FCC Will Vote to Restore Net Neutrality; WhatsApp Outages; Apple Working on Home Robot; Spotify Readies to Hike Prices

Posted: April 3, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

The Federal Communications Commission will vote on restoring net neutrality later this month. It’s been a long time coming, but engadget.com notes it had to wait for Democrats to finally hold a majority on the Commission. A vote will fulfill an executive order from 2021 and bring back Obama era rules that the Trump administration FCC shredded in 2017. Net neutrality trades broadband services as an essential resource under Title II of the Communications Act, giving the FCC grater authority to regulate the industry.  It lets the agency prevent ISPs from anti-consumer behavior like unfair pricing, blocking or throttling content and providing pay-to-play “fast lanes” to internet access. I note that my provider 2 weeks ago voluntarily increased my upload and download speeds out of the goodness of its heart…that and the fact that new federal rules will not allow them to call it high speed broadband in their ads and promotion at the lower speeds! Republicans and Joe Manchin opposed Biden appointee Gigi Sohn to the Commission for 16 months. she withdrew, and Anna Gomez was sworn in last September, giving Democrats a majority.

Meta has had some issues yesterday and today. Yesterday, Threads wouldn’t allow uploads for several hours for some users. Today, WhatsApp and to a degree Messenger and Instagram, is facing outages and intermittent issues. According to techcrunch.com, Meta’s status page also shows disruptions to critical business services like Ads Manager, Messenger Platform, WhatsApp Business API, and others. WhatsApp confirmed the outage there on its X account, which must gall them. As of midday Wednesday, a number of users seemed to have services restored. Back on March 5th, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads all went down, so today’s outage is the second major one for Meta in a month.

The Apple Car may be gone, but something else is rolling out of the smoke from the Apple Car division….a robotics division. Appleinsider.com says Apple is working on a home robot…not just a vacuum, but an autonomous home robot companion for your home. This project is not close to completion, but involves a robot that would follow a user around the house. It might have issues with mine, as I have stairs, but perhaps they will give it a little rotor blade for folks like myself. The little robot will lean heavily on Apples AI, which they have called ‘machine learning’ until recently. Since we have robot vacuums that sweep and mop floors, and robot security guards, it will be interesting to see what Apple comes up with that people will really feel compelled to buy…at an Apple price!

Spotify is preparing to hike prices on some plans, and also thinking about adding new subscription options. 9to5google.com says the base US price is $11 a month for an individual Premium plan, and also the Duo plan that gives couples 2 accounts for $15 a month. Family Plan covers 6 users and is $17 a month. All those will change this month, as Spotify is raising prices about $2 across the board in the UK, Australia, Pakistan, and a couple un-named countries. The US account holders will get dinged for more money later this year. Meanwhile, the platform will introduce new Premium plans that are the same cost as the current ones, but won’t have the Audiobooks availability. How about the long promised Hi-Fi plan? Well that one is still in the works after 2 years…maybe due to cost.

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

Gemini in Google Messages Rolling Out; Facebook Snooped on Snapchat Traffic; Apple Announces WWDC; Leak-3rd, SmallerPixel 9 model

Posted: March 27, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Google has started rolling out Gemini for some Google Messages beta testers. 9to5google.com reports that in addition to being a beta tester, you have to have RCS enabled, a Google Account, have English set, and have a Pixel 6 or later, Pixel Fold, Samsung Galaxy S22 or newer, or a Galaxy Z Flip or Z Fold. If all those criteria are met, you should see a Gemini AI option. Right now, voice messages aren’t supported, but you can upload images. Also..the conversations are not end-to-end encrypted. All that said, you can use Messages to query the AI about things, or have it draft a message or brainstorm ideas. Google does say that messages could go through human review, so keep that in mind if you are going to try it. 

Thanks to a lawsuit against Meta, we now know that in 2016, Facebook ran a secret project designed to intercept and decrypt the network traffic between people using Snapchat’s app and its servers. The goal was to understand users’ behavior and help Facebook compete with Snapchat, according to newly unsealed court documents. TechCrunch.com notes that it was called ‘Project Ghostbusters,’ which is a little freaky since the latest Ghostbusters movie just hit theaters last week. According to documents released from the suit, Meta also tried to gain a competitive advantage over Amazon and YouTube by analyzing network traffic. The suit is a class action filed in 2020 against Facebook, claiming that they lied about data collection activities. 

