VW Electric Microbus Finally Coming; Sony Suspends Playstation Sales in Russia; House Asks DOJ to Look at Amazon Over Obstruction of Congress; Twitter Testing New Accessibility Features

Posted: March 9, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Some 5 years ago, VW got the world excited with a car of the future type rendering of an electric VW Microbus. Now, it appears it is about to become a reality. According to techcrunch.com, the ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo will go on sale third quarter of this year in Europe. A long wheelbase passenger model will debut in North American in 2023 and go on sale in 2024! The rig is based on the platform the VW group has developed that will run under Audi, Seat, Skoda, and VW to help with cost effectiveness of producing EVs. The EV Microbus will be built at the VW main plant in Hannover. Sadly, a futuristic feature from the dream van will be missing from the actual vehicle. The ID. Buzz will not have an “autonomous mode,” in which the steering wheel retracts and merges into the instrument panel and then wisks its passengers to their destination. 

Joining over 200 other companies in the West, Sony has suspended all PlayStation sales in Russia over the Ukraine war. The PlayStation Store will also no longer be available in Russia. CNBC reports that Sony will also donate $2 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to Save the Children, in support of those in Ukraine. 

On a day when Amazon has announced a 20 for 1 stock split, the House Judiciary Committee has asked the Department of Justice to investigate the giant company for possible criminal obstruction of Congress. According to Engadget.com, Members from both sides of the aisle complained in a letter to the DOJ that Amazon declined to provide info related to an antitrust investigation, relating to how they treat their third party sellers. The investigation started in 2019, and included Apple, Meta (Facebook then), and Alphabet (Google.) only Amazon has been accused of obstruction.

Twitter is trialing new accessibility feature to make alt text descriptions much more useful. According to theverge.com, images that have a description will sport a badge that says ALT, and clicking the badge will show the description. According to Twitter, around 3 percent of users will get to try out the new features for a month, and it’ll roll out globally at the beginning of April. Until then, it seems like most people still won’t have access to alt text descriptions unless they’re using a screen reader or are willing to jump through a lot of hoops. Twitter has been way behind others on accessibility, not actually getting a dedicated team until 2020. Prior to that, some staffers just did work voluntarily, in addition to their regular gigs there. 

Spring Applepalooza

Posted: March 8, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Apple rolled out refreshed iPhone SE and iPad Air models today, as expected, and also bowed a couple of new products which had been rumored…that will fit nicely into their Mac line. As for the third gen iPhone SE, the form factor is the same, and still one cam and just touch ID…but the diminutive iPhone gets the A15 Bionic Chip, 5G connectivity, and 12MP cams and the better cam software. It will run $429…cheap (for an Apple product!) You can preorder starting on March 11th, and they will be available March 18th.

As for the freshened iPad Air (Ok, sorry about that, ha, ha), it gets the M1 Apple silicon, 5G connectivity in the models with cellular, and new colors. As with the iPhone SE, it also has a 12MP ultra wide front camera and supports Apple Center Stage. You can use the 2nd gen Apple Pencil with it, too. The base model is $599, and as with the SE, preorders start this Friday, with availability in store and delivery March 18th. 

A pro level Mac with a less eye-watering price has been rumored, and it was unveiled today. It’s the Mac Studio. The Studio will have the M1 chip for a base, with a brand new M1 Ultra in the top line version. The Studio looks like a larger Mac Mini, and can sit on a desktop. It is about the same footprint as the Mini, but twice as tall. This is designed for music, movie, graphics, and software creators. It is a la carte…you pick what keyboard, trackpad, and monitor(s) you need. It will support up to four Pro Display XDR monitors. The base model with the M1 Max chip starts at $1999. WIth the blazing fast and powerful new M1 Ultra chip, you’ll drop $3999. You can order for first availability March 18th. 

