Z Flip Prime Day Price Drop; Prime Day-Laptop Price Cut; French Battery Recycling Firm Gets More Funding; Bluesy Adds Email Verification
Posted: October 10, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentIf you have been thinking about a folding phone, and don’t want to drop almost $2 grand, there is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. It has been a still strong $1120, but for Prime Day, Samsung has dropped it back down to its lowest price ever…$920…so you can save a quick $200 if you act fast. It’ the latest of Samsung’s little foldable model that can be squeezed into a jeans pocket or small purse. Samsung is running deals on most of its line for Prime Day, so if you are in the market, now’s the time.
There are tons of deals for Prime Day, and on a wide variety of products. Here’s one that caught my eye from a list assembled by arstechnica.com. If you are in the market for a laptop and aren’t a power user, there’s a Lenovo Flex 5 14 inch laptop that runs on an AMD Ryzen 5 processor that has been dropped from $880 down to $612 at Amazon. You can even pick up a Lenovo 3i Chromebook cheaper…the formerly $300 rig is now $255! I you are a power user, there’s a Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop…15 inch screen, 12th Gen Intel Core i7, and 3080Ti that has been cut from $3700 down to $2400! Have at ‘em!
As more devices and more vehicles run on batteries, the need only grows to recycle those batteries. Now, thenextweb.com says a French company called Mecaware has raised 40 million euros in funding to scale up its battery recycling tech. The startup has bee around since 2020, and came out of research from the University of Lyon. They use a chemical process that uses CO2 to separate the different metals in battery cells in order to recover, restore, and reuse them. Mecaware claims its process is eco-friendly, and perhaps as importantly, cost-effective. Considering the scarcity of some of the metals used in the batteries and where they come from, recycling them is going to be a big deal. The EU Commission says by 2050, the EU will need 60 times more lithium and 15 times more cobalt to hit climate neutrality by mid century.
Bluesky, the Twitter (now X) competitor headed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, has added a way for users to change and verify their email addresses as part of a larger effort underway to improve account security and authentication on the network. Plus, the app will now warn users of misleading links by flagging them. TechCrunch.com notes it is all as the fledgling app tightens security. Bluesky still remains invite only. I have been wait listed for months, has have several other people I know. Bluesky presently just claims a million users…about half of Mastodon’s 1.8 million, and a tiny base compared to Threads’ over 100 million registered users. X claims to have 666 million users, but knowing Elon Musk’s love of numbers and symbols, that may be one he just picked for the shock value to some religious people.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Threads Readies Trending Topics; Switch 2 Price & Release Date Possible Leak; iPad Air & Mini May Be Getting OLED Screens; Prime Day-Categories for Bargains
Posted: October 9, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentAs Threads ramps up to gobble up as many users of X…formerly Twitter as they can, while Elon Musk continues to figure out new ways to run users off, one feature addition is going to be a numbered list of trending topics. Techcrunch.com reports that this has been a much-requested feature. A trending topics list was spotted over the weekend on an internal feed used by Meta employees. So far, the trending topics on Threads doesn’t seem to have categories like News, Sports, and Entertainment…or even a ‘For You’ personalized version. After the big initial sign up, Threads use dropped substantially…which isn’t unusual. So far, adding features hasn’t gotten a massive uptick in use, or a large influx of new users. Threads reportedly has 135 million global monthly active users…that’s a long way from the estimated 666 million X has.
We may know the release date and price for the Nintendo Switch 2, thanks to a leak by a Discord user that was picked up by bgr.com. The Discord user, one SoldierDelta, says the Switch 2 will drop on September 24, 2024. There is apparently a secondary placeholder release date in case of problems penciled in for November of ’24. The console has an internal designation of NG, and the digital only version will be $400, while the cartridge version will run you $449. The leaker says he hasn’t been able to find out if Switch 2 will in fact be the name of the device, or if Nintendo will give it a new name.
Apple is already starting to transition to OLED screens in 2024, as previously reported. iPad Pros will get the better displays next year…along with the M3 and a completely redesigned Magic Keyboard. Now, word comes from macrumors.com that the iPad Mini and the Air will likely be getting the better screens by 2026. Apparently, Apple has put in orders for screens that would fit those models. Sadly, it looks like the smallest non-Mini iPad may be going away….the 10.2 inch model may be completely replaced by the larger 10.9 inch tablet. I use one of the smaller ones, and find that it is a great size for casual use..the Mini is too small for me, but I haven’t really liked the bigger device…looks like I’m going to have to get used to them!
Prime Day at Amazon starts tomorrow, and there will be tons of bargains. Mashable.com has surveyed the horizon, and here are some categories you may want to hit first, if you are in the market for things in them. First off, Apple products…Amazon has decent deals…not exactly fire sale prices…Air Pods, Watch, and iPads have some bucks shaved off. Naturally, you can find big savings on Amazon’s own devices…pretty much all Echo Speakers, Echo Shows, Kindles…but you may not want to go for Ring cams. Robot Vacuums are hot, and so are the prices…especially iRobot, since it is now owned by Amazon. Prime Day will also have some nice bargains on everyday essentials and pet supplies. Happy shopping!
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Microsoft Revamps Teams; Galaxy SmartTag 2 Out Next Week; Twitter (X) Revenue Dropped Every Month of Musk Ownership; 3D Printed Stem Cells
Posted: October 5, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentMicrosoft has redesigned their somewhat clunky Teams app to make it faster and less of a resource hog on both PCs and Macs. According to theverge.com, the app has been built from the ground up. In fact, Redmond is claiming the app is twice as fast while using 50% less memory. It also takes up 70% less disk space. Microsoft says ‘classic Teams’ users will be automatically upgraded to the new Teams in the coming months.
Tracking tags are handy to have…personally, I use Apple’s Air Tags, but Samsung has a huge ecosystem of devices that can help track your stuff, too. Now, 9to5google.com reports that the Galaxy SmartTag 2 is launching next week for $30. The original SmartTags came in two flavors that could track items like Apple’s AirTag. They used Bluetooth or UWB, or a combination of the two, using the network of Galaxy smartphones and tablets nearby. The new tag supports Bluetooth and UWB, and in addition has an integrated loop for easy attachment to a keychain, bag, or whatever other item you want to keep track of. It also has a bigger battery that will last up to 700 days according to Samsung. Apple’s batteries only last a year, but are semi-replaceable. Replaceable IF you don’t mind a lot of struggling and cussing. Samsung’s SmartTags are rated for water and dust resistance at iP67.
Monthly U.S. ad revenue at social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has declined at least 55% year-over-year each month since billionaire Elon Musk bought the company formerly known as Twitter in October 2022, according to third-party data provided to Reuters. U.S. ad revenue dropped by 78% in December 2022 compared with the same month the previous year, the steepest monthly decline since the acquisition, according to ad analytics firm Guideline, which tracks advertising spending data from major ad agencies. Ad revenue in August, the latest data available from Guideline, declined 60% year-over-year. X declined to comment on the data. Musk just got rid of headlines in posts this week. Wait until he tries to make the whole platform pay for play like he has said he would.
In an amazing breakthrough that could help treat brain injuries, Scientists at Oxford in the UK have 3D printed stem cells that can mimic the architecture of the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain. Thenextweb.com reports that these could potentially be used to treat brain injuries. Such injuries typically cause significant damage to the cerebral cortex, leading to movement, cognition, and communication challenges. The research team fabricated a two-layered brain tissue by 3D printing human neural stem cells. Repairing brain injuries would be a huge breakthrough.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Pixel 8 Pro Gets ‘Pro’ Camera Controls & More; Pixel Watch 2; Netflix to Raise Prices-Again; Spotify Giving Premium Subscribers Free Audiobooks
Posted: October 4, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentGoogle has rolled out the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. The new flagship phone gets an overhaul of the Google Camera app, bringing what Google claims are DSLR-like ‘Pro’ controls for settings like focus, shutter speed, and ISO, in addition to ‘Video Boost’ and night Sight Video capabilities. The Pixel phones already had some of the best still photo abilities of any smartphones. 9to5google.com reports that the new 8 Pro benefits from Google’s machine learning expertise. In addition to the pro controls, the Magic eraser can now run directly on the phone, and there’s a new ‘Zoom Enhance’ feature coming in a few months. You can preorder the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro today. The Pro starts at $999. The Pixel 8 Starts at $699.99. Both phones ship October 12th.
The Pixel Watch was a bit underwhelming, and now Google has rolled out the Pixel 2 with some nice refinements. According to engadget.com, the latest iteration of the watch has better health and fitness tracking, significantly longer battery life, and better integration with Google services. Google has crowed that the case is made of 100% recycled aluminum, for a greener product. As rumored, there is also a new skin temperature sensor which can be used to measure your stress levels. The Pixel Watch 2 is available for preorder now starting at $349 for Wi-Fi only…more if you add LTE cellular. It ships next week.
Netflix is going to raise prices…again! Theverge.com says the price hike will come in the next few months….or maybe even weeks after the SAG-AFTRA strike ends. The hit to the wallet will come to the US and Canada first. Netflix just raised prices across the board last year, and also cracked down on password sharing earlier this year.
Spotify is getting serious about audiobooks. Premium subscribers can now enjoy 15 hours of listening a month with access to over 150,000 audiobooks. Mashable.com reports that the feature is also available for plan managers of Family and Duo accounts. The rollout of the feature has happened in the UK and Australia, and the US will get them in the coming months. Books can be accessed through the Premium catalog, which Spotify ays includes ‘upwards of 70% of best-selling books.’
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Meta-Fee for Ad-Free in Europe; Tech Will Mean 3.5 Day Work Week-Dimon; Tom Hanks Blasts AI Dental Plan Hoax; Tesla Wins Autopilot Arbitration Case
Posted: October 3, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentIn July, a court ruled that Facebook (as well as other platforms) must get consent of European Union users to access their personal data. That court said that site operators have to prove that users willingly gave permission, possibly by allowing them to reject ad tracking. Now, Facebook is looking to fees to make up the loss in ad revenue. Engadget.com reports that Meta may charge $14 a month in Europe as a subscription fee unless users opt in to targeted ads. For both Instagram and Facebook, the fee would be $17 a month for ad-free access to both on a desktop! Those fees are just a hair less than Netflix charges for its regular monthly plan! As we have said before, we can all expect to be ‘fee-charged’ into near poverty at this rate…and all these platforms already have an incredibly vast trove of data on each and every one of us!
It sounds almost too good to be true, a 3 and a half day workweek. Well, that’s what Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s CEO sees on the road up ahead. According to SFGate.com, Dimon spoke of suck a work week in a Senate committee hearing. He also predicted that people would regularly live to 100 and wouldn’t get cancer because of technology. The banker noted that technology has always replaced jobs. Don’t get over-excited about the 3 and a half day workweek just yet…Dimon predicted that for your kids or grandkids! Dimon didn’t dwell on it, but it is true that Some AI systems require what The Verge called “a vast tasker underclass,” underpaid workers who perform tedious and sometimes disturbing work to train the technology. Dimon did say that JPMorgan Chase is already using some forms of AI, and said if AI replaces jobs at the firm, he hopes they can ‘redeploy’ the workers. In other words, good luck!
Tom Hanks posted a warning on Instagram about an AI-generated version of him being used to promote “some dental plan” without his consent. “There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me,” he captioned the image on Instagram. “I have nothing to do with it.” If you want to know one of the reasons the actors in SAG-AFTRA are striking, here is one of the biggest ones! Earlier this year, Hanks acknowledged that in the future, an AI-generated version of himself could appear in films he wouldn’t normally choose. “Without a doubt people will be able to tell [that it’s AI], but the question is will they care?” he asked on the Adam Buxton podcast in April. “There are some people that won’t care, that won’t make that delineation.”
A federal judge in California ruled over the weekend that a group of Tesla owners cannot pursue in court claims that the company falsely advertised its automated features. Instead, they will have to face individual arbitration. TechCrunch.com notes that this doesn’t mean that Tesla will win on the defendability of its advanced driver assistance programs, just that the customers can’t bring a class action in court. Big businesses adore binding arbitration, where the odds favor them winning on issues. It’s subtile, but because the retired judges that work as arbitrators are paid by the business side, those jurists know if they decide too often in favor of individuals, they won’t get used again and have the money stream cut off. It’s a shameful system supposedly put in place to save court resources…but mainly serves as a quicker, cheaper way for companies to avoid being found liable in court.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
TikTok Tests Ad-Free Subscription; Chromebook Plus Will ID Higher Quality Chromebooks; Apple Cooking Up Fix for Overheating in Some New iPhones; FYI-Emergency Alert Test on Phones Wednesday
Posted: October 2, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentTikTok is reportedly testing an $4.99 a month ad-free subscription tier. According to techcrunch.com, that fee in the US would get you a completely ad-free experience on the platform. One caveat…the subscription only covers ads served by TikTok…not influencer marketing or one-offs or marketing campaigns.
Google has released Chromebook Plus, a new certification that is intended to help shoppers identify high-quality Chromebooks to buy. Theverge.com reports that to qualify for the new label, a laptop must have an Intel Core i3 or better…or AMD Rizen 7000 CPU, plus an IPD panel with at least 1080 pixels, a 1080 pixel webcam, 8 gigs of RAM, and 128 gigs of storage. Chromebooks that get the plus certification will have access to some exclusive new AI powered features.
Some people have gotten some serious heating with their new iPhone 15 and 15 Pros. Now, 9to5mac.com says Apple has a software update on the way to take care of it. Rumors have flown that it is the titanium band around it or the new, more powerful chip. It turns out some third party apps are overloading the system. Apple is working with the developers to help them fix the issue. The worst offending apps are Instagram, Asphalt 9, and Uber. Apple has said the update won’t involve cutting down the processing speed of the new CPU.
Just a heads up in case you missed it…the government will set off a loud National Wireless Emergency Alert System sound on every cell phone (in addition to radio and TV) on Wednesday, October 4th. The blast will come at 2:20 PM Eastern, according to engadget.com. There will be a written message stating “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The messages will be accompanied by a “unique tone and vibration.” The FCC says the test will last for about 30 minutes, but you can dismiss the notification and silence your phone as soon as you hear it.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
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