Saturday, August 15, 2020

Telegram has launched an alpha version of one-on-one video calls in its Android and iOS apps, says all calls will be end-to-end encrypted (Kim Lyons/The Verge)

Kim Lyons / The Verge:
Telegram has launched an alpha version of one-on-one video calls in its Android and iOS apps, says all calls will be end-to-end encrypted  —  The company plans to add improvements to the alpha feature in coming months  —  Secure messaging app Telegram has launched an alpha version …



Top tech news: Billionaire Apple CEO, Fortnite ban, Xiaomi MIUI 12 & more

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11 new and upcoming WhatsApp features

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From Porpoise Detectors to 'Hawkeyes', How Technology Empowers Ecology

A scientist shares his insight into how technology empowers research, and discusses the tools of the trade that are used to study Gangetic river dolphins. https://ift.tt/3g5DqAV

As companies start using AI-software to detect race or ethnicity, often as part of market research, researchers worry it will fuel bias and discrimination (Parmy Olson/Wall Street Journal)

Parmy Olson / Wall Street Journal:
As companies start using AI-software to detect race or ethnicity, often as part of market research, researchers worry it will fuel bias and discrimination  —  When Revlon Inc. wanted to know what lipstick women of different races and in different countries were wearing, the cosmetics giant didn't need to send out a survey.



Quick Reactions to Instagram Stories convey little when used, confuse people when they're absent, make some people feel obliged to use them (Angela Lashbrook/OneZero )

Angela Lashbrook / OneZero :
Quick Reactions to Instagram Stories convey little when used, confuse people when they're absent, make some people feel obliged to use them  —  Research shows that a modicum of extra effort in online conversations goes a long way  —  When Instagram introduced the option to “heart” …



Friday, August 14, 2020

Interviews with 20+ founders and investors provide an inside look at Y Combinator's virtual W20 Demo Day, which saw some companies lower their target valuations (Biz Carson/Protocol)

Biz Carson / Protocol:
Interviews with 20+ founders and investors provide an inside look at Y Combinator's virtual W20 Demo Day, which saw some companies lower their target valuations  —  And the checks that were handed over, too.  —  It was four weeks before Y Combinator's scheduled March 2020 Demo Day …



Most of Epic's complaints against Apple and Google apply to console makers, which Epic conveniently ignores; most gamers likely play Fortnite on consoles (Kyle Orland/Ars Technica)

Kyle Orland / Ars Technica:
Most of Epic's complaints against Apple and Google apply to console makers, which Epic conveniently ignores; most gamers likely play Fortnite on consoles  —  Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo demand the same platform control—and the same 30% fee.  —  Yesterday, Epic used Fortnite …



OnePlus Nord vs Pixel 4a vs iPhone SE (2020): What's the Difference?

OnePlus Nord, Pixel 4a, and iPhone SE (2020) are budget friendly offerings from the three companies. These come with affordable price tags when compared to the companies' high-end offerings. https://ift.tt/341BCH2

Experience Freedom Again by Traveling, Virtually

Here are some virtual experiences you can do from the comfort and safety of your home. From swapping windows with strangers to screaming in Iceland, these websites will take you to a different... https://ift.tt/3kLiIKd

Sources at publications partnering with Apple News+ say Apple did not tell them about changes that force News+ users into its app instead of to publisher sites (Digiday)

Digiday:
Sources at publications partnering with Apple News+ say Apple did not tell them about changes that force News+ users into its app instead of to publisher sites  —  Publishers have long fumed that platforms such as Google and Amazon tie their services and products together in ways that are anti-competitive.



Epic's Tim Sweeney says fight with Apple is about "the basic freedoms of all consumers and developers" to install and distribute apps as they choose (Nick Statt/The Verge)

Nick Statt / The Verge:
Epic's Tim Sweeney says fight with Apple is about “the basic freedoms of all consumers and developers” to install and distribute apps as they choose  —  Sweeney says the explosive feud with Apple is not solely about money  —  Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has issued a series …



Roper Technologies to buy Vertafore, a software vendor for the property and casualty insurance industry, for $5.35B from Bain Capital and Vista Equity Partners (Andrew G. Simpson/Insurance Journal)

Andrew G. Simpson / Insurance Journal:
Roper Technologies to buy Vertafore, a software vendor for the property and casualty insurance industry, for $5.35B from Bain Capital and Vista Equity Partners  —  Florida-based Roper Technologies has agreed to acquire insurance software maker Vertafore in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $5.35 billion.



12 most-important Indian origin tech executives in the world

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Realme C15 Launching in India on August 18: Everything We Know So Far

Realme C15 will soon be added to the company's series of entry-level smartphones that offer good hardware at affordable prices. The phone that has already made its debut in Indonesia will be... https://ift.tt/2CuqYNF

MediaTek says it has started to use Intel Foundry's advanced chip packaging in addition to TSMC's, as the mobile chip designer bets on AI demand for growth (Cheng Ting-Fang/Nikkei Asia)

Cheng Ting-Fang / Nikkei Asia : MediaTek says it has started to use Intel Foundry's advanced chip packaging in addition to TSMC's...