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California announces nation’s largest public broadband network

California announces nation’s largest public broadband network

Tech-news

California just launched the largest public broadband network in the country — and its serving Indigenous communities first.

On April 2, Governor Gavin Newsom officially “turned on” California’s new Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN), part of the state’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative and Broadband for All pledge. One of several projects funded by the $3.2 billion initiative, California’s Department of Technology (CDT) repurposed dormant fiber infrastructure in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain region and created a full-fledged, high-capacity broadband backbone for use by nearby rural communities. The effort joins other nationwide projects aimed at filling out the country’s “missing miles” of internet by providing fiber-optic cables, a gap that predominantly affects rural and indigenous communities.

The state also unveiled its first customer: The Bishop Paiute Tribe, located at the base of the Sierra Nevada in Bishop, California.

“Today marks a historic first as a California tribal nation enthusiastically leads the way to provide increased access and reliability to their local community,” said Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari in a press release.

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Through the partnership, the Bishop Paiute Tribe will act as its own Internet Service Provider (ISP), independently managing and operating its broadband service, including setting pricing and service offerings for households on and off the reservation.

“A lot of work has gone into this project,” Emma Williams, chairwoman of the Bishop Paiute Tribe. “We’re so happy to have this portion of the state’s middle-mile network turned on so the people in our community who desperately need a reliable and affordable internet connection can access everything from schoolwork to telehealth appointments.”

It’s especially significant that the state’s first live project is connecting a federal tribe. Much like other rural areas across the country, Indigenous communities are still grossly underserved by ISPs, reporting lower broadband subscription rates, slower download speeds, and a higher reliance on smartphones for internet usage when compared to the general population. In early federal funding allotments for rural broadband projects, tribal lands and organizations made up less than 3 percent.

The Biden-Harris administration significantly ramped up investment in such projects, but connecting these areas takes time. To fill the gap, many tribal nations have funded their own community internet projects or turned to communication giants, like AT&T, to secure reliable internet connectivity.

While California has continued investing in projects to connect communities via last mile projects, the federal government has waned in its commitment to rural broadband connectivity under the Trump administration. Zeroing out rural broadband funding and rebranding the existing Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, the Trump administration has instead placed its focus on private satellite internet providers, including Elon Musk-owned Starlink.

“This is a meaningful step in the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, as it signifies the first active connection, but also the commitment to Tribal communities,” Matthew Rantanen explained in a statement to Mashable. A connectivity veteran, Rantanen has consulted on California’s Tribal Advisory Group, serves as director of technology at the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, and is the vice president of tribal relations for GoldenStateNet, the third-party administrator to CDT and MMBN. “It is particularly relevant for the Bishop Paiute Tribe, as it is a key ingredient to the success of their next phase, building fiber to the home and establishing their own ISP.”

Speaking to Mashable last year, Rantanen explained that the Trump administration’s new internet priorities could pose a risk to existing Middle Mile and tribal connectivity projects, many of which were already allocated federal dollars. State governments are filling in gaps, but many face additional pressure from Trump and his appointees, including FCC chair Brendan Carr.

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India on Thursday approved a manufacturing joint venture between China’s Vivo and local manufacturer Dixon Technologies, a move that could mark the next phase of the country’s smartphone manufacturing boom after Apple helped turn India into a global smartphone production hub.

The approval allows Vivo to proceed with a long-delayed manufacturing partnership first announced in December 2024, after New Delhi cleared the investment under investment rules introduced in 2020 that require extra government scrutiny of investment from countries sharing a land border with India — a category that includes China. The joint venture will acquire certain manufacturing assets from Vivo, manufacture part of the company’s smartphone orders in India, and can also produce electronic products for other brands, according to a stock exchange filing by Noida-based Dixon.

The 51/49 venture — majority-owned by Dixon, with Vivo holding the remaining stake — reflects a broader shift in how Chinese smartphone brands are expanding manufacturing in India through local partnerships. For an industry watching how governments referee the relationship between Chinese capital and domestic manufacturing, the structure, analysts believe, could become a template for similar arrangements across the industry, helping broaden India’s smartphone manufacturing story beyond Apple.

Over the past few years, India has emerged as a major global smartphone manufacturing hub as Apple and its suppliers expanded iPhone production in the country while diversifying supply chains beyond China. Government incentives have also helped attract global electronics manufacturers, boosting the country’s role in global smartphone production.

Apple spent years building its manufacturing footprint in India and today accounts for 57% of the country’s smartphone exports by volume, according to Counterpoint Research’s data shared with TechCrunch. Chinese brands, on the other hand, dominate India’s smartphone market sales with 72% of the market, but contribute less than 10% of exports, a gap that shows how much upside is still on the table if they start exporting from India the way Apple does.

Apple’s India manufacturing expansion has largely been driven by suppliers such as Foxconn and Tata. Chinese smartphone brands, meanwhile, are increasingly exploring partnerships with Indian companies after New Delhi tightened investment rules for neighboring countries following the 2020 border clashes with China. Several of those companies, including Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi, have also faced tax and regulatory investigations in India in recent years, which helps explain why ceding majority control to an Indian partner is now looking like the more sustainable path forward.

Local partnerships such as the Dixon-Vivo venture offer Chinese brands a more stable operating model, while aligning with India’s push for greater local participation in electronics manufacturing, said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research.

“The approval of this joint venture creates a win-win for both players,” Pathak told TechCrunch. He added that the majority-Indian-owned structure provides Vivo with greater policy alignment while giving Dixon the scale to deepen local value addition and pursue exports.

