Your phone, laptops and other devices are ticking bombs in this extreme heat, here is how to prevent any fire
With temperatures soaring above 50 degrees in northern India, electronic devices are at high risk of overheating and catching fire. Here is how you can prevent and manage fire incidents to ensure safety. Key Points
India TodayXiaomi HyerOS to rollout to these devices from April: Check if your device is on the list
Devices in India receiving HyperOS update include Xiaomi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi 11T Pro, Mi 11X, and more. Xiaomi aims to enhance performance and storage space with HyperOS, a unified interface across smart devices, promising better multitasking and animations. Key Points
mintHow to protect your smart home from hackers
Thermostats. Doorbells. Ovens. Everything is connected to the internet these days—and vulnerable to cyberattacks. Key Points
mintA surge of illegal homemade machine guns has helped fuel gun violence in the US
Eleven-year-old Domonic Davis was tragically killed in a shooting near his home in Cincinnati. The incident, which injured four other children and a woman, remains under investigation. Federal authorities suspect the weapon used was illegally converted to fire like a machine gun, a trend fueled by the availability of conversion devices made with 3D printers or ordered online. This case underscores the urgent need for measures to address gun violence and the proliferation of such dangerous weapons. Key Points
Economic TimesFinMin asks ministries/departments to follow guidelines on issuance of mobiles, laptops to officers
The finance ministry has directed various departments to follow guidelines for issuing mobiles, laptops, and similar devices to eligible officers of the Government of India for official work. The Department of Expenditure issued guidelines in July, allowing central government officers to receive devices costing up to Rs 1.3 lakh, which can be retained for personal use after 4 years. Key Points
Economic Times
Medical device makers get six-month extension for imports
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had set the October 1 deadline for bringing ‘class C and ‘class D medical devices under regulation as part of quality control efforts. To obtain the licences several manufacturers had submitted applications, but the government failed to provide them on time. Key Points
Economic TimesPhilips slightly raises 2023 outlook after Q2 core profit beat
Dutch health technology company Philips (PHG.AS) on Monday slightly raised its full-year targets after posting a bigger-than-expected jump in second-quarter core earnings thanks to better supply chains, a strong order book and efficiency measures. Key Points
ReutersGovt officers eligible for personal use of electronic devices up to ₹1.3 lakh after…
Central government officers in India will be entitled to mobile phones, laptops, or similar devices costing up to INR 1.3 lakh ($1,760) for personal use after four years, according to the Expenditure Department of the Finance Ministry. Key Points
mintOfficers entitled to Rs 1.3 lakh gadgets, can retain after 4 years
Central Government officers will be entitled to mobile, laptop or similar devices costing up to Rs 1.3 lakh, which can be retained by them for personal use after four years. Key Points
The Tribune IndiaGovt officers entitled to mobile, laptop costing up to Rs 1.3 lakh; can retain after 4 years
Central government officers will be entitled to mobile, laptop or similar devices costing up to Rs 1.3 lakh, which can be retained by them for personal use after 4 years. Key Points
The Tribune India
After House panel's push, govt opens doors for used diagnostic devices
The union environment ministry has made the decision in consultation with the health ministry after inter-ministerial deliberations of more than a year. Allowing import of 'high-end and high-value medical equipment', not just by actual users and original equipment manufacturers but also by third-party traders, is expected to considerably open up the Indian market for these devices. Key Points
Economic TimesGoafest 2023: The future of connected devices and cross-channel measurement
In India, there are 223 million browsers, 619 million mobile devices and 22.1 million connected televisions. Key Points
FinancialexpressUS FDA identifies recall of Philips' respiratory devices as most serious
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday classified the recall of Philips' respiratory machines as its most serious type, as their use could cause serious injuries or death. Key Points
ReutersUS FDA classifies recall of heart devices by Getinge as most serious
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday classified the recall of Getinge AB's heart devices as the most serious type, saying their use may cause injuries or death. Key Points
ReutersFocus on 113 home-grown, affordable medical devices to cut down import dependence, says govt
Medical devices planned for promotion include specific equipment across 8 segments. Products are slated to be manufactured by both Indian firms & MNCs with manufacturing units. Key Points
ThePrint
New drugs regulatory bill may be headed for cabinet next week
The Bill seeks to regulate the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. It also seeks to ensure their quality, safety, efficacy, performance and clinical trials of new drugs and clinical investigation of investigational medical devices and clinical performance evaluation of new in-vitro diagnostic medical devices, including Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and homeopathy (AUSSH) drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. Key Points
Economic TimesAndroid smartphone makers offering more software updates as premiumisation picks up pace in India
Major Android smartphone makers like Samsung, Xiaomi, and Oppo are extending their software update support to four years of major Android updates and an additional year of security updates. This move, led by Samsung, is driven by a growing trend of longer device ownership in India's expanding premium smartphone market. Key Points
Economic TimesIndia MedTech Expo to be held in August, alongside G20 health ministers' meeting
New Delhi [India], April 25 (ANI): A three-day India MedTech Expo (IMTE-23) will be held in Gandhinagar, alongside the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting in August. This event will highlight the capabilities of the Indian medical devices sector under the G20 Indian Presidency. The event will be organised by the government in association with the industry […] Key Points
ThePrintiOS 18 coming soon, check this list to know if your iPhone will get it or not
Apple is gearing up to announce the next OS update, iOS 18, in its upcoming WWDC event in June. The update is expected to bring significant AI improvements and support for a range of devices. Key Points
India TodayProlonged regulatory approval processes in UK impact India's medical devices exports to Britain: GTRI
India's medical device exports to the UK are impacted by prolonged regulatory approval processes, according to think tank GTRI. To promote exports, India should negotiate a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) to expedite the entry of medical devices into the UK market, particularly for devices with CDSCO license or Quality Council of India's Indian Certification of Medical devices (ICMED) certification. Key Points
Economic Times
How the right to repair might change technology
Fixing devices and appliances is currently tricky – but new consumer rights laws are seeking to change that. Chris Stokel-Walker looks at how this might change the technology we use. Key Points
BBCFlipkart to now let you exchange non-functional phones and home appliances
Flipkart has announced a new Exchange Program for non-functional phones and other electronics. This program is also applicable to appliances to address the issue of electronic waste and provide a hassle-free solution for Indians. Key Points
India TodayWhatsApp now lets you use same account on multiple phones; know everything about this ‘highly requested’ feature
WhatsApp is also making it easier to link the companion devices. Over the coming weeks, it will roll out an alternative and more accessible way to link to companion devices. Key Points
FE Tech BytesCabinet approves National Medical devices Policy to help sector grow to USD 50 bn in next 5 yr
The government had floated the approach paper on the draft national medical devices policy 2022 for consultation. The policy is expected to help the medical devices sector grow from the present USD 11 billion to USD 50 billion in the next five years. The government has already initiated implementation of the PLI Scheme for medical devices and extended support for setting up of 4 medical device parks in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Key Points
Economic TimesiPhone users beware! THIS Trojan can empty your bank accounts: How to stay safe
GoldPickaxe, a new banking Trojan for iOS, targets iPhone users by stealing sensitive data and draining bank accounts. The malware uses biometric data for AI deepfakes to impersonate victims effectively. Key Points
mint
National medical devices policy will boost health sector: PM Modi
The medical devices sector in India is a sunrise sector which is growing at a fast pace. The market size of the medical devices sector in India is estimated to be $11 billion (approximately, ₹ 90,000 Cr) in 2020 and its share in the global medical device market is estimated to be 1.5%. Key Points
FirstpostMWC 2024: Phone with 28,000mAh battery showcased, Energizer says it can last for a week
