Xbox and PlayStation have had their rivalries for years — and they started playing in the sandbox together as infants. Even though these players have grown up — they’re still in competition for gamer’s time and money. Famous rivalries in video game history exist, such as Sonic vs. Mario, Crash vs. Cortex, Link vs. Ganon, and Switch owners vs. Joycon Drift.

The PS5 has succeeded better than the Xbox Series X by a wide margin, to the extent that there have been rumors that Microsoft may forego developing consoles completely in favor of the next generation.

But Phil Spencer, CEO of Xbox reassured all Xbox employees that the company will not stop producing consoles. Saying that Xbox has no plans to quit consoles — and then having a podcast format announcement on February 15th has a few fans a bit nervous? Might we see Xbox announce a new harde, or perhaps a Pro version of the Series X — or forget a remake or update — might there be something completely new? The Ad on X says to watch on “YouTube.com/Xbox or where you listen to your podcasts.” Also, “Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond, and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business.”

Many wonder why Xbox continues to make exclusives and not go multiplatform? For many fans, the hope this week is that Microsoft will reveal plans to go multi-platform with some of the biggest Xbox games — and Game Pass, of course.

This would be an interesting move because among of the Xbox Series X’s major selling points are games like Sea of Thieves, Starfield, and Hi-Fi Rush. It should come as a relief to fans of studios like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard who joined with Microsoft, as this would virtually guarantee that PlayStation titles like Fallout and Call of Duty will continue to have a presence.

We await Phil Spencer’s news on February 15 to find out the destiny of our beloved Xbox.

Featured Image Credit: Luca Nardone; Pexels

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The fake LastPass password manager found on Apple’s App Store has now been pulled. It is currently unknown whether Apple or the bogus software developer uninstalled the phony program — which disguised itself as the LastPass password manager on the Apple App Store. Apple has not responded to inquiries about the removal, though Apple is quite vigilant about these types of issues and relentlessly guards its app store.

Christofer Hoff, Chief Secure Technology Officer for LastPass, in a statement to TechCrunch, said, “Upon seeing the fake ‘LassPass’ app in the Apple App store, LastPass immediately began a coordinated and multi-faceted approach across our threat intelligence, legal and engineering teams to get the fraudulent app removed.” Hoff continues, “Our threat intelligence team posted a blog yesterday to raise awareness and help inform the public and our customers of the situation. We are in direct contact with representatives from Apple, and they have confirmed receipt of our complaints, and we are working through the process to have the fraudulent app removed.”

To mislead consumers, the fraudster app mimicked LastPass’s branding and user interface

In an effort to mislead consumers, the fraudster app mimicked LastPass’s branding and user interface and was distributed under the identity of a single developer, Parvati Patel. The phony program included several typos, which should always give one pause and hints that something may be a fake. In addition to being released by a separate developer who was not LogMeIn — the company that owns LastPass.

It’s not really good for Apple Inc., which has been fighting against so many regulations recently — like the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA)- that such an apparently fraudulent app made it through Apple’s generally rigorous App Review process.

Appfigures, an app analytics company, reported that the phone app was released on January 21st, giving it a few weeks to get users’ attention. Appfigures saw that the users themselves appeared to have realized that the app was phony because every one of the Apple App Store reviews warned others about the bogus nature of this app. The fake app even leveraged keywords to rank in search.

The fake app may have succeeded in tricking some users, even though it probably didn’t fake-out too many. The worst for the LastPass Company is that it was forced to alert its real users in a public forum about the fraudulent app in the store — even though it should have never been released in the first place. The app wasn’t taken down from the App Store until the day after LastPass’s blog post was published.

Featured Image Credit: WeStartMoney; Pexels

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Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC). Raimondo said in a statement to Reuters, “The U.S. government has a significant role to play in setting the standards and developing the tools we need to mitigate the risks and harness the immense potential of artificial intelligence.”

The consortium members

Reuters published the list of consortium members, which includes BP (BP.L),  Cisco Systems (CSCO.O), IBM (IBM.N), Hewlett Packard (HPE.N), Northop Grumman (NOC.N), Mastercard (MA.N), Qualcomm (QCOM.O), Visa (V.N), and major academic institutions and government agencies, that will be housed under the U.S. AI Safety Institute (USAISI).

This group prioritizes the actions and guidelines listed in President Biden’s executive order:  “including developing guidelines for red-teaming (meaning identify new risks), capability evaluations, risk management, safety and security, and watermarking synthetic content.”

The executive order from U.S. President Joe Biden

Additionally, the Oct 30, 2023 executive order from U.S. President Joe Biden said that he “is seeking to reduce the risks that AI poses to consumers, workers, minority groups, and national security” with a new executive order. As per the Defense Production Act, creators of AI systems that endanger the national security, economics, health, or safety of the United States must notify the government of the United States of the findings of their safety texts before their public release.

In addition, agencies are instructed to establish guidelines for such testing and handle associated risks connected to cybersecurity, radiological, chemical, and biological hazards by the order Biden has signed at the White House. “To realize the promise of AI and avoid the risk, we need to govern this technology,” Biden said. “In the wrong hands, AI can make it easier for hackers to exploit software vulnerabilities that make our society run.”

The Commerce Department said in December 2023 that it was already taking the first steps toward “writing the key standards and guidance for the safe deployment and testing of AI.” The consortium also represents the biggest group of test and evaluation teams  who can now create a foundation for a “new measurement science in AI safety.”

Currently, generative AI has sparked both enthusiasm and concerns with its ability to produce text, images, and videos in response to open-ended cues, that it can eventually replace human labor in some occupations, disrupt elections, and have disastrous consequences.

The Biden administration is working to implement safeguards, but despite multiple high-level conferences, Congress has not passed laws addressing AI.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Michelangelo Buonarroti; Pexels

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It’s called “Cyber Wargaming 2024,” and it’s being conducted under the supervision of the Central Bank of the UAE and the UAE Government’s Cyber Security Council. Cyber Wargaming was a big success for the second games in 2022 in the Middle East — the UAE Banks Federation (UBF) organized the third edition of Cyber Wargaming this year. The event has specially designed simulated cyberattacks to learn about the security of UBF member banks. These games reveal the security, risks, strengths, and gaps in security. The cybersecurity exercises improve the procedures that protect the banks along with the varied knowledge, techniques, and methods used to protect the banks.

