounts distributed on Instagram. One of his earliest scams was giving free Burger King orders and forwarding driver’s licenses on behalf of the General Directorate of Traffic.

Gradually, he started targeting sensitive national websites, including the General Council of the Judiciary database, the Telecinco channel, municipal sites, the Tax Agency, and the National Police, from which he collected the personal details of over 50,000 Spanish police officers.

During the Telecinco television station hacking, he reportedly robbed its CEO of €300,000. Moreover, he was a member of a gang that hacked the Granada and Madrid city administrations and stole €53,000, which was converted into cryptocurrency.

Watch the podcast in which Alcase boasted about his attacks:

This arrest will have significant positive implications for Spain, as Huertas won’t be able to conduct new hacks. It also serves as a warning message to other hackers that authorities will eventually find and punish them.

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  5. Kelihos Botnet Killed as Russian Hacker Arrested in Spain

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Apple Enforces Exclusivity, Bans 22 Rival Brands Near First Retail Store in India

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Apple Enforces Exclusivity, Bans 22 Rival Brands Near First Retail Store in India
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Retail Apple Store India First Image

Apple is all set to open its first-ever retail store in India later this month. Ahead of the opening, a new report from The Economic Times has revealed that Apple has demanded 22 rival brands to stay away from the Jio Drive Mall, the place where it is opening its first exclusive store in India.

According to the report, Apple has signed an agreement with the mall owner to not allow any of the brands listed as “Competing Brands” to display, sell, or even advertise their products or services within the boundaries of the shopping center’s exclusivity zone.

The list of 22 companies that cannot operate in the “exclusive zone” near Jio Drive Mall, India, includes Amazon, Bose, Dell, Devialet, Facebook, Foxconn, Garmin, Google, Hitachi, HP, HTC, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft, Nest, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, and Twitter. Surprisingly, Samsung, which is regarded as one of Apple’s main competitors in the market, has not made it to the list. 

According to the reports, Apple has signed an 11-year lease agreement. As part of the agreement, the company will ensure a minimum monthly payment of Rs. 42 lakhs (~$51,300) and a 2% revenue share contribution for the first 36 months, which will increase to 2.5% thereafter. The rent will rise by 15% every three years. The store is said to be around 21,000 square feet in size, making it one of the largest Apple stores in the world.

India is emerging as a crucial market for Apple, with the country projected to be a significant contributor to the company’s revenue in the near future. To strengthen its presence in the country, Apple has set up several assembling plants, with more in the pipeline. In a sign of the company’s commitment to the Indian market, reports suggest that Apple CEO Tim Cook will attend the opening of its first retail store in the country. 

Source: The Economic Times


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Google’s Pixel 7 Pro gets a big discount

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Google’s Pixel 7 Pro gets a big discount
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Today, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is back down to its all-time lowest price. Coming in at just $749 for the 128GB model. That’s going to save you $150 off of the regular price. This is the price that we saw during Black Friday last November.

Google Pixel 7 Pro – Amazon

Why you should buy a Google Pixel 7 Pro

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is one of the best smartphones that Google has ever made. It sports a 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, powered by the Google Tensor G2 processor. That is a processor that Google has made specifically for Pixel. So it is able to work better with Google’s AI smarts, and camera algorithms, versus a Snapdragon chipset.

Additionally, it sports 12GB of RAM and a 128GB storage capacity. There’s also a 5000mAh capacity that should last all day long and then some.

The big selling point, of course, with a Pixel is the camera. On the Pixel 7 Pro, Google has outfitted it with three cameras. There’s the 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. That high-megapixel telephoto lens comes in handy for zooming, as well as using Google’s own AI for zoom. The Pro model also has macro, from the ultrawide sensor.

On top of all of this, the Pixel 7 Pro also runs the latest version of Android. Currently, that is Android 13, with Android 14 being available in a developer preview. Android 14 won’t be officially available until closer to the fall. But when it does roll out, the Pixel 7 Pro will be one of the first to get the update.

