Playstation Secrets Revealed via Sharpie; Amazon Partners With Staples for Returns; Ad Community Demands Refunds over YouTube Ad Deficiency; Google Throws in Towel (Again) On AR Glasses

Posted: June 29, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Sharpie has caused highly confidential information about Sony’s PlayStation business to be revealed. In a hearing before the Federal Trade Commission in the FTC v. Microsoft case, Sony furnished a document from PlayStation head Jim Ryan that includes redacted details on the margins of Sony shares with publishers, its Call of Duty revenues, and even the cost of developing some games. According to theverge.com,  someone redacted the documents with a black Sharpie — but when you scan them in, it’s easy to see some of the redactions. While the court moved quickly to remove the document, reporters and Sony’s competitors have already downloaded them. Since they were in the public domain when admitted into evidence, there’s no way to get the horse back into the barn. One interesting reveal: according to Sony, some 1 million PlayStation players don’t play anything except Call of Duty. Sony also accidentally revealed how much money Call of Duty is worth to PlayStation. We already knew the figure was over a billion dollars, but the document suggests CoD was worth $800 million for PlayStation revenue in just the US during 2021…it appears the number is $1.5 billion globally. 

Amazon has allowed returns for some time at Amazon stores, Whole Foods markets, Kohl’s, and UPS Stores. Now, geekwire.com reports that they have announced almost 1,000 Staples locations where customers can drop off label-free, box-free returns. By adding this 1,000 Staples sites, Amazon will now offer some 8,000 drop off locations. According to Amazon, the majority of the e-commerce giant’s customers have at least one return drop-off point within a 5-mile radius of where they live. The collaboration is Amazon’s first major deal on returns since partnering with Kohl’s in 2019.

As I predicted yesterday in a story I did about Google not even following its own rules, and research by Adalytics indicating that some 80% of ads haven’t run as promised…now comes a story from Financial Times that ad business figures are demanding significant refunds from YouTube. Adalytics found “hundreds of thousands of websites and apps” in which these ads play imperceptibly in the background, without sound and on automatic loop. This appears to be a way to avoid viewers noticing the videos altogether so ads are not skipped, but the strategy violates Google’s terms. Google published a blog in response, defending the quality of its partner network and saying the report makes some “extremely inaccurate claims”. After reviewing several websites shared by the Financial Times, the company also said it would take appropriate action including possibly removing all ads on the sites. Note that advertisers have demanded refunds for decades from TV and radio when ads have run improperly or not at all…and have gotten prompt adjustments on their billing or make good ads run right away. Now, Google gets to join this not-so-fun party. 

After the misfire of Google Glass a few years ago, Google headed back to the drawing board and has been hard at work on augmented reality glasses. Now, arstechnica.com reports that Google has apparently halted plans to release AR Glasses they teased a year ago…ones that looked like regular glasses as opposed to the Google Glass design. “Insiders say Google leaders kept changing the strategy for Iris, which led to the team continually pivoting direction, frustrating many employees,” Business Insider reported Google is now going to focus on their AR software instead of trying to build the hardware. 

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

Is Google Violating Own Ad Policies; Twitter Gets Buggier; GM to Go After Tesla Powerwall Market; EU May Approve Disturbing Media Surveillance

Posted: June 28, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nothing like breaking your own rules. That seems to be the case with Google…research from Adalytics, picked up by the Wall St. Journal, found that YouTube ads were running in violation of Google’s own policy and promises. Google promises advertisers that YouTube ads will run on “high-quality” sites, ahead of video content, with audio turned on, and also with ads that only charge if the viewer doesn’t skip the ad. Adalytics claims that this criteria isn’t met 80% of the time, with ads being played with audio off in small pop-up windows aside from the main content, and also on websites that don’t meet Google’s bar for quality. Data was gathered to show this over the course of 2022 and 2023 from more than 1,100 brands’ ads and “billions” of ad impressions. As word gets out, lots of advertisers are probably going to be looking to adjustments to their bills as they didn’t get what they were promised. Google denies the claim.

More bugs on the twitter platform, as the system staggers along with the very few staffers Elon Musk kept on the payroll. Arstechnica.com reports that users have found that Twitter is either glitching or intentionally limiting access to complete lists of any given user’s followers. Also, yesterday, some users began reporting that Twitter is randomly restricting their accounts from following, liking, and retweeting for three days, supposedly after they violated Twitter’s spam policy. These users claim that Twitter took this action after they blocked ads or simply tweeted a few times. I have a friend that this actually happened to. A software engineer that got the violation notice, but said in his case, he didn’t seem to actually be limited in using the platform. It seems the notice just went out in error. 

Even though GM has inked a deal with Tesla to use the latter’s Supercharger network, don’t think that the General won’t be a fierce competitor in the EV market and related ones. Now, bgr.com says General Motors is planning to release 3 home systems to compete with Tesla’s Powerwall home battery systems. The first is the Ultium Home V2H Bundle…which will allow people to run their house from the car’s battery pack (presuming it’s charged) in an emergency. A second system is the Ultium Home Energy Storage Bundle. This one is intended to store energy from solar panels on the house. The third system is the Ultium Home Energy System…that’s the whole 9 yards…home storage for solar panels plus the ability to run off the car battery pack. One advantage over Tesla is the vehicle to home charging…something Tesla doesn’t presently have. Elon Musk thinks people don’t want bidirectional charging. Note to Elon: yes, they do! No pricing has been released yet, but expect the GM systems to be price competitive with Powerwalls and similar systems. 

The EU has approved a scary piece of draft legislation allowing governments to spy on journalists in the name of “national security.” It is euphemistically called the European Media Freedom Act, according to thenextweb.com. Apparently France introduced an exception to the legislation putting in an exception to the ban on deploying spyware against journalists, provided it was used in the interests of national security. EU set to approve ‘disturbing’ new media surveillance law. The exemption would allow member states to hack into journalists’ phones if they suspect their sources could be talking to criminals involved in anything the state perceives to be a threat. A broad array of crimes, ranging from murder to theft and music piracy, will now be considered as legal justification for using surveillance software on reporters. If this gets final approval, don’t expect much freedom of the press in the European Union.

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

More Parental Controls for Messenger & Instagram; Zillow Using AI for Virtual Home Tools; Pixel Fold Gets Home Repair Parts via iFixit; Apple Boosts iCloud Prices Overseas

Posted: June 27, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Even as we become more concerned with governments, companies, and hackers and stalkers snooping more and more into our private lives, at the same time parents actually need to stay on top of what their kids are up to. Now, according to mashable.com, Meta has introduced a suite of new features to increase parental supervision and elevate safety on Instagram and Facebook Messenger. On Messenger, parents can now see how their teen uses on the app. This means parents are allowed to view contact lists, who messages their teen, how much time is being spent on Messenger, and who can see Messenger Stories. The teen can also choose whether to allow their parents to see if they have reported someone. Parents are not able to read the messages, though. For Instagram, parents can set time limits on the teen, and track how long they are spending on the app. Also…people who don’t follow teens must send an invite to get permission to connect. Only one invite can be sent at a time and others can’t be sent until the recipient accepts said invitation. No photograph, video, or call-based invitations are permitted, making sure no unwanted messaging is made visible to teens.

AI continues to move into every nook and cranny of the net, and now it’s virtual home tours. Zillow will now combine media and immersive virtual viewing to present a home’s features and floor plan. Geekwire.com reports that Zillow is touting an ‘immersive interactive floor plan,’ the ability to seamlessly toggle between the floor plan, photos, and a virtual tour. They also feature a self-rotating high resolution photo carousel. Where the AI comes in is in choosing what Zillow calls ‘hero images.’ The AI bases the views on buyer preferences of the look and features that mater most to home shoppers. Here’s an idea…drop the photos that stretch the rooms, even if they don’t look as big. We all know there aren’t normally 10 foot wide refrigerators or bathtubs. Use a normal camera lens, guys!

Repairing a smartphone yourself seems daunting, although people are doing it…even Apple had to cave and make parts, tools, and manuals available. Now, Google has joined in, and is making parts available through iFixit…even for the Pixel Fold! 9to5google says that this may be particularly useful and a good savings with a device like the Fold. Folding screen phones have had durability problems. In fact, one journalist who had one for review said the screen died after 4 days! The reviewer thinks a tiny bit of debris got between the tight sides of the screen right at the bezel and poked a tiny hole in the plastic that protects the ‘ultra thin’ OLED screen. From there, the screen started going out. Apparently, the debris can get between the screen and the nearly flush bezels on its sides. As I have noted before, a lot of people who aren’t really skilled and technical would be best served to go to a repair shop that will now have access to the parts. If you want to stick with google, they do offer mail in and walk in repair services for phones that are out of warranty…and also sell an extended warranty with a deductible. 

Apple has increased prices for iCloud in the UK and some other places, apparently due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Brits got hit with a 25% jump in pricing, according to 9to5mac.com. Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates also have similar increases. iCloud pricing in the US remains the same for now.

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

$42 billion in US Broadband Funding Coming from the Feds; Military Spec AI May Be Coming to Your Work Computer; Tech Startups Look to Work From Home for Recruits; MIT Has Developed Paper Thin Solar Cells

Posted: June 26, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Remember when Congress passed and the president signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021? Well, finally…finally…the $42 billion in funding for broadband access is getting released. Engadget.com reports that Texas gets the biggest chunk at $3.3 billion. Eighteen other states will get over a billion. Every state will get at least $107 million. The plan is to get everyone in the country broadband by 2030. States are supposed to focus first on places with no access at all. The states have until year’s end to submit their proposals.

It seems like every little bit, there’s a new story about creepy stuff peeking into your life. Now, according to wired.com, companies are turning to military AI to surveil employees. There are now over a dozen companies selling what they say is military grade AI to keep tabs on employees. With these tools, your boss may be able to use advanced data analytics to identify labor organizing, internal leakers, and the company’s critics. The systems don’t just track what’s on your work computer, either. They collect and analyze publicly available data, including your social media posts.  The National Labor Relations Board announced last year that it would seek to outlaw “intrusive” and “abusive” labor surveillance, an important step. Meanwhile, just be aware that it isn’t just Big Brother watching you…it’s Big Business, too.

When we think of job perks, it’s usually the old standbys like health insurance, or in the startup world there’s been gourmet food, sports facilities, even child care. How about freedom? That is the latest carrot to be dangled by small tech companies. Vox.com says the smaller firms are jumping into something that’s being pulled back by the bigger tech companies…work from home. Many of the big guys are demanding that people return to the office…anywhere from 2 to 5 days a week. Data from Scoop Technologies, which tracks office policies shows that 81% of smaller firms…that’s less than 5,000 employees, allow remote work or even have remote only positions. Just 26% of the bigger firms offer that kind of flexibility. If you are really wanting the freedom to work remote all or most of the time…don’t be looking to Google, Facebook, or Apple. think small!

This is a biggie…or smallie, if there’s such a word. Scientists at MIT have developed paper think solar cells that can be attached to any kind of surface to convert it into a power source. Thecooldown.com reports that the cells can actually be made thinner than a human hair, and can be laminated to all sorts of surfaces…even the likes of sails on a boat to power things on board at sea! Tents could have solar panels all over the surface to power your small electronics while camping. Note that these cells can only generate half the energy per unit area compared to traditional silicon cells…BUT they can generate much more by weight. A mere 44 lbs can be laminated to a roof to crank out the same amount of power as an 8,000 watt traditional solar installation. They are working right now to bring these to market.

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

The Reddit-Moderator Fight Continues; Speaking of Fights—Zuck vs Elon Cage Match; Duck Duck Go Beta Browser for Windows; OSOM Bows USB-C Anti-Juice Jacking Cable

Posted: June 22, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

In the ongoing drama between Reddit and its moderators over the API pricing Reddit has announced, the latest tactic by the mods is marking their subreddits NSFW, or Not Safe for Work. According to techcrunch.com, after Reddit started stepping in and removing mods, the mods have tried several tactics. This one has the potential to dent Reddit’s revenue, as a lot of advertisers don’t want to run in NSFW subreddits. Reddit posted in an admin account they use to talk to mods “Changing a previously SFW community to an NSFW community in order to protest Reddit policies is inappropriate for the members of your community and not acceptable overall. People subscribe to communities based on the content at the time of subscription. Communities can gradually change as they grow, but this is not what we are observing and not in the best interest of the users being subjected to that content.” Think that’s going to stop the pissed off mods…nah. Reddit had best reconsider its API pricing as this protest doesn’t seem to be cooling off at all. 

In what may be one of the silliest tech related stories I’ve done, after Elon Musk tweeted that he would be up for a cage match with Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Facebook, etc…Zuck fired back with a screenshot of Musk’s tweet with a caption ‘send me location.’ Theverge.com reports that it has been confirmed that Zuckerberg actually did respond, and Musk has replied with ‘Vegas octagon.’ Musk further tweeted “I have this great move that I call ‘The Walrus,’ where I just lie on top of my opponent and do nothing.” Musk, 51, has the upper hand on Zuckerberg in terms of sheer physical size, and he has talked about being in “real hard-core street fights” when he was growing up in South Africa. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg, 39, is an aspirational MMA fighter who is already winning Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. My question is would it be streamed live,  or would they put out a version with avatars fighting in the Metaverse? 

DuckDuckGo, which for years has championed search that doesn’t grab your data and serve you paid search results or ads, has had a browser out for Macs for about a year now. Arstechnica.com says that now you can try a public beta of their Windows browser. As part of the browser, you can use the Duck Player that shows most YouTube videos ‘without privacy invading ads,’ and that won’t feed you recommendations. There’s tracker blocking that is above and beyond other browsers…and includes third party tracker loading. The browser has forced encryption, and a ‘fire button’ that instantly closes all tabs and clears website data, as well as cookie pop-up management and email protection. Check it out at duckduckgo.com.

We reported on this several months ago…the practice of bad guys using public charging facilities like at airports to steal your data when you plug in…so-called ‘juice jacking.’ It allows them to load your device with malware. Now, 9to5google.com reports that OSOM has released a special USB-C cable with a switch that allows you to charge while blocking data transfer…effectively blocking the bad guys from uploading malware to your phone. the cable works with any USB-C device is is rated for charging up to 60 watts. It has a braided cable, too. Note that it is limited to USB 2.0 speeds, however. That’s because most public stations just have USB-A plugs…in other words, you’re going to need an adapter. That said, this safer charging cable is $30, and available right now on Amazon from OSOM.

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

Amazon Prime Day is Looming; Future iPhones May Have Easily Replaceable Battery; Twitch Requiring New Labels for Gambling, Sexual Themes; Patreon Launches Free Membership Tier

Posted: June 21, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Amazon has announced the date for Prime Day 2023…it’s July 11th through the 12th. Zdnet.com reports that in last year’s Prime Day, customers bought some 300 million items at a savings of over $1.7 billion. The bargains will start right after midnight on July 11th, and there will be new deals every 30 minutes over the two day event. Except 2022, Prime Day has been a once-a-year event. There is no word on whether this was a one time thing, or if the online giant may try to do more than one Prime Day event again this year. 

The European Union continues to lead when it comes to consumer protection. A new regulation passed overwhelmingly by the EU Parliament requires smartphone makers to equip phones with easily replaceable batteries. According to mashable.com, don’t expect to see this happen immediately. The EU is giving manufacturers 3-1/2 years to begin complying. The regulation appears to also apply to laptops. Phone makers may whine about not being able to make them waterproof or dustproof, but since laptops have never been water resistant….let alone waterproof, no excuses. Remember being able to pop the bottom off and plug in a new battery? That may happen again…ending the no-deposit, no-return era on very expensive laptops and phones that can be used for several years after the life of a normal battery. 

Twitch is changing the way it flags mature content. TechCrunch.com says they will be replacing the existing toggle for ‘more granular’ topic-specific labels. The new set of content labels that require streamers to signal when their channels will contain sexual themes, graphic violence, “drugs, intoxication, or excessive tobacco use,” gambling or “significant” profanity or vulgarity. Those new labels roll out today to all Twitch users. The new labels are dynamic and can be added and removed throughout a stream as needed, so if only a short segment of a five-hour livestream contains sexually themed content, that label can be toggled on and then off again for that portion of the stream. Twitch says there will be a grace period while streamers learn the new labels, so won’t be locking accounts for failures to apply them for 30 days. 

Patreon is lowering their paywall, allowing fans to subscribe to their favorite creators for free. It’s an interesting turn for a platform that has billed itself as a creator-first platform where fans can financially support the writing, audio, and video they love directly, and the people making content can earn real money. Theverge.com notes that a free subscription option — which exists on other platforms like Substack — could help creators cast a wider net for their audience and bring in people who are interested in the content but not yet ready (or able) to pay. Besides adding the free tier to try to get more followers in the door, creators can now sell one-off digital products like videos, podcasts, or downloadable files. Patreon will take a 5% cut of those. Creators who offer the free subscription can turn on paid membership later, too. Patreon will take an 8% cut of those, just like they do with their Pro Plan. Creators can join the waitlist for the new features starting today, with new users getting access weekly. Full availability will be rolled out by the end of the year. 

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

Spotify May Get HiFi Audio- for $$$; Apple Expands Self-Service Repair Program; Tesla Stock Up on Supercharger Deals With Other EV Makers; FCC Investigating Broadband Data Caps

Posted: June 20, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A new Spotify subscription tier is planned for later this year, but it now looks like it will be available outside the US first. Gizmodo.com reports that Individual Premium subscribers who already pay $9.99 a month for ad-free music and unlimited song and podcast downloads will be dinged for even more if they want what is being called the Superpremium tier. Bloomberg says that name probably isn’t the final name of the new hi-fi tier. In addition to hi-fi, the top tier could also give expanded access to audiobooks…which kind of negates the need for hi-fi when you are just listening to a person speak. Both Apple and Amazon have goosed their prices up to $10.99. Apple’s best audio stream sounds pretty amazing…it’s super clean and open sounding. 

Apple has now expanded their self-service repair program to cover the iPhone 14 line and a number of MacBook Pros and the 13 inch MacBook Air. According to macrumors.com, the Air with the M2 chip, and 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pros with M2 Pro and Max chips will be included starting tomorrow. First launched in April 2022, Apple’s program provides customers with access to parts, manuals, and tools to repair select devices. Apple says the program is designed for anyone with “experience repairing electronic devices,” but says the “vast majority” of customers are better off visiting an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. Pro tip: having replaced batteries and memory in a couple Mac laptops…unless you are pretty savvy and skilled at this, take your rig to a shop! It’s still a good deal that Apple is doing this, as those parts, manuals, and tools will now be accessible to more local shops that will charge notably less than Apple. 

Tesla stock has been climbing nicely the last few weeks, but took a 4% jump today, as EV makers continue to want access to the company’s Supercharger network. Electrek.co says that with both Ford and GM inking deals with Tesla to start using their chargers and charging plug, things are picking up. Tesla stock is up 50% in the last month. Morgan Stanley recently estimated that the charging network could be worth more than $100 billion by 2030. Tesla currently has about 2,000 stations in North America. The bipartisan law passed last summer includes money to build thousands of charging stations, but so far is off to a slow start seeing actual construction of them. 

The FCC is looking at investigating broadband providers over their use of data caps on consumers. Cnet.com reports that the Commission is asking the public  to come forward with their own accounts of how data caps have affected them, via a consumer complaint form. https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/16136257875348-Data-Caps-Experience-Form. As the FCC Chair noted, “internet access is no longer nice-to-have, but need-to-have for everyone, everywhere. As we emerge from the pandemic, there are many lessons to learn about what worked and what didn’t work, especially around what it takes to keep us all connected.” Multiple internet service providers continue to impose data caps, even when smaller competing providers say that such caps aren’t necessary. Comcast Xfinity, Cox, AT&T and others continue to impose data caps with added charges for going over set limits. Other providers like Google Fiber, CenturyLink and Spectrum don’t have data caps. Interestingly, AT&T Fiber is unlimited.

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

New iPhone 15 Rumor; Leak Shows Bigger Outside Screen for Galaxy Z Flip 5; Hackers Threaten Confidential Data Leak from Reddit; Cosmic Rays May Replace GPS

Posted: June 19, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Apple’s iPhone 15 series will apparently get an upgraded ultra wideband chip…mainly to help with Vision Pro Headset integration when that comes out early next year. According to macrumors.com, the tip comes from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo goes on to say that the upgraded U1 chip is part of Apple’s plan to “aggressively upgrade hardware specifications to build a more competitive ecosystem for Vision Pro.” In addition, next year’s iPhone 16 will support Wi-Fi 7, and is expect to provide speeds of ‘at least 30’ gigabits per second. 

A new leak via a render from mysmartprice that was picked up by theverge.com shows the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5 with a bigger cover display. The screen covers most of the front of the folder when it is flipped closed. No dimensions were given, but it is notably larger than the 1.9 inch screen on the Z Flip 4. Samsung will show the Z Flip 5 and latest Fold at their Unpacked event coming up next month. 

Another day, another hack…this one threatens to release some 80 gigs of confidential data stolen from Reddit. Techcrunch.com reports that the BlackCat ransomware gang posted a demand on the dark web. A Reddit spokesperson had no comment, but confirmed that BlackCat’s claims flow from a cyber incident Reddit says happened on February 9th. As many users, the hackers are mad about Reddit’s new API pricing plan. they are apparently demanding $4.5 million in exchange for deleting the stolen data and for Reddit to withdraw its API price hike.

Ah, GPS, how we’ve loved ye. Now, a new kid on the block (which is actually an ancient one) may be coming that will make GPS obsolete. Arstechnica.com says Scientists in Japan have developed an alternative wireless navigation system that relies on cosmic rays, or muons, instead of radio waves, according to a new paper published in the journal iScience. The team has conducted its first successful test, and the system could one day be used by search and rescue teams, for example, to guide robots underwater or to help autonomous vehicles navigate underground. You heard right…the muon based system will work under water and at reasonable depths underground! Right now, they are working on getting their system to work to within 1 meter accuracy…and of course to shrink it down into at least a hand held device.

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

Microsoft Now Selling Surface Replacement Parts; Google Delays EU Bard Launch; Amazon’s ‘Hey Disney’ on Alexa is Live; Comcast Whines About Fee Disclosures

Posted: June 15, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Microsoft is starting to sell replacement components for its Surface devices. The software giant now supplies , allowing Surface owners to replace their displays, batteries, SSDs, and more. Theverge.com reports that Microsoft says “When purchasing a replacement component, you will receive the part and relevant collateral components (such as screws if applicable).” Tools are available separately and separately priced by iFixit, which Redmond has partnered with since 2021 to make Surface repair tools available. iFixit also makes tools for getting into Apple products. I have used them in the past to replace batteries and upgrade memory…something that is near impossible now, with Apple’s present devices. Replacement and repair components…are you listening, Apple? Samsung? Every device maker should make these available. People often keep their gear for 3,4, or 5 years, and they should be serviceable just like your car…even if you have to take it to a shop and don’t feel like a do-it-yourself repair job. It is way past time. I will now get off my soapbox, back on my meds, and continue with this report. 

Google has put the Bard AI introduction in the European Union on ice, as the Irish Data Protection Commission has stepped in. According to engadget.com, the agency claims not to have received a ‘detailed’ privacy briefing, a data impact statement, and supporting info. Here’s an interesting wrinkle if you are all excited about AI chatbots: According to a new report from Reuters, Google’s parent company Alphabet has warned employees about using AI chatbots, including Bard. Google employees were specifically advised against submitting any confidential information to Bard or any other AI chatbot. If you are using or love chatbots, fine, but be warned…Google’s parent doesn’t think their own proprietary information is safe once it gets into the chatbot world. 

We reported on this earlier, and now it’s available…’Hey Disney’ is out for most Echo devices. Techcrunch.com says the custom assistant is named, in typical Disney marketing language the ‘Disney Magical Companion.’ Over 20 Disney characters are featured, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Olaf, Moana, Dory, Mater, Chewbacca, R2-D2, Fozzie Bear and more. There are thousands of custom interactions that will issue forth from your Echo device with the magic of Disney…including some ‘Easter Eggs’ that they say will ‘surprise and delight’ customers. By the way, you can’t always choose the character you interact with. The feature is a $5.99 a year subscription at the Alexa Skills Store, or comes with a subscription to Amazon Kids Plus…which is $4.99 a month. It doesn’t work on Fire Tablets or Fire TVs or very old Echos, so be warned. 

Comcast filed with the FCC last week, whining about having to disclose all their fees to customers. In fact, 5 major telecom and cable industry trade groups had previously filed with the Federal Communications Commission about them. Arstechnica.com notes that Comcast and the others want to simply the rules so they don’t have to provide broadband customers with labels displaying exact prices and other information about Internet service plans. These firms have tacked on page after page of ridiculous fees, and been called out for sometimes lying to customers that the fees are mandated by the government. The new FCC rule will require that “providers must list all recurring monthly fees,” including “all charges that providers impose at their discretion, i.e., charges not mandated by a government.” Or horrors…Comcast will have to admit that a lot of the fees are just extra price gouging on their part. 

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

Meta Expands Creator Bonus Program; Hundreds of Subreddits to Go Dark Indefinitely; EU Moves to Break Up Google Ad Biz; Bipartisan Bill to Exclude Generative AI from Section 230

Posted: June 14, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Meta has announced that it is expanding its bonus program that pays creators for Facebook posts. According to engadget.com, the company hopes to lure more creators to Facebook with new monetization features. Meta had previously cut payouts from a bonus program that paid creators for engagement with Reels, but this program is for feed posts, not Reels or Stories. Meta notes that “most successful creators in this program post regularly, typically every day,” with a combination of text and photo posts. According to Meta, the updates are meant to help creators “earn steady streams of income on Facebook.” But the changes also seem designed to boost creator engagement with Facebook as the platform struggles to hold the interest of younger users, who are more interested in TikTok and Instagram.

There has been an ongoing battle between Reddit and a large number of Reddit communities after changes to the platforms API-including charges for it- were announced that will potentially shut down many third party apps. Techcrunch.com reports that Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said in an internal memo “Like all blowups on Reddit, this one will pass as well”. He also says that so far, there hasn’t been a significant impact on Reddit’s revenue. There are over 300 subreddits dark right now, and more are expected to join them…maybe up to 5,000. The site briefly was taken down a couple days ago. Reddit is looking for more revenue as they plan to go public later this year. Right now, they have laid off 5% of staff and slowed hiring due to the protest. 

The European Commission has and a formal antitrust complaint against Google and its ad business. Theverge.com says it is a preliminary opinion, but the Commission has found that Google has abused its dominant position in the digital ad market, and that selling off parts of its business may be the only remedy. The Commission has already fined Google over three prior antitrust cases. Expect Google to fight this tooth and nail, as its ad business is the heart of its ability to make money. 

An unlikely bipartisan pair of senators have introduced a bill to exclude generative AI from legal immunity under section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley are backing the bill. According to axios.com, the bill will try to set in law the fact that AI generated work will not be covered by the law that largely shields platforms from lawsuits over third party content. Some legal experts think the section does cover generative AI. Senator Blumenthal is one of the most knowledgable people in Congress about tech and the internet, so this bill might move forward and have real teeth. 

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

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