Up to now, the only Apple branded display has run about $5 grand, and has mainly been positioned with the Mac Pro. Today, they showed off the Apple Studio Display, a new monitor intended for use with the Mac Studio above, but also with other Macs. It’s a 27 inch screen with 5K, 6 speakers that will support Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and a 12MP camera that supports Center Stage. It has a built in A13 Bionic processor, too. The new display will run $1599. You can order it right now, and it will be out March 18th.

US Speeds Plan to Cut Truck Pollution, Netflix Axes Russian Service; Tech Worker Burnout Crisis; Sony & Honda Joint Deal Building EVs

Posted: March 7, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Biden administration is accelerating the move to clean up truck emissions. Theverge.com reports that the EPA has proposed a new rule that would require new trucks to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 percent from current standards by 2031. Biden is also taking aim at greenhouse gas pollution by boosting efforts to switch out diesel-burning vehicles with electric or hydrogen-powered trucks and buses. This follows an infusion of cash for cleaner-burning vehicles laid out in the bipartisan infrastructure law passed last year.

Netflix becomes the latest to exit from Russia over the weekend. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and PayPal have all cut off the country, according to cnet.com. Now, Russian citizens have to stand in long lines at banks to get their rubles that are now worth around a penny. That and no Netflix ought to make for a pretty irate public. Late last week, Russian police were stopping people and demanding to read their texts on phones, or face arrest and confiscation of their cell phones. Meanwhile, with most foreign press and social media shut down, Ukrainians have taken to texting pictures of Russians bombing cities and killing civilians in Ukraine. They have gone to thousands of cell phones in Russia…including those of tv presenters that have been pumping out propaganda for Putin. 

This will come as no great surprise to anyone who works in or is around people who work in tech and IT, but there is a ‘burnout crisis’ happening. Now, there are some stats to back that up. ZDnet.com says that a study by mental well being platform Yerbo, which included 36,200 IT pros from 33 countries, found that 2 out of 5 were at high risk of burnout. Its all the result of longer hours, more demanding workloads and conflicts in work-life balance. 42% of IT workers who are facing high levels of burnout are considering quitting their company in the next six months, Yerbo found, while 62% of IT professionals report being “physically and emotionally drained”. Again, not a shock…but a validation….and something the tech industry had better get moving in addressing.

In case you missed it, late last week Sony and Honda signed a memo of understanding to build EVs together. Engadget.com reports that it isn’t yet a final deal, but would marry Sony’s infotainment, mobile, and image sensor expertise with Honda’s car building and sales savvy. Honda will design, manufacture and market the first model, with Sony creating the mobility service platform. After coming late to the EV party, Honda now says it will shift its entire lineup to EVs by 2040. Some makers will be 100% EV by 2030. 

Amazon Closing 68 Retail Locations; Ford Splits EV Division from Gas; Google Blocks RT & Sputnik; Facebook & Instagram Demote Russian State-Owned Content

Posted: March 2, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Amazon is closing all its brick and mortar Amazon Books stores, and also Amazon 4-Star and Amazon Pop-Up stores. There will be 68 total locations affected. CNBC reports that the company will try to find roles for employees elsewhere in the company. Employees who don’t opt to stay with Amazon will get severance. The physical stores have lagged notably compared to the online business. Even Whole Foods and Fresh stores had lower sales in 2021 than in 2018. So far, no closures are indicated for Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods, or for Amazon Go or Just Walk Out locations. 

Ford has announced that it is splitting into “two distinct, but strategically interdependent, auto businesses” called Ford Blue and Ford Model E. According to theverge.com, the company feels like this will give more of a start up urgency to the EV business, which will be run by Doug Field, who previously oversaw the Ford Model E and before that worked at Tesla and at Apple on their Project Titan self-driving vehicle. Ford President and CEO Jim Farley will be president of the Model E division, while Kumar Galhotra will head up Ford Blue. Ford is saying they will stick with the franchised dealer model in North America, but will have dealers ‘opt in’ to a new setup with a ‘reworked, standardized customer experience and transparent pricing.’ 