Speaking of updates, Google is promising three years of software updates and four years of security updates for the Google Pixel 7 Pro. Which isn’t quite the best, but hey, it’s better than nothing.

You can pick up the Google Pixel 7 from Amazon today by clicking the link below.

Google Pixel 7 Pro – Amazon


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Apple is holding anti-unionization meetings in all US stores

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Apple is holding anti-unionization meetings in all US stores
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Employee unions are something every large company fears, as they represent a collective bargaining unit that can negotiate better wages, benefits, and working conditions for their workers. Now, in an effort to discourage its employees from unionizing, Apple has taken a significant step by reportedly holding meetings at all of its roughly 270 stores across the United States to “discuss the risks of unionization” with employees.

During these meetings, managers reportedly criticized union dues, the unionization process, and the collection of authorization cards by citing the example of the first unionized Apple store in Towson, Maryland.

However, this is not the first time Apple has tried to discourage unionization. Last year, the National Labor Relations Board agency found Apple violated federal law by trying to discourage workers at its Cumberland Mall store in Atlanta from unionizing, which was a violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

“Forcing employees to attend captive audience meetings under threat of discipline discourages employees from exercising their right to refrain from listening to this speech and is therefore inconsistent with the NLRA,” says NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo.

Benefits of unionization for employees and employers

While it’s understandable for companies to be wary of unions and their potential costs and disruption, it’s important to recognize that unions can also bring benefits to both employees and employers. Unions can help improve employee morale and productivity by negotiating better wages and working conditions, which will ultimately benefit the company. Additionally, unions also provide a way for resolving disputes between workers and management, potentially reducing the need for costly and time-consuming legal battles.

Furthermore, it is also important to note that unionization is a right protected by law in many countries, including the United States. And any attempt by companies to discourage employees from unionizing may violate labor laws and could result in legal action.


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release date, specs, price & more – updated April 10, 2023

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release date, specs, price & more – updated April 10, 2023
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The Google Pixel 7a is the company’s upcoming budget smartphone. The Pixel 6a is one of the easiest smartphones to recommend to people, not only because of what it offers features-wise, but its price too. The fact it offers great performance, good battery life, and really good camera performance, only helps things. Google’s ‘Pixel a’ series smartphones have been really good for years now, so we have high hopes for the upcoming Pixel 7a handset.

In this article, we’ll basically round up the info that surfaced thus far, to give you an idea as to what you may expect. You’ll find useful links throughout the article, pointing you to specific rumors and leaks. That being said, let’s get this party on the road, shall we?

This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Google Pixel 7a (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on April 10.

When will the Google Pixel 7a be released?

The Google Pixel 6a arrived on May 11 last year. The Pixel 7a will likely launch in May this year, during Google I/O. Google announced that the event will kick off on May 10 in Mountain View. That’s where Google will host its keynote, and that’s when we may see this phone become official. So, almost exactly a year after the Pixel 6a arrived. Mark your calendars, and let’s see what Google has to offer! The phone will likely become available to purchase in June.

What models are coming?

Once upon a time, Google released more than one ‘Pixel a’ series smartphone. That is no longer the case, however, We no longer get a smaller and a bigger brother in the series. The Pixel 6a was the sole ‘Pixel a’ smartphone that Google announced last year. The Pixel 7a will seemingly follow in its footsteps. Based on everything we’ve seen thus far, that will be the only ‘Pixel a’ phone Google will announce during the event.

How much will the Pixel 7a cost?

The Google Pixel 7a will be quite an affordable device, that’s for sure. Its predecessor was priced at $449 at launch last year. Since then, it has been discounted a number of times, and users could even grab it for as low as $299. The Pixel 7a price tag didn’t leak out just yet, but if we had to guess, we’d say that the phone will cost somewhere in the $449-$499 range, which is what a recent rumor suggested as well. We also expect to see discounts similar to last year.

