Saturday, September 30, 2023

Apple says iPhone 15 models could be running "warmer than expected" due to a few factors, like an iOS 17 bug and updates to Instagram and other third-party apps (Patrick Holland/CNET)

Patrick Holland / CNET:
Apple says iPhone 15 models could be running “warmer than expected” due to a few factors, like an iOS 17 bug and updates to Instagram and other third-party apps  —  Widespread complaints about overheating of the new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can be traced to several factors …



US DoD Chief Digital and AI Officer Craig Martell says the agency wants to use AI safely and urges companies to be more transparent about their AI software (Katrina Manson/Bloomberg)

Katrina Manson / Bloomberg:
US DoD Chief Digital and AI Officer Craig Martell says the agency wants to use AI safely and urges companies to be more transparent about their AI software  —  - Defense Department is holding symposium to discuss AI  — Official says agency wants to use the algorithms safely



An interview with Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström about his upbringing, his VC firm Atomico, the vitality of Europe's startup space, a Skype "mafia", and more (John Thornhill/Financial Times)

John Thornhill / Financial Times:
An interview with Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström about his upbringing, his VC firm Atomico, the vitality of Europe's startup space, a Skype “mafia”, and more  —  The Skype co-founder turned venture capitalist on how Europe's start-ups can challenge America's giants



Apple Music for Android update is now rolling out in beta, here’s what’s new

Apple has released a new update for its Music app on Android, which includes new iOS 17 style widgets. The update brings changes to the "Now Playing" and "Recently Played" widgets, as well as the addition of two new widgets: Recommendations and Top Charts. The widgets come with Apple's Red accent color and Dynamic color from Android. The update is available in the Apple Music 4.5 beta for Android, which can be accessed by enrolling in the beta program through the Google Play Store. https://ift.tt/wxHFcbt

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE to launch in India on October 4

Samsung has announced the launch date of its new premium smartphone, the Galaxy S23 FE, in India. Set to be released on October 4, the smartphone will feature a triple rear camera setup. Rumors suggest that it will have a flat display and be powered by either an Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. The device is expected to come with 8GB of RAM, storage options of 128GB or 256GB, a 4500mAh battery with 25W wired charging, and a 50MP primary camera. It is anticipated to run on Android 13. https://ift.tt/gdXhMC2

The new Counter-Strike game is here: Check if your PC run the game

Valve has released Counter-Strike 2 on the Steam platform, which is now free to play. The minimum system requirements for the game have been provided by Valve. The game can run on Windows and Linux platforms, but macOS compatibility is not available yet. The requirements suggest that Counter-Strike 2 can run on older devices, with an Intel Core i5 7th generation CPU and a GPU of 1GB or more with DirectX 11 support. https://ift.tt/UFWox3G

Q&A with YouTube Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe on NFL Sunday Ticket "exceeding expectations", Multiview interest, the Charter-Disney dispute, and more (Dade Hayes/Deadline)

Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Q&A with YouTube Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe on NFL Sunday Ticket “exceeding expectations”, Multiview interest, the Charter-Disney dispute, and more  —  - YouTube Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe On NFL Sunday Ticket “Exceeding Expectations”, Unexpected Disney-Charter Plugs & More



How to keep your emails encrypted in Gmail

Google has introduced encryption and Confidential mode to make Gmail more secure for users. The S/MIME feature allows users to secure their emails and prevent tampering during transit. It is available for paid Gmail users and can be enabled through the Google Admin console. Once enabled, a lock icon will indicate the encryption status of recipients. Encryption adds an additional layer of security and prevents hackers from injecting malware or viruses into emails. https://ift.tt/0aqwoWj

Friday, September 29, 2023

How to post Telegram Story

Telegram has introduced a new feature called Stories, similar to Instagram. Users can share photos and videos with text, drawings, stickers, and location tags. Stories can be set to last for 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours and can be posted to the user's profile. To post a story, users need to open the Telegram app, tap on the camera icon, capture a photo or video, add a caption, choose who can view the story, and then post it. https://ift.tt/d4hcoXC

Apple updates iCloud.com with browser notifications, slideshow Photos view, and more

Apple has released an updated version of iCloud with new features including browser notifications for Mail and Calendar on PCs, a customizable home page, and support for Memories and a slideshow view in the Photos web app. Users can now perform actions directly from the home page without navigating through separate menus. Apple has also introduced new storage plans for iCloud, offering 6TB and 12TB options that can be shared with up to six people. iCloud+ is available in India in three tiers. https://ift.tt/aLwmoz3

Samsung launches Galaxy F34 5G in a new colour: All the details

Samsung has launched the Galaxy F34 5G in a new color option called Orchid Velvet. The smartphone features a 50MP camera, a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and a 6,000mAh battery. It is priced at Rs 19,999 and will be available for purchase during the Flipkart Big Billion Sale. The phone also comes with a 6.5-inch FHD+ display, a 5nm Exynos 1280 processor, and multiple camera features such as Single Take and Nightography. Additionally, it offers Galaxy features like Voice Focus and promises long-term software and security updates. https://ift.tt/xKLCoV5