Abdulla Matar Al Muhairi, Head of the Banking Supervision Department at the Central Bank of the UAE, spoke of the vital importance and the role of strengthening the resilience of the financial infrastructure in the banking sector. The banking sector must have a preparedness to defend against cyberattacks.

The Cyber Wargaming 2024 event will focus on developing capabilities to protect the digital infrastructure of banking.

Mr. Jamal Saleh, Director General of UBF, said: “At UBF, we continue our efforts to ensure safe and smooth banking operations in the face of rapid developments in the use of advanced technologies in the banking and financial sector. The organization of these cyber security workshops confirms our commitment to prioritize the security of the banking system and information security. We do this under the direct supervision of the Central Bank of the UAE, which is keen to develop the necessary regulatory frameworks and technologies to keep up with the latest developments and provide customers with the best services in a reliable banking environment.”

The Director General added: “Following the great success of the exercises we organized in October 2022; many entities and institutions have recognized the importance of this event in identifying and preparing banking cadres for potential cyberattacks and threats and to be prepared in the face of the acceleration of digital transformation in the financial sector by the development of digital security systems. The large turnout at this event also reflects the commitment of member banks and financial institutions to create a secure environment through events and training programs conducted by our member banks, which provide banking and financial sector employees with the opportunity to learn about the aspects that require further development to enhance cyber security, which is a key pillar in consolidating the UAE’s position as a leading banking and financial center in the region.”

The recent Threatcasting Event focused on credit card risks

The Cyber Wargaming 2024 event will focus on developing capabilities to protect the digital infrastructure of banking. The emergence of fraud and various cyber threats has made such events a way to secure the banking environment. This Cyber Wargaming event will spread much-needed awareness about the risks of fraud and one’s need to stay vigilant and protect accounts.

This group of forward-thinking individuals recently held an event called Threatcasting Event in collaboration with MasterCard that focused on potential future threats from advanced technologies such as quantum computing and AI, as well as how to deal effectively with these threats.

Featured Image Credit: ExpectBest; Pexels

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Security researcher Stacksmashing showed how hackers may use a $4 Raspberry Pi Pico to retrieve the  BitLocker encryption key from Windows PCs in just 43 seconds, in a YouTube video. The researcher claims that specific attacks can get beyond BitLocker’s encryption by directly accessing the hardware and retrieving the encryption keys kept in the computer’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM) viz the LPC bus.

It has been shown that the encryption key requires physical access to the device and some extended know-how or expertise — so this is not an extended threat across the internet. Of course, BitLocker’s reliance on a TPM for security may be its own downfall in this particular experiment.

The dedicated Trusted Module, or TPM has a design flaw that the YouTuber took advantage of. In specific setups, Bitlocker depends on an external TPM to store vital data, including the Volume Master Key and Platform Configuration Registers (which are included in certain CPUs). When using an external TPM, the CPU and TPM communicate over an LPC bus to send the encryption keys needed to unlock the data on the disk. So the security hacker, Stacksmashing (YouTube), found the communication lanes (LPC bus) between the external TPM and the CPU are completely unencrypted on boot-up. This allowed the hacker to find critical data when it moved between the two units — and he was able to hack the encryption keys.

Keep in mind that the hacker used an old laptop that had BitLocker encryption — even though the same type of attack can be used on newer motherboards that use an external TPM. Also, the newer motherboards require more work and legwork to intercept the bus traffic. Security researcher Stacksmashing made it clear that the Windows BitLocker and external TPMs aren’t as foolproof as many individuals and companies think.

If your CPU has a built-in TPM, like the ones found in modern AMD and Intel CPUs, you should be safe from this security flaw since all TPM communication occurs within the CPU.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by George Becker; Pexels

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OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 image generator will add watermarks to image information when more businesses begin to accept the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) standards. More and more companies are following suit to support this new standard from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA).

According to the company, photographs created using the DALL-E 3 model’s API and the ChatGPT website will have watermarks and other metadata from C2PA. Watermarks for mobile devices will be available by February 12th. Both an invisible information component and a visible CR symbol — which will show up in each image’s upper left corner — will be included. An open technical standard called C2PA enables media to have metadata embedded so publishers, businesses, and other entities can confirm its source and associated details. The C2PA standard is being embraced by news organizations, camera manufacturers, and other entities to verify the provenance and source of media content rather than being limited to AI-generated photos.

The watermarks added to images won’t affect latency

OpenAI says the slight transfer of data lag, called latency, will not be overly affected, and this change will not affect the quality of the image. For some time, companies such as Adobe and Microsoft, together with the C2PA, have advocated for implementing the material Credentials watermark to determine the source of material and indicate whether it was created using artificial intelligence (AI) or by humans. OpenAI is adding a Content Credentials sign to DALL-E 3 creations created by Adobe. Meta has declared that it will tag AI-generated content on its social media networks.

C2PA metadata is now included in images created using our DALL·E 3 model-serving API and ChatGPT on the web. By February 12th, this modification will also be available to all mobile users. With OpenAI’s tools, users can verify whether an image was produced by the underlying DALL·E 3 model by visiting websites such as Content Credentials Verify. This should show that the image was created using ChatGPT or our API, excluding removing metadata.

One of the main recommendations of the Biden administration’s executive order on AI is identifying information generated by AI. However, watermarking is not a foolproof method of preventing disinformation. Since most social media platforms frequently remove metadata from posted content, OpenAI notes that C2PA’s metadata can “easily be removed either accidentally or intentionally.” By taking a screenshot, the metadata is removed.

Currently, C2PA information is limited to photos created using ChatGPT or our DALL·E 3 model-serving API.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Tim Gouw; Pexels

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Despite US sanctions prohibiting the activity, a report published by tomshardware, claims that individuals in nations bordering China have been purchasing complete pre-built PC systems with GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs, only to remove the graphics cards and resell them in China. For instance, it claims that in an attempt to make quick money, someone purchased 20 robust PC systems with RTX 4090 graphics for more than US$4,500 each (a total of more than US$91,000). The GeForce RTX 4090D that Nvidia offers as a substitute and the U.S. tech sanctions against China are the main culprits behind these actions.