Apple has announced this year’s WWDC. It’s the 35 annual developers conference from the Cupertino company. WWDC will begin on Monday, June 10th and run to Friday, June 14th. Macrumors.com says it will be an online event as it has been since 2020. WWDC is open to all developers at no cost. Expect the keynote to hi light features from iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, MacOS 15, and WatchOS 11. 

A leak has a new addition to the Pixel lineup. 9to5google.com reports that images from @OnLeaks show a third handset in the 2024 flagship lineup. The additional Pixel 9 only has two cameras, while the previously leaked images for the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 have 3. The new third model has a slightly smaller display than the Pixel 9 Pro. The Pro is 6.2 inches, the smaller phone is 6.03 inches. The body of the phones is the same, but the smaller screen unit has bigger bezels. One other difference…the newly leaked model loses a speaker cutout at the bottom…it has a SIM tray there instead. 

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

EU Goes After Meta, Apple, & Google; China Bans Intel & AMD Processors for Government PCs; Spotify Tests Video Courses; Apple’s iOS 18-More Control of Home Screen

Posted: March 25, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

The European Commission is opening 5 non-compliance investigations into how Meta, Apple, and Google are complying with the new Digital Markets Act antitrust rules. Theverge.com reports that the EU regulator said in an announcement quote: “We suspect that the suggested solutions put forward by the three companies do not fully comply with the DMA. We will now investigate the companies’ compliance with the DMA, to ensure open and contestable digital markets in Europe.” The EU commission seems most interested in Google and Apple’s anti-steering rules in their app stores, and Google’s apparent self-preferences for its own services via its search engine.

China barred most government use of iPhones a while back, and now is going after US-made processors. According to engadget.com, Chinese guidelines ban the use of US processors made by Intel and AMD from government computers and servers. The new regulations also block Microsoft Windows and foreign database products, pushing government agencies there to use domestic products, which they term ‘safe and reliable.’ The rules came out in December but have just started showing up. They could be a blow to US companies’ bottom lines. China accounted for 27% of Intel’s sales last year and 15% of AMD’s. 

Spotify is testing out video courses which teach everything from music production to Excel spreadsheet use. Techcrunch.com says the rollout of the videos has started in the UK. They are terming the courses ‘freemium.’ The first lessons are free, then the total course cost if taken will range from 20 pounds to 80 pounds. The price is the same for courses whether you are a basic or premium Spotify user for now. Spotify is pitching the courses as somewhere between YouTube videos, Master Class, and LinkedIn Learning. The educational video market is estimated at $315 billion as of 2023, so if this takes off, it could be a significant new income stream for Spotify.

Android users have had it for years…lots of flexibility to arrange and customize your smartphone screen. Now, Apple is apparently going to give users more flexibility starting with iOS 18. Macrumors.com reports that even though icons will still snap to a grid on the Home Screen, users will be able to arrange them more freely. There will be the ability to create blank spaces, rows, and columns between app icons. We’ll know more when iOS 18 is revealed at WWDC in June.

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

Apple Negotiating With Google To Get Gemini AI on iPhone; LInkedIn Wants To Add Gaming; Tesla Settles Discrimination Suit; Tick-Killing Pill for Humans

Posted: March 18, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Apple has been working more quietly than others on AI…which it calls machine learning. Apparently things aren’t moving quickly enough for Cupertino. Now comes word that they are in ‘active negotiations’ with Google to bring the latter’s Gemini generative AI to the iPhone. Theverge.com reports that Apple has also considered ChatGPT from Open AI. Earlier this year, Samsung added a number of Galaxy AI branded features to its Galaxy S24 smartphones. The tech is also of course a banner feature of Google’s own Pixel 8 smartphones. It would be a good deal for Apple, even if they have to drop a ton of money, since their own AI is behind Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT…but it would also be a good deal for Google, as they would get their AI tools on some 2 billion iPhones. If a deal is made, is is likely to stay under wraps until Apple’s WWDC in June. 

In an effort to get more engagement and longer periods of it, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn is looking at adding gaming to the platform. According to TechCrunch.com, the platform now has a billion users. Most are on it for professional purposes or recruitment, but with Microsoft’s huge footprint in gaming, dropping some into LinkedIn really might do the trick as far as increasing peoples’ time on the platform. 

