Today in Tech: Xiaomi does away with MiUI, new Intel chips, lossless audio for Android phones & more

After 13 long years, Xiaomi is finally doing away with MiUI OS. Fs in the chat folks, but this is for a good cause. They're replacing it with the all new HyperOS, which promises new features, a dynamic UI and a new way to use your phone. That's not all, if you're in the market for a laptop, chances are you'll have plenty of choices, as India is cancelling plans to restrict laptop imports. Read about this and more in this today's tech news roundup.

The MiUI era comes to an end after 13 long years. But, it's being replaced by something that's better and bolder- HyperOS. This is an OS designed with not only mobile phones in mind, but other smart gadgets as well. It leans into the ecosystem side of things, bringing uniformity across all Xiaomi tech products. HyperOS will be available with the Xiaomi 14 series, and these phones will run the OS out of the box. Though the exact launch date of the phones and the OS is unknown, we can expect them to be available by the end of this month.

Intel has launched the new Intel Core 14th Generation desktop processor family globally, led by its Core i9-14900K processor. This latest-generation family includes six new unlocked desktop processors, delivering up to 24 cores and 32 threads and up to 6 GHz of frequency right out of the box. The i9-14900K processor gives gamers the edge they need to stay on top, and with 25 per cent more cores in the i7-14700K processor, creators will enjoy significant performance gains in their multi-threaded workloads.

The latest desktop processor family comes equipped with integrated support for Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth 5.3, as well as discrete support for new Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 wireless technologies.

Audiophiles, rejoice! Finally, Google is bringing lossless audio via USB. This can be primarily useful if you use IEMs, which require a DAC to be used to their full potential. Several USB-C DACs are the go to choice, and with Android phones natively supporting it, it makes things much easier. Readers should note that this is available only to Pixel 8 users, on the Beta version of Android. Also, users should have subscriptions to music streaming apps which allow for lossless streaming- Apple Music and Prime Music.

The government is rolling back its plan to restrict laptop imports. The move was aimed at boosting domestic production but had drawn flak from within the industry. Now, India will not impose restrictions on laptop imports, it was announced recently. The import licensing regime, was meant to "ensure trusted hardware and systems" enter India which was an oblique reference to Chinese goods. The restrictions would have hit sales of US companies such as Apple, Dell, HP, and Korean electronics giant Samsung among others. At any rate, this could likely push newer

OnePlus' first foldable phone, the Open, is nearing launch and lots of information has been coming cropping up around the web. This new info comes from Mr Mobile on YouTube, who toured OnePlus's factory in China. In the video, the main focus was on durability and the crease aspect. As for the crease, it seems to be much more shallow than what we've seen on other foldables, similar to the one on Oppo's newly launched screen. Apart from that, the durability should be hard to gauge at a glance, but reports suggest that the number of moving parts in there are just 69, and it weighs just 13 grams.

Samsung's upcoming flagship series ‘Galaxy S24’ will include three models, the media reported. The S24 series will contain vanilla, Plus and Ultra variants, just like the S23 lineup. The lineup was expected to include just two phones, but that's been debunked. Now, though, reports suggest that the Ultra variant of the S24 will boast a beastly 200MP camera in addition to a 48MP telephoto lens as well. Samsung has been pushing smartphone camera boundaries for a while now, and this is just another step in that direction.