Asian small-business entrepreneurs appear to purchase desktop GeForce RTX 4090 cards as soon as they become available to resell them to sanctioned China. Retailers thought they could avoid this disturbance in the market when customers sought to upgrade to the greatest graphics cards 2024 had to offer by employing whole-system bundling tactics. However, it doesn’t seem like the requirement to buy expensive, high-end hardware to acquire an RTX 4090 has diminished interest in the flagship GPU. By now, profits ought to be reasonable.

In Taiwan, one may purchase a single GeForce RTX 4090 card and the PCHome24 without buying an entire system or bundle. Only local SIM cards, which are strictly regulated and associated with official identification documents in this region — are accepted at this online retailer. It might, therefore, be more protected from dishonest scalpers. PCHome24’s lowest-priced cards cost TWD$62,990, or about US$2,000, plus 5% VAT.

Some claim that the rise in interest in the RTX 4090 has impacted the PC and component markets in Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and other nations. They also claim that prices in their home markets are rising by as high as 60% in certain places where purchasers are willing to switch out and ship out RTX 4090 cards to Chinese clients.

The retailers want to stop all the scalpers, but even having to purchase full systems is desirable.

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The Apple Vision Pro is the latest shiny new consumer wearable to get gadget lovers excited. And understandably so. It’s the first “spatial computer”, a mixed-reality headset that allows the user to experience digital content through the glasses.

Apple is clear it shouldn’t be used when driving (obviously), but a few people have found a way to abuse the Tesla’s autopilot and full self-driving (FSD) Beta — all while wearing Apple Vision Pro.

Surely, it’s partially Tesla’s fault that the FSD Beta and Autopilot technologies are among the most misunderstood products in the world. Before the product could even be delivered, Tesla called it “Full Self-Driving.” Some may remember riding in the backseat of an early Tesla and having the driver working on their computer while exiting an offramp from the freeway. Even in the early Tesla models, the vehicle actually performed the maneuver. But accidents do happen — and did happen to some drivers-driving-driverless. The Tesla Autopilot and FSD are both still considered “level-2” driver-assist systems — meaning that the driver’s hands must be on the steering wheel at all times. To understand more clearly — do not wear an Apple Vision Pro while driving.

You may have caught a glimpse of this photo — but at least he’s not wearing the Apple Vision Pro. And by the way, Apple does not want you to say the in Apple Vision Pro.

— and you’ve likely seen a few of these TikToks:

@nypost

#Tesla driver asleep at the wheel in #California

♬ original sound – New York Post | News

Even though Tesla has increasingly upgraded its driver monitoring features to stop this sort of system abuse, many people can circumvent the system to their benefit — and take advantage.

Keep in mind, the Cybertruck doesn’t even have Autopilot yet!

Tesla Cybertruck meet Apple Vision Pro! pic.twitter.com/CFk4PAviZs

— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) February 4, 2024

Apple makes it very apparent that using the iPhone while driving is prohibited–and the same goes for the  Apple Vision Pro! It would theoretically be feasible to drive utilizing the headset because of the Vision Pro’s exceptional “passthrough” capability, which renders your surroundings in real-time. However, this is a poor idea, and if the headset fails in the middle of your driving debut? How long does it take to rip the headset off your head?

Business Insider reported today that Apple Vision Pro is meant to be worn when you’re alone — and that you look “weird” wearing it in public, but that’s another story.

Featured Image Credit: Apple Vision Pro

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We’re not surprised that another big tech company is announcing layoffs in its ranks — there has been a lot of that already in 2024. You can now add Snapchat social network to the list announcing layoffs — about 529 employees. Not surprisingly, the company gives reasons like less market spending on digital ads. Still, interestingly, the company mentions the Russian-Ukrainian war as one aspect of the employee reduction that we haven’t seen explained, and Snap didn’t specify the areas for the targeted layoffs.

Snap is restructuring, which includes the cancellation of the original series. Earlier this year, the company signed extended content arrangements with Disney, ViacomCBS, and NBCUniversal.

In a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission today, Snap disclosed its layoffs. Snap stated it was doing so “to best position our business to execute on our highest priorities and to ensure we have the capacity to invest incrementally to support our growth over time.” The corporation will incur a one-time charge of $55 million to $75 million, mainly to cover the severance payments of the impacted employees. Still, the company will save approximately $500 million annually in costs once the payout is done.

Snap cut about 20 percent of its staff in 2022, and at the beginning of 2023, Snap had about 5,300 employees and cut about 3 percent of those. Snap will report its fourth quarter 2023 earnings tomorrow, which may give greater insight into what’s going on with the company.

Snap seems to have had trouble growing outside its main social networking layout and offering. Other hardware initiatives, like a selfie Pixy drone, were abandoned almost immediately after its debut — and the augmented reality glasses weren’t even widely made available (even to those of us who tried to purchase them).

The CEO of Snap, Spiegel, set some aggressive goals for 2024, hoping the daily users will grow by 17 percent and bump up Snapchat+ 750 million monthly users and Daily Active Users (DAUs).

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In 2015, Facebook celebrated its 10th anniversary by introducing the “On This Day” feature, allowing users to revisit their past posts. Today, we celebrate 20 years of the global phenomenon known as Facebook (now Meta). It has been a platform of incredible innovation from the beginning, and those contributing content to their friends and total strangers share their day-to-day lives, feelings, and photos — some of which may have been advisable not to.

Facebook has evolved from a simple social networking site to a global phenomenon, affecting the lives of millions of people around the globe. The story behind its success is as intriguing as the platform itself. In this article, let’s look into the exciting history of Facebook, exploring its beginnings, wild milestones, crazy controversies, and undeniable impact on the internet and the lives of those who participate online.

History of Facebook

1. Facebook’s genesis

In the early 2000s, a young psychology student at Harvard University named Mark Zuckerberg had an idea.

As a passionate computer programmer, Zuckerberg had already created a few social networking sites for his fellow students. These social sites included Coursematch, a platform for students to see who was taking their degree, and Facemash, a site for rating attractiveness — which caused its fair share of controversy.

In February 2004, Zuckerberg launched what was then known as “The Facebook.” The platform’s name was inspired by the sheets of paper given to freshmen at Harvard, profiling students and staff. Within just 24 hours of its launch, 1,200 Harvard students had signed up. After a month, over half of the undergraduate population had created a profile.

2. Facebook’s rapid expansion

Facebook‘s popularity didn’t stay confined to Harvard for long. The platform quickly extended to other Boston universities and the Ivy League. By the end of 2004, almost every university in the U.S. and Canada had access to Facebook. In August 2005, “The Facebook” officially became Facebook after purchasing the domain for $200,000.