What will the Google Pixel 7a look like?

The Google Pixel 7a leaked out quite a few times thus far. That goes for both its renders and real-life images. Both of those sets of images you can check out at the end of this section, along with a hands-on video that appeared. Based on everything we’ve seen, the Pixel 7a will resemble the Pixel 7… a lot. It will essentially be a slightly smaller variant of the Pixel 7, design-wise. The phone will be made out of metal and glass, presumably. It’s possible Google will use plastic on the back, though, to keep the price down. A flat display will be included on the front, with a centered display camera hole.

On the back, the phone will be curved towards the sides, but the back side will be mostly flat. The camera visor is hard to mis. It will seemingly be slightly less protruded than the one on the Pixel 7. Well, at least it seems that way based on the leaked images. Two cameras will still be located there, and easily visible, thanks to the metallic cover that will be applied over the camera visor itself. As you may recall, the Pixel 6a had a two-tone design on the back, as its camera visor was black, and not covered by metal.

On the right side, the device will include all of its physical buttons. The power/lock button will sit above the volume up and down keys. A Type-C charging port will sit at the bottom of the device, along with its main speaker. The secondary speaker will be included under the earpiece grille. It is reported that the Pixel 7a will arrive in three color options, black, white, and arctic blue colors. Google will, of course, have special names for those color options. All three colors options have also appeared in renders, and we’ve included them all in one of the galleries below.

CAD-based renders:

Hands-on images:

Pixel 7a prototype:

The Pixel 7a prototype managed to end up on eBay with the images below.

Renders showing all color options:

Video:

What specs will the Google Pixel 7a have?

What about the specs? Well, despite its rather affordable price tag, this will be a powerful phone. It will be fueled by the Google Tensor G2 SoC. That is the current flagship processor fueling the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro handsets. Google will also include 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM here, based on rumors, along with UFS 3.1 flash storage. We’re presuming 128GB will be included, but Google may offer us more than one variant.

A 6.1-inch fullHD+ AMOLED display is also rumored. That panel will allegedly offer a 90Hz refresh rate. So, it’s the same size as the Pixel 6a’s panel, but with a higher refresh rate. That display will be flat, by the way. Android 13 will come pre-installed on the phone, of course. We still don’t know the battery capacity Google will use. What did surface, however, is the fact that the phone will offer 5W wireless charging. We presume that 20W wired charging will also be included, but the phone will arrive without a charger in the box. Bluetooth 5.3 will be supported, as Bluetooth SIG confirmed.

A 64-megapixel main camera (Sony’s IMX787 sensor) is tipped to be used here. That would be a first for Google, and it would be an upgrade over the 12.2-megapixel unit that was included in the Pixel 6a. A 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (Sony’s IMX712 sensor) was also mentioned in rumors. The phone will also include an in-display fingerprint scanner of an optical variety, in case you were wondering. It is worth noting that the phone did get certified by the FCC already.

Should you wait to buy the Google Pixel 7a?

Considering that the Pixel 6a is now (at the time of writing this article) $299, and it often drops to that price, that may seem quite tempting. If you really need a phone, and don’t have a lot of cash to spend, the Pixel 6a is a great choice. However, if you’re able to wait a bit longer, the Pixel 7a will be a notable improvement, it seems. Not only will it add a better display, and a newer SoC, but you’ll get a brand new camera sensor too. Add wireless charging on top of everything, and the Pixel 7a may seem like a great choice. If Google manages to keep the price below $500, the Pixel 7a will be a truly appealing smartphone.


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Microsoft fined $3 million for violations of US sanctions on Russia

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Microsoft fined $3 million for violations of US sanctions on Russia
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After Russia annexed Crimea back in 2014, the US government imposed several sanctions to restrict American companies from doing business with sanctioned individuals and entities. However, Microsoft has recently found itself in trouble with the US Treasury and Commerce Departments for allegedly violating US sanctions on Russia and other countries. As a result, the department has ordered Microsoft to pay over $3 million in fines after its products and services ended up in the hands of blacklisted companies and persons in the Crimean region of Ukraine.

The violations reportedly took place between July 2012 and April 2019, thus predating the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US authorities accuse Microsoft of using an indirect resale model in Russia to develop sales leads and negotiate bulk sales with end customers. In simple terms, Microsoft sold its products to non-blacklisted companies, which then sold them to blacklisted entities.

“In certain volume-licensing programs involving sales by intermediaries, Microsoft was not provided, nor did it otherwise obtain, complete or accurate information on the ultimate end customers for its products,” says the OFAC’s notice.

Additionally, Microsoft’s failure to obtain accurate information about some of these end-users and the possible intentional circumvention of the company’s screening controls by Microsoft employees in Russia also contributed to these violations. For instance, Microsoft initially rejected one of Stroygazmontazh’s subsidiaries, a Russian infrastructure company, as a potential customer after blacklisting the company back in 2014. However, Stroygazmontazh still managed to get Microsoft products by using a pseudonym arranged by the company’s employees in Russia.

Microsoft’s self-discovery and reporting of violations

While this violation demonstrated a reckless disregard for US sanctions, the Treasury Department also acknowledged that Microsoft self-discovered the violations, investigated them, and self-reported them to the government. Moreover, the company has also made significant changes to its enforcement policies and measures.

“Microsoft takes export control and sanctions compliance very seriously, which is why after learning of the screening failures and infractions of a few employees, we voluntarily disclosed them to the appropriate authorities,” said a Microsoft spokesperson.


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How to set up your Waze app so you can take your journey with Christina Aguilera

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How to set up your Waze app so you can take your journey with Christina Aguilera
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So what is the difference between the two apps? Waze remains community based with crowdsourced traffic information still driving the app (pun not intended). Google Maps relies on data and also goes well beyond helping you safely and quickly get from point “A” to point “B.” Google Maps will help you find a place to stay once you’re at point “B” and will also show you places to dine. The app will also suggest places to go and things to see. Waze remains focused on the driving experience.
We recently told you that the Waze app has added Zodiac map themes. With this theme, the turn-by-turn directions are read in special tones that are based on the characteristics of people born under each astrological sign. As a couple of examples, The U.S. Sun mentions that the Aries voice is more upbeat while the Libra voice is mellow. Users can choose to have their astrology sign appear on the roof of their car icon replacing the usually seen blue arrow. This feature is available in English only at the moment.
Waze offers plenty of different voices to narrate your journey including some based on astrological signs - How to set up your Waze app so you can take your journey with Christina Aguilera

Waze offers plenty of different voices to narrate your journey including some based on astrological signs

To select a Zodiac theme to narrate your turn-by-turn directions, open the app and tap on the hamburger menu icon on the upper left of the screen. Tap on Settings > Voice & sound > Waze voice. From there you can scroll down and choose one of the 12 Zodiac signs. You can also get voice directions from three pop stars whose voices have been recently added: Christina Aguilera, Kehlani, and Boy George. And at the very top of that same page, you can tap the Blue “+” sign to “Add a voice,” specifically yours. Follow the directions and you can navigate your journey listening to your own voice giving you the turn-by-turn directions.

To install Waze on your Android device, you can tap on this link to pick up the app from the Play Store. If you want to install the app on your iPhone, then go ahead and click on this link which will take you to the Waze listing in the App Store.

Both Google Maps and Waze will get you to where you want to go quickly and safely. But you might have more fun using Waze.


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Hardware Giant MSI Hacked – Ransomware Group Issues Demand

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Hardware Giant MSI Hacked – Ransomware Group Issues Demand
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Hardware Giant MSI Hacked

A cyberattack was recently launched on some of the information systems of the multinational Taiwanese technology company Micro-Star International (MSI) Co., Ltd.

According to MSI’s statement, the incident was swiftly reported to law enforcement authorities, and recovery efforts have begun.

“Upon detecting network anomalies, the information department promptly activated relevant defense mechanisms and carried out recovery measures, and reported the incident to government law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity units,” MSI explains.

micro-star-msi-report.png

EHA

With annual sales of $6.5 billion, MSI is a major manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, desktops, laptops, servers, industrial systems, PC peripherals, and infotainment products.

Money Message Ransomware Gang Claims MSI Breach and Demands $4 Million Ransom

The company was added to the list of victims of the “Money Message ransomware” group this week. The group claims to have stolen the company’s CTMS and ERP databases and files holding source code, BIOS firmware, and private keys.

According to cybersecurity experts, the group only started operating this week. If MSI doesn’t comply with its demands for a ransom payment, Money Message now threatens to expose all of these supposedly stolen documents in around five days.

https://www.bleepstatic.com/images/news/u/1220909/2023/Ransomware/20/msi.jpg

Notably, the threat actors allegedly demanded a $4,000,000 ransom in discussions viewed by BleepingComputer at the time, claiming to have stolen 1.5TB of data from MSI’s systems, including source code and databases.

In a communication with an MSI agent, a Money Message operator claimed, “Say your manager, that we have MSI source code, including framework to develop bios; also we have private keys able to sign in any custom module of those BIOS and install it on PC with this bios.

Chat between the threat actor and the victim's representative

According to the company, there hasn’t been a significant impact on financial business as the damaged systems have progressively resumed normal operations.

“MSI urges users to obtain firmware/BIOS updates only from its official website, and not to use files from sources other than the official website”, the company said.

Struggling to Apply The Security Patch in Your System? – Try All-in-One Patch Manager Plus


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Vivo X Flip pops up in several official images prior to launch

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Vivo X Flip pops up in several official images prior to launch
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The Vivo X Flip has just surfaced in several official images, as the launch event is looming. This handset will become Vivo’s first-ever clamshell smartphone. It is expected to launch at some point this month, but an official date hasn’t been revealed just yet.

The Vivo X Flip has appeared in several official images prior to launch

In any case, if you take a look at the gallery below the article, you’ll see the device in the flesh. Three images are shared here, and have appeared to complement the one that surfaced a couple of days ago.

The Vivo X Flip will certainly look a lot better than it did in the sketches that surfaced. It will have a rather sizeable cover display. It looks to be similar in size to the one on the Motorola Razr 2022.

A circular camera island will sit above that panel, or below it, depending on whether the phone is folded or not. The phone seems to be truly thin when unfolded, and it’s shown in a purple color here Black and Gold colors are also expected to launch.

The phone got modeled by a well-known Chinese actress

The person holding the device in these images is the Chinese actress Wang Ziwen. These images have popped up on Weibo, by the way. Vivo did confirm a launch event for April, but we still don’t know the exact launch date.

The Vivo X Fold 2 and the Vivo Pad 2 are also expected to launch this month. So, all three devices will likely launch at the same time, in China. It remains to be seen if any of those devices will be on offer outside of China. The Vivo X Fold and Vivo X Fold+ were not.

The Vivo X Flip name got confirmed recently too, and some of its specs leaked, in addition to some of them being confirmed by a company exec. The company’s exec did confirm that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 will fuel this handset. He also confirmed that a 50-megapixel main camera will be in use, and that it will offer OIS. A 32-megapixel camera will be included on the main display.

A 6.8-inch fullHD+ display is expected, along with a 4,400mAh battery

That’s basically all the info he confirmed. We are expecting a large 6.8-inch fullHD+ main display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone will likely offer up to 12GB of RAM, and ship with Android 13 out of the box. A 4,400mAh battery was also mentioned, as was 44W wired charging.


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