Sources: Japan allocates up to $1.2B in subsidies for US chipmaker Micron's plant in Hiroshima prefecture to build DRAM chips by around 2026 (Nikkei Asia)

Nikkei Asia:
Sources: Japan allocates up to $1.2B in subsidies for US chipmaker Micron's plant in Hiroshima prefecture to build DRAM chips by around 2026  —  Tokyo ratchets up financial support for U.S. chipmaker to bolster supply chains  —  Micron Technology's semiconductor plant in Higashihiroshima City.



Thursday, September 28, 2023

Apple launches a Wallet feature in the UK using the country's Open Banking API, showing users their current account balances, deposits, and payment history (Benjamin Mayo/9to5Mac)

Benjamin Mayo / 9to5Mac:
Apple launches a Wallet feature in the UK using the country's Open Banking API, showing users their current account balances, deposits, and payment history  —  Apple is soft launching a new iPhone Wallet app integration today that is powered by the United Kingdom's Open Banking API.



GameStop names Ryan Cohen as CEO effective immediately and says he won't receive compensation for his work as CEO, president, and executive chairman (Mike Calia/CNBC)

Mike Calia / CNBC:
GameStop names Ryan Cohen as CEO effective immediately and says he won't receive compensation for his work as CEO, president, and executive chairman  —  GameStop said Thursday morning that billionaire activist investor Ryan Cohen would take over as the video game retailer's chief executive.



WhatsApp may soon roll out improved status feature

WhatsApp is reportedly working on an improved feature called status, which will allow users to set an expiration for their text status information. This will give users more control over their profiles and prevent outdated or irrelevant information from persisting. In other news, WhatsApp will no longer support certain older smartphone models starting from October 24, 2023, in order to focus on supporting the latest operating systems. Users will be notified and reminded to upgrade their devices to continue using WhatsApp. https://ift.tt/cE2bjox

Elon Musk’s X has a new competitor, a ‘news’ app

Artifact, the news aggregator app created by Instagram co-founders, has introduced a new feature that allows users to create posts directly on the platform. This feature expands on the recently launched Links feature and aims to enhance personalization algorithms. Users can share various types of content, including thoughts, reviews, recipes, and design inspirations. The posts will appear in a visual feed and can be shared on different platforms. With this new feature, Artifact is entering the realm of social media platforms like Twitter and Meta's Threads. https://ift.tt/Rk1Sw3z

How TikTok Shop's growth in Indonesia, meant to be a template for a global expansion, ended in a ban amid backlash from rivals and an "activist" minister (Bloomberg)

Bloomberg:
How TikTok Shop's growth in Indonesia, meant to be a template for a global expansion, ended in a ban amid backlash from rivals and an “activist” minister  —  - Company ordered to split off TikTok Shop in its No. 1 market  — Indonesia puts pressure on TikTok to protect local merchants



A look at the rise of online feminism in China, driven by content on apps like Weibo, Douyin, WeChat, and Douban, despite increased scrutiny from the platforms (Wanqing Zhang/Rest of World)

Wanqing Zhang / Rest of World:
A look at the rise of online feminism in China, driven by content on apps like Weibo, Douyin, WeChat, and Douban, despite increased scrutiny from the platforms  —  Lying in bed one night in 2021, Zhang Zirui was swiping through Chinese social media app Weibo when she came across a post that gave her pause.



Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Hands-on with Mercedes-Benz's Drive Pilot, the first and only Level 3 system approved for sale in the US and EU, available only on freeways mapped by Mercedes (Daniel Golson/The Verge)

Daniel Golson / The Verge:
Hands-on with Mercedes-Benz's Drive Pilot, the first and only Level 3 system approved for sale in the US and EU, available only on freeways mapped by Mercedes  —  Drive Pilot is a Level 3 autonomous system, meaning you can take your hands off the wheel and — more notably — eyes off the road during certain conditions.



Itel S23+, itel P55 Power 5G smartphones launched in India: Price, specs and more

Itel has unveiled two new affordable smartphones, the itel S23+ and itel P55 Power, with 5G connectivity and MediaTek chipsets. The itel S23+ is priced at Rs 13,999 and features a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, 8GB+256GB storage, a 50MP main camera, and a 32MP selfie shooter. The itel P55 Power comes in two variants, priced at Rs 9,699 and Rs 9,999, and offers a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, up to 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 50MP dual rear camera. Itel aims to make 5G technology accessible and affordable for the masses in India. https://ift.tt/GVvgmjz

Researchers say X removed the ability for users to report election misinformation, a feature launched in the US, Australia, and some other countries in 2021 (Byron Kaye/Reuters)

Byron Kaye / Reuters:
Researchers say X removed the ability for users to report election misinformation, a feature launched in the US, Australia, and some other countries in 2021  —  Elon Musk's X, formerly called Twitter, disabled a feature that let users report misinformation about elections …



China releases a list of 26 app stores, including from Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi, that comply with its new rules; Apple's App Store is not on the list (Josh Ye/Reuters)

Josh Ye / Reuters:
China releases a list of 26 app stores, including from Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi, that comply with its new rules; Apple's App Store is not on the list  —  China's cyberspace regulator released on Wednesday names of the first batch of mobile app stores that have completed filing business details …



Xiaomi 13T, 13T Pro smartphones with Leica camera, fast charging support launched

Xiaomi has launched its latest flagship smartphones, the Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro, in Europe. The devices feature Leica co-engineered triple rear cameras, MediaTek chipsets, and a 5000 mAh battery. The Xiaomi 13T starts at 649 Euros, while the Xiaomi 13T Pro starts at 799 Euros. The smartphones are available in Alpine Blue, Meadow Green, and Black color options. They come with a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED display, up to 16GB of RAM, and run on Android 13 with MIUI 14. They also have IP68 rating and support fast charging. https://ift.tt/Sdnxy6X

How to disable Chrome's new targeted ad tracking feature

Google introduced a new targeted ad tracking system in Chrome, which has raised concerns among privacy advocates. This system aims to curate user interests based on browsing history, replacing third-party cookies. If you want to disable this feature, follow the below step-by-step guide. https://ift.tt/On9lTNZ

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Sources: French authorities received a software update from Apple that turns down the strength of the radio on iPhone 12's cellular modem and are reviewing it (Elizabeth Pineau/Reuters)

Elizabeth Pineau / Reuters:
Sources: French authorities received a software update from Apple that turns down the strength of the radio on iPhone 12's cellular modem and are reviewing it  —  French authorities have received a software update from Apple (AAPL.O) for its iPhone 12 and are reviewing it …



San Diego-based edge AI chip maker Kneron raised a $49M series B extension, after raising a $48M series B in October 2022, bringing its total funding to $190M (Kyle Wiggers/TechCrunch)

Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
San Diego-based edge AI chip maker Kneron raised a $49M series B extension, after raising a $48M series B in October 2022, bringing its total funding to $190M  —  Kneron, which is developing AI chips to power self-driving cars, among other autonomous machines, today announced that it raised $49 million …



Here’s when Samsung may launch Galaxy S24 smartphone series

Samsung is expected to launch its flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S24, on January 18. The series will consist of three models: Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is rumored to feature a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED LTPO display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It may also come with a Titanium frame, a 200MP primary camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and a 5000mAh battery with 45W charging. The phone will run on Android 14 with One UI 6. https://ift.tt/uqhw0UR

Lava launches Blaze Pro 5G: Price, specifications and more

Lava has introduced its new smartphone, the Blaze Pro 5G, which features a 5000mAh battery and a 50MP main camera. The device boasts a 6.78-inch display and claims to have a bloat-free operating system. It is priced at Rs 12,499 and will be available for purchase from October 3 with a one-year warranty. The Blaze Pro 5G comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1080x2460 resolution, and is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 6020 processor. It also offers expandable storage, fast charging, and a free service at home for customers. https://ift.tt/LEgDGBI

Monday, September 25, 2023

Spotify partners with OpenAI to launch an AI-powered voice translation feature that reproduces podcasts in other languages using the podcaster's own voice (Amrita Khalid/The Verge)

Amrita Khalid / The Verge:
Spotify partners with OpenAI to launch an AI-powered voice translation feature that reproduces podcasts in other languages using the podcaster's own voice  —  What if podcasters could flip a switch and instantly speak another language?  That's the premise behind Spotify's …



OpenAI rolls out an update to let Plus and Enterprise users prompt ChatGPT using voice commands or by uploading an image, available for other users "soon after" (David Pierce/The Verge)

David Pierce / The Verge:
OpenAI rolls out an update to let Plus and Enterprise users prompt ChatGPT using voice commands or by uploading an image, available for other users “soon after”  —  Most of OpenAI's changes to ChatGPT involve what the AI-powered bot can do: questions it can answer, information it can access, improved underlying models.



EU blocks Booking.com's €1.63B acquisition of Etraveli, saying Booking failed to allay concerns that the deal bolsters its dominance in the hotel OTA market (Foo Yun Chee/Reuters)

Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
EU blocks Booking.com's €1.63B acquisition of Etraveli, saying Booking failed to allay concerns that the deal bolsters its dominance in the hotel OTA market  —  Booking Holdings' (BKNG.O) proposed 1.63-billion-euro ($1.7 billion) purchase of Swedish peer ETraveli Group was blocked …



How to unfollow a WhatsApp Channel

WhatsApp has launched its Channels feature in India, allowing users to receive personalized updates. The feature serves as a broadcasting tool for administrators to share various content. WhatsApp is also developing a searchable directory for users to discover channels based on their interests. Users can join channels through invitation links and can unfollow them at any time to stop receiving notifications and updates. https://ift.tt/pbMe7Uj

Sunday, September 24, 2023

A profile of Hank Asher, the "father of data fusion" who died in 2013 after initiating a vast shift in privacy norms through his data mining software companies (McKenzie Funk/New York Times)

McKenzie Funk / New York Times:
A profile of Hank Asher, the “father of data fusion” who died in 2013 after initiating a vast shift in privacy norms through his data mining software companies  —  Hank Asher was a drug smuggler with a head for numbers — until he figured out how to turn Americans' private information into a big business.



TRAI releases consultation paper on R&D in telecom, broadcasting and IT sectors

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper on encouraging research and development (R&D) in the telecom, broadcasting, and IT sectors. The paper aims to develop a comprehensive ecosystem for enhancing R&D in the ICT sector, with a focus on generating a pool of R&D scientists/engineers and promoting innovation. R&D plays a crucial role in economic growth, improving people's lives, and ensuring self-reliance and security. While India has made progress in R&D and innovation, there is room for improvement in promoting R&D in the ICT sector. The paper analyzes issues in the existing R&D ecosystem and highlights the need for a robust R&D framework to capitalize on emerging trends in technology. https://ift.tt/I3OPS9N

Sources: Apple to increase its production in India over 5x to $40B in the next four to five years, and start making AirPods, in addition to iPhones, in 2024 (PTI)

PTI:
Sources: Apple to increase its production in India over 5x to $40B in the next four to five years, and start making AirPods, in addition to iPhones, in 2024  —  iPhone maker Apple has plans to scale up production in India by over five-fold to around $40 billion, or about Rs 3.32 lakh crore …



EV maker Nio launches the Nio Phone in China with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 30+ car-specific features, including automatic parking, starting at ~$890 (Chethan Rao/Android Police)

Chethan Rao / Android Police:
EV maker Nio launches the Nio Phone in China with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 30+ car-specific features, including automatic parking, starting at ~$890  —  - Nio, an electric car manufacturer, has entered the Chinese smartphone market with the Nio Phone, targeting owners of its EVs …



Sources: Meta plans to release AI chatbots with personalities, internally called Gen AI Personas, across its apps at this week's Connect, to attract young users (Wall Street Journal)

Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Meta plans to release AI chatbots with personalities, internally called Gen AI Personas, across its apps at this week's Connect, to attract young users  —  Facebook parent is developing bots with personalities, including a ‘sassmaster general’ robot that answers questions



A look at the role of pro gaming in Tencent's long-term strategy as China hosts the Hangzhou Asian Games, the first event where esports are eligible for medals (Zheping Huang/Bloomberg)

Zheping Huang / Bloomberg:
A look at the role of pro gaming in Tencent's long-term strategy as China hosts the Hangzhou Asian Games, the first event where esports are eligible for medals  —  - Hundreds of pro players will compete at Hangzhou Asian Games  — Tencent places esports at the heart of its online media empire



Saturday, September 23, 2023

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes a bill that requires a human safety operator in heavy-duty self-driving trucks on public roads (Abhirup Roy/Reuters)

Abhirup Roy / Reuters:
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes a bill that requires a human safety operator in heavy-duty self-driving trucks on public roads  —  California Governor Gavin Newsom late on Friday vetoed a bill to prevent heavy-duty driverless trucks from operating in the state, in a relief …



Sources: India will delay its import license requirement for laptops and tablets by a year and instead plans a simpler import registration process from November (Reuters)

Reuters:
Sources: India will delay its import license requirement for laptops and tablets by a year and instead plans a simpler import registration process from November  —  India will defer an import licence requirement for laptops and tablets, two government officials said, a policy U-turn …



A look at Scattered Spider, which experts say is a group of 17 to 22-year-old native English speakers likely behind the MGM and 52+ other hacks since March 2022 (Reuters)

Reuters:
A look at Scattered Spider, which experts say is a group of 17 to 22-year-old native English speakers likely behind the MGM and 52+ other hacks since March 2022  —  About a year ago, the U.S. security firm Palo Alto Networks began to hear from a flurry of companies that had been hacked in ways that weren't the norm for cybercriminals.



Google and Apple use passkeys to capture users by locking credentials into their platforms and have made the UX of passkeys worse than that of password managers (William Brown/Firstyear's blog-a-log)

William Brown / Firstyear's blog-a-log : Google and Apple use passkeys to capture users by locking credentials into their platforms an...