Google I/O Recap

Lots going on at Google I/O today. First off, as expected, they announced the Pixel 7a with face unlock for $499. At that price, it is by far the cheapest handset to run Google’s latest Tensor G2 chip. Google has also given the 7a a bigger battery with a claimed life of 72 hours if you run in Extreme Battery Saver mode. 

Besides the Pixel, Google is adding to its image search function…new features to make it easier to spot altered content. There will soon be an ‘about this image’ option that may help users to determine if a pic was altered by AI. 

Google has now ended the Bard waitlist, making the English version of the chatbot open to all using English. This includes 180 countries and territories. Google says they are holding off on some other languages as a safety measure. Also, Google announced that it will soon be adding multimodal content to Bard, meaning that it can deliver answers in more than just text. “Coming soon, Bard will become more visual both in its responses and your prompts. You’ll be able to ask it things like, “What are some must-see sights in New Orleans?” — and in addition to text, you’ll get a helpful response along with rich visuals to give you a much better sense of what you’re exploring.” 

Google Maps now has a new ‘Immersive View for Routes’ feature. It includes details about traffic simulations, bike lanes, complex intersections, parking and more. 

They have added AI to Google Magic Editor, which will allow for more complex edits to specific parts of photos. You can even reposition the subject for better framing in your photo. 

Workspace is also getting some AI muscle to make it smarter, and they have added automatic table generation (not that it doesn’t include formulas) in Sheets and image creation in Slides and Meet. Basically, that’s custom backgrounds for Meet. 

I’m Clark Reid, and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

AI at Wendy’s Drive Up Window; Final Cut Pro & Logic Pro on iPad; Twitter Will Purge Inactive Accounts; Driving Across Border With QR Code Coming

If you ever special ordered food much from fast food places…and frequently got your order screwed up, you are in luck. Not GOOD luck, but luck. PCworld.com reports that Wendy’s has partnered with Google AI to build an AI system for their dive in windows. Right now, the system will just debut at one restaurant located in Columbus, Ohio in June. Wendy’s expects the AI to streamline and speed up the order process and speed up the drive-through experience…so I can get out of my car faster, and go inside and make them re-do the order correctly! Wendy’s did have Google program in some of their insider lingo, like “JBC’ for Junior bacon cheeseburger, and it is trained to ask ‘would you like a Frostie with that?’ The single restaurant test experience will dictate how fast the system will move to other restaurants.

Apple has announced the availability of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPads. There is a bit of a catch, though. According to macrumors.com, they will each be by subscription…the fee is $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year. Users will be able to move Logic Pro projects between iPad and Mac.With Final Cut Pro, media can be imported from Files or Photos, and saved directly inside a Final Cut Pro project. The iPad version also supports import of projects made in iMovie. As with Logic Pro, you can seamlessly move projects from iPad to Mac and vice versa. 

Elon Musk, being Elon Musk, has announced that Twitter will start purging inactive accounts. He didn’t clarify what would happen to accounts of those who have died…like some platforms that allow people to memorialize those accounts. Cnet.com says that in a reply to Musk, John Carmack, founder of ID Software, cautioned against deleting inactive accounts, saying that it’ll make sourcing historic tweets more challenging. It could also mean that Twitter threads from years ago would be fragmented with gaps of unavailable tweets. No timeline was given for when the inactive accounts might be deleted. 

Singapore is gearing up to let people cross its border checkpoints with a QR code next year, heading into Malaysia. ZDnet.com notes that it is an extension of the Automated Passenger In-Car Clearance System (APICS) that Singapore developed to enable travelers to carry out self-clearance without having to leave their vehicle and with minimum intervention from immigration officers. Live trials of the automated system were conducted last year, according to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. Right now, US citizens can cross into Canada and Mexico with a Passport card instead of the booklet, so it won’t be surprising to see the QR code tech coming here soon for those crossing in vehicles. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.

Hacked Verified Facebook Pages; Google Search-More Visual, ‘Snackable’-What? Bluesky Invites a Hot Item; Apple Looks to Emerging Markets

People post that they have been hacked on Facebook all the time, and usually their pages have just been cloned by some hairy, bearded troll in some place like Saint Petersburg. Now, techcrunch.com reports that a handful of verified Facebook pages were recently actually hacked, and caught pushing malware through ads approved by and purchased by the platform. In some cases, the pages were impersonating Facebook itself. Comprised accounts included official-sounding pages like ‘Meta Ads’ and “Meta Ads Manager.” Those accounts shared suspicious links to tens of thousands of followers, though their reach probably extended well beyond that through paid posts. All have been deactivated now, but as always, avoid the urge to click on a link. At least try copying it and pasting into your search so you can see what comes up. 

Sometimes when you see something from a major tech company, you just know you have to talk about it immediately. Such is the case when an internal document leaked from Google to the Wall Street Journal that outlined a plan to make Google Search more ‘visual, snackable, personal, and human.’ Ok, we get the rest, but ‘snackable?’ So do they want us to gobble up search results? At any rate, according to 9to5google.com, one aspect of the changes involves adding more ‘short videos’ to search results…in response to the way a lot of young people get their information. Apparently, Google has determined that about 40% of young people turn to TikTok or Meta owned Instagram when searching for restaurants. Google also intends to display more online forum posts in search results like those from Reddit. Of course, this is all in addition to the Bard AI the search giant has started baking in to Google Search. Are we going to see the day when Google anticipates what you are thinking about snacking on, and it is delivered to your front porch in minutes? Stay tuned. 

While Twitter has lost about half of its recent sign ups for its $8 a month Blue checkmark, Jack Dorsey’s Bluesky is a hot item. Engadget.com says the invite codes for the decentralized network, which isn’t publicly available yet, are now bringing hundreds of dollars on eBay. The iOS app has been downloaded some 375,000 times, and is one of the most popular social media apps in the Play Store just 2 weeks after launch. Some of the lucky few who have gotten (or bought) and invite and used Bluesky says it is the closest to Twitter of all the other apps aspiring to take users from the Musk owned platform…which stands to reason since it started as a project at Twitter under co-founder and previous CEO Jack Dorsey. 

Apple is looking to emerging markets to shore up sales as growth slows in the US and China. Bloomberg.com reports that for Cupertino… Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates all had best-ever quarterly sales in the most recent period — even while overall revenue declined. And Malaysia, Brazil and India had their best-ever March quarter. Most of those increases are being driven by iPhone sales. CEO Tim Cook noted that the emerging market upticks were a big plus as sales in the Americas, China and Japan had eased by 3%.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Techinfied’ for now.  

Facebook Irate About FTC Proposed Ban on Monetizing Youth Data; Microsoft Opens Bing AI for Public Testing; Google Accounts Can Now Be Passwordless; Shopify Reducing Head Count by 20%

Facebook has their pants in a bunch after the FTC announced that they haven’t been doing enough to comply with a 2020 privacy order. Arstechnica.com is reporting that the feds allege that Facebook’s Messenger Kids product misled parents on who could connect to chat with minors and misrepresented who had access to private youth data. Now, the FTC has proposed changes to the 2020 order that would prohibit Facebook owner Meta from launching new products on any of its platforms without procuring written FTC compliance confirmation and prevent the company from monetizing any of the youth data it collects across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. Among the most drastic proposed changes are a blanket prohibition against monetizing data of users under 18 and a pause on launching new products, services, or features ” without written confirmation from the assessor” confirming full compliance with the FTC’s order. A Meta spokesperson responded “We will vigorously fight this action and expect to prevail.”

It seems that Microsoft and Google are moving to artificial intelligence at warp speed. Now, Microsoft has opened Bing AI to everyone to test…kinda. According to engadget.com, you will still need to sign into Bing on the Edge browser or Bing mobile apps to use the chatbot, but there’s no wait list…anyone can do it. Bing AI is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4. Redmond is adding several new features. For one, it can go beyond mere text responses to deliver charts, graphs and rich formatting. The Bing Image Creator, which taps into DALL-E to craft AI-generated pictures, also now supports the more than 100 languages that Bing’s standard search offers. Have at it, and enjoy interacting with our new, artificial intelligence overlords.

Google is moving to passkeys…a new cryptographic keys solution that requires a pre authenticated device. What’s that mean to you in plain language? They are dropping passwords in favor of things like Face ID and Fingerprint ID on trusted devices. Theverge.com reports that Passkeys are a safer, more convenient alternative now being adapted by Google, Apple, Microsoft, and other tech companies that are part of the FIDO Alliance. They can replace traditional passwords and other sign-in systems like 2FA or SMS verification with a local PIN or a device’s own biometric authentication — such as a fingerprint or Face ID. The cool thing is, the biometric data isn’t shared with Google…or other company…it lives in a secure enclave on the device. I have been using Apple’s biometrics for some time now, and it’s much easier and faster than remembering and typing in a slew of passwords. BTW, not all Google accounts will get the Passkeys bit…at least yet. I tried on a couple of commercial accounts, and it’s not available on those at this time. 

Shopify is cutting its workforce by 20%, axing about 2,000 employees. Techcrunch.com reports that they are also spinning off their logistics business to Flexport for some 13% in stock. Shopify already cut its staffing by 10%…about 1,000 people…just 10 months ago. Shopify is thought to have a total workforce of between 10,000 and 11,600 employees. They will be giving 16 weeks severance pay, plus an added week for every year they have been with the company, and will continue medical benefits for that duration. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

New Pixels Launch May 11; Mozilla Picks Up Scam-Spotter Fakespot; Ford Mustang Mach-E Gets Range & Price Cut; Alphabet & Microsoft to Attend White House AI Safeguards Meeting

Google will be showing off its latest at I/O on May 10th, and now, thanks to a new leak, we may be seeing the launch of the Pixel 7a on May 11th. Androidpolice.com reports that, in addition to the form factor, a new blue color is shown in some renders picked up in India. The budget Pixel 7a is expected to be priced at around $500. Besides the less expensive Pixel phone, expect Google to tout artificial intelligence, the Android 14 OS, and maybe more hardware…such as the Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold phone. The folding phone has been spotted in leaks, and the two sides lay nearly flat against each other, indicating it may have a less intrusive hinge than some of the folding phones already on the market. 

Mozilla has picked up Fakespot…the review-checking, scam spotting service. According to arstechnica.com, Mozilla will integrate it into the Firefox browser, but Fakespot will not lose its Chrome, iOS, or Android versions. If you are unfamiliar with it, Fakespot is a service that explains how products you’ve never heard of could have 12,000 reviews with a 4.6-star average. Mozilla also wants to expand its “work around ethical AI and responsible advertising,” the company said in a blog post. 

Ford has picked up sales of the electric Mustang Mach-E, and there’s good news and good news. Engadget.com says that first off, the base SUV’s starting price has been lowered by $3000 to $42,995…and that’s before the federal tax credit of $3750. The more pricy all wheel drive version also gets the same cut in base price. The standard version will now have a 250 mile range, while the all wheel drive model will make it around 226 miles on a charge. In addition, the new Mustangs will charge up from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger in 33 minutes. They will fully charge faster on an AC charger at home, too. The hardware for BlueCruise is now standard, although after 90 days, you have to pay for the service…THAT hasn’t been cut, but increased, from $1900 for 3 years to $2100.

Vice President Harris is meeting Thursday…tomorrow, May 4th, with execs from Microsoft and Alphabet, as well as OpenAI and Anthropic as part of the administration’s efforts to press companies to install safeguards around the emerging artificial intelligence tech. According to Bloomberg, Harris and administration officials plan to tell the corporate leaders that they have a responsibility to mitigate potential harm from AI tools. Generative artificial intelligence tools have come under increased regulatory scrutiny as their popular use has exploded in recent months following the debut of ChatGPT. Microsoft has incorporated AI technology into its Bing search product, and Google released its rival Bard chatbot in March.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.

Apple & Google Propose Spec Preventing Unwanted Tracking; Teams Now Lets Small Businesses Make Money on Platform; IBM Pauses Back End Hiring in Favor of AI; Post Office Loads Up on Ford EVs as Proprietary EVs are Delayed

Apple has had to take steps in the past to make it difficult for stalkers and such to track you using their AirTags system. Now, Macrumors.com says Apple and Google have partnered to submit a proposed industry specification to help fight misuse of Bluetooth trackers…particularly when used to track individuals. The companies have agreed to expand AirTag-like unwanted tracking alerts to third-party item trackers in future versions of iOS and Android. Tile, Samsung, Eufy, and others have expressed support for the draft spec. It is hoped it will be approved and adapted by the end of the year, then iOS and Android can implement it in future versions. Meanwhile, as if at cross purposes, the New York City police is handing out AirTags to people to help reduce car theft. I am trying to hope that none of those will be used by stalkers, but skeptical me is having a tough time with that!

Microsoft has launched a payment system inside Teams to let small businesses make money from appointments, classes, one-on-one sessions, webinars, and more. According to theverge.com, Teams business users in the US will be able to collect payments during a meeting…a useful feature for lawyers, financial advisors, instructors, tutors, and other small and mid-sized businesses. As a lot of folks in these lines of work had to go virtual during the pandemic, they and clients discovered they liked it. One commented he didn’t know if he  would ever visit his accountant in person again. The Teams payment app can track money received or money outstanding during the meeting, and there are options for clients to pay at any point during the meeting. Stripe and PayPal payment methods are available right now, and GoDaddy payments will be coming soon. You can find the payments app for Teams at Microsoft’s business AppSource store right now. 

In a rather ominous move, IBM is pausing or slowing hiring of back end positions such as HR as they move to incorporate artificial intelligence. Arvind Krishna, Big Blue’s CEO, dropped this in an interview with Bloomberg. Non-customer facing positions in the back end make up 26,000 jobs in IBM’s workforce, and Krishna said “I could easily see 30% of that getting replaced by AI and automation over a five-year period.” That’s in the ballpark of 7,800 human jobs that Krishna is interested in automating, and Bloomberg reports that IBM is still hiring customer-facing and software development roles. Krishna’s comments and decision to automate points to just how disposable the workforce is to executives and companies. The new wave of AI may be the most disruptive thing for the world of work in generations. AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton just quit Google to raise the alarm about the use and even more misuse of AI and its impact on work. Hinton noted that he had originally thought such changes due to AI were some 30 years away, but now has changed his mind, and is calling on world governments to take steps now to avoid major crises affecting substantial numbers of people. 

The US Postal Service won’t be getting any of those strange looking proprietary electric vehicles until the middle of next year, now. The odd looking EVs made by defense contractor Oshkosh were supposed to be rolled out over a 10 year period…to the tune of some $485 million, and getting the post office between 50,000 and 165,000 vehicles. Meanwhile, arstechnica.com reports the post office will be taking up the slack by buying 9250 Ford E-Transit vans, and ordering another 14,000…which should be in service by the end of next year. The post office is building out charging stations at 75 post offices in the meantime, to keep them charged up when they arrive.

I’m Clark Reid, and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Z Flip 5-Bigger Outside Screen; Jack Dorsey on Elon Musk; Gurman Predictions for Apple WWDC; Mario Movie Does a Billion

In a new report about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, a new feature has been spied that may really jumpstart sales…a bigger outer screen. 9to5google.com notes that although the inner screen when unfolded has been fine, the puny sized outside screen has been less useful. New renders show the screen covering nearly the whole outside, extending down and alongside the camera bumps. It’s kind of a funky shape, but is estimated to be 3.4 inches, enough to actually be useful without opening the device to access the normal sized screen. No word yet on whether or not Samsung will allow full apps to use the outside display. 

Saying what a lot of us are thinking, Twitter Co-Founder Jack Dorsey, writing on his latest project Bluesky…which is possibly the best Twitter clone out there right now…Elon Musk should have paid a billion or more and walked away from the Twitter deal. According to techcrunch.com, the remark came in a question form Bluesky user Jason Goldman. Dorsey did reiterate that he didn’t see how Twitter would have survived as a public company, though. Bluesky Social is still in beta…I am still on the waiting list for an invite…but all that have used it like it better than any other platform so far. It is somewhat decentralized…not quite like Mastodon…but better, according to a lot of folks. It is designed not to have to function as a public, profit making company…at least not now. 

It’s just a bit over a month before Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is expecting plenty of hardware reveals. One of the widely anticipated devices will be a 15 inch MacBook Air. Of course, it will have to share a great deal of on-stage time with the long-expected AR/VR headset. The latest operating systems will be showed off, from iOS 17, to MacOS 14, the latest TV OS, and WatchOS 10. A brand new rumor has the Watch getting widgets again, although apparently in a much nicer, slicker interface than a few years ago. As for the MacBook Air, Gurman says the form factor shouldn’t change, except for the size…and it will run on an M2 chip…the M3’s won’t be out until later this year. 

In just under a month, the Super Mario Brothers Movie corset the billion dollar mark, becoming just the 5th pandemic-era film to clear that giant goalpost. Theverge.com reports that it took in $490 billion domestically and $532 billion internationally. Since it just opened in Japan and South Korea a few days ago, the Mario movie is expected to haul in quite a bit of additional cash. It’s a big vindication since the original Nintendo Super Mario Bros. film from 1993…which was a colossal flop at the box office. You can bet they are roughing out a story line already for a sequel.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.