Instagram Video Calling Feature Leaks, Said to Be in Internal Testing

A long time after enabling its users with the Direct message feature, Instagram is now reportedly testing a feature to enable video calls. The rumoured feature - if it becomes a reality - will make Instagram a step closer to Snapchat that already allowing its users to make audio and video calls alongside offering a dedicated chat option. However, Instagram has officially refused to comment on the new development.

The video calling feature on Instagram, which was spotted by WhatsApp fan blog WABetaInfo, would let users make video calls directly from an Instagram Direct message thread. It is claimed to be initially available for internal testing, though a screenshot is available through the source to prove its existence. The leaked screenshot allegedly shows a new video call icon in the top-right corner of an Instagram Direct message, and it appears similar to what's presently available on WhatsApp. The icon would enable video calling with a one-tap gesture when a user is within an active chat. Further, the video call feature is claimed to be available in the next few months for both Android and iOS devices.

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Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S to Be the First Snapdragon 845 SoC Smartphone: Report

Weeks ahead of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018, Xiaomi is rumoured to be in the development of the Mi MIX 2S. The new Mi MIX model, which is likely to be an upgrade of the last year's Mi MIX 2, is already reported to be the offering that could debut from Xiaomi's side at the forthcoming MWC in Barcelona. However, a new report from China claims that the handset will also be the first model by the company to come with a Snapdragon 845 SoC. Xiaomi and Qualcomm announced their partnership on the Snapdragon 845 last month, and the first Xiaomi smartphone to feature the new processor was initially expected to be the Mi 7, the new flagship that is not likely to debut at MWC 2018.

As per the latest report by Chinese blog IT168, the upcoming Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S won't just be the company's first but also the world's first smartphone with a Snapdragon 845 SoC. The new model is also said to feature an upgraded camera over the one available on the Mi MIX 2, which was launched back in last September. Particularly, the Chinese source claims that Xiaomi will be using tge new Sony IMX363 camera sensor that will be equipped with a dual-pixel autofocus technology to deliver enhanced night image results.

Alongside the new camera setup, the Mi MIX 2S is rumoured to have a design similar to the iPhone X. This means we can expect a notch on the front, though the new model is likely to retain the original bezel-less design pattern that was highly praised on the Mi MIX in 2016. Also, the Snapdragon 845 is already claimed to have an on-device artificial intelligence (AI) functionality that could result in features such as facial recognition on the new Mi MIX model.

As far as the price of the Mi MIX 2S is concerned, some past reports suggested that the smartphone would go on sale in China at CNY 4,000 (approximately Rs. 40,200). It is speculated to hit stores in the country sometime in March - after an initial showcase at MWC 2018.

It would be interesting to see how Xiaomi would manage to get the title of launching the world's first Snapdragon 845 processor-backed smartphone as companies such as Samsung and Sony are in the list of few initial vendors to use the same SoC on their upcoming flagships. Moreover, the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ are expected to come with the same top-end Snapdragon processor in the US market.

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Japan's Cryptocurrency Girl Band Stays Loyal to Virtual Money After Cyber Heist

Members of a Japanese girl pop group, the Virtual Currency Girls, said on Monday they had refused an offer to be paid in yen and would stay loyal to cryptocurrencies despite a $530 million (roughly Rs. 3,300 crores) cyber heist jeopardising their chances of getting paid.

A cryptocurrency account that pays part of the band's salary was among those frozen as a result of the suspension of trading at Tokyo-based Coincheck exchange on Friday following the theft of NEM, one of the world's most popular digital currencies.

"Our manager offered to pay us in yen, but we declined," said Hinano Shirahama, who is the band's bitcoin character.

Dressed in maid costumes and wearing wrestling masks adorned with fuzzy pom-pom ears and cryptocurrency symbols the eight Virtual Currency Girls are a pop music manifestation of the digital currency frenzy that has swept Japan and other parts of the world.

Shirahama and other group members said they would stay together regardless of the setback. Formed by an entertainment promoter the band debuted this month and have yet to garner a significant following.

Virtual Currency Girls, which performs songs such as "The Moon, Cryptocurrencies and Me" are paid in cryptocurrency for tickets and merchandise at their concerts.
Regulators fear both the rampant speculation in cryptocurrencies and risk that the markets could be used for funding criminal and terrorist groups.
 
Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) only began requiring exchanges to register from April 2017. Half of the 32 operators are still awaiting approval.

In 2014, Japan's Mt. Gox, which once handled 80 percent of the world's Bitcoin trades, filed for bankruptcy after losing around half a billion dollars worth of Bitcoins.

Last month, South Korean exchange Youbit shut down and filed for bankruptcy after being hacked twice.

Japan's FSA on Friday criticised Coincheck for failing to take adequate security precautions to foil hacking attacks and said it would begin inspections at other exchanges.

"Coincheck has some responsibility, but the real culprit is the hacker," said Koharu Kamikawa wearing her fur-eared mask with the NEM cryptocurrency logo on her forehead.

© Thomson Reuters 2018

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