A long court battle between a former elevator operator and Tesla has settled. Owen Diaz had originally been awarded $137 million in damages in 2021 for racial discrimination, but that was cut to $3.2 million. Engadget.com says no settlement amount has been disclosed, which is normal for this type of situation. Diaz had accused the car maker of enabling a racist workplace, ‘straight from the Jim Crow era.’ Co-workers had left swastikas and racist graffiti on his work space and around the Tesla Fremont plant. There is still another lawsuit against the electric car maker for racial discrimination, and that one is in process of getting certified as a class action…which could add 240 black employees or former employees to Marcus Vaughn’s suit. 

We have them for dogs and cats…pills for tick prevention. Now, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is working on a pill for humans. Wired.com notes that it could protect people from tick borne Lyme Disease for several weeks at a time. An early trial has found that after 24 hours of taking the pill, it works to kill ticks on people for up to 30 days. Whether you are a hiker, or walk your dog, or just are outdoors a lot, this will be a big deal if it makes it all the way through testing and approval by the FDA.

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

20 Inch Folding MacBook in Works; Pixel Sales Up 527%-In Japan; Simple Way to Remove Microplastics from Water; New Material May Bring Smart Contact Lenses

Posted: March 7, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

A folding Apple phone may or may not happen anytime soon if at all, but apparently Cupertino is seriously working on a 20 inch screen MacBook…with a folding screen! Macrumors.com reports that noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is saying “Apple’s only foldable product with a clear development schedule is the 20.3-inch MacBook, expected to enter mass production in 2027.” Right now, the largest screen MacBook is the 16 inch MacBook Pro. Apple had a 17 inch screen laptop for a while, but dropped that model way back in 2012. Kuo said the 20-inch MacBook is Apple’s only foldable product with a clear development schedule, suggesting that a foldable iPhone or iPad are not coming any time soon.

Google’s Pixel phones have been making inroads in penetration of the smartphone market, and no place more so than Japan. The phones, with their amazing software assisted cameras are really seeing a huge sales growth. According to 9to5google.com, an IDC report shows Pixel sales up 527% year over year from 2022 to 2023. That gives Google 10.7% of the market share there. Apple’s phones continue to hold a huge share of the market there, as do…somewhat surprisingly…Sharp’s phones.  Sharp retains a large share of the market due to the demand for phones designed for the elderly, not necessarily cutting-edge devices. Meanwhile, Samsungs Galaxy shipments to Japan have dropped by 39%…showing where a lot of Google’s sales increase came from. 

Scientists have discovered a surprisingly simple way to remove microplastics from drinking water. This sounds almost like magic, but bgr.com says researchers at a couple universities in China ran tests on both soft and hard tap waters, and by boiling the water, then running it through a filter, they were able to remove up to 90% of the microplastics. The results were published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. The boiling left the microplastics trapped in the crusty, chalky stuff that forms when you boil water in a kettle or pot. The scientists said a filter as simple as a stainless steel mesh like used to strain tea is enough to filter out most of the lime-encrusted plastic pieces that are left behind after boiling the drinking water. Hopefully, bottled water makers will be adapting this cheap, simple process too. Kids…DO try this at home if you want to. 

One cool thing about science…often new breakthroughs are made while looking for something else. Now, the co-creator of graphene, along with a group of scientists have another breakthrough material. Konstantin Novoselov and the team say the new material lets them create a novel form of light manipulation. Thenextweb.com reports that they had been working on smart contact lenses. They discovered that the materials…dubbed  ReS2 and ReSe2, not only could help with that, but were more powerful than expected. They can adjust the wavelength of light, and change its direction…up to 90 degrees! The scientists see potential in applications for medicine, AI, and AR. For contact lenses, the startup Xpanceo thinks the use of the new material could provide faster and cheaper blood testing using Raman Spectroscopy at a much lower cost and with better performance. They also see earlier detection of things like COVID and even cancer! It will be a while before we see all these benefits, but it is a pretty amazing discovery.

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

New M3 MacBook Airs Drop; Pixel Watch 3 Getting 45mm Size; Waymo-More Areas in LA and SF; Google Maps Tests Showing Building Entrances

Posted: March 4, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Without an event or big fanfare, Apple has released new 13 and 15 inch MacBook Air, powered by M3 Apple silicon. 9to5mac.com reports that the new laptops get support for two external displays and faster WiFi. The new Airs will ship the end of the week…Friday, March 8th. In a goofy quirk…you can’t drive two screens unless the laptop is closed…meaning you will have to buy an external keyboard and trackpad pad for Apple…costing even more money. On the plus side, the M3 MacBook Air has a faster 8 core CPU and 10 core GPU. The sizes are the same as the M2 models they replace. The 13 inch Air starts at $1099, and the 15 incher is $1299. The M1 MacBook Air is discontinued…so you may be able to pick one up for a good closeout price from vendors. 

A big knock on the Pixel watch is that the 41mm size is just too small. Now, Google is working on a second size…a 45mm Watch 3. 9to5google.com notes that the larger size would match the larger Apple watch Series 9. Samsung also offers 40mm and 44mm sizes for the Watch 6 and 43mm and 47mm sizes for the Watch 6 Classic. It doesn’t look like the UI will change much if at all for the Pixel Watch 6, but several watch faces should display much better on the bigger size. Google is also working on Pixel Buds Pro 2 headphones. Since the Pro buds got several new features last fall, don’t expect a major suite of new features…maybe better active noise cancellation. 

The California Public Utilities Commission has given the green light to Alphabet owned Waymo to operate its self-driving taxis. Mashable.com says in The Bay Area, the cars will now be rolling outside San Francisco…in fact, on the Peninsula all the way down to Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley. Their competitor, Cruise…a division of General Motors, is still on hold after one of the vehicles hit and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco last year. Meanwhile, Tesla is reportedly trying to develop its own driverless taxi system using its own electric vehicles. 

We’ve all been there…you find parking near a venue you haven’t been to, walk to the place, and walk all around trying to find the entrance you need. Now, androidpolice.com reports that google is testing showing some entrances and exits on buildings in Google Maps. The entrances only show when you select a place on the map and zoom in. Right now, they appear as a round white circle with an entry symbol. Also, when you select a building or venue, it turns light red, helping you to find the actual destination among other buildings. It’s still in the testing stage, so things may change before it gets wide release in Google Maps.

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

Mistral AI Releases New Rival to Chat GPT-4; Samsung Unveils Galaxy Ring; Apple Wearable Push-Rings & Smart Glasses; Lenovo’s Transparent Laptop

Posted: February 26, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

French upstart startup (see what I did there) Mistral AI has launched their flagship AI Mistral Large, their answer to Chat GPT-4, and has also has dropped an alternative to ChatGPT called Le Chat. The latter is available in beta, according to techcrunch.com. The startup was just incorporated in May of last year, and they picked up a half billion in funding just in December. Mistral AI was Founded by alums from Google’s DeepMind and Meta…originally with an open-source focus. The flagship looks more like OpenAI’s business model though, costing $8 per million of input tokens and $24 per million output tokens. A token represents small chunks of words…as the TechCrunch article says, their name would be split into two tokens…Tech and Crunch during processing by an AI model. On the other hand, anyone can sign up and try out Le Chat…just go to chat dot mistral dot ai. Mistral notes it is a beta, so could have some of what they call ‘quirks.’ Mistral has also partnered with Microsoft, which will provide Mistral models to its Azure customers. 

There are always lots of new gadgets at Mobile World Conference, and this year is no exception. Samsung has revealed its previously teased Galaxy Ring. Engadget.com reports that they did show a physical model, but didn’t give a ton of details. The ring will be centered around heath and wellness, and will come in 3 colors: platinum silver, gold, and ceramic black. Samsung plans to start selling it later this year. It looks a bit hefty…some who saw it note that it looks about the size as the Oura. It will be available in sizes 5 to 13, although they will be marked S through XL inside the band. The battery life will be less on the smaller ones due to smaller batteries inside. The Oura can make it 10 days between charges, so presumably it will be similar for the Galaxy Ring. the device will track sleep based on heart rate, movement and breathing, then provide users advice based on that. The company will also glean data from partner Natural Cycles, which already does fertility tracking on the Galaxy Watch, matching a key Oura feature.

Besides the large and pricy Vision Pro, Apple continues to look at other wearables in addition to the Watch and AirPods. Appleinsider.com says a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman notes that smart glasses are still in the mix…something that Apple has alluded to as a natural extension of the Vision Pro line. Besides glasses, a smart ring is being considered…and now with Samsung showing one, in addition to the Oura, that seems likely. Something you probably didn’t see coming…I didn’t…Apple is also looking at adding a set of cameras to AirPods. They will be low resolution. Rumors have this as more likely than the ring at this point. Apple has already fiddled with biometric sensors in AirPods. As for a ring, Cupertino has had a patent on a design since 2015. 

Not all gadgets that tech companies show see the light of day…and here’s one that the light of day can pass right through. Lenovo showed a laptop concept at Mobile World Conference in Barcelona that is transparent! Don’t expect to see the ThinkBook Transparent Display Laptop in stores or online any time soon. According to bgr.com, it may not even make it out of the concept stage. Drawbacks include its large size, bulk, and touch only keyboard. While it IS a cool concept to be able to see through the screen, I would be concerned that tech could be developed to read and steal what you were viewing on the screen. Lenovo thinks that the transparent screen could be useful for..say…architects working on site, or other users who need to see what’s going on around them. They also see users touching things within the screen’s view, and asking AI questions about them. Whether it makes it into people’s hands or not, it sure is a cool concept!

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

Galaxy S24 Customer Satisfaction Bests iPhone-First Time Ever; Google-Don’t Tell AI Personal Info; Microsoft Bringing Some Xbox Games to PS5 & Switch; EU Won’t Make Apple Open Up iMessage 

Posted: February 13, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

In a giant plus for Samsung, Galaxy S24 customer satisfaction has surpassed that of iPhones for the first time ever. Bgr.com reports that the data is from PerfectRec, which says 91% of early adapters of the Samsung S24 base model gave the Galaxy S24 5 stars and 88% gave top ratings to the S23 Ultra. The base iPhone 15 got 76%, with the top line iPhone 15 Pro Max garnering 74%. PerfectRec notes that this lead may not hold as it is a survey of early adopters who are enthusiasts that are more familiar with recent models and can be disappointed if incremental improvements don’t seem impressive. They note that It is possible this is purely an Apple phenomenon, and early Galaxy S adopters behave differently.” Still…a big psychological win for Samsung at this point.

Google has made what you would think would be an obvious warning…don’t disclose personal information to AI! According to zdnet.com, Google points out that your interactions with the Gemini will allow the AI to collect information about conversations, your location, feedback, and usage information. Google goes on to state that the collected information helps them provide, improve, and develop products, services, and machine learning technologies. Gemini Apps conversations can be reviewed by human reviewers, and they are retained for 3 years. Even when Gemini Apps Activity are off, your conversations will be saved with your account for up to 72 hours…so be warned. 

Microsoft is preparing to launch a “select number of Xbox games on PS5 and Nintendo Switch.” Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment are up first, with Sea of Thieves coming to non-Xbox platforms in late 2024. “Other first-party titles [are] also under consideration.” PCmag.com says we can expect more details on February 15th, just a couple days from now. Microsoft isn’t throwing in the towel on their own hardware…they are apparently working on their own hand held device. Of course Nintendo is far ahead with the Switch and then there is the Valve Steam Box.

The European Commission has ruled that Apple’s iMessage is not a ‘core platform service’ that falls under the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Theverge.com reports that this still doesn’t get Apple totally off the hook…they may need to offer interoperability with other messaging apps. Apple’s App Store, Safari browser, and iOS operating system were already designated as core platform services. Meta had both WhatsApp and Messenger designated core platform services under the DMA, and must make them interoperable with third-party services.  

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

Threads Downloads Triple in December; Galaxy S24 Getting Crash Detection; Microsoft Closed Loophole in AI Image Generator That Allowed Swift Deepfakes; Proposed California Bill Would Allow Parents to Block Algorithmic Feeds for Kids

Posted: January 30, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Threads, the Instagram answer to the old Twitter had huge growth when it dropped last summer, then stalled out. Now, it looks like it is taking off again. The app tripled its downloads in December, placing it in the top 10 most downloaded apps for the month on both Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. According to techcrunch.com, intelligence firm Appfigures reported 12 million new Threads downloads in December, grabbing the #4 spot on Apple’s App store and #8 on the Google Play Store. Meanwhile, X…formerly Twitter, fell to #29 on Apple’s App Store and #46 on the Google Play Store. 

Being in a car crash is a harrowing experience…particularly when it is enough to set off the airbags. Some cars have emergency calling built in, but now Samsung’s S24 phones will join Apple’s iPhones and Google’s Pixel 4 phones in alerting your loved ones if you are involved in a crash. Androidpolice.com notes that all Android devices are equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes which the OS can read, and the phone can infer when there’s a car crash by analyzing sensor data. Google has been pushing Android phone makers to use the crash detection, so this may open the floodgates for others to follow along. 

Microsoft closed the loophole in its AI image generator that could create explicit images of celebrities like Taylor Swift. After the widespread outrage from Swift’s fans last week after explicit deepfakes of her showed up on X, Redmond took the action. Theverge.com says that Microsoft’s Designer AI image generator could be hacked by altering prompts that got around simple name blocks. Microsoft put out a statement claiming they are committed to a safe and respectful experience for everyone. Time will tell if the hackers are able to get around the updated software. Just before the Swift explicit deepfakes appeared, recall that someone was making political robocalls in New Hampshire with a cloned voice of President Biden. The battle will continue. 

California is considering a couple of bills that would protect kids from social media addiction and preserve their private data. Engadget.com reports that SB976 would give parents the power to remove addictive algorithmic feeds from their children’s social channels. If passed, it would allow parents of children under 18 to choose between the default algorithmic feed — typically designed to create profitable addictions — and a less habit-forming chronological one. It would also let parents block all social media notifications and prevent their kids from accessing social platforms during nighttime and school hours. AB 1949 would attempt to strengthen data privacy for CA children under 18. The bill’s language gives the state’s consumers the right to know what personal information social companies collect and sell and allows them to prevent the sale of their children’s data to third parties. Any exceptions would require “informed consent,” which must be from a parent for children under 13.

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

Unredacted Meta Docs-“Historical Reluctance’ to Protect Kids; Apple SellingWatch 9 & Ultra Sans Blood Oxygen Feature; Samsung Teases Smart Ring; Costco Trials Membership Card Scan for Entrance

Posted: January 18, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Internal Meta documents about child safety have been unsealed as part of a lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Department of Justice against both Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. The documents reveal that Meta not only intentionally marketed its messaging platforms to children, but also knew about the massive volume of inappropriate and sexually explicit content being shared between adults and minors. TechCrunch.com reports that the documents were unsealed yesterday as part of an amended complaint. In a statement to TechCrunch, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said that Meta and Zuckerberg enabled child predators to sexually exploit children. Originally filed in December, the lawsuit alleges that Meta platforms like Instagram and Facebook have become “a marketplace for predators in search of children upon whom to prey,” and that Meta failed to remove many instances of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after they were reported on Instagram and Facebook. 

Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2 models are back on sale today, albeit without the Blood Oxygen feature that is at the center of legal action between Cupertino and Masimo. According to macrumors.com, removing the feature allows Apple to continue selling the watches and stay in the good graces of the US International Trade Commission. Older Watch models and those sold outside the US will still have the Blood Oxygen feature. Apple is appealing a ruling in Masimo’s favor by the ITCk and is also working on changes to the Blood Oxygen app’s algorithm in an attempt to avoid Masimo’s patented technology.

After all the hoopla surrounding the new Galaxy smartphones at Samsung Unpacked yesterday, the company had a quick video tease about the Galaxy Ring they are working on. Theverge.com notes that the ring is intended to be what the company called a “powerful and accessible” health and wellness device. Samsung didn’t provide any details about the tech in the ring, when it might be released, or pricing. Here’s a hint from last year though… Samsung filed a patent for a smart ring that would offer EKG and smart home controls. 

In case you missed it, Costco is running a trial at some stores, requiring you to scan your card in a scanner to get into the store. Geekwire.com reports that instead of flashing your card to an employee, the scanner will be able to tell if the person holding the card is really a member, since they have your photo on them. Costco says this is to prevent account sharing. The company claims it is able to sell items so cheaply partly due to the membership fees paid each year by members. When you pay, you will no longer need to have the card scanned again as has been the practice up to now. We may know later this year if Costco will adapt the new system to all stores.

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

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →