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.
Facebook and Instagram Getting Lots of AI Based Controls; ChatGPT Can Browse the Net Again; Reddit Removing Ability to Opt Out of Ad Personalization; Credit Union Suit Against Apple Pay Can Move Forward
Posted: September 28, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentMeta has announced that Facebook and Instagram will be getting a number of new AI powered creator tools, including some that will allow users to edit images and create stickers using text prompts. AI image editing will be available on Instagram, and AI-generated chat stickers will roll out on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger. According to theverge.com, AI-powered photo editing on Instagram includes two new features: restyle and backdrop. With restyle, users input a text prompt — Meta’s examples include “watercolor” or “magazine collage” — and the tool updates the existing image based on those directions. The backdrop feature also utilizes a text prompt by the user to add new AI-generated backgrounds to images (“surround me with puppies,” for example). For both editing features, Meta says it will identify when images are created using AI tools so audiences can discern whether what they’re seeing is synthetic or human-generated.
It has been on hold for a while, but ChatGPT will again be able to browse the internet. Engadget.com reports that OpenAI has announced that the AI product will now be able to answer even the most modern of queries as the assistant will be able to look up information in real time. The new feature is called Browse with Bing and it works in the normal Bing Chat window. OpenAI’s team wrote in a tweet. “Browsing is available to Plus and Enterprise users today, and we’ll expand to all users soon. To enable, choose Browse with Bing in the selector under GPT-4.”
Reddit is revising its privacy settings, intending to make ad personalization and account visibility toggles more consistent. That’s all well and good, but they are also removing the ability to opt out of ad personalization based on Reddit activity. Techcrunch.com says Reddit claims it will still have opt out controls in ‘select countries.’ They didn’t say which ones. This ad change up is just one of the changes the platform has made in an effort to increase monetization. Reddit’s CEO Steven Huffman said in an interview last summer that “Getting to breakeven is a priority for us in any climate.” Like all platforms…YOU and your data are the product!
Three credit unions have sued Apple for what they claim is a total monopoly on mobile wallets for iPhones and Apple Watches. 9to5mac.com notes that this is not a new issue, but this new suit claims that since Apple won’t grant competing mobile wallet apps access to the NFC chip, it’s monopolistic. What does that mean to you the user? It means that you can only make contactless transactions with your phone or watch using Apple’s mobile wallet. Any banks or financial institutions like the credit unions have to sign up for Apple Pay to use the NFC chip…and Apple gets to charge a fee on each transaction. According to the complaint, Apple’s conduct forces more than 4,000 banks and credit unions that use Apple Pay to pay at least $1 billion of excess fees, and harms consumers by minimizing the incentive to make Apple Pay safer and easier to use. This should be a real battle.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
New Meta Quest 3; Open AI Talking to Jony Ive; Google’s Upcoming Pixel Event; Musk Disabled Misinformation Reporting Feature on X
Posted: September 27, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentMeta has announced the Meta Quest 3, and it will be showed off on October 10th at a Meta Connect event. Unlike its predecessor, the Quest 2, the $499.99 Quest 3 will function as both a virtual reality and mixed reality headset. That means, like Apple’s forthcoming Vision Pro headset, you’ll be able to see and interact with the real world while you wear it. According to theverge.com, Meta claims the Quest 3 should offer double the graphics performance of its predecessor and even outperform last year’s Quest Pro, though it won’t offer more battery life. While it is more powerful, the headset is also smaller and slimmer, which Meta claims should make it more comfortable to wear. I agree…smaller and slimmer are huge selling points. You can preorder through Meta or B&H photo, and the Quest 3 will ship on October 10th. You can also sign up for preorder notifications at Best Buy, which will then let you know when those stores will start accepting preorders. At $499, Meta should be able to get a better foothold in the mixed reality headset world while Apple will be selling their headset next year at $3500!
Former Apple design guru Jony Ive, who moved back to Britain several years ago, is apparently in talks with OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT about a hardware project. The Information reports that in addition to Open AI CEO Sam Altman, Masayoshi Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank, is involved in the proposed project in some manner. Altman and Ive have only begun discussing what a piece of hardware could do or look like, not concrete features, capabilities or target market yet. OpenAI once ran a robotics research division, which explored ways machines can learn to perform complex tasks like solving a Rubik’s Cube. But it disbanded the team in July 2021 after encountering major technical roadblocks — and presumably cost overruns. I for one, welcome our upcoming AI powered robot overlords. Good grief!
Google’s Pixel Event 2023 is October 4th in New York City. A number of leaks have already revealed much of what will be shown off at the event. Besides the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, we expect to see the Pixel Watch 2. Engadget.com says that the Pixel 8 Pro will had a slightly smaller screen than its predecessor and the screen will be flat, not curved. Leaks already indicate upgrades in both camera hardware and software. Besides that, as we have reported, the Pro will have an infrared temperature sensor. That sensor doesn’t appear to be photography related, but might sense the temperature of inanimate objects. Perhaps the best feature may not be a feature at all…and that is the expectation that Google will support the Pixel phones with 7 years of software updates. It does look like we can expect a $100 bump in price for the Pixel 8 to $699…but the 8 Pro will start at $899, the same price as the 7 Pro.
Back in 2022, Twitter (now X) introduced the option for users to report misleading or misinformation on the app, however, that option has now disappeared. According to gizmodo.com, Reset, which follows this sort of activity, said in a statement “It would be helpful to understand why X have seemingly gone backwards on their commitments to mitigating the kind of serious misinformation that has translated into real political instability in the US, especially on the eve of the ‘bumper year’ of elections globally.” Reset reported that X removed the “politics” category last week from every jurisdiction except the European Union, where the Digital Services Act (DSA) prevents social media from displaying misinformation on their platforms. X has not responded to inquiries about the eliminated option.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
FTC & 17 States Sue Amazon; iPhone 16 Pro Getting Tetraprism Telephoto Like Max; CIA Builds Own AI Tool; Google Podcasts Will Sunset-Moving to YouTube
Posted: September 26, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThe Federal Trade Commission and 17 states are suing Amazon for allegedly maintaining monopoly power that stifles competition. According to geekwire.com, The complaint alleges that Amazon uses “anticompetitive and unfair strategies” that “stop rivals and sellers from lowering prices, degrade quality for shoppers, overcharge sellers, stifle innovation, and prevent rivals from fairly competing” against the e-commerce giant. The long-awaited lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, is a test for FTC Chair Lina Khan and those who have targeted Amazon for years over its business practices. Amazon put out a statement denying this, and saying that the government and states were ‘wrong on the facts and the law.’ Stay tuned for a long, intense court battle.
Not surprisingly, the iPhone 16 Pro will join the Pro Max next year in getting the tetraprism telephoto camera. Appleinsider.com reports that the tip comes from well-respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says the supply chain has been bulking up fast, because demand for the 15 Pro Max with the tetraprism ‘exceeds expectations’, and they are playing catch up. He says the tetraprism camera will grow by around 110% in 2024, amounting to between 70 million and 80 million units.
I apologize in advance for another scary AI story so soon, but the CIA has developed its own ChatGPT type tool to pore over public information. Bloomberg says the CIA’s Open-Source Enterprise division will be releasing the AI tool to US intelligence agencies soon. The tool will allow users to see the original source of the info they are using. The Agency claims with such a flood of data as is available on the net, the tool is needed. They claim the Agency will closely follow US privacy laws.
Google Podcasts app will be sunsetted next year…who knew they even had it? I didn’t. It has been around since 2018 apparently. Engadget.com notes that for those who have used it, the content will be folded into YouTube and YouTube Music. YouTube…which presumably you DID know had podcasts, has 23% of all podcast listeners in the US. Google says podcasters that are on the Google Podcast service will get a ‘simple migration tool’ to move to YouTube Music.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Amazon to Pour $4 Billion into AI Startup; Meta’s AI Will Include a ‘Sassy Robot;’ Google Pixel 8 Cam Features; Spotify to Clone Podcaster Voices-In Other Languages
Posted: September 25, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentAmazon is getting set to pump $4 billion into AI startup Anthropic. Techcrunch.com reports that Amazon will initially invest $1.25 billion for a minority stake in Anthropic, which like Google’s Bard and Microsoft-backed OpenAI also operates an AI-powered, text analyzing chatbot. As part of the deal, Amazon said it has an option to increase its investment in Anthropic to a total of $4 billion. Google is also invested in Anthropic, as they, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and others scramble to up their game in the latest hot tech. All this breathlessness in the tech sector over AI reminds me of Facebook’s old slogan…’move fast and break things.’ Let’s hope they don’t break humanity.
Meta is preparing to bow a generative AI chatbot they are calling ‘Gen AI Personas’ internally. The chatbots are aimed at young users. According to the Wall Street Journal, we’ll hear more about the chatbots at Meta’s Wednesday event. The platform hopes to woo younger users with more colorful behavior, following ChatGPT’s rise over the last year as one of the fastest-growing apps ever. Similar, but more generally targeted, Meta chatbot personas have already been reportedly tested on Instagram. One of the chatbots is a so-called ‘sassy robot’ persona, inspired by Bender from Futurama. Meta eventually plans to have ‘dozens’ of the chatbots. It remains to be seen if the Gen Z folks…who remain suspicious of Meta’s Facebook and Instagram to an extent…will embrace these new ‘bots.
As more people…including yours truly…test out the latest Apple cameras on the iPhones…especially the 15 Pro Max…Google is planning to drop the Pixel 8 soon with its own camera improvements. 91mobiles.com says that google has a promo video out that highlights some of the controls available in the upcoming Pixel 8 Pro model. Expect Real Tone, Night Sight, Astrophotography, Super Res Zoom, and the ability to swap faces in an image likely through Magic Editor. For videos, Google has added features like Video Boost, Night Sight for low-light videos, Audio Eraser to reduce ambient background sounds, and improved skin tones. It is getting to the point with smartphone cams that really only professional photographers need a hefty DSLR with interchangeable lenses.
Spotify is apparently partnering with some podcasters to use AI to translate the podcasts into Spanish…in the podcasters’ own voices. Theverge.com reports that they are also planning to bow French and German translations in the next few weeks. “By matching the creator’s own voice, Voice Translation gives listeners around the world the power to discover and be inspired by new podcasters in a more authentic way than ever before,” Ziad Sultan, Spotify’s vice president of personalization, said in a statement. This is a rather ominous issue, and one of the reasons SAG-AFTRA is striking. A platform or company cloning your voice and not paying you…and on top of stealing your voice for no compensation, having the ability to make your clone say things you would never say is a huge issue. Copyright may not be enough…Congress and legislatures may need to pass laws protecting the rights of people to their own voices and likenesses.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Amazon Launch Highlights; Apple-Possible iPhone Stock Trading; Cisco Acquiring Splunk; More Free COVID Tests
Posted: September 21, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentAmazon unveiled some updated hardware yesterday at an event, and apparently is using AI to make Alexa ‘smarter.’ Theverge.com reports that the online giant showed off the Echo Show 8…the third generation, as well as a new Echo Hub and a forth generation Echo smart speaker. They will have both Thread and Zigbee connectivity, which should make it much easier to connect to whatever smart home gadgets you might decide to add. Amazon is also getting set to ‘supercharge’ Alexa with generative AI. this new and improved Alexa can understand conversational phrases and respond appropriately, interpret context more effectively, and complete multiple requests from one command. Right now, Amazon plans to roll out the updated Alexa slowly via a preview program in ‘the coming months’ and in the US only for now. Amazon did warn as they add features to the generative AI Alexa there may be some point where you will be charged fees for the extra service. Yep…every firm you deal with is giddy with the thought of charging all of us more monthly fees.
Before it was put on hold after the market turned down, Apple and Goldman Sachs were working on a stock trading service for iPhone users. Originally, it was intended to launch in 2022, but after the market slid, Cupertino put the feature on hold. According to 9to5mac.com, Apple doesn’t have current plans to go ahead and launch the stock trading for iPhones, but apparently most of the infrastructure for the service is ‘ready to go’ should they decide to green light it.
Cisco is snapping up cybersecurity firm Splunk for some $28 billion in cash. CNBC says that amounts to about t$157 a share. It is one of the biggest acquisitions by Cisco so far. Splunk is a cybersecurity company that helps enterprises monitor and analyze their data to minimize the risk of hacks and resolve technical issues faster. So far this year, Cisco has been on a bit of a buying spree, picking up Armorblox, Oort, Valtrix, and Lightspin. All of those relate in some way to cyber security as does Splunk.
The Post Office is restarting its program for shipping free COVID tests to US households. Cnet.com reports that the White House is dropping $600 million on getting new at-home kits produced. The USPS has been sending out free COVID-19 tests since January 2022, to the tune of some 20 per household for those that took part. Unlike some complicated government applications, ordering free tests from the Postal Service is simple. It takes less than two minutes to complete a short form asking for your name and mailing address, and the tests ship in about a week or two.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
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