Tech Nuggets with the Technology

Saturday, January 8, 2022

Swiss army bans WhatsApp use over security concerns

Citing privacy concerns, the Swiss army has banned the use of Meta-owned WhatsApp among other popular messaging services by army personnel. The army staff has been asked to use encrypted Swiss messaging app 'Threema' instead, reports www.swissinfo. https://ift.tt/3HP2wlQ

Tinder exploring feature to let friend help you choose dates

Dating app Tinder has confirmed that it is exploring the development of a new feature called 'Swipe Party' which offers a way to make sorting through possible matches a more social experience, media reports say. https://ift.tt/3t8mggd

Meta opens Privacy Centre to educate users on data security

Facing an intense scrutiny over users' data privacy, Meta has introduced a Privacy Centre across its family of apps to educate billions of users. https://ift.tt/3HLjNwl

Ottawa-based Assent Compliance, a SaaS provider that helps companies with product compliance, trade compliance, and ESG, raises $350M at a $1B+ valuation (Mary Ann Azevedo/TechCrunch)

Mary Ann Azevedo / TechCrunch:
Ottawa-based Assent Compliance, a SaaS provider that helps companies with product compliance, trade compliance, and ESG, raises $350M at a $1B+ valuation — Never before has the importance of a smooth-flowing supply chain been as clear as it has been in the COVID-19 pandemic era.

Samsung releases official introduction film for the Galaxy S21 FE

The official video introduction to the smartphone is accompanied by Bebe Rexha’s “I Got You” which plays in the background. https://ift.tt/3G7mJmH

Facebook parent's head of communications leaves company

https://ift.tt/3eZuYW5

Google Doodle celebrates 80th birth anniversary of Stephen Hawking

On his 80th birth anniversary on Saturday, Google has paid tribute to late physicist Stephen Hawking with a Doodle. https://ift.tt/3f2ljOj

E-scooter rental firm Spin to lay off a quarter of its staff

Electric scooter rental firm Spin said it will lay off 25% of its employees, as part of the company's restructuring plan to exit open permit markets. San Francisco-based Spin was bought by Ford Motor Co in 2018 and operates as a standalone business within Ford Smart Mobility. https://ift.tt/3F92uDE

Friday, January 7, 2022

Samsung expects Q4 operating profit of $11.4B, up 52% YoY, on revenue of $63B, up ~24% YoY, thanks to improved returns from its contract chip-making business (Jiyoung Sohn/Wall Street Journal)

Jiyoung Sohn / Wall Street Journal:
Samsung expects Q4 operating profit of $11.4B, up 52% YoY, on revenue of $63B, up ~24% YoY, thanks to improved returns from its contract chip-making business — South Korean company benefits from continued strength of the semiconductor business — SEOUL— Samsung Electronics Co. is forecasting …

Hackers are sending virus to these Google apps’ users, claims report

Hackers are sending malicious links through comments in Google apps like Docs and Slides primarily to Outlook users -- a known vulnerability that has not been fully closed or mitigated by Google since last year, cyber-security researchers have warned. https://ift.tt/3F3xTaL

Starlink internet service has more than 1.45 lakh users globally: Report

Starlink, the satellite internet division of billionaire Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX, now has more than 1,45,000 users across 25 countries globally. https://ift.tt/3F2jcVu

E3 2022 will be online-only again due to pandemic

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), one of the largest yearly events for video games, will once again be an online-only event this summer due to the raging Covid-19 pandemic. https://ift.tt/3F3wMI0

Mozilla pauses crypto donations amid climate impact debate

After facing a backlash, Mozilla, the nonprofit organisation behind the Firefox web browser, has announced to stop taking cryptocurrency donations. https://ift.tt/3eXHKUL

This is how much Apple CEO Tim Cook earned in 2021

Apple CEO Tim Cook's earnings totalled $98.7 million in base salary, stock and other compensation in 2021, media reports said. According to a statement that Apple filed with the SEC, Cook earned a $3 million base salary and he was provided with a stock award of $82,347,835, reports MacRumors. https://ift.tt/3r31SL8

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 with wireless charging dock launched in India: Price, features and more

Lenovo has launched Smart Clock 2 with wireless charging dock in India. The latest version of the Smart Clock allows users to manage their schedule, play music, control other smart devices, and more with just voice commands. https://ift.tt/3n0xOyk