Meta experienced a massive outage late on Tuesday, affecting all of its platforms, namely Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. Users worldwide who are attempting to access their accounts have been logged out of the service.

Downdetector Sees a Spike in Outage Reports Concerning Meta Platforms

Downdetector, a real-time outage monitoring service, has reported a surge in outage reports around 8:20 PM GMT+5. Currently, it shows over 200,000 reports. Users who are trying to log back in are coming across an “unexpected error occurred” message.

At the time of writing, Meta has not issued a public statement regarding the situation. However, given the rare nature of the outage, it’s understood that the team is likely working to fix the issue as soon as possible.

Users are also Reporting Issues with WhatsApp

Alongside Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, some users have also noticed WhatsApp not working. However, the issue with WhatsApp is limited to specific regions only.

The last instance of such an outage was seen back in 2021 when Meta’s platforms were down for nearly seven hours. As of now, reports are coming in indicating that the situation is improving in some regions. Therefore, it is only a matter of time before the service is fully restored.”

Elon Musk Mocks Meta Outage on X

Facebook and Instagram’s rival platform, X apparently saw the opportunity and joked about the whole situation when CEO, Elon Musk tweeted “If you’re reading this post, it’s because our servers are working,” which the official X account retweeted captioning “we know why you’re all here rn.“

This is all we know for now, but rest assured that we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

The post Facebook, Instagram and Messenger are Down Worldwide, Thousands Suddenly Logged Out appeared first on Appuals.

Despite retaining the services of an attorney, Tropic Haze has come forward in favor of Nintendo saying, “Yuzu is primarily designed to circumvent and play Nintendo Switch games.” Additionally, the company also agrees that it will permanently part ways with Yuzu in terms of working, hosting, distributing code or features, promotion, or doing anything that violates Nintendo’s copyright protection.

If that wasn’t enough, the company will also give in the yuzu-emu.org domain name to Nintendo, delete all copies of Yuzu or circumvention tools used for developing it such as Hekate, TegraRcmGUI, Atmosphere, Lockpick_RCM, NDDumpTool, nxDumpFuse, and Tegra Explorer.

Apart from the digital tools, Nintendo has also asked to hand over physical circumvention devices and modified Nintendo hardware of any kind. There’s a lot more to it and if you want you can read the entire proposed final judgment and permanent injunction, but they are still waiting for approval from a judge.

We still don’t know whether Yuzu is actually circumventing Nintendo’s protections since it doesn’t contain Nintendo’s keys and is a “bring-your-own-BIOS” emulator. However, Nintendo and Tropic Haze are asking a federal judge to acknowledge that Yuzu’s functionality involves circumventing Nintendo’s copyright safeguards, regardless of whether the encryption keys are used with the software or not.

Developing or distributing software, including Yuzu, that in its ordinary course functions only when cryptographic keys are integrated without authorization, violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s prohibition on trafficking in devices that circumvent effective technological measures, because the software is primarily designed for the purpose of circumventing technological measures.

As Yuzu is an open-source emulator, it’s not easy to put a nail in its coffin as copies of both the emulator and its source code are still out there. Some users have also mentioned backing up the code after hearing about the legal case two weeks ago.

That’s all we have for now, let us know your thoughts below about the future of Yuzu and whether this result could impact other emulators!

Yuzu is Shutting Down

Bunnei from the Yuzu team has now confirmed that both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS emulators will be shutting down; “Yuzu and Yuzu’s support of Citra are being discontinued, effective immediately.”

While Yuzu never intended to promote piracy in any way, their projects can circumvent Nintendo’s copyright protection measures and allow users to play games outside of authorized hardware, leading to extensive piracy. Yuzu has also said that they will be shutting down their code repositories and will be discontinuing their Patreon accounts, Discord servers, and website.

The post Yuzu Lost Against Nintendo And Will Have To Pay $2.4M appeared first on Appuals.

Changing The AI Game With Claude 3

While Claude 3 has three different models, the star of the lineup Opus is more capable than any other AI system currently on the market. According to Anthropic cofounder and CEO Dario Amodei; “Opus is capable of the widest range of tasks and performs them exceptionally well.”

On top of that Amodei also explains how Opus outstrips top AI models like GPT-4, GPT-3.5, and Gemini Ultra on academic benchmarks like GSM-8k for basic mathematics, MMLU for undergraduate-level expert knowledge and GPQA for graduate-level expert reasoning. Amodei says “It seems to outperform everyone and get scores that we haven’t seen before on some tasks.”

Despite not fully disclosing how powerful their AI model Opus is, the reported benchmarks are a clear giveaway that Opus is head-to-head or even above major alternatives like GPT-4 and Gemini Ultra in complex tasks that require advanced reasoning. This establishes Opus at least on paper as a new high standard for commercially accessible conversational AI.

Rest of the Lineup

Apart from Opus, Claude 3’s Sonnet is the mid-range model that offers businesses a cost-effective option to perform routine tasks like data analysis, knowledge work, and more. Meanwhile, Haiku is designed to be fast and affordable, ideal for uses like customer chatbots where speed and cost matter most. Although Haiku is not publicly out yet, the startups expect it to launch “in a matter of weeks, not months.“

The Visual Improvements

The Claude 3 AI models are not only efficient in text-based queries but also showcase extraordinary computer vision capabilities on par with other models. This gives users the option to extract text from images, documents, charts, diagrams, and a lot more.

A lot of [customer] data is either highly unstructured or in some sort of visual format. Just the process of having to manually copy that information to even be able to have it interact with a generative AI tool is quite cumbersome.

Daniela Amodei

The Future of AI

Anthropic’s launch of the Claude 3 lineup is a testimonial to how companies are pushing boundaries to introduce models like Opus capable of outperforming big names like GPT-4 and Gemini Ultra. This is all we have for now, let us know your thoughts on Anthropic’s Claude 3 in the comments down below!

The post Antrhopic’s Claude 3 Outperforms GPT-4 and Gemini Ultra in Benchmark Tests appeared first on Appuals.

SF to Use NVIDIA’s Tech to Tone Down Defective Production Numbers

IFS aims to increase its production volumes and capture the second position in the foundry business. To counter this threat, Samsung is planning a rather unique solution to address its low-yield situation more cautiously. The company reportedly plans to implement NVIDIA’s “Digital Twin” technology in its factories starting next year.

NVIDIA’s Digital Twins (Based on Omniverse Replicator)

Digital Twin technology, like the name suggests creates a controlled and safe virtual space within which a virtual simulation of real-world situations and scenarios for a factory can be run.

A digital twin is a virtual representation — a true-to-reality simulation of physics and materials — of a real-world physical asset or system, which is continuously updated.

What is a Digital Twin — NVIDIA

The simulation uses AI and big data to analyze the production process, searching for trends and variations. This flexibility also allows engineers to experiment with different methods with minimal resource loss, leading to better optimization and efficiency within the whole process, potentially improving yields.

Samsung to Present its Plans for Digital Twin Semiconductor Factories at NVIDIA’s AI Conference this Year

The Digital Twin technology is built on NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform. Samsung will announce its plans for the first Digital Twin-based semiconductor factory at the upcoming NVIDIA GTC 2024 conference, held from March 18-21. Yun Seok-jin, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics DS Division Innovation Center, will present the company’s plans during the event.

This initiative is not new. In fact, Samsung established the Digital Twin Task Force in 2022 and subsequently appointed Lee Young-woong, a field expert, as the task force leader. If everything proceeds according to plan, Samsung could potentially begin pilot operations as early as this year, and develop the world’s first Digital Twin Level 5 factory within two years. For reference, this is the highest level among smart factories.

Digital Twin will surely allow for defective product prevention and product and production analysis via AI, but to still counteract the threat of IFS and TSMC stomping over its position in the market, it’ll still have to satisfy clients and solidify customer relationships.

This is all we know for now, but rest assured that we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

The post Samsung Foundry Turns to NVIDIA’s “Digital Twin” Technology to Counter Yield Issues and Competition from TSMC and IFS appeared first on Appuals.

According to a recent YouTube video by Everything Android, a new tool called APatchLite provides a much quicker and shorter approach to rooting your Android device. This new tool simplifies the procedure, particularly for people who are rooting their phones for the first time.

The video author was able to install the software and root his phone in just 3 minutes, as opposed to the previous lengthy process. While the software has received little feedback due to its recent launch, it is an open-source project built on KernelSU that is accessible for download on GitHub. 

How to Root Your Phone Using APatchLite?

Before you see the steps, if you’re new to rooting entirely then there are other things you need to do before following this procedure. This guide assumes you’re aware of the basics and have already extracted your boot.img, along with having installed a custom recovery like TWRP.

1. Make sure the option to install apps from unknown sources in enabled in Settings. This will be different depending on what you use to download the APK.
   

   

2. Download APatchLite as an APK from GitHub.
3. Tap on it to install it, allow all necessary permissions if it asks.
4. Open the app after installation where you will see the option “Patch.”
   

   

5. Find the boot.img file in your phone and tap on it. The example picture is using a MIUI-based custom ROM which has its boot image in the Documents folder:
   

   

   Wait for the patch to be complete. Before the next steps, make sure your APatchLite is properly Installed!
6. Now go to your custom recovery and tap on Install.
   

   

7. Select Downloads from the list.
   

   

8. Tap on Install Image in the bottom-right.
   

   

9. Select partition as Boot, and Swipe to confirm flash.
   

   

   Select Boot as the partition
10. After a few seconds the flash will be successful.
    

    

11. Reboot your device and enjoy.

After following the above-given directions, you will easily be able to grant root access to apps that require them. You can install apps like “MRepo” to grant root access and successfully use your rooted phone without any problem.

As seen by the steps, the process was really simple and straightforward. This new app is genuinely a marvelous feat after the lengthy process of Magisk and similar software. Do let us know what you think about APatchLite in the comments below.

The post APatchLite: How You Root Your Android Without Magisk in 2024 appeared first on Appuals.

Qualcomm’s Next Flagship Mobile SoC Could Match Clock Speeds to that of its High-Performance Laptop Processor

This transition to in-house cores grants Qualcomm greater flexibility in fine-tuning the chip’s performance and efficiency. While initial rumors suggested the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 might be the first mobile SoC to break the 4GHz barrier, newer rumors hint at the possibility of it reaching a staggering 4.3GHz clock speed, which is notably on par with Qualcomm’s high-performance laptop processor, the Snapdragon X Elite.

In a previous report, we highlighted that due to Qualcomm’s decision to abandon low-power efficiency cores, it could potentially result in a TDP of nearly 14W, with each of the two L-cores (large cores) consuming up to 5.47W. This time, it is projected that each of these L-cores could escalate to 10W.

A Jump to 4.3GHz Would Likely Push TDP Numbers Through the Roof

Taking a step back and comparing this to the last-generation Gen 3 SoC, which operated at 12.7W, the 8 Gen 4 would elevate the TDP to a whopping 24-25W, marking a whole 100% increase in power consumption, draining the efficiency numbers right through the ground.

While an ideal scenario might involve heavily cooled custom water-loop setups in flagship phones from every manufacturer, the reality is that such solutions are highly unlikely and would require substantial investment in R&D. While we saw some cooling advancements in flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S24U, it’s still insufficient to consistently handle such high power demands.

Therefore, Qualcomm will likely need to significantly reduce the frequency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. The ideal number being discussed within the community is 3.8GHz, which aligns with the default clock speed of the Snapdragon X Elite and the maximum boost clock of the Apple A17 Pro.

This is all we know for now, but rest assured that we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

via: Nguyen Phi Hung on X

The post Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Could Reach a Whopping 4.3GHz on Each Big Core, Likely Won’t Happen Due to Efficiency Constraints appeared first on Appuals.

A55’s Exynos 1480 is a Huge Step Up from its Predecessor, the Exynos 1380

One of the major changes made to the A55 is the SoC, which is the Exynos 1480. This chipset is a huge step up from its predecessor, the Exynos 1380. In comparison to Qualcomm, it delivers performance equivalent to that of the Snapdragon 778G, a chipset that is now three years old.

This time, the Exynos 1480 has been captured in early benchmarks, and the performance metrics have shown significant improvements. Manufactured on Samsung’s 4nm (4LPP) process node, the SoC features an octa-core configuration, comprising 4x Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.75GHz and another 4x Cortex-A55 cores operating at 2.05GHz.

Benchmarks & Comparison

YouTuber MadCoby recently put the Samsung Galaxy A55 through its paces, and the new SoC delivered promising results. On Geekbench 6, the phone achieved a single-core score of 1,161 and a multi-core score of 3,398. These figures represent an impressive 18.5% and 22.7% improvement, respectively, compared to previous benchmarks.

On AnTuTu, the A55 scored a decent 713,993 points, showcasing a 20.4% increase in benchmark scores. For the CPU’s thermal efficiency, it was tested through a 15-minute CPU throttling test, where it maintained a relatively stable temperature without any sudden drops.