Google has followed Apple in blocking mobile apps connected to RT and Sputnik from the Play Store. Apple moved to delete the apps from the App Store yesterday. Reuters.com says Google had already removed Russian state publishers from its news related features. A number of tech companies have limited distribution and advertising tools to Russian news outlets in recent days as the European Commission readies a ban on them out of concern that they are spreading misinformation about the war in Ukraine.

Facebook and Instagram are de-emphasizing content from Russian State-Controlled media. Cnet.com notes that the Meta owned platforms have been under pressure to take steps against Russian disinformation and propaganda since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The social media giant said it will also make content from those outlets tougher to find and demote posts globally that contain links to Russian-state controlled media on Facebook. Over the next few days, Facebook will label links and provide more information to people before they share them. The label says “This link is from a publisher Facebook believes may be partially or wholly under the editorial control of the Russian government.”

Uber’s Explore Tab; Waymo Can Start Charging Fares; Wiper Malware in Ukraine-Microsoft Counterattacks; Zoom Looks to Bigger Customers

Posted: March 1, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Uber has unveiled a feature to help users find new things in the areas around them. With a new Explore tab, engadget.com reports that you can make dinner reservations, check out concert listings, and learn about cultural highlights. You will also be able to check Yelp reviews, photos, and directions to a variety of experiences. Recommendations will be based on your Uber and Uber Eats history. Uber won’t charge a booking fee for reservations, but may add a service or booking fee for some of the experiences. The feature goes live today in 15 areas: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis – St. Paul, New Orleans, New Jersey, Upstate New York, Orlando, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle and Mexico City.

Google (Alphabet’s) Waymo has gotten the ok to begin charging fares and to operate 24.7 in both San Francisco and San Mateo. According to 9to5google.com, the CPUC issued a ‘Drivered Deployment’ permit to Waymo, which allows charging fares and shared rides between different groups of passengers. They will be able to operate only in “designated parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties at any time of day or night at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour.” You can sign up for rides using both iOS and Android.

It wasn’t just Russian armor and troops that invaded Ukraine…malware attacks also struck. The New York Times reports that some particularly destructive malware posed as ransomware, but was actually a never before seen piece of ‘wiper’ malware, that was intended to wipe the Ukrainian government ministry computers and those of financial institutions. Three hours after the first strike, Microsoft jumped in, and began taking the malware…code named ‘Foxblade’…apart. By the end of 3 hours, Microsoft updated their virus detection systems to block the malicious code. the White House asked MS to share the details of the code, to prevent its use in the Baltics, Poland, and other nations, disrupting governments, banks, and alliances like NATO. 

Zoom revealed better than predicted financials for the 4th quarter, but warned of a weak outlook for 2023. Zdnet.com reports that Zoom is going to focus more on enterprise customers. That segment grew for them by 35% year over year. This is good, as the rest of their business is much slowed from during the height of the pandemic, when huge numbers of employees were Zooming in to work from home. For Q1 2023, Zoom projects a bit over a billion in revenue. 

TikTok-Longer Videos; Samsung Freshens Galaxy Book Pros; Apple 20” Foldable Might Be MacBook Pro; Super Creepy Hotel & Apt Sound Tech

Posted: February 28, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TikTok has YouTube users in its sights as they are rolling out the ability to upload longer videos, running up to 10 minutes. This will be available worldwide. Androidcentral.com reports that it isn’t the first time TikTok has allowed longer limits. This past July, they allowed videos of up to 3 minutes. What isn’t known is if or how this will affect the platform’s recommendation algorithm. Will the longer vids become more wildly popular than the minute videos or 3 minutes? We will know if just a few months. 

Samsung has freshened its Galaxy Book line with updates to the Galaxy Book 2 Pro and Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360. According to theverge.com, they will run you $1049.99 and $1249.99 respectively when they hit stores April 1st. Preorders will open March 18th. Both Pro models will be available as either 13.3 or 15.6 inch laptops. The banner update is that both will have 1080 pixel webcams. There are also some new background and face-effect features, and one of those kinda creepy Auto Framing tools that keeps you centered as you move around (hey, I might want to be off cam for a minute!) The displays are brighter, and the Pro convertible will come in a new burgundy color, in addition to graphite and silver. 

We reported last week on a possible 20 inch foldable that Apple might be working on. It’s been rumored as a mix between a MacBook and an iPad. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says (as picked up by 9to5mac.com) that it is probably really a big MacBook Pro with a touchscreen keyboard and keypad. He does note that it could still be used with an external keyboard, and act as an additional 20” screen to another computer, or as a couple screens itself. At any rate, you have time to save up…if it drops at all, it won’t be until 2026.

A hotel in San Francisco’s Castro District has embraced tech used by management company Kasa. Zdnet.com reports that the tech monitors ‘quiet hours’ from 9 PM to 8 AM. If you make noise greater than 72 decibels (db), you get a warning. For a 2nd offense, it’s a $500 fine and you are booted from the hotel. For comparison, office noise is about 70 db, and the average vacuum cleaner or radio is 75 db. It goes without saying that some folks making whoopee might exceed that db level! Hell of a price to pay for a few minutes of ecstasy! You think cams in an AirBnB are intrusive? Wait ‘till they have this tech, too! Better cover your face with a pillow when the magic moment ‘comes.’

Google Chat Will Replace Hangouts Next Month; Twitch Bows Guaranteed Streamer Income; 3G Shutdown-More Than Just Phones; LinkedIn Unveils Own Podcast Network

Posted: February 23, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The long delayed (since 2019) switch from Google Hangouts to Chat for Workspace will now see its final phase instituted by March 22nd. 9to5google.com reports that ‘Chat preferred’ setting will be turned on for those customers who haven’t already done so, making Google Chat the default application. Should you visit classic hangouts in Gmail on the web or on the mobile app, you will get a redirect to Chat. This upcoming classic Hangouts to Chat transition only impacts paid Workspace users and does not affect free personal Google Accounts. The company previously indicated that the migration would occur after all Workspace users are switched over.

Twitch is introducing a plan called the Ad Incentive Program, which will pay select streamers a guaranteed monthly minimum amount of ad revenue. According to theverge.com, they have started notifying those streamers of the new deal. The income is based on the amount of ads run per hour and total hours streamed. An example Twitch gave is for a creator who streamed at least 40 yours in a month. That streamer could pick up $100 for running two minutes of ads an hour, $300 for 3 minutes, and $500 for 4 minutes. Twitch is also including an ad management feature that controls when the ads roll during a stream, lifting the burden of timing ad breaks for the streamers. Streamers will still be able to take in revenue from donations and subscriptions. 

You have probably heard plenty already about the cellular carriers shutting down their 3G networks…and hopefully, don’t have such an old phone that it will be affected. If so…tough, ya cheapskate! You may also want to look at your connected car. Many makers have sent out info to upgrade your car system to 5G. Others offer (for a chunk of change) hardware to let you upgrade. You may also have an older smart watch which is not LTE or 5G, and that connectivity will be lost…although most of those also have WiFi and Bluetooth to connect to your phone. At any rate, here’s the shutdown schedule…AT&T already threw the switch, and started shutting down their 3G network on February 22nd. T-Mobile (and the old Sprint net) will be shut down on March 31st. Verizon is giving users the longest grace period. They will kill their 3G CDMA network on December 31st of this year. If you have another carrier, it will lose service based on the carrier they ride on. Cricket is on AT&T, so that’s being shut down now. Boost Mobile depends on T-Mobile, so March 31st is your date.

LinkedIn is unveiling its own podcast network, that will feature in-house shows from the company’s news team, and also programs from industry features. Techcrunch.com reports that the network will be geared toward a professional audience. LinkedIn says it will be focused on understanding tech, managing mental health and explaining the hiring process. Listeners can check out the podcasts on LinkedIn directly, and the shows will also be available on Apple’s Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcasts platforms. 

HP & Lenovo Chromebook to Support Steam; Sony Unveils Playstation VR2’s Design; GM Asks US Approval for Self-Driving Car Sans Steering Wheel; Amazon Grocery Biz-Like Expensive Hobby?

Posted: February 22, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

HP, Lenovo, Acer, & Asus will apparently be the first makers to release gaming Chromebooks. Arstechnica.com reports that a code change suggests vendors are working on a Chrome OS that will support the vast Steam gaming system. Google had previously said (back in 2020) that it would bring Steam to Chromebooks. These won’t be the dirt cheap, entry level Chromebooks that many schools purchase. The base prices for the units expected to get Steam usability already start at $489 to $650. They will likely be in the $1300-$1400 range tricked out for gaming on Steam.

Sony has bowed the PlayStation VR2’s design. It sticks with the black and white color scheme of the PS5, and keeps the family resemblance with the original VR headset. According to theverge.com, one really welcome feature will be a lens adjustment dial. The new generation also has a new vent design, and a slight weight reduction. It supports haptic feedback, eye tracking, 4K HDR, at up to 120Hz frame rate. the VR2 has a 110 degree field of view, and connects to a PS5 with a single USB-C cable. So far, no pricing or release date, but since the design has been locked down and showed, expect those soon. 

The Cruise division of GM has formally asked the NHTSA for permission to put the driverless Cruise Origin into commercial service. Arstechnica.com says the filing notes that the car is “a zero-emission, shared, electric vehicle that has been purposefully designed from the ground up to operate without a human driver. This means it does not rely on certain human-centered features, like a steering wheel or a sun visor, to operate safely.” Yep…you read that right…NO steering wheel! The vehicle has coach seating, with passengers facing each other, and is intended for use as a driverless taxi…primarily on city streets. Only 3 weeks ago, Cruise started taking sign ups for people who want to ride in a driverless car in San Francisco. This as their manned vehicles continue to comb the City by the Bay with their mapping and data vehicles, which are all Chevy Bolts. As I was crossing the street in SF last week, both a Cruise Bolt and one of the Zoosk matte black Lexus SUVs crossed the street in front of me.  They’re everywhere!

You would think with their delivery business Prime Now, Fresh, Go, plus Whole Foods, that Amazon would be raking it in by now from their sizable grocery business. Well, CNBC reports that it just isn’t so at this point. Amazon’s combined grocery businesses, including Whole Foods, only come to 2.4% of the grocery market over the past year. For comparison, Walmart has 18%. Analysts, including Jake Dollarhide, CEO of Longbow Asset Management, quipped that “It’s almost like the grocery business is an expensive hobby.” It remains toe one business that isn’t primarily cloud based or logistics as Amazon’s other businesses are. That’s true of Amazon Web Services, e-commerce (the original business), and entertainment. That said, it appears that Amazon is in for the long haul…a strategy that looked stupid years ago with AWS…until AWS became their monster cash flow business.

Folding MacBook in Long Term Apple Plans?; Twitter Testing Way to Untag Yourself; Trump’s Twitter Clone Makes Shaky Debut; Anti-Vaxxers Have Killed Off Facebook Profile Frames

Posted: February 21, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lots of new Apple computers are coming this year, as the company moves away from Intel silicon and to Apple’s own chips. Now, a new rumor about a possible device being considered in the next few years. According to macrumors.com, Apple is putting off a folding iPhone until 2025, BUT they are also playing with the idea of a foldable 20 inch MacBook that is all screen! This would allow use as a laptop with a full sized keyboard, or fully unfolded, the device could be used as a 20 inch monitor when paired up with an external keyboard. Whether this device is actually released is no more than a guess right now. The same issues with folding screens on phones would apply to a MacBook (or even iPad) sized device, so in the end, Apple may decide it just isn’t robust enough to release. Hint to Apple- since you backtracked on the MacBook Pro, and added ports back…which I love…how about bringing back replaceable batteries, so our expensive laptops don’t become a no-deposit, no-return item? We understand you want to sell lots of computers, but heavy users now aren’t even going to get 4-5 years of decent battery life. We ought to be able to keep a laptop as long as a lot of people keep cars before trading!

Twitter appears to be trialing a function that will allow user to untag themselves from threads. Theverge.com reports that some users are seeing a new ‘leave this conversation.’ This is in addition to the ‘mute this conversation’ option that already exists. As is common for Twitter, they have had no comment about the feature test. Your Twitter handle still appears in the thread, but is no longer a hyperlink. Also, you can still see the thread if you want to…but this feature, if rolled out widely, will prevent others from dragging you into conversations you don’t wish to be involved in.

Donald Trump’s ‘Truth’ social app hit the Apple App Store last night, but apparently the launch is a bit shaky. Cnet.com says a number of people have reported that the haven’t been able to create an account. In spite of that, it hit number 1 in the App Store’s Top Charts this morning. Some people trying to create accounts were put on a waiting list. Will the app do any better than Parler, Gettr, or Rumble have with conservatives? Time will tell. 

You have probably used at least one…I know I have…whether urging people to vote, or to get vaccinated, or for some other cause…those profile picture frames on Faeebook have been a fixture for some time now. No more. According to Mashable.com, Facebook is effectively killing off the feature, and anti-vaxxers are to blame. While profile frames will still exist, only frames from “certain government services or organizations and those providing authoritative information on COVID-19” will be available to users. The reason? The frames repeatedly violated Facebook’s existing vaccine misinformation policies. Any existing custom profile frames will be deleted on March 21st. Facebook did say that profile pictures with a previously created frame will still be allowed. Frames created by official partners will also still be available. 

Meta Employees Are Now ‘Metamates’; Senate Bill Would Make Social Nets Protect Kids More; Google Bows Privacy Sandbox on Android; Twitter ‘Bot Accounts Get Label Indicating They Are ‘Bots

Posted: February 16, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

They were formerly Facebookers, but with the move to the name and over-arching company Meta, Facebook employees aren now ‘Metamates.’ Marketwatch.com reports that this is by decree of CEO Mark Zuckerberg. (Could be worse…could have been Metamucilmates…) In addition, Zuck has detailed new company values, with ‘Be Open’ now changed to ‘Be Direct and Respect Your Colleagues.’ It’s a long way from the old days of ‘Move Fast and Break Things.’

A conservative Republican Senator and liberal Democratic one have introduced a bill called the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), that will give kids more control over their privacy and safety on social media. The Act, introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, will also set out stricter guidelines for the companies in question. According to the Washington Post, the Act will require social media companies to give kids under 16 tools to protect their data, turn off ‘addictive’ features, and opt out of algorithm based recommendations. The strongest settings, affording the most protection to the children, would have to be on by default. 

Google is following Apple in bringing a Privacy Sandbox to Android. 9to5google.com says it starts out with new privacy preserving APIs that limit which user data gets shared with third parties and don’t use cross-party identifiers…like Android’s AdID. To prevent covert user tracking, an SDK Runtime will isolate advertising SDKs (and their processes) included by apps. This is a double whammy to Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, which have relied on hoovering up user data to serve up targeted ads. Facebook took a hit after revealing a drop off in ad revenue due to Apple’s tightening things up. They have a little time to adjust, though…Google says it won’t have things fully implemented until 2023. 

Twitter bot accounts can now be labeled as such, effective today. Engadget.com reports the company has begun rolling out the feature world wide. Twitter says the notice will help users to get more detail about an account and its purpose, and then can decide whether or not to follow or engage with that account. 

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