Meet the software that wants to change Dhaka’s traffic

Sigmind.ai, a Bangladesh-based AI company, has recently launched TrafficFlow, a software solution for real-time traffic management in urban environments. According to the startup, this AI-based software aims to address the bustling traffic challenges of Dhaka city.

Meta offers to cut Facebook, Instagram monthly fees to 5.99 euros

The move came amid mounting criticism from users about Meta's no-ads subscription service launched in Europe in November which critics say requires users to pay a fee to ensure their privacy.

Infinix unveils the Note 40 series with FastCharge and MagCharge

Infinix has released its new Note 40 series, including the Note 40, Note 40 Pro, Note 40 Pro 5G, and the Note 40 Pro+ 5G, at an event at the F1 Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on 18 March 2024. 

xAI’s Grok chatbot is now available as open-source on Github

Grok, the AI chatbot made by Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI, has been released on Github as an open-source project. The open release is now accessible on GitHub, allowing researchers and developers to freely enhance the Grok model.

Chinese company launches commercial flying taxis

EHang, a Chinese drone manufacturer, has introduced its EH216-S model flying taxi for commercial sale on Taobao, an online shopping platform owned by Alibaba. Priced at 2.39 million yuan ($332,060), the EH216-S is being advertised as "an innovative solution for urban transportation".

Apple to incorporate Google Gemini engine into iPhones: report

Apple is in negotiations to incorporate Google's Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) engine into iPhones, as per a recent report by Bloomberg News.

Bangladeshi-born Rumman Chowdhury selected as US Science Envoy

The U.S. Department of State has recently announced the selection of Dr Rumman Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-origin Bengali American data scientist, as one of the four scientists to serve as a new U.S. Science Envoy in 2024. With this appointment, she has become a part of the first all-female cohort in the history of the U.S. Science Envoy Program.

LinkedIn to launch games on its platform: report

LinkedIn, the professional networking platform owned by Microsoft, is planning to launch games on its platform. Among the early titles in development are games such as "Queens," "Inference," and "Crossclimb", according to a report by tech news platform, TechCrunch. 

Sora, OpenAI's video generator, to be publicly released this year

Sora, the AI-based text-to-video generator by OpenAI, is set to be released to the public this year, according to Mira Murati, Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Murati revealed that Sora will be made open to the public as soon as "this year", potentially "within a few months".

SpaceX developing secret surveillance network for US intelligence: reports

SpaceX, the space exploration company owned by Elon Musk, is reportedly engaged in the development of a surveillance satellite network through a confidential agreement with a U.S. intelligence agency, according to five sources familiar with the matter.

Jobs of the week

Here are our picks for jobs of the week. Check out the article for more details.

LATEST

LATEST

Press Release / Taptap Send offering no-fee money transfer

Taptap Send, a money transfer app, is offering zero fees on all transactions to Bangladesh during Ramadan, according to a press release by the company.

Toyota unveils real-life Pokémon Miraidon bike

In a collaborative effort between Toyota and Pokémon, a special prototype motorcycle based on Miraidon, a legendary Pokémon, has been unveiled in Japan. Announced as the 'Toyota Miraidon Project', the bike is currently being displayed at Midtown Hibiya, Tokyo, from March 15 to 17.

Microsoft Teams to integrate personal and work accounts

Microsoft is planning to introduce a unified version of Teams that combines both personal and work accounts. Currently undergoing testing, the new unified Microsoft Teams app is set to debut for commercial users in April. 

Meet Devin, the AI software engineer

Cognition, a US-based AI startup, has recently unveiled Devin, which is being called "the world's first AI software engineer". According to the company, Devin has already shown notable success in autonomous software development, passing practical engineering interviews at leading AI companies to completing real jobs on platforms like Upwork.

Lamborghini designer Marcello Gandini dies at 85

Marcello Gandini, the legendary Italian designer known for his work on numerous exotic cars, has died at the age of 85, according to RaiNews, Italy's state-owned news agency.

Oracle launches finance-based generative AI

Oracle, the software company, has recently announced that it is adding generative artificial intelligence (AI) features across its corporate software lineup. This move will increase competition with Microsoft and other technology firms to sell the technology to businesses.

STARTUPS

STARTUPS

Mukesh Ambani's 5 tips for successful entrepreneurs

In a rare glimpse into the mind of one of India's most successful entrepreneurs and the current richest man in Asia, Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Group, shared insights regarding entrepreneurship success during the NASSCOM conference in 2017. While the event is now about seven years old, Ambani's lessons are evergreen, as he offered valuable advice to budding entrepreneurs that will remain relevant for years to come. Here are the five key takeaways from his tips that can serve as a guiding light for those charting the entrepreneurial path.

Press Release / WPDeveloper unveils parent company Startise

WPDeveloper, a WordPress based product company, has recently unveiled its parent company Startise in a "Grand Surprise Event" at Capital’s Radisson Blu hotel. In addition to WPDeveloper, Startise now oversees a portfolio of five companies, including Templately, xCloud, easy.jobs, and Storeware.

Sam Altman's new AI chip startup awaiting US approval: reports

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, is awaiting approval from the US government for his new AI chips startup, according to a recent report by Bloomberg News. The report suggests that this emerging venture has the potential to trigger concerns related to national security and antitrust issues.

Six intl. startups working towards fashion recycling solutions

The fashion industry's significant issue of excessive waste is prompting governments worldwide, especially the EU, to set ambitious recycling goals. Here are some international startups that are working towards the ambitious goal of effective textile recycling solutions.

Shark Tank Bangladesh unveils their lineup of 'Sharks'

The internationally acclaimed business reality show 'Shark Tank' has officially announced the judges, also referred to as 'Sharks', for their first-ever Bangladeshi adaptation. The show, which has aired in over 40 countries, is being produced in Bangladesh by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Bongo BD.

Apon Bazaar raises USD 1.5 mil in investment

Apon Bazaar, a local ecommerce marketplace, has recently raised an investment of USD 1.5 million in a pre-seed round. As per Apon Bazaar, this investment came from several local and foreign investors, including Startup Bangladesh and the US-based venture capital firm Village Capital.

Shothik AI gets selected for Google for AI Startup Cloud Program

Shothik AI, a Bangladeshi AI-based startup has recently received USD 350,000 from Google for AI Startup Cloud program and USD 100,000 from Amazon. 

APPS

APPS

U.S. passes bill that could potentially ban TikTok

The U.S. House of Representatives has recently approved a bill that requires ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to sell off its American assets within six months or risk being banned from operating in the country.

Spotify introduces music video feature

Spotify, the global music streaming giant, has announced the introduction of a music video feature, exclusive to its premium subscribers. This strategic expansion, part of a limited beta launch, is aimed at enriching the user experience by offering full-length music videos. Initially, this feature will be available to users in a select group of countries.

AI tools create misleading election images: Researchers

AI-based image generation tools such as OpenAI's DALL-E, Microsoft's Gemini, Stability AI's DreamStudio, and Midjourney, can produce misleading election-related images, according to researchers from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit organisation.

Making calls on X? It may reveal your location

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, recently expanded its audio and video calling capabilities to all users, irrespective of their account type. However, this rollout has uncovered a significant privacy issue related to the potential exposure of users' Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

Meet Indus Appstore: the Indian Google Play Store

PhonePe, a fintech company established in 2016, has unveiled the Indus Appstore, an Android app store for Indian consumers. According to the company, the app store has already crossed 1 lakh downloads within three days of launch, and is available in 12 regional languages.

Google limits Gemini AI image generation after controversial Nazi portrayal

Google has announced its decision to prevent users from generating images of individuals on the newly introduced image generation feature in Gemini AI. This decision comes in response to the AI tool portraying Nazi-era soldiers as individuals from various ethnic backgrounds as per a prompt shown by a user in X, formerly Twitter.

EU to formally investigate TikTok over content safety rules

The European Union is set to investigate potential breaches in online content rules by TikTok, according to a recent statement by an EU official. As per the statement, if TikTok is found guilty of breaking rules meant to safeguard children and promote transparent advertising, the popular short-video-sharing platform will be liable to a large fine.

GADGETS

GADGETS

iPhone 16 design leaks hint at new ‘capture’ button

Recent leaks of CAD (Computer-aided design) files purported to depict the iPhone 16 Pro have surfaced online, offering a glimpse into what Apple's forthcoming flagship might entail.

Demystifying graphics cards: A beginner's buying guide

Any gamer who wishes to enjoy competitive or AAA games is subject to making a decision - to choose either a gaming PC or a Current Generation Console. We can argue forever about which medium of enjoying games is more fulfilling, but we all know the best way to enjoy games is on your smartphone. Jokes aside, if you are considering a gaming PC then you should know that Graphics cards are the beating heart of any computer tasked with gaming. In layman's terms, they are components that go inside your computer enabling your machine to handle intensive 3D tasks. 

Press Release / Vivo V30 launched in Bangladesh

Vivo V30 launched in Bangladesh Vivo V30 has been officially launched in Bangladesh. The smartphone comes with a 6.78-inch AMOLED 3-D curved display, 5000 mAh battery, Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen-3 processor, and FunTouch OS 14.

Samsung unveils bendable phone concept; OLED Cling Band

Samsung recently unveiled a prototype concept for a bendable phone that can wrap itself around the user's wrist, at the Mobile World Congress 2024 held in Barcelona, Spain. Named the 'OLED Cling Band', the phone features a flexible 6.9-inch screen with a bezel-less display when straightened out.

Apple is finally getting into generative AI

Apple is planning to reveal its plans surrounding generative artificial intelligence (AI) later this year, according to a recent statement made by Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. The statement was made during the tech giant's annual shareholder meeting held on February 28, 2024.

Lenovo unveils transparent display laptop concept

Called the ThinkBook Transparent Display Laptop Concept, the proof of concept features a 17.3-inch Micro-LED borderless and see-through display facilitated by Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC).

GUIDES

GUIDES

How to choose the right power supply unit for your PC

You can think of the PSU as the heart of your computer, pumping electricity to different organs. Whether you're a seasoned PC enthusiast or a beginner looking to learn more, this guide will explain the basics of PSUs.

Choosing the right fire extinguisher, and how to use them

There are five main types of fire extinguishers, each designed for specific types of fires, marked by distinct colour codes and suitable for various materials like paper, wood, textiles, flammable liquids, and electrical equipment.

Choosing the right NVMe SSD: a user-guide for PC builders

If you are building a PC, you probably have already picked your motherboard, CPU and RAM. But what about the NVMe SSDs? These are storage devices that use flash memory to store data. NVMe stands for Nonvolatile Memory Express, and SSD stands for Solid State Drive. NVMe SSDs are faster, quieter, more reliable, and more energy efficient than other storage options. However, picking the right NVMe SSDs for your PC can be tricky because you need to consider myriad factors. You might also get confused by their technical terms or even by marketing labels like creator or gaming. This guide will explain the basics of NVMe SSD and what a new buyer should look out for.

How to check election results online on the EC app

Bangladesh Election Commission Secretariat has released the 'Smart Election Management BD' app, which is intended to help voters to stay updated online. Voters can see their polling centres and their addresses, voter numbers, and voting serial numbers by providing NID information and birth date in the designated sections of the app.

Here’s the new price for heart rings

Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) of Bangladesh has set a new price list for coronary stents, popularly known as heart rings.

How to edit sent messages in Messenger

Meta has recently rolled out a highly-coveted feature for Messenger, the ability to edit sent messages. With this new update, users can now freely edit any messages they have sent within 15 minutes of sending that message.

How to stay safe from the 'job offer' scam message

One particular scam that has become common lately is the 'job offer' scam message, in which unknown phone numbers offer jobs or money to unsuspecting mobile phone users. If you have recently received such scam messages, then be careful. Follow these ways to stay safe from this ongoing scam.

Videos and Podcasts

Videos and Podcasts

Apple iphone Event in 12 Minutes

The essentials from tonight's Apple Event

Developing Games in Bangladesh

Game development in Asia has largely been taking place in East Asia since the creation of video games. Is this about to change ? We talked to Mehnaz Irtika from The Daily Star, who told us about the challenges Bangladesh's game industry faces if it wants to compete with the big dogs.

Augmenting Schools - AR Learning

We explore the use of Augmented Reality in education. With us to discuss how deployment of AR could affect Bangladesh's education and consumer sector is Md. Ridwan Sakib Anjum, an in-house contributor for the Tech and Startup section of The Daily Star.

Data Thieves - Stolen Identity

Whether it's putting a photo of a drivers license #online, or going to a sketchy #website, we can all make mistake that compromise our #identity. It's even more unfair when even when we've done everything right, our #data are being #stolen. We talked with Zarif Faiaz from ANN's The Daily Star to tell us about how this is happening in Bangladesh, and how we may minimise the impact.

iPhone 15 to be released officially on September 12

Apple has officially announced its annual event, scheduled for 12 September at Apple Park. The invitation, titled "Wonderlust," indicates that the company plans to unveil its iPhone 15 series, among other products.

Why should you use eSIM?

eSIM is being introduced in Bangladesh. A private telecommunication company is set to bring eSIM to the market. But what is eSIM? What is the difference between a regular SIM card and an eSIM?

$5 billion export from ICT industry by 2025?

Bangladesh aims to achieve exports worth $5 billion from its ICT industry by 2025. The Daily Star's Tech section editor Shahriar Rahman speaks to former BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir on how it can be achieved in this episode of Star Connects.

What will solve the complications in e-commerce deliveries?

The Daily Star editor of Toggle Shahriar Rahman discusses possible solutions to the complications in e-commerce behind stagnating deliveries with Saifur Rahman, Senior IT Specialist, Australian Public Service, in Star Connects.

Sony reportedly working on PlayStation 5 Pro

Sony's PlayStation division is reportedly working on a PlayStation 5 Pro model that is rumoured to boast a GPU up to three times more powerful than existing PS5 models. While Sony has not officially announced this new model, recent leaks suggest the upgraded PS5 will likely be released in December 2024.

3d ago

Two Bangladeshis honoured at The Diana Award

Bangladesh's Nafira Nayeem Ahmad and Shamim Ahmed Mridha were honoured with the Legacy Award.

3d ago

Vehicle insurance to be made mandatory

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has today approved the draft Road Transport Amendment Act, 2024, reinstating mandatory insurance for all types of vehicles operating on the roads, including motorcycles, private cars, buses, and trucks. The decision revises the Road Transport Act of 2018, which had made vehicle insurance optional.

5d ago

Bangladesh Computer Council to digitally archive Titas Gas customer files

Bangladesh Computer Council to digitally archive Titas Gas customer files.

5d ago

AI to combat poverty: a2i and GiveDirectly join forces

Access to Information (a2i), in partnership with the non-profit organisation GiveDirectly, today spearheaded an international learning event aimed at enhancing the delivery of humanitarian aid through innovative technological approaches. The collaboration, benefiting from the support of USAID and Google.org, alongside technical guidance from the University of California Berkeley, has made significant strides over the past year in utilising machine learning and mobile data analytics to refine the targeting mechanisms for aid distribution in Bangladesh. According to a press handout, this effort has successfully identified and facilitated cash transfers to vulnerable communities, including Rohingya refugee hosts, through mobile money solutions.

5d ago

Xiaomi’s SU7 electric car comes out this month

Xiaomi, the Chinese technology giant, recently announced that it will start deliveries of its first electric vehicle (EV) known as Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) this month. 

1w ago

Cover letters: are they relevant anymore?

The efficiency of parsing through standardised resumes and extracting relevant information has led many employers to prioritise resumes and online application forms over cover letters. Thus, brings the obvious question: are cover letters even relevant anymore?

1w ago

Palak unveils BTCL’s high-speed internet 'GBon'

‘GBon’, a high-speed broadband service by the Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) was recently launched by Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.

1w ago

79% female commuters in Dhaka experience sexual harassment on public transport: research says

Recent research led by BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University has shown study which indicates nearly 79% female commuters in Dhaka experience sexual harassment on public transport. Among which about 60% feel traumatised and 12% are unable to overcome the experience. The data consisted of 1030 respondents among which 60% were female and 40% were male. Analysis of the study titled ‘Transportation accessibility and Safety in Dhaka City: A Gender Based Assessment’ reveals that one in every six female commuters faces daily sexual harassment. 

1w ago

Bitcoin value briefly reaches $70,000

The value of Bitcoin briefly reached a record high of $70,000 on March 8, 2024. This price rise is being attributed towards Bitcon's recent surge in popularity, as the cryptocurrency has been the subject of much attention from the international investment community. 

1w ago
push notification