While I saw a lot of innovative devices at this year's MWC 2024 tech show, the thing that I was not expecting to see here is a smartphone with a whopping 28,000mAh battery under the hood. It will soon be available for purchase in the global markets. Key Points
India TodayFormer Microsoft product chief joins Amazon as head of devices business
Former Microsoft (MSFT.O) product chief Panos Panay will lead Amazon.com's (AMZN.O) struggling unit responsible for the firm's Alexa and Echo products. Key Points
ReutersAmazon, Google partners with White House to secure devices from cyberattack
The White House is collaborating with companies like Amazon, Google, and Best Buy to introduce a certification and labeling program for smart devices to enhance cybersecurity standards. Manufacturers and retailers will affix a U.S. Cyber Trust Mark logo to their devices. Key Points
mintWhite House partners with Amazon, Google, Best Buy to secure devices from cyberattacks
The White House on Tuesday along with companies such as Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O) and Best Buy (BBY.N) will announce an initiative that allows Americans to identify devices that are less vulnerable to cyberattacks. Key Points
Reuters
Govt taps hospitals on medical devices
Currently, some of the hospitals are importing medical devices from original equipment manufacturers. As per government provisions, there is a requirement of import licence for medical devices. Key Points
mintGoogle Meet makes it easier to switch calls, lets you transfer calls across devices without exiting
Google Meet has introduced a new feature called 'Switch Here', enabling users to switch devices seamlessly during an ongoing call. The feature also supports joining a call from two different devices at the same time. Key Points
India TodayGE HealthCare beats quarterly profit estimates on imaging device demand
GE HealthCare Technologies Inc (GEHC.O) on Tuesday beat Wall Street expectations for third-quarter profit as a continued recovery in demand for surgical procedures boosted sales of its medical devices. Key Points
ReutersFire TVs, Echo devices may soon ditch Android and shift to Amazon OS, here is why it is a win for you
Amazon is reportedly working on its own operating system for Fire TVs speculatively called the Vega OS. With this move, Amazon plans to entirely replace the Android operating system from its Fire TVs, smart displays and other devices. The new Amazon operating system will reportedly be based on the Linux platform. Key Points
India TodaySexual and reproductive health market will continue to expand through 2030: GlobalData
According to GlobalData Market Size and Growth Analytics tool, the reproductive health devices market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.5% between 2015 and 2030. Key Points
Financialexpress
Google now allows users to remotely uninstall PlayStore apps from other Android devices
Google is introducing a new feature, Remote App Uninstallation, in its Play Store. The new feature aims to simplify app management across different Android devices, offering users more control over their app ecosystem. Key Points
India TodayRBI extends PIDF scheme by 2-years till Dec 2025
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) Scheme till December 2025, expanding its coverage to include sound box instruments and Aadhaar-enabled biometric devices. The scheme aims to promote payment infrastructure in smaller regions and currently holds a corpus of Rs 1,026.37 crore as of November 30, 2023. Operational since January 2021, it focuses on deploying payment acceptance technology in tier-3 to tier-6 centers, North Eastern states, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. Key Points
Economic TimesChipmaker Analog Devices' forecasts held back by inventory corrections
Chipmaker Analog devices (ADI.O) projected first-quarter revenue and profit below market estimates on Tuesday, as it grapples with the ongoing supply glut in the semiconductor industry. Key Points
ReutersCanada bans WeChat, Kaspersky applications on government devices: ‘Unacceptable level of risk’
The ban on WeChat and Kaspersky was made to ensure the security of government networks and data, according to Canada's Treasury Board. The applications will be removed from government-issued devices and users will be blocked from downloading them in the future. Key Points
mintRecall draft new drugs bill: Industry body
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMed), wrote to the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday, urging to recall the draft bill. “After the initial invitation of comments we have not been invited for any discussions or the revised draft was not shared with us,” said Rajiv Nath, forum co-ordinator, AiMed. Key Points
Economic Times