As for the GPU, the A55 uses Samsung’s Xclipse 530 GPU, based on the RDNA 2 architecture. This GPU unit notably outperforms the Mali-G68 found in the A54. In Geekbench 6 GPU Compute Score, the Xclipse 530 showed a significant 31.4% improvement over the Mali-G68.

This is all we know for now, but rest assured that we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

The post Exynos 1480 Delivers Big Performance Gains in Early Benchmarks: 22% Higher CPU and 31% Better GPU Scores appeared first on Appuals.

However, the animations lack the smooth and buttery feel the flagship phones have. Several users have also shown their disappointment about Samsung’s mid-range phones falling behind the competition. Additionally, users have also said that the animations look the same as in 2020 and there aren’t any major improvements for newer generations.

While Samsung intends to make their mid-range phone experience similar to their flagship phones, from the first looks it’s safe to say that the experience is close but definitely not the same. That’s all we have for now, let us know your thoughts in the comments down below about the Galaxy A55 animations.

The post First Hands-on Video of Galaxy A55 Animations Seem To Be All Show No Go appeared first on Appuals.

The tablet has been spotted on multiple certifications, confirming its imminent launch. Today, we are exclusively sharing details regarding the storage, color options, and price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) for the European markets.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) Color, Storage Options and Price:

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) will be available in Chiffon Pink and Oxford Gray color options, consistent with previous Galaxy Tab S6 Lite models. In addition to these two colors, Samsung will launch the tablet in a Light Green colorway. The tablet will be offered in both Wi-Fi only and LTE network configurations.

The prices we have obtained are from a European source, and as always, the price may vary in each country depending on local taxes. However, we can be confident that the tablet will be priced within the same range. Here are the prices for all variants of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024):

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) Specifications:

The source confirms that the tablet will feature a 10.4-inch display. Recent certification findings have revealed key details about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024). The tablet will utilize Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1280 processor and run on Android 14 with the One UI 6 platform. It will be equipped with a 6840mAh (minimum) battery and support 15W wired charging. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, 2G GSM, 3G UMTS, and 4G LTE.

Aside from these specifications, no other details were revealed about the tablet. We anticipate the device to feature specifications and a design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022), as Samsung has previously been known to retain specifications and designs for refreshed models.

The post EXCLUSIVE: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) Price Tipped for Europe appeared first on Appuals.

The statement from ams OSRAM AG regarding the “cancellation of a key project” is included below; however, it is unclear whether this refers to the Apple Watch Ultra. The supplier’s stock price fell 40% shortly after the announcement, indicating that the majority of its anticipated income may have been dependent on the successful mass production of microLED panels.

“The Management Board of ams OSRAM AG has decided to re-assess the microLED strategy of the company after having been informed of the unexpected cancellation of a cornerstone project for its microLED program. Discussions with the related customer are ongoing.”

Display Supply Chain Consultants at Counterpoint Research later told MacRumors that the microLED Apple Watch Ultra’s cancellation may have been caused by the display technology’s high manufacturing costs and low production yields.

Cost Effectiveness

According to estimates, microLED panels are around three times more expensive than OLED panels. As such, it is improbable that the Apple Watch Ultra would have been offered for sale at the same price as its predecessor if it had been introduced with these more advanced panels.

In response to a question about the situation, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated today that the project has been canceled for the “foreseeable future.” According to the expert, the present prices of producing microLEDs are “too high” to make the idea “economically viable.”

“My latest survey indicates that Apple has canceled the Micro LED Apple Watch projects because Apple thinks that Micro LED can’t add significant value to this product, and the production costs are too high to make it economically viable,” Kuo stated.

Kuo claims that at the time of the project’s cancellation, ams OSRAM served as Apple’s sole supplier of LED chips. For the “foreseeable future,” Apple has “no plans” to mass-produce microLED products, according to the expert.

Kuo called the cancellation a “major setback” for Apple and said some staff members working on microLED development had been let go.

While Ming-Chi Kuo stated that the sole supplier for Apple’s MicroLED lineup was ams OSRAM, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman states this is wrong. In a replied tweet to MacRumors, Mark stated that ams OSRAM was “one” of the suppliers that had stopped these production plans but the project hasn’t been stopped as of yet.

There has been no official confirmation from Apple regarding these rumors, so take all of this with a grain of salt. Do let us know what you think about the cancellation in the comments below.

The post Apple Ditches MicroLED for Apple Watch Ultra Due to Cost and Yield Problems appeared first on Appuals.