Facebook opened up to high school students in September 2005, expanding its reach even further. By September 2006, it became open to anyone over 13 with a valid email address, marking a significant milestone in Facebook’s history.

3. The era of acquisitions

In April 2012, Facebook made a significant acquisition: Instagram. The photo-sharing app was bought for a staggering $1 billion. This purchase allowed Facebook to tap into Instagram’s younger user base and its innovative photo-sharing features.

In 2014, Facebook made another major acquisition: WhatsApp. The messaging app was purchased for an incredible $19 billion. This move allowed Facebook to enhance its messaging capabilities and gain access to WhatsApp’s vast global user base.

4. The rise of mobile and apps

With the increasing popularity of smartphones, Facebook focused on mobile expansion. The introduction of the Facebook app and optimization for mobile platforms facilitated user engagement on the go. In 2012, Facebook went public with its initial public offering (IPO), marking a significant financial milestone for the company.

5. Algorithm changes and news feed redesign

Facebook underwent several algorithm changes to prioritize content based on user preferences. In 2015, Facebook celebrated its 10th anniversary by introducing the “On This Day” feature, allowing users to revisit their past posts.

The platform faced challenges with the spread of fake news and underwent a series of News Feed redesigns to address these concerns.

6. Cambridge Analytica scandal and privacy concerns

2018 brought one of the most significant challenges to Facebook’s reputation with the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It was revealed that the personal data of millions of users had been improperly accessed for political purposes. This event led to increased scrutiny of Facebook’s data privacy practices and sparked a broader conversation about online privacy.

7. Rebranding to Meta and the Metaverse Vision

In a significant announcement in October 2021, Mark Zuckerberg revealed the company’s rebranding from Facebook to Meta Platforms, reflecting a broader vision beyond social media. The focus shifted to building the metaverse, a virtual shared space where users can interact in real-time. This ambitious vision included investments in virtual and augmented reality technologies.

8. Ongoing innovations and challenges (2022 and Beyond)

Meta Platforms continued its pursuit of innovations, including virtual reality (VR) advancements with products like Oculus. The company faced ongoing challenges related to content moderation, user privacy, and regulatory scrutiny. The metaverse’s evolution and integration with daily life will shape Meta’s trajectory in the coming years.

History of Facebook features and updates

Facebook has continually introduced new features to keep users engaged throughout its history. From the “like” button to the introduction of timelines and news feeds, Facebook has consistently innovated to enhance the user experience.

In 2011, Facebook launched the Facebook Messenger app, allowing users to communicate more effectively.

In 2016, it introduced Facebook Live, allowing users to broadcast live videos to their friends and followers. In 2017, Facebook launched the Facebook Journalism Project to establish stronger ties with the news industry.

2004-2006: The early years

• February 2004: Facebook is launched by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates.
• September 2006: News Feed is introduced, displaying recent activities of friends.

2009-2010: The “Like Button” and Open Graph

Believe it or not — the like button has not been here forever.

• February 2009: The “Like” button is introduced.
• April 2010: Open Graph API is launched, enabling third-party apps to integrate with Facebook.

2011-2012: Introducing Timeline and Open Graph Apps

• September 2011: Timeline is introduced, showcasing a user’s life events chronologically.
• September 2011: The introduction of the Ticker for real-time updates.
• January 2012: Facebook introduces the “Timeline” feature to the public.
• April 2012: Facebook acquires Instagram.

2013-2014: Graph Search and Video Auto-play

What?! Auto-playing videos??

• January 2013: Graph Search is launched, allowing users to search for specific content.
• December 2013: Autoplay videos in the News Feed are introduced.

2015-2016: Reactions and Facebook Live

This era of live streams took off. Twitch.tv at this time was booming!

• February 2016: Facebook introduces “Reactions” (like, love, haha, wow, sad, angry) in addition to the Like button.
• April 2016: Facebook Live is launched, allowing users to broadcast live video.

2017-2018: Explore Feed and Cambridge Analytica

Scandals await Facebook as politics get intertwined with social media data.

• October 2017: Facebook tests the Explore Feed to separate personal and public content.
• March 2018: The Cambridge Analytica scandal reveals data misuse by a third-party app.

2019-2020: Redesign and Privacy Focus

To some, e-commerce on social media platforms was one of the most innovative features added by Facebook.

• March 2019: Facebook undergoes a major design overhaul, focusing on Groups and Events.
• October 2019: Introduction of Facebook News, a dedicated section for news on the platform.
• April 2020: Facebook rolls out a new desktop design.
• May 2020: Facebook announces the Shops feature for e-commerce.

2021: Audio Rooms and Oculus Integration

See into the internet with Oculus. Virtual reality begins to push into the workplace.

• June 2021: Facebook announces Live Audio Rooms for audio conversations.
• October 2021: Facebook rebrands as Meta, emphasizing the company’s focus on the metaverse.
• October 2021: Integration of Oculus VR technology with Facebook.

Facebook controversies

Despite its success, Facebook’s journey has not been without controversy. The company has faced significant challenges, from privacy concerns to accusations of spreading fake news, to the news. This very week, in the U.S. Senate judiciary hearings, Mark Zuckerberg had to face the families of cyberbullying. One Senator even went so far as to say that Zuckerberg had “blood on his hands.” But the list of problems started long ago.

The tale of three students

In 2010, a legal case was filed against Facebook by three Harvard students who accused Zuckerberg of stealing their ideas and coding. The case was dismissed due to a technicality in 2007 but was followed by numerous other lawsuits related to privacy and data breaches.

Cambridge analytics

In March 2018, a scandal that would have significant repercussions for Facebook broke. Reports emerged that political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested data from 87 million Facebook users through an app. This resulted in a significant blow to Facebook’s reputation and a loss of approximately $119 billion in market value.

Mental health

Users on Meta platforms have reported issues related to cyberbullying and harassment, contributing to negative impacts on mental health.

The spread of harmful content, including misinformation and graphic imagery, has also been a concern, potentially triggering distress among users.

Additionally, the addictive nature of social media, characterized by excessive screen time and comparison-driven content, has been linked to mental health challenges for some individuals using Meta platforms.

Facebook claims they are taking these steps:

In response to these controversies, Facebook has taken several steps to improve its platform. This includes introducing new privacy tools, changing its algorithm, and working to combat the spread of false information.

Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, has demonstrated a commitment to addressing mental health concerns among its users through a multifaceted approach.

One key aspect of this initiative involves the implementation of suicide prevention tools. These tools allow users to report content that raises concerns about self-harm or suicide, enabling the platform to prioritize and respond promptly to such reports.

Additionally, Meta has forged partnerships with mental health organizations to leverage expert advice and resources, fostering a supportive online community. Collaborative efforts extend to well-being features, including time management tools, aimed at helping users monitor and limit their time on the platform for a healthier digital experience.

In response to the complex landscape of mental health, Meta Platforms has established content moderation policies to combat harmful content, such as bullying, harassment, and self-harm imagery.

The platform has also introduced supportive communities within Facebook Groups, providing spaces for users to connect and share experiences related to mental health.

Emphasizing positive interactions, Meta has committed to prioritizing content that contributes to users’ well-being and reduces the visibility of misleading or harmful material.

Furthermore, the company conducts ongoing research and data analysis to gain insights into the impact of its platform on users’ mental health. This information guides the development of new features and policies designed to enhance overall well-being.

Meta Platforms remains dedicated to refining its strategies and collaborating with experts to create a positive and supportive online environment. For the latest and most comprehensive information on Meta’s current initiatives related to mental health, users are encouraged to refer to the company’s official announcements and well-being resources.

Facebook/Meta’s global impact and statistics

Despite its challenges, there’s no denying Facebook’s impact globally. With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook has revolutionized how we connect with others, share information, and even do business.

While Facebook has undoubtedly brought people closer together, its impact on society is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has democratized information, giving voice to the voiceless and enabling social movements to gain momentum. On the other hand, it has also been accused of spreading misinformation, contributing to political polarization, and eroding privacy.

• Monthly Active Users (MAU): Over 2.8 billion users globally.
• Daily Active Users (DAU): Over 1.9 billion users engage with the platform daily.
• Geographical Distribution: Facebook connects users across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and worldwide.
• Revenue: Meta Platforms reported over $29 billion in revenue in Q3 2021.
• Mobile Users: More than 2.7 billion users access Facebook via mobile devices.
• WhatsApp and Instagram: WhatsApp has over 2 billion monthly active users, while Instagram has over 1.3 billion.
• Employee Count: Meta Platforms employs tens of thousands of individuals globally.
• Ad Revenue: Advertising revenue exceeded $28 billion in Q3 2021.
• Acquisitions: Meta Platforms has strategically acquired companies like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus VR.

The future of Facebook

As Facebook continues to evolve, it’s clear that the social media giant will play a significant role in our digital lives. Whether it’s introducing new features, acquiring new companies, or navigating controversies, the history of Facebook is a testament to its resilience and adaptability,

The potential future of Facebook, now Meta Platforms, is likely to be shaped by several key trends and strategic directions. While it’s challenging to predict specifics, some possibilities include:

Metaverse development

Meta has intensely focused on building the metaverse, an interconnected virtual space where users can interact in real-time. The company aims to create immersive experiences beyond traditional social media, incorporating elements like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

Expanded ecosystem

Meta Platforms may continue to expand its ecosystem beyond social media, integrating products and services related to augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and e-commerce. The development of new technologies and acquisitions could further diversify Meta’s offerings.

Privacy and regulation

Ongoing debates around user privacy and data security will likely influence the future of Facebook. Increased scrutiny and regulatory changes may impact how Meta Platforms handles user data, and the company might need to adapt its practices in response to evolving privacy standards.

Integration of AI and virtual assistants

Facebook may continue to invest in artificial intelligence to enhance user experience, content moderation, and personalization. The integration of virtual assistants could play a role in providing users with more personalized and context-aware interactions.

Evolution of advertising and revenue models

Meta’s advertising business is a significant revenue source, and the company may explore new advertising models within the metaverse. As the digital landscape evolves, Meta Platforms could adapt its advertising and revenue generation approach.

Global connectivity initiatives

Meta has shown interest in global connectivity initiatives to provide internet access to underserved regions. Projects related to high-altitude balloons, satellites, and other innovative technologies could play a role in Meta’s efforts to connect more people globally.

Social impact

Meta may continue to invest in social impact initiatives, addressing issues like misinformation, online safety, and mental health. Collaborations with experts, organizations, and governments could contribute to developing responsible and ethical digital platforms.

Featured Image Credit: Thought Catalog; Pexels

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That tape over your webcam might not be enough — the hackers are watching; it might be the right time to install another privacy shutter.

In a report just published in Science Advances, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) emphasized the risks to imaging privacy that ambient light sensors can offer. Users of devices worried about security may find solace in software permissions that limit webcam use and hardware solutions like shutters. Nonetheless, studies have demonstrated that one of the typical ambient light sensors used in a variety of devices can be used to collect visual data. These tiny sensors are normally permission-free on a device level and aren’t closed or deactivated by users.

MIT researchers utilized the Samsung Galaxy View 2 in their investigations. The ambient light sensor on this relatively dated and huge (17.3-inch) consumer tablet is located close to the front-facing (selfie) camera — which is still a pretty popular arrangement.

Manufacturers of devices classify ambient light sensors as low-risk since software (or malware) may frequently access them directly without requiring any authorization or privileges. However, prior research has demonstrated that in roughly 80% of cases — even a basic sensor can yield sufficient information to deduce keystrokes from a keyboard and steal a device’s authorizations and passwords. The latest study demonstrates the potential of an ambient light sensor in conjunction with the device’s screen, which serves as an active light source.

Some devices are more susceptible to these ambient light sensor espionage techniques.

Some devices will be more susceptible to this ambient light sensor espionage technique than others because every device has a different light sensor speed and measurement bit depth, screen brightness, and light sensor precision (see image above). As you can see from the source article numbers, some of the tablet device’s image captures took several minutes. However, ambient light sensor imaging spy technology is verifiably accurate and has room for improvement.

The MIT researchers pointed out that the light sensors are “quite useful,” and we need and want them. The MIT researchers said to adjust the following to stop your peeping-cyber-toms.

• Rethink ambient light sensor device permissions.
• Reduce sensor speed.
• Reposition the sensor so it doesn’t face the user.

Hopefully, when manufacturers become better aware of the ambient light sensor issues, they will implement a few changes to prevent the “snooping tech” from finding more victims.

