This week in tech news- Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 Slim is expected to feature the same ‘Ultra’ camera from the S25 Ultra, promising enhanced photography capabilities. Meanwhile, Microsoft is rolling out AI-driven generative features for MS Paint on Windows 11, adding creative tools for Windows Insiders. In India, iQOO is gearing up to launch its 13 series with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC this December. Sony also made headlines with the news that the PS5 Pro will not be coming to India due to regulatory restrictions on Wi-Fi 7. Lastly, Amazon’s first colored Kindle, Colorsoft, has faced early display issues despite its promise to offer a more vibrant reading experience. Let’s dive into these stories one by one.
Table of Contents
Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim to Feature ‘Ultra’ Camera from S25 Ultra, According to Latest Leak
Samsung is reportedly preparing to launch the Galaxy S25 FE as the Galaxy S25 Slim next year, potentially outfitting it with a camera borrowed from the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra. Known leaker Ice Universe recently hinted at this upgrade, suggesting the Galaxy S25 Slim would come equipped with an “Ultra” camera. While the details remain unclear, it’s expected that the Slim model may adopt the S25 Ultra’s primary camera sensor, with differences in the additional lenses.
Rumors about the Galaxy S25 Ultra suggest it will feature a 12MP front camera and a powerful rear setup, including a 200MP main sensor (ISOCELL HP2), a 50MP ultrawide, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and another 50MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom.
Reports from Korean media add that the Galaxy S25 Slim will have a 6.7-inch display and a thinner battery compared to the Galaxy S24 FE. Samsung fans can expect a sleek, slim design and high-performance camera setup in this upcoming release.
MS Paint on Windows 11 Introduces New AI-Driven Generative Features for Windows Insiders
Microsoft has announced a significant AI update for MS Paint on Windows 11, introducing features like Generative Fill and Generative Erase. These new tools, currently available for Windows Insiders in select regions, allow users to enhance images with AI.
The highlight of this update is the Generative Fill feature, which works similarly to Adobe Photoshop’s AI tool. Users can select an area in Paint, type a text prompt describing what they want to see, and generate objects that blend with the image. This feature, initially limited to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ devices, requires users to log in with their Microsoft account.
Another feature, Generative Erase, allows users to remove objects from images seamlessly. It blends the removed area with the surrounding background, making it available for all Windows 11 users.
Additionally, Microsoft has enhanced the Cocreator tool to generate creative image variations based on the user’s sketches, and the Image Creator feature is expanding to more regions. These AI advancements mark a new era for MS Paint, blending creativity with intuitive design tools in Windows 11.
iQOO 13 Set for December Launch in India with Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC.
iQOO has officially announced that it will launch the iQOO 13 smartphone in India this December, following initial teasers about its arrival. This device will be the second smartphone in India to feature the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, after the Realme GT 7 Pro launch on November 26.
The iQOO 13 boasts a range of high-end specifications, including a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor clocked at up to 4.3GHz, a Q2 chip for 144 fps game frame interpolation, and a 2K 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display. The phone’s “Legend Edition” will feature BMW’s signature tricolor stripes.
On the camera front, the iQOO 13 is equipped with a triple-lens setup: a 50MP primary camera with a Sony IMX921 sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto lens. Additionally, it has a “halo light” around the camera that dynamically adapts to the atmosphere in gaming scenes.
The device packs a 6150mAh third-generation silicon-carbon battery with 120W fast charging, reaching full charge in just 30 minutes. Once launched, the iQOO 13 will be available on Amazon India and the iQOO India online store.
Amazon’s First Colored Kindle, Colorsoft, Faces Display Issues with Early Units
Amazon recently introduced its first colored Kindle e-reader, Colorsoft, marking a new venture for the company. However, early buyers of this device are reporting a yellow bar at the bottom of the display that affects approximately 5–10% of the screen. Some users find the discoloration barely noticeable, while others report it as distracting.
Amazon spokesperson Jill Tornifoglio addressed the issue, stating, “We’re aware of a small number of reports from customers who see a yellow band along the bottom of the display. We take the quality of our products seriously and are looking into it. If customers notice this on their device, they can reach out to our customer service team.”
With an average rating of 2.6 stars on Amazon, Colorsoft’s reviews include multiple complaints about this and other issues, prompting Amazon to delay further shipments by two weeks. It is still unclear if the issue is due to software or hardware faults.
Currently, Colorsoft is available only in select markets, such as the United States, with Amazon planning to expand availability to other regions, including India, in the coming months.
WhatsApp Testing Reverse Image Search Feature for Verifying Shared Images
WhatsApp is introducing a new feature in its Android beta version: reverse image search. This tool allows users to quickly verify the authenticity of images they receive by performing an online search directly from the app. With this feature, users can tap on an image, access the three-dots menu, and select “Search on web,” which uploads the image to Google, displaying identical and similar images to help determine its source and reliability.
While manual reverse image searches were previously possible by sharing images to the Google app, having this function directly integrated into WhatsApp adds convenience, helping users quickly assess whether an image is part of misinformation.
Currently, this feature is only available to beta testers and may take weeks or months to roll out to all users.
iOS 18.2 to Bring Estimated Charge Time and Other New Features
Apple is introducing a new feature in iOS 18.2 that will estimate the time remaining to fully charge an iPhone. The feature was found in the code of iOS 18.2 beta 2, released to developers earlier this week, though it’s not yet active. Named “BatteryIntelligence,” this framework calculates charging time based on the energy input and can notify users when the phone will reach a certain charge level, such as 80%.
The feature is still under development and may appear in future beta releases. A similar function already exists in macOS for MacBooks, which displays time estimates for charging in the Battery menu.
Alongside this feature, iOS 18 brings various battery health options, allowing users to limit their maximum charge to different levels (80%, 85%, 90%, or 95%) to extend battery lifespan. Additionally, iOS now indicates if the iPhone was charged with a slow charger.
Other anticipated updates in iOS 18.2 include enhanced Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji, Image Playgrounds, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence capabilities for iPhone 16 models. Apple plans to release iOS 18.2 to the public in December.
Sony’s PS5 Pro Won’t Launch in India Due to Wi-Fi 7 Regulatory Restrictions
Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation 5 Pro will not be released in India because the 6GHz wireless band needed for IEEE 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) is currently restricted in the country. Sony’s statement, issued on November 8, explained that the PS5 Pro would be unavailable in regions where this band is not yet permitted.
The PS5 Pro, launched in September and priced at $699.99, boasts a powerful graphics chip with advanced ray-tracing and AI upscaling capabilities. According to Sony’s lead architect Mark Cerny, it’s the most powerful console Sony has ever built, offering 45% faster graphics rendering than the regular PS5 and designed to deliver high performance for AAA games.
In place of the PS5 Pro, Sony has introduced a limited-edition PS5 model in India. This special edition, launched ahead of PlayStation’s 30th anniversary in December, features a nostalgic grey color that pays homage to the original 1994 PlayStation. The anniversary model doesn’t offer technical upgrades but serves as a tribute to PlayStation’s legacy, appealing to collectors and new buyers alike.
Roblox Introduces New Safety Features for Users Under 13 to Enhance Protection
Roblox is rolling out new safety features aimed at protecting its younger users, following concerns over inappropriate content on the platform. The online gaming site, which has around 70 million daily users, is particularly popular among children, but some have reported being exposed to harmful content.
Starting December 3, game creators will be required to specify whether their games are suitable for users under 13. Games that do not meet these criteria will be blocked for players aged 12 and younger. Additionally, from November 18, players under 13 will no longer have access to “social hangouts”—games where users interact primarily through text or voice. This move is designed to limit children’s exposure to unmoderated social interactions.
Younger users will also be restricted from accessing “free-form 2D user creation” tools, which allow players to create and share 2D drawings or text-based content without moderation. This measure aims to prevent the sharing of harmful or offensive content that may not be immediately flagged by the platform’s moderation system.
Roblox, which has faced criticism for inadequate protections for children, emphasized its commitment to improving safety. The platform has already implemented over 30 safety improvements this year, with more updates planned. Although these changes will be rolled out soon, enforcement of the new safety requirements will begin in 2025. Roblox acknowledged the tight timeline but thanked developers and users for their cooperation in making the platform safer for all ages.