Vivo has manufactured and exported smartphones from India for years, but the approved venture marks a shift toward a majority Indian-owned manufacturing structure as the market leader deepens its footprint in the world’s second-largest smartphone market. The Chinese smartphone vendor retained the top spot in India’s smartphone market with a 23% shipment share in Q1, per Counterpoint.

For Dixon, India’s largest electronics manufacturing services company, the venture could add annualized manufacturing volumes of about 20 million to 22 million smartphones, based on Vivo’s current sales, according to comments by Managing Director Atul Lall during the company’s May earnings call. That’s a meaningful volume bump for a public company whose growth increasingly hinges on winning exactly these kinds of manufacturing contracts.

Dixon already manufactures smartphones for Xiaomi, suggesting the Vivo venture builds on an expanding role as a manufacturing partner for both global and Chinese smartphone brands in India, and reinforces its position as one of the more reliable bets in India’s electronics build-out.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Apple #Indias #smartphone #manufacturing #boom #enters #phase #Vivo #TechCrunchDixon,vivo">After Apple, India’s smartphone manufacturing boom enters new phase with Vivo JV | TechCrunch India on Thursday approved a manufacturing joint venture between China’s Vivo and local manufacturer Dixon Technologies, a move that could mark the next phase of the country’s smartphone manufacturing boom after Apple helped turn India into a global smartphone production hub. The approval allows Vivo to proceed with a long-delayed manufacturing partnership first announced in December 2024, after New Delhi cleared the investment under investment rules introduced in 2020 that require extra government scrutiny of investment from countries sharing a land border with India — a category that includes China. The joint venture will acquire certain manufacturing assets from Vivo, manufacture part of the company’s smartphone orders in India, and can also produce electronic products for other brands, according to a stock exchange filing by Noida-based Dixon. The 51/49 venture — majority-owned by Dixon, with Vivo holding the remaining stake — reflects a broader shift in how Chinese smartphone brands are expanding manufacturing in India through local partnerships. For an industry watching how governments referee the relationship between Chinese capital and domestic manufacturing, the structure, analysts believe, could become a template for similar arrangements across the industry, helping broaden India’s smartphone manufacturing story beyond Apple. Over the past few years, India has emerged as a major global smartphone manufacturing hub as Apple and its suppliers expanded iPhone production in the country while diversifying supply chains beyond China. Government incentives have also helped attract global electronics manufacturers, boosting the country’s role in global smartphone production. Apple spent years building its manufacturing footprint in India and today accounts for 57% of the country’s smartphone exports by volume, according to Counterpoint Research’s data shared with TechCrunch. Chinese brands, on the other hand, dominate India’s smartphone market sales with 72% of the market, but contribute less than 10% of exports, a gap that shows how much upside is still on the table if they start exporting from India the way Apple does. Apple’s India manufacturing expansion has largely been driven by suppliers such as Foxconn and Tata. Chinese smartphone brands, meanwhile, are increasingly exploring partnerships with Indian companies after New Delhi tightened investment rules for neighboring countries following the 2020 border clashes with China. Several of those companies, including Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi, have also faced tax and regulatory investigations in India in recent years, which helps explain why ceding majority control to an Indian partner is now looking like the more sustainable path forward. Local partnerships such as the Dixon-Vivo venture offer Chinese brands a more stable operating model, while aligning with India’s push for greater local participation in electronics manufacturing, said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research. “The approval of this joint venture creates a win-win for both players,” Pathak told TechCrunch. He added that the majority-Indian-owned structure provides Vivo with greater policy alignment while giving Dixon the scale to deepen local value addition and pursue exports. Vivo has manufactured and exported smartphones from India for years, but the approved venture marks a shift toward a majority Indian-owned manufacturing structure as the market leader deepens its footprint in the world’s second-largest smartphone market. The Chinese smartphone vendor retained the top spot in India’s smartphone market with a 23% shipment share in Q1, per Counterpoint. For Dixon, India’s largest electronics manufacturing services company, the venture could add annualized manufacturing volumes of about 20 million to 22 million smartphones, based on Vivo’s current sales, according to comments by Managing Director Atul Lall during the company’s May earnings call. That’s a meaningful volume bump for a public company whose growth increasingly hinges on winning exactly these kinds of manufacturing contracts. Dixon already manufactures smartphones for Xiaomi, suggesting the Vivo venture builds on an expanding role as a manufacturing partner for both global and Chinese smartphone brands in India, and reinforces its position as one of the more reliable bets in India’s electronics build-out. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#Apple #Indias #smartphone #manufacturing #boom #enters #phase #Vivo #TechCrunchDixon,vivo

first announced in December 2024, after New Delhi cleared the investment under investment rules introduced in 2020 that require extra government scrutiny of investment from countries sharing a land border with India — a category that includes China. The joint venture will acquire certain manufacturing assets from Vivo, manufacture part of the company’s smartphone orders in India, and can also produce electronic products for other brands, according to a stock exchange filing by Noida-based Dixon.

The 51/49 venture — majority-owned by Dixon, with Vivo holding the remaining stake — reflects a broader shift in how Chinese smartphone brands are expanding manufacturing in India through local partnerships. For an industry watching how governments referee the relationship between Chinese capital and domestic manufacturing, the structure, analysts believe, could become a template for similar arrangements across the industry, helping broaden India’s smartphone manufacturing story beyond Apple.

Over the past few years, India has emerged as a major global smartphone manufacturing hub as Apple and its suppliers expanded iPhone production in the country while diversifying supply chains beyond China. Government incentives have also helped attract global electronics manufacturers, boosting the country’s role in global smartphone production.

Apple spent years building its manufacturing footprint in India and today accounts for 57% of the country’s smartphone exports by volume, according to Counterpoint Research’s data shared with TechCrunch. Chinese brands, on the other hand, dominate India’s smartphone market sales with 72% of the market, but contribute less than 10% of exports, a gap that shows how much upside is still on the table if they start exporting from India the way Apple does.

Apple’s India manufacturing expansion has largely been driven by suppliers such as Foxconn and Tata. Chinese smartphone brands, meanwhile, are increasingly exploring partnerships with Indian companies after New Delhi tightened investment rules for neighboring countries following the 2020 border clashes with China. Several of those companies, including Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi, have also faced tax and regulatory investigations in India in recent years, which helps explain why ceding majority control to an Indian partner is now looking like the more sustainable path forward.

Local partnerships such as the Dixon-Vivo venture offer Chinese brands a more stable operating model, while aligning with India’s push for greater local participation in electronics manufacturing, said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research.

“The approval of this joint venture creates a win-win for both players,” Pathak told TechCrunch. He added that the majority-Indian-owned structure provides Vivo with greater policy alignment while giving Dixon the scale to deepen local value addition and pursue exports.

Vivo has manufactured and exported smartphones from India for years, but the approved venture marks a shift toward a majority Indian-owned manufacturing structure as the market leader deepens its footprint in the world’s second-largest smartphone market. The Chinese smartphone vendor retained the top spot in India’s smartphone market with a 23% shipment share in Q1, per Counterpoint.

For Dixon, India’s largest electronics manufacturing services company, the venture could add annualized manufacturing volumes of about 20 million to 22 million smartphones, based on Vivo’s current sales, according to comments by Managing Director Atul Lall during the company’s May earnings call. That’s a meaningful volume bump for a public company whose growth increasingly hinges on winning exactly these kinds of manufacturing contracts.

Dixon already manufactures smartphones for Xiaomi, suggesting the Vivo venture builds on an expanding role as a manufacturing partner for both global and Chinese smartphone brands in India, and reinforces its position as one of the more reliable bets in India’s electronics build-out.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Apple #Indias #smartphone #manufacturing #boom #enters #phase #Vivo #TechCrunchDixon,vivo">After Apple, India’s smartphone manufacturing boom enters new phase with Vivo JV | TechCrunch

India on Thursday approved a manufacturing joint venture between China’s Vivo and local manufacturer Dixon Technologies, a move that could mark the next phase of the country’s smartphone manufacturing boom after Apple helped turn India into a global smartphone production hub.

The approval allows Vivo to proceed with a long-delayed manufacturing partnership first announced in December 2024, after New Delhi cleared the investment under investment rules introduced in 2020 that require extra government scrutiny of investment from countries sharing a land border with India — a category that includes China. The joint venture will acquire certain manufacturing assets from Vivo, manufacture part of the company’s smartphone orders in India, and can also produce electronic products for other brands, according to a stock exchange filing by Noida-based Dixon.

The 51/49 venture — majority-owned by Dixon, with Vivo holding the remaining stake — reflects a broader shift in how Chinese smartphone brands are expanding manufacturing in India through local partnerships. For an industry watching how governments referee the relationship between Chinese capital and domestic manufacturing, the structure, analysts believe, could become a template for similar arrangements across the industry, helping broaden India’s smartphone manufacturing story beyond Apple.

Over the past few years, India has emerged as a major global smartphone manufacturing hub as Apple and its suppliers expanded iPhone production in the country while diversifying supply chains beyond China. Government incentives have also helped attract global electronics manufacturers, boosting the country’s role in global smartphone production.

Apple spent years building its manufacturing footprint in India and today accounts for 57% of the country’s smartphone exports by volume, according to Counterpoint Research’s data shared with TechCrunch. Chinese brands, on the other hand, dominate India’s smartphone market sales with 72% of the market, but contribute less than 10% of exports, a gap that shows how much upside is still on the table if they start exporting from India the way Apple does.

Apple’s India manufacturing expansion has largely been driven by suppliers such as Foxconn and Tata. Chinese smartphone brands, meanwhile, are increasingly exploring partnerships with Indian companies after New Delhi tightened investment rules for neighboring countries following the 2020 border clashes with China. Several of those companies, including Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi, have also faced tax and regulatory investigations in India in recent years, which helps explain why ceding majority control to an Indian partner is now looking like the more sustainable path forward.

Local partnerships such as the Dixon-Vivo venture offer Chinese brands a more stable operating model, while aligning with India’s push for greater local participation in electronics manufacturing, said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research.

“The approval of this joint venture creates a win-win for both players,” Pathak told TechCrunch. He added that the majority-Indian-owned structure provides Vivo with greater policy alignment while giving Dixon the scale to deepen local value addition and pursue exports.

Vivo has manufactured and exported smartphones from India for years, but the approved venture marks a shift toward a majority Indian-owned manufacturing structure as the market leader deepens its footprint in the world’s second-largest smartphone market. The Chinese smartphone vendor retained the top spot in India’s smartphone market with a 23% shipment share in Q1, per Counterpoint.

For Dixon, India’s largest electronics manufacturing services company, the venture could add annualized manufacturing volumes of about 20 million to 22 million smartphones, based on Vivo’s current sales, according to comments by Managing Director Atul Lall during the company’s May earnings call. That’s a meaningful volume bump for a public company whose growth increasingly hinges on winning exactly these kinds of manufacturing contracts.

Dixon already manufactures smartphones for Xiaomi, suggesting the Vivo venture builds on an expanding role as a manufacturing partner for both global and Chinese smartphone brands in India, and reinforces its position as one of the more reliable bets in India’s electronics build-out.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Apple #Indias #smartphone #manufacturing #boom #enters #phase #Vivo #TechCrunchDixon,vivo
official website before the game’s soft launch in August 2026. Players who register for the game will receive rewards upon its release. There will be mission stories and open-world gameplay. According to the developer, player choices will influence certain missions and gameplay events.

Key Features the Game Offers

Gangstar Mirage City brings together open-world exploration, racing, and action in a single experience. In addition to story missions, players can explore different parts of the city, collect vehicles, and compete in street races. The game also includes cooperative heists, allowing friends to complete missions together.

Building a criminal empire is yet another important aspect of the game. Capturing territories can help players enhance their influence and generate revenue. They can also personalize their weapons and vehicles according to the requirements of specific missions and fights. If you are one of those people who like competitive gaming, you can join the team fights, vehicle fights, last-man-standing games, and PvP-based objective games. The developers have also confirmed that more arenas and multiplayer content will arrive in future updates.

Pre-Registration Rewards

Level Infinite Launches Gangstar Mirage City in India with Pre-Registrations Level Infinite has opened pre-registrations for Gangstar Mirage City, the newest game in Gameloft’s long-running Gangstar series. Indian players can now enroll on the official website before the game’s soft launch in August 2026. Players who register for the game will receive rewards upon its release. There will be mission stories and open-world gameplay. According to the developer, player choices will influence certain missions and gameplay events. Key Features the Game Offers Gangstar Mirage City brings together open-world exploration, racing, and action in a single experience. In addition to story missions, players can explore different parts of the city, collect vehicles, and compete in street races. The game also includes cooperative heists, allowing friends to complete missions together. Building a criminal empire is yet another important aspect of the game. Capturing territories can help players enhance their influence and generate revenue. They can also personalize their weapons and vehicles according to the requirements of specific missions and fights. If you are one of those people who like competitive gaming, you can join the team fights, vehicle fights, last-man-standing games, and PvP-based objective games. The developers have also confirmed that more arenas and multiplayer content will arrive in future updates. Pre-Registration Rewards Players who have already signed up for Gangstar Mirage City can participate in the Global Vault Heist campaign, scheduled prior to the game’s soft launch. This campaign offers rewards available only to early participants. More rewards will become available to those who are signed up for the event as more people sign up. Participants can also invite up to three friends to join the campaign. Each successful invitation unlocks extra bonuses, allowing groups to start the game with additional rewards when the soft launch begins. The pre-registration campaign also lets players join one of four in-game factions before launch. Each group has its own background and role in the game’s world. The Family focuses on power and influence, while O-Rage represents a more rebellious approach. The Ghosts are known for underground street racing, whereas Jersey Boyz control the city’s supply chain. Choosing a faction also unlocks a unique avatar reward for launch. Languages and Availability Gangstar Mirage City will begin its soft launch on August 20, 2026, and will be available on Android and iOS. There will be nine language options in the game, allowing gamers from various regions to play in their preferred language. Those interested can already complete the pre-registration process through the official website. #Level #Infinite #Launches #Gangstar #Mirage #City #India #PreRegistrationsLevel Infinite

Players who have already signed up for Gangstar Mirage City can participate in the Global Vault Heist campaign, scheduled prior to the game’s soft launch. This campaign offers rewards available only to early participants. More rewards will become available to those who are signed up for the event as more people sign up. Participants can also invite up to three friends to join the campaign. Each successful invitation unlocks extra bonuses, allowing groups to start the game with additional rewards when the soft launch begins.

The pre-registration campaign also lets players join one of four in-game factions before launch. Each group has its own background and role in the game’s world. The Family focuses on power and influence, while O-Rage represents a more rebellious approach. The Ghosts are known for underground street racing, whereas Jersey Boyz control the city’s supply chain. Choosing a faction also unlocks a unique avatar reward for launch.

Languages and Availability

Gangstar Mirage City will begin its soft launch on August 20, 2026, and will be available on Android and iOS. There will be nine language options in the game, allowing gamers from various regions to play in their preferred language. Those interested can already complete the pre-registration process through the official website.

#Level #Infinite #Launches #Gangstar #Mirage #City #India #PreRegistrationsLevel Infinite">Level Infinite Launches Gangstar Mirage City in India with Pre-Registrations Level Infinite has opened pre-registrations for Gangstar Mirage City, the newest game in Gameloft’s long-running Gangstar series. Indian players can now enroll on the official website before the game’s soft launch in August 2026. Players who register for the game will receive rewards upon its release. There will be mission stories and open-world gameplay. According to the developer, player choices will influence certain missions and gameplay events. Key Features the Game Offers Gangstar Mirage City brings together open-world exploration, racing, and action in a single experience. In addition to story missions, players can explore different parts of the city, collect vehicles, and compete in street races. The game also includes cooperative heists, allowing friends to complete missions together. Building a criminal empire is yet another important aspect of the game. Capturing territories can help players enhance their influence and generate revenue. They can also personalize their weapons and vehicles according to the requirements of specific missions and fights. If you are one of those people who like competitive gaming, you can join the team fights, vehicle fights, last-man-standing games, and PvP-based objective games. The developers have also confirmed that more arenas and multiplayer content will arrive in future updates. Pre-Registration Rewards Players who have already signed up for Gangstar Mirage City can participate in the Global Vault Heist campaign, scheduled prior to the game’s soft launch. This campaign offers rewards available only to early participants. More rewards will become available to those who are signed up for the event as more people sign up. Participants can also invite up to three friends to join the campaign. Each successful invitation unlocks extra bonuses, allowing groups to start the game with additional rewards when the soft launch begins. The pre-registration campaign also lets players join one of four in-game factions before launch. Each group has its own background and role in the game’s world. The Family focuses on power and influence, while O-Rage represents a more rebellious approach. The Ghosts are known for underground street racing, whereas Jersey Boyz control the city’s supply chain. Choosing a faction also unlocks a unique avatar reward for launch. Languages and Availability Gangstar Mirage City will begin its soft launch on August 20, 2026, and will be available on Android and iOS. There will be nine language options in the game, allowing gamers from various regions to play in their preferred language. Those interested can already complete the pre-registration process through the official website. #Level #Infinite #Launches #Gangstar #Mirage #City #India #PreRegistrationsLevel Infinite

before the game’s soft launch in August 2026. Players who register for the game will receive rewards upon its release. There will be mission stories and open-world gameplay. According to the developer, player choices will influence certain missions and gameplay events.

Key Features the Game Offers

Gangstar Mirage City brings together open-world exploration, racing, and action in a single experience. In addition to story missions, players can explore different parts of the city, collect vehicles, and compete in street races. The game also includes cooperative heists, allowing friends to complete missions together.

Building a criminal empire is yet another important aspect of the game. Capturing territories can help players enhance their influence and generate revenue. They can also personalize their weapons and vehicles according to the requirements of specific missions and fights. If you are one of those people who like competitive gaming, you can join the team fights, vehicle fights, last-man-standing games, and PvP-based objective games. The developers have also confirmed that more arenas and multiplayer content will arrive in future updates.

Pre-Registration Rewards

Level Infinite Launches Gangstar Mirage City in India with Pre-Registrations Level Infinite has opened pre-registrations for Gangstar Mirage City, the newest game in Gameloft’s long-running Gangstar series. Indian players can now enroll on the official website before the game’s soft launch in August 2026. Players who register for the game will receive rewards upon its release. There will be mission stories and open-world gameplay. According to the developer, player choices will influence certain missions and gameplay events. Key Features the Game Offers Gangstar Mirage City brings together open-world exploration, racing, and action in a single experience. In addition to story missions, players can explore different parts of the city, collect vehicles, and compete in street races. The game also includes cooperative heists, allowing friends to complete missions together. Building a criminal empire is yet another important aspect of the game. Capturing territories can help players enhance their influence and generate revenue. They can also personalize their weapons and vehicles according to the requirements of specific missions and fights. If you are one of those people who like competitive gaming, you can join the team fights, vehicle fights, last-man-standing games, and PvP-based objective games. The developers have also confirmed that more arenas and multiplayer content will arrive in future updates. Pre-Registration Rewards Players who have already signed up for Gangstar Mirage City can participate in the Global Vault Heist campaign, scheduled prior to the game’s soft launch. This campaign offers rewards available only to early participants. More rewards will become available to those who are signed up for the event as more people sign up. Participants can also invite up to three friends to join the campaign. Each successful invitation unlocks extra bonuses, allowing groups to start the game with additional rewards when the soft launch begins. The pre-registration campaign also lets players join one of four in-game factions before launch. Each group has its own background and role in the game’s world. The Family focuses on power and influence, while O-Rage represents a more rebellious approach. The Ghosts are known for underground street racing, whereas Jersey Boyz control the city’s supply chain. Choosing a faction also unlocks a unique avatar reward for launch. Languages and Availability Gangstar Mirage City will begin its soft launch on August 20, 2026, and will be available on Android and iOS. There will be nine language options in the game, allowing gamers from various regions to play in their preferred language. Those interested can already complete the pre-registration process through the official website. #Level #Infinite #Launches #Gangstar #Mirage #City #India #PreRegistrationsLevel Infinite

Players who have already signed up for Gangstar Mirage City can participate in the Global Vault Heist campaign, scheduled prior to the game’s soft launch. This campaign offers rewards available only to early participants. More rewards will become available to those who are signed up for the event as more people sign up. Participants can also invite up to three friends to join the campaign. Each successful invitation unlocks extra bonuses, allowing groups to start the game with additional rewards when the soft launch begins.

The pre-registration campaign also lets players join one of four in-game factions before launch. Each group has its own background and role in the game’s world. The Family focuses on power and influence, while O-Rage represents a more rebellious approach. The Ghosts are known for underground street racing, whereas Jersey Boyz control the city’s supply chain. Choosing a faction also unlocks a unique avatar reward for launch.

Languages and Availability

Gangstar Mirage City will begin its soft launch on August 20, 2026, and will be available on Android and iOS. There will be nine language options in the game, allowing gamers from various regions to play in their preferred language. Those interested can already complete the pre-registration process through the official website.

#Level #Infinite #Launches #Gangstar #Mirage #City #India #PreRegistrationsLevel Infinite">Level Infinite Launches Gangstar Mirage City in India with Pre-Registrations

Level Infinite has opened pre-registrations for Gangstar Mirage City, the newest game in Gameloft’s long-running Gangstar series. Indian players can now enroll on the official website before the game’s soft launch in August 2026. Players who register for the game will receive rewards upon its release. There will be mission stories and open-world gameplay. According to the developer, player choices will influence certain missions and gameplay events.

Key Features the Game Offers

Gangstar Mirage City brings together open-world exploration, racing, and action in a single experience. In addition to story missions, players can explore different parts of the city, collect vehicles, and compete in street races. The game also includes cooperative heists, allowing friends to complete missions together.

Building a criminal empire is yet another important aspect of the game. Capturing territories can help players enhance their influence and generate revenue. They can also personalize their weapons and vehicles according to the requirements of specific missions and fights. If you are one of those people who like competitive gaming, you can join the team fights, vehicle fights, last-man-standing games, and PvP-based objective games. The developers have also confirmed that more arenas and multiplayer content will arrive in future updates.

Pre-Registration Rewards

Level Infinite Launches Gangstar Mirage City in India with Pre-Registrations Level Infinite has opened pre-registrations for Gangstar Mirage City, the newest game in Gameloft’s long-running Gangstar series. Indian players can now enroll on the official website before the game’s soft launch in August 2026. Players who register for the game will receive rewards upon its release. There will be mission stories and open-world gameplay. According to the developer, player choices will influence certain missions and gameplay events. Key Features the Game Offers Gangstar Mirage City brings together open-world exploration, racing, and action in a single experience. In addition to story missions, players can explore different parts of the city, collect vehicles, and compete in street races. The game also includes cooperative heists, allowing friends to complete missions together. Building a criminal empire is yet another important aspect of the game. Capturing territories can help players enhance their influence and generate revenue. They can also personalize their weapons and vehicles according to the requirements of specific missions and fights. If you are one of those people who like competitive gaming, you can join the team fights, vehicle fights, last-man-standing games, and PvP-based objective games. The developers have also confirmed that more arenas and multiplayer content will arrive in future updates. Pre-Registration Rewards Players who have already signed up for Gangstar Mirage City can participate in the Global Vault Heist campaign, scheduled prior to the game’s soft launch. This campaign offers rewards available only to early participants. More rewards will become available to those who are signed up for the event as more people sign up. Participants can also invite up to three friends to join the campaign. Each successful invitation unlocks extra bonuses, allowing groups to start the game with additional rewards when the soft launch begins. The pre-registration campaign also lets players join one of four in-game factions before launch. Each group has its own background and role in the game’s world. The Family focuses on power and influence, while O-Rage represents a more rebellious approach. The Ghosts are known for underground street racing, whereas Jersey Boyz control the city’s supply chain. Choosing a faction also unlocks a unique avatar reward for launch. Languages and Availability Gangstar Mirage City will begin its soft launch on August 20, 2026, and will be available on Android and iOS. There will be nine language options in the game, allowing gamers from various regions to play in their preferred language. Those interested can already complete the pre-registration process through the official website. #Level #Infinite #Launches #Gangstar #Mirage #City #India #PreRegistrationsLevel Infinite

Players who have already signed up for Gangstar Mirage City can participate in the Global Vault Heist campaign, scheduled prior to the game’s soft launch. This campaign offers rewards available only to early participants. More rewards will become available to those who are signed up for the event as more people sign up. Participants can also invite up to three friends to join the campaign. Each successful invitation unlocks extra bonuses, allowing groups to start the game with additional rewards when the soft launch begins.

The pre-registration campaign also lets players join one of four in-game factions before launch. Each group has its own background and role in the game’s world. The Family focuses on power and influence, while O-Rage represents a more rebellious approach. The Ghosts are known for underground street racing, whereas Jersey Boyz control the city’s supply chain. Choosing a faction also unlocks a unique avatar reward for launch.

Languages and Availability

Gangstar Mirage City will begin its soft launch on August 20, 2026, and will be available on Android and iOS. There will be nine language options in the game, allowing gamers from various regions to play in their preferred language. Those interested can already complete the pre-registration process through the official website.

#Level #Infinite #Launches #Gangstar #Mirage #City #India #PreRegistrationsLevel Infinite

Yesterday, OpenAI released its latest voice model, GPT-Live-1. The company called it “a new generation of voice models for natural human-AI interaction.” The full-duplex model allows ChatGPT to talk and listen at the same time, giving the back-and-forth a more conversational flow. It’s designed to be smarter, faster, and more natural.

Sounds great! Let’s see how it handles the internet’s one-man voice model red team, TikToker @huskistaken (aka Husk), when he tests out its capabilities by giving the model something simple:

Ooh, so close. Husk gave ChatGPT the straightforward request to tell him how many times the letter E appears in the number “seventeen,” and the voice model managed to get halfway there by answering “two.” It then offered a very awkward sign-off when Husk ended the conversation. Maybe that’s a query that GPT-Live-2 will be able to handle.

To be fair, Husk isn’t really testing any of the new features that OpenAI highlighted with the release of its new model, which, by most accounts, seems like it’s more capable when it comes to things like live translation than previous iterations. But he is giving the model a very simple benchmarking test that, despite being OpenAI’s flagship voice model, it still failed spectacularly.

It seems OpenAI knows just how bad this looks, too. Jason Liu, a Developer Experience Engineer on OpenAI Codex, reposted the video with a very succinct, “FUCK.”

Husk’s made a habit of terrorizing OpenAI over its voice model for some time now, making viral videos out of how poorly it handles certain prompts. One of his videos—in which he tasks ChatGPT with setting a timer and watching it fail—made it all the way to CEO Sam Altman, who tried to laugh it off in a very “I’m not mad, please don’t put in the newspaper that I got mad” kinda way.

Husk is not alone in giving GPT-Live-1 the old stress test. Another user on X gave the model the “Strawberry” test, asking it to count the number of times the letter R appears in the word “strawberry.” It’s a classic, and one that most AI models can answer correctly by now (whether that’s because they really know there are 3 Rs or because they’ve been trained on how to respond to prevent embarrassment is another question), but GPT-Live-1 gets tripped up by it.

Another user noted a new annoyance that has arisen from the model’s full-duplex functionality: While the model now allows ChatGPT to say things like “mhm” and “yeah” while you talk to confirm it is listening, it apparently is incapable of simply shutting up and not doing that. It seems ChatGPT has built an interrupting machine. Just what we’ve all been waiting for.

READ MORE:

The Future Is Always Listening: OpenAI Says Its New Voice Assistant Is ‘One Step Closer to a Truly Accessible AGI’

OpenAI Is Tired of Seeing All Those Videos of People Clowning on Its Voice Mode

#OpenAI #Beat #TikTokerartifical intelligence,ChatGPT,OpenAI,voice model">OpenAI Just Can’t Beat This TikToker Yesterday, OpenAI released its latest voice model, GPT-Live-1. The company called it “a new generation of voice models for natural human-AI interaction.” The full-duplex model allows ChatGPT to talk and listen at the same time, giving the back-and-forth a more conversational flow. It’s designed to be smarter, faster, and more natural. Sounds great! Let’s see how it handles the internet’s one-man voice model red team, TikToker @huskistaken (aka Husk), when he tests out its capabilities by giving the model something simple: Had to give the new voice model the classic test pic.twitter.com/fQYHbBRNuL — Husk (@huskirl) July 8, 2026 Ooh, so close. Husk gave ChatGPT the straightforward request to tell him how many times the letter E appears in the number “seventeen,” and the voice model managed to get halfway there by answering “two.” It then offered a very awkward sign-off when Husk ended the conversation. Maybe that’s a query that GPT-Live-2 will be able to handle. To be fair, Husk isn’t really testing any of the new features that OpenAI highlighted with the release of its new model, which, by most accounts, seems like it’s more capable when it comes to things like live translation than previous iterations. But he is giving the model a very simple benchmarking test that, despite being OpenAI’s flagship voice model, it still failed spectacularly. It seems OpenAI knows just how bad this looks, too. Jason Liu, a Developer Experience Engineer on OpenAI Codex, reposted the video with a very succinct, “FUCK.” Husk’s made a habit of terrorizing OpenAI over its voice model for some time now, making viral videos out of how poorly it handles certain prompts. One of his videos—in which he tasks ChatGPT with setting a timer and watching it fail—made it all the way to CEO Sam Altman, who tried to laugh it off in a very “I’m not mad, please don’t put in the newspaper that I got mad” kinda way. Husk is not alone in giving GPT-Live-1 the old stress test. Another user on X gave the model the “Strawberry” test, asking it to count the number of times the letter R appears in the word “strawberry.” It’s a classic, and one that most AI models can answer correctly by now (whether that’s because they really know there are 3 Rs or because they’ve been trained on how to respond to prevent embarrassment is another question), but GPT-Live-1 gets tripped up by it. OpenAI’s brand new voice model vs counting the r’s in strawberry. I really tried to help it along. pic.twitter.com/Pm0RfLyxIA — Himelstech (@himelstech) July 9, 2026 Another user noted a new annoyance that has arisen from the model’s full-duplex functionality: While the model now allows ChatGPT to say things like “mhm” and “yeah” while you talk to confirm it is listening, it apparently is incapable of simply shutting up and not doing that. It seems ChatGPT has built an interrupting machine. Just what we’ve all been waiting for. READ MORE: The Future Is Always Listening: OpenAI Says Its New Voice Assistant Is ‘One Step Closer to a Truly Accessible AGI’ OpenAI Is Tired of Seeing All Those Videos of People Clowning on Its Voice Mode #OpenAI #Beat #TikTokerartifical intelligence,ChatGPT,OpenAI,voice model

called it “a new generation of voice models for natural human-AI interaction.” The full-duplex model allows ChatGPT to talk and listen at the same time, giving the back-and-forth a more conversational flow. It’s designed to be smarter, faster, and more natural.

Sounds great! Let’s see how it handles the internet’s one-man voice model red team, TikToker @huskistaken (aka Husk), when he tests out its capabilities by giving the model something simple:

Ooh, so close. Husk gave ChatGPT the straightforward request to tell him how many times the letter E appears in the number “seventeen,” and the voice model managed to get halfway there by answering “two.” It then offered a very awkward sign-off when Husk ended the conversation. Maybe that’s a query that GPT-Live-2 will be able to handle.

To be fair, Husk isn’t really testing any of the new features that OpenAI highlighted with the release of its new model, which, by most accounts, seems like it’s more capable when it comes to things like live translation than previous iterations. But he is giving the model a very simple benchmarking test that, despite being OpenAI’s flagship voice model, it still failed spectacularly.

It seems OpenAI knows just how bad this looks, too. Jason Liu, a Developer Experience Engineer on OpenAI Codex, reposted the video with a very succinct, “FUCK.”

Husk’s made a habit of terrorizing OpenAI over its voice model for some time now, making viral videos out of how poorly it handles certain prompts. One of his videos—in which he tasks ChatGPT with setting a timer and watching it fail—made it all the way to CEO Sam Altman, who tried to laugh it off in a very “I’m not mad, please don’t put in the newspaper that I got mad” kinda way.

Husk is not alone in giving GPT-Live-1 the old stress test. Another user on X gave the model the “Strawberry” test, asking it to count the number of times the letter R appears in the word “strawberry.” It’s a classic, and one that most AI models can answer correctly by now (whether that’s because they really know there are 3 Rs or because they’ve been trained on how to respond to prevent embarrassment is another question), but GPT-Live-1 gets tripped up by it.

Another user noted a new annoyance that has arisen from the model’s full-duplex functionality: While the model now allows ChatGPT to say things like “mhm” and “yeah” while you talk to confirm it is listening, it apparently is incapable of simply shutting up and not doing that. It seems ChatGPT has built an interrupting machine. Just what we’ve all been waiting for.

READ MORE:

The Future Is Always Listening: OpenAI Says Its New Voice Assistant Is ‘One Step Closer to a Truly Accessible AGI’

OpenAI Is Tired of Seeing All Those Videos of People Clowning on Its Voice Mode

#OpenAI #Beat #TikTokerartifical intelligence,ChatGPT,OpenAI,voice model">OpenAI Just Can’t Beat This TikTokerOpenAI Just Can’t Beat This TikToker Yesterday, OpenAI released its latest voice model, GPT-Live-1. The company called it “a new generation of voice models for natural human-AI interaction.” The full-duplex model allows ChatGPT to talk and listen at the same time, giving the back-and-forth a more conversational flow. It’s designed to be smarter, faster, and more natural. Sounds great! Let’s see how it handles the internet’s one-man voice model red team, TikToker @huskistaken (aka Husk), when he tests out its capabilities by giving the model something simple: Had to give the new voice model the classic test pic.twitter.com/fQYHbBRNuL — Husk (@huskirl) July 8, 2026 Ooh, so close. Husk gave ChatGPT the straightforward request to tell him how many times the letter E appears in the number “seventeen,” and the voice model managed to get halfway there by answering “two.” It then offered a very awkward sign-off when Husk ended the conversation. Maybe that’s a query that GPT-Live-2 will be able to handle. To be fair, Husk isn’t really testing any of the new features that OpenAI highlighted with the release of its new model, which, by most accounts, seems like it’s more capable when it comes to things like live translation than previous iterations. But he is giving the model a very simple benchmarking test that, despite being OpenAI’s flagship voice model, it still failed spectacularly. It seems OpenAI knows just how bad this looks, too. Jason Liu, a Developer Experience Engineer on OpenAI Codex, reposted the video with a very succinct, “FUCK.” Husk’s made a habit of terrorizing OpenAI over its voice model for some time now, making viral videos out of how poorly it handles certain prompts. One of his videos—in which he tasks ChatGPT with setting a timer and watching it fail—made it all the way to CEO Sam Altman, who tried to laugh it off in a very “I’m not mad, please don’t put in the newspaper that I got mad” kinda way. Husk is not alone in giving GPT-Live-1 the old stress test. Another user on X gave the model the “Strawberry” test, asking it to count the number of times the letter R appears in the word “strawberry.” It’s a classic, and one that most AI models can answer correctly by now (whether that’s because they really know there are 3 Rs or because they’ve been trained on how to respond to prevent embarrassment is another question), but GPT-Live-1 gets tripped up by it. OpenAI’s brand new voice model vs counting the r’s in strawberry. I really tried to help it along. pic.twitter.com/Pm0RfLyxIA — Himelstech (@himelstech) July 9, 2026 Another user noted a new annoyance that has arisen from the model’s full-duplex functionality: While the model now allows ChatGPT to say things like “mhm” and “yeah” while you talk to confirm it is listening, it apparently is incapable of simply shutting up and not doing that. It seems ChatGPT has built an interrupting machine. Just what we’ve all been waiting for. READ MORE: The Future Is Always Listening: OpenAI Says Its New Voice Assistant Is ‘One Step Closer to a Truly Accessible AGI’ OpenAI Is Tired of Seeing All Those Videos of People Clowning on Its Voice Mode #OpenAI #Beat #TikTokerartifical intelligence,ChatGPT,OpenAI,voice model

Yesterday, OpenAI released its latest voice model, GPT-Live-1. The company called it “a new generation of voice models for natural human-AI interaction.” The full-duplex model allows ChatGPT to talk and listen at the same time, giving the back-and-forth a more conversational flow. It’s designed to be smarter, faster, and more natural.

Sounds great! Let’s see how it handles the internet’s one-man voice model red team, TikToker @huskistaken (aka Husk), when he tests out its capabilities by giving the model something simple:

Ooh, so close. Husk gave ChatGPT the straightforward request to tell him how many times the letter E appears in the number “seventeen,” and the voice model managed to get halfway there by answering “two.” It then offered a very awkward sign-off when Husk ended the conversation. Maybe that’s a query that GPT-Live-2 will be able to handle.

To be fair, Husk isn’t really testing any of the new features that OpenAI highlighted with the release of its new model, which, by most accounts, seems like it’s more capable when it comes to things like live translation than previous iterations. But he is giving the model a very simple benchmarking test that, despite being OpenAI’s flagship voice model, it still failed spectacularly.

It seems OpenAI knows just how bad this looks, too. Jason Liu, a Developer Experience Engineer on OpenAI Codex, reposted the video with a very succinct, “FUCK.”

Husk’s made a habit of terrorizing OpenAI over its voice model for some time now, making viral videos out of how poorly it handles certain prompts. One of his videos—in which he tasks ChatGPT with setting a timer and watching it fail—made it all the way to CEO Sam Altman, who tried to laugh it off in a very “I’m not mad, please don’t put in the newspaper that I got mad” kinda way.

Husk is not alone in giving GPT-Live-1 the old stress test. Another user on X gave the model the “Strawberry” test, asking it to count the number of times the letter R appears in the word “strawberry.” It’s a classic, and one that most AI models can answer correctly by now (whether that’s because they really know there are 3 Rs or because they’ve been trained on how to respond to prevent embarrassment is another question), but GPT-Live-1 gets tripped up by it.

Another user noted a new annoyance that has arisen from the model’s full-duplex functionality: While the model now allows ChatGPT to say things like “mhm” and “yeah” while you talk to confirm it is listening, it apparently is incapable of simply shutting up and not doing that. It seems ChatGPT has built an interrupting machine. Just what we’ve all been waiting for.

READ MORE:

The Future Is Always Listening: OpenAI Says Its New Voice Assistant Is ‘One Step Closer to a Truly Accessible AGI’

OpenAI Is Tired of Seeing All Those Videos of People Clowning on Its Voice Mode

#OpenAI #Beat #TikTokerartifical intelligence,ChatGPT,OpenAI,voice model

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