Featured Image Credit:  Jan from Pixabay

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Today, Konami Group released third-quarter financials. Sales of 314.3 billion yen (an increase of 11.6% from the same period last year), business profit of 62,821 million yen (a 53% increase from the same period the previous year), and operating income of 59,608 million yen (a 58.9% increase from the same period last year) are included in the group’s consolidated results. These figures represent a significant increase in profit over the previous fiscal year. Sales and total profit have increased to all-time highs. This is digital entertainment at its best. Here are the best-selling Konami games.

With gains of 16% since the year’s beginning, Konami’s stock price increased to a high of 0.8% on Tuesday before retreating. In afternoon trading, shares decreased by 0.8%.

In Momottetsu World — “Momotaro Electric Railway World – The earth revolves around hope!” has sold over 1 million copies with an ongoing loyal following — and has received high praise. Konami also released the popular work Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1, which garnered high praise and produced solid earnings.

In March 2023, Konami started a scouting campaign featuring the Japanese representative from the “2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC2023).

Prospi A (Professional Baseball Spirits A) is used in an e-sports competition between active professional baseball players. This year, the event will be held for the third time. The players will use the best orders that each player has produced to clash in real-time fights. There will be thirteen players in all — one from each team, plus the winner from the previous year will be vying to be the third champion.

Professional Baseball Spirits, Konami Group’s content unit, has named Shohei Ohtani as its baseball game ambassador.

You can look forward to The PowerPro and Prospi A series commemorating their 30th and 20th anniversaries in 2024. Furthermore, Shohei Otani has been named the Power Pro 30th Anniversary x Pro Spi 20th Anniversary ambassador. Numerous initiatives are in progress to spice up this year’s anniversary. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the video game series Power Pros and the 20th anniversary of the spinoff Professional Baseball Spirits, Konami Group’s content unit has named Shohei Ohtani as its baseball game ambassador.

Konomi is actively involved in international sporting events and continues to focus on e-sports. This company has a long and rich history of gaming excellence.

Prospi A Fan Festa 2023 will be held. This year, the event will be held at two separate venues: Osaka and Tokyo

The Osaka Event will be February 24, 2024 (Saturday)
The Tokyo Event will take place on March 20, 2024 (Wednesday)
One of the prizes this year is a 1 million yen take-home

Konami stated, “We also intend to introduce new music and medal games to the amusement industry. The company intends to employ Konami’s intellectual property to launch well-known content as entertainment awards at amusement parks nationwide.”

In-game purchasing is always fun while the adrenaline is rushing, but Konami mentions that if you go to the KONAMI Games Store, you will get less expensive prices for your games and energy, too! Right now, there is a 10% off coupon on the site. We have our eye on the Holy Water Necklace, guaranteed to hold monsters at bay.

You may be interested in this link for Konami games. The platform has games for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series XIS, XboxOne, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, and PC. We think one of the best things about Konami is that you can get most games and play them on your phone to take your entertainment with you wherever you go.</

Featured Image Credit: Konami Games News

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At its first policy meeting of the year, the Federal Reserve held interest rates stable, giving the impression that it was considering whether to decrease them, but not that soon. The Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark federal funds rate at 5.5% to 5.25%, the highest level in over 20 years, while it waits for more proof that the significant decline in inflation that occurred at the previous year’s close will continue.

Investors in interest-rate futures markets have been placing bets on the central bank cutting rates at its upcoming meeting on March 19–20, with odds of about 50% during the majority of January. The Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, did, however, volunteer on Wednesday that they didn’t believe a March cut was likely. “I don’t think it’s likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting” to justify a rate cut, “but that’s to be seen,” Powell said.  He continued, “It’s a highly consequential decision to start the process” of lowering interest rates, “and we want to get that right.” As an aside, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was on the shortlist of nominees for TIME’s Person of the Year in 2023.

Wednesday’s closing stock indices were down

Wednesday’s closing stock indices were down; the S&P 500 was down 1.6%, or 79.32 points. The index saw its most significant decrease since September, even though it finished at an all-time high on Monday. The 10-year Treasury note’s yields dropped 0.091 percentage points to settle at 3.965% following the announcement of a loss and a dividend cut by New York Community Bancorp, which caused further concerns about the state of local lenders.

In December, most officials predicted that if inflation kept falling to its objective of 2% and economic growth remained moderate but consistent, they might be able to lower rates three times this year. These forecasts are only released at every other conference. Here is the statement:

The Mortgage Bankers Association said, “The fed-funds rate affects the cost of borrowing for other loans in the economy, including business loans, credit cards, and mortgages. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a high of 7.9% in October last year — but it is currently only 6.78%.”

Federal Reserve Chair Powell also indicated that the Fed might take longer to drop rates or prolong the procedure if inflation becomes more enduring. If the job market deteriorated, or there was “very, very persuasive lower inflation,” it may decrease rates sooner rather than later.

Many analysts had predicted a year ago that the Fed would need to hike rates to generate enough slack, in the form of idle factories and jobless workers, to limit inflation dramatically. Wage growth slowed at the end of 2023, which the Fed considers a “comprehensive measure of pay growth.”

Inflation in December decreased to 2.9% from a year ago

Using the Fed’s preferred measure, inflation in December decreased to 2.9% from a year ago, excluding volatile food and energy prices. During the second half of the year, the six-month annualized inflation rate decreased from 4% in the first half to less than 1.9%.

Some economists have said the strength of consumer spending and business investment suggests current interest rates may not be as restrictive as they would have been in the past.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Kelly; Pexels

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The components of your antiquated desktop computer, laptop, TV, and other electronics include valuable metals like copper and gold. Tiny businesses are profiting from the e-waste industry’s unrealized potential by recycling outdated electronic circuit boards and can earn up to $85,000 daily. The projects will probably keep growing because there are estimated to be $55–60 billion worth of precious metals ready to be recovered from abandoned circuit boards globally.

E-waste is currently one of the biggest environmental threats to our planet. A significant amount of the more than 50 million tons of electronics that end up in the trash are recycled in third-world countries like India. The environmental crisis is anticipated to increase over the next ten years due to our thought processes that say we need a new laptop or gaming PCs, TVs, phones, watches, and other electrically powered gadgets — we want the newest upgrade.

From BusinessInsider:

Much of our e-waste doesn’t get recycled at all and is left in landfills. Only about 15% of the daily e-waste produced by American citizens is collected for recycling. Following several scrappers in a small startup in Sydney, Australia, BusinessInsider revealed that although individual scrappers cannot earn a living from e-waste at this time, those employed by larger companies, especially those with heavy machinery at their disposal, can potentially make substantial profits.

Scrappers can earn several thousand dollars per load when they find and gather e-waste

Mint Innovation was one “gold mining” startup that Business Insider spoke with. Scrappers can earn several thousand dollars per load if they find e-waste and bring it to Mint Innovation. Using a ton of specialized machinery and a proprietary sauce to disassemble electronic circuit boards and extract valuable metals from unwanted plastics and other materials to which the metals are attached, Mint Innovation has all but perfected the art of extracting metal from e-waste. The raw metals that Mint Innovation extracts from e-waste can bring in an impressive $85,000 a day for the completely automated system that it has constructed. That is equivalent to an annual income of almost $30 million.

Mint Innovation aptly demonstrates the amount of potential revenue that the e-waste business can currently access through tech innovation. However, the lack of infrastructure for processing e-waste makes it challenging for e-waste scavengers to earn a living. Innovation in “tough tech” sectors will continue.  That might readily alter as e-waste pollution keeps rising and more businesspeople become aware of the potential revenue e-waste can produce.

If you want to try your own “digging for gold” experiment — Tomshardware will guide you through the chemistry lesson on how to do it. Here. You won’t go away empty-handed from the tutorial.

Featured Image Credit: Tomshardware.com

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At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings today, GOP Sen. Josh Hawley demanded that Mark Zuckerberg stand and face the families whose kids were harmed by online abuse — and he did. The Senate hearing was contentious, yet Zuckerberg stood and faced the families watching the hearing: “No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invested so much,” he said. Parents and other family members were holding up photos of their children as Zuckerberg spoke.

For the first time, five major social media platform giants were in Washington. CEOs of X, Snap, and Discord, Linda Yaccarino and Jason Citron, will testify before Congress. Speakers include Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, who have both addressed lawmakers before.

It was reported that all of the CEOs exited the room quickly after the hearing

It was reported that all of the CEOs exited the room quickly and quietly after the hearing — taking no questions and leaving through a side door. But what type of legislation will it take to pass both houses of Congress? As pointed out, Washington has been discussing these issues for years with nothing done about it. One notable comment from Klobuchar, “It’s been 28 years since the internet. We haven’t passed any of these bills … The reason they haven’t passed is because of the power of your companies, so let’s be really, really clear about that what you say matters. Your words matter.” — Klobuchar, on the lack of legislation.

Zuckerberg pushed back on Sen. Blackburn’s comment about “Meta’s social media sites are trying to be “the premier sex trafficking site in the country.” Zuckerberg: “That’s ridiculous.”

However, Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt said, “There is a consensus today that didn’t exist, say 10 years ago, that there is a profound threat to children to mental health, to safety.” The statement gave hope to many in the room. After questioning the CEOs about layoffs, Welch noted that it is “alarming that the reductions have been on those very people who were protecting things (online).

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YouTuber Toasted Shoes got a DMCA notice after uploading a trailer of Palworld to Pokemon mod on Twitter. He said in a video, “We were planning on releasing the mod for free on Nexus.” This will, clearly, no longer be possible — but the video still hit 100,000 views before it was taken down. PCgamer said that Toasted Shoes team of modders is not to be stopped, and they have “devised an infernal concoction of bootleg Poléman — straight from the pits of Hades.” The mod seems to be designed to “yank the chain” of the lawyers and fans alike.

Many likely noticed the 1.3 Steam update for Palworld last week, with over eight million players finding out the the infinite loading screen bug got worse. Thanks to Pocketpair, an update patch was deployed.

Using a mod that is “not a reference to anything, I promise,” the YouTuber lets viewers share the adventures of the “teenage boy in cap” as he embarks on multiple hunts and brings down legally distinct species. The new character looks like it is designed after ToastedShoes himself and wears a red and white cap. Firefox, Yellow Rat, Braided Sheep, and everyone’s favorite — Fat Cock –are among this “cute” bunch of creatures. Some say this mod has turned out worse than Pikachu carrying a pickaxe. However, there are a few really unique animals that were created expressly to avoid looking like props from a certain Nintendo-published series.

It features some amazing pocket sized creatures, such as Yellow Rat! pic.twitter.com/V5Saw3AIUI

— Toasted (@ToastedShoes) January 30, 2024

Although Palworld’s derivative Pal designs have drawn criticism for being occasionally too similar for comfort, they are nevertheless attractive. Instead of being strapped together with royalty-free models and released onto unsuspecting audiences, they were actually created and designed by someone, separate from all the” rules.”

The teenage boy in the red and white cap moves through his ordeals and has a climactic battle with Saul Goodman. Saul Goodman conjures a “cease” letter out of a jar. It’s sort of a reskin of the game’s Syndicate Tower battle with Rayne, riding up on Grizzbolt.

If you haven’t already become addicted to the Palworld platform, you will — here’s how to join. It is delightfully fresh and fun, and you may want to look for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for two years. And, most importantly, here’s how to level up, fast.

More Palworld news you might like:

• How to play Palworld in VR
• Palworld becomes only second Steam game to reach 2m concurrent players
• Are Lucky Pals in Palworld the same as Shiny Pokemon?
• Is Palworld “ripoff nonsense”? Former Pokemon legal boss thinks so

Featured Image Credit: Palworld; Toasted Shoes

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Microsoft Edge is increasingly aggressively snatching your open tabs from Google Chrome in an attempt to get you to switch. The new Microsoft Edge has shown to be a good browser since its release in 2020, but Microsoft has never stopped aggressively pushing Edge over competing browsers, mainly Chrome. Google and Microsoft have been at odds over this matter for years; Microsoft even temporarily hid the Windows 11 default browser’s options.

The Verge reported that after updating a Windows computer, Microsoft Edge would instantly launch and display every tab open in Google Chrome on the same device. Even though Edge has never requested to sync data with Chrome and hasn’t been utilized on that computer. The same thing occurred on another machine after an upgrade and a system restore. Another strategy Microsoft is using, which is starting to receive notice this week, is to have Edge copy all of your open tabs from Google Chrome so you may resume where you left off if you end yourself in Edge.

Transferring data from Chrome to Edge each time browser is used

With the most recent Windows upgrades, Microsoft appears to be making greater use of an already-existing feature that transfers data from Chrome to Edge each time the browser is used.

Users of Microsoft Edge can “import browser data on each launch.” Although users can disable the feature through Edge’s settings (edge://settings/profiles/importBrowsingData), Microsoft is now forcing users to enable it following Windows updates.

this post bothered me for days so I reinstalled Windows ++ confirmed that there’s an obscure setting to sync Chrome data into Edge (+ it’s shared to MSFT if you’re signed-in & sync your browsing data) — to turn it off, open Edge then: edge://settings/profiles/importBrowsingData pic.twitter.com/SiBmDsD8oT

— Zach Edwards infosec.exchange/@thezedwards (@thezedwards) January 26, 2024

Zach Edwards on Twitter/X found that, during post-update setup, Windows has added a new option turned on by default, which is described as saying: “With your confirmation, Microsoft Edge will regularly bring in data from other browsers available on your Windows device. This data includes your favorites, browsing history, cookies, autofill data, extensions, settings, and other browsing data.”

After giving customers a brief explanation on how to disable this, Microsoft prompts them to approve the behavior and provides a “Not Now” option on a different screen. Some users have observed that Edge continues to import Chrome data each time it launches — even when this import setting is turned off. Although many people have noticed this behavior, Microsoft has not responded to requests for information or to comment.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Neon Joi; Pexels

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Yelp began in July 2004 in San Francisco, CA, and was founded by Jeremy Soppelman and Russel Simmons. Today, the company announced over 20 updates for consumers and business owners, and they will deploy artificial intelligence (AI) to “describe what you can expect” at a restaurant or club to generate company summaries. “These unique summaries highlight what the business is best known for based on first-hand reviews from users—such as the atmosphere, service, amenities, value, or a popular dish,” according to Yelp. The company also wants to reward passionate reviewers and has implemented a “Recognitions” program. They have updated the home feed and search experience.

The updated home feed and search interface highlight visually stunning material in an effort to make the discovery process more visually stimulating. Through Yelp Connect postings, users can anticipate relevant images and automatically play videos from companies specializing in food, dining, and entertainment, in addition to Collections from Yelp Elites. The goal is to produce a more interesting investigation of nearby companies. In the upcoming months, it will make its way to Android after initially rolling out on iOS.

Yelp will show recent reviews recommended by the AI software

Since company summaries are “AI generated based on a reliable number of recent reviews that are recommended by our automated recommendation software,” consumers and businesses cannot currently alter them, according to PCMag’s Akhil Kuduvalli Ramesh, SVP of Consumer Product at Yelp. “If a business owner or user believes the summary is inaccurate, they can always report issues by contacting Yelp Support, which will be reviewed quickly by Yelp’s moderators.” These summaries are available on iOS now, and Yelp will roll out to desktop and Android later in 2024.

Very helpful for those looking to find information quickly, Yelp is updating its questions, like the “Request a Quote” feature. Yelp will now take into account what each business offers. The company has rolled out pre-fill and skip questions based on your search, which will significantly speed up the search process.

Yelp will also save your tabs via the new “Projects” feature. It even takes you through a review of your reviews and continues its collections of “Local Picks (in your city) and includes photos of a dish or entrée you mention in your review.

Featured Image Credit: Kampus Production; Pexels

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A prominent Apple analyst anticipates a considerable decrease in iPhone shipments this year. An analyst with Barclays stated in January that nothing unique about the iPhone 16 series would help turn around the device’s falling demand. The analyst downgraded Apple to “Underweight” as a result, while Barclays informed clients in a research note that “we see no features or upgrades that are likely to make the iPhone 16 more compelling.” Some have said this comment has made a difference in the Apple outcome.

The Apple iPhone 16’s underwhelming features make it less compelling

In a blog post, TFI International Inc. (TFI) Ming-Chi Kuo wrote, “It is expected that Apple will not launch new iPhone models with significant design changes and the more comprehensive/differentiated GenAI ecosystem/applications until 2025 at the earliest. Until then, it will likely harm Apple’s iPhone shipment momentum and ecosystem growth.”

Although there are rumors that iOS 18 will include AI features, if Kuo is correct — Apple won’t fully adopt AI in the iPhone until the 2025 release of the iPhone 17 range. Additionally, Kuo predicts that the iPhone will not have a good few years ahead of it. According to Kuo, “shipments of essential semiconductor components” have already decreased by 15%, suggesting a drop in iPhone 15 deliveries to 200 million. Kuo adds, “Apple may have the most significant decline among the major global mobile phone brands in 2024.”

In addition, 8GB of RAM is anticipated for the non-Pro iPhone 16 models when they join the Pro lineup. While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max get upgraded to the new Wi-Fi 7 from Wi-Fi 6E, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are reportedly bumped down to Wi-Fi 6E from Wi-Fi 6. Additionally, the new Capture button, which is expected to be utilized by iPhone 16 series customers to assist them in beginning to record films with the phone, will be available on all four 2024 iPhone models. There is a suggestion that this button be included to assist customers in taking spatial videos so they may view them in three dimensions when wearing the Vision Pro headset.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Bruno Cervera; Pexels

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Although the video-sharing app TikTok claims to have walled off American data, staff members claim that data is occasionally shared with its parent company in China. According to TikTok, the company has invested $1.5 billion in developing an effort to persuade American lawmakers that the well-known video-sharing app is secure. In order to ensure that the app’s algorithm produced content without intervention from China, where its parent company, ByteDance, is based, TikTok executives made a public pledge to deliberately wall off user data from American users and to bring in engineers and other parties to ensure this effort.

Code-named Project Texas, this unique standalone organization manages U.S. data and content recommendations on its app — and it’s struggling to get it right.

Where is the TikTok American data breakdown?

Internal documents seen by The Wall Street Journal and interviews with current and former employees reveal that supervisors occasionally instruct employees to share data with coworkers in different departments of the company and with ByteDance employees without following formal procedures. Private information like a user’s email address, birthdate, and IP address may occasionally be included in such data.

Project Texas staff find it challenging to keep up with all the updates to TikTok’s algorithm since ByteDance personnel in China update it so often, and employees in the US can’t check and catch every issue. Hence, things happen before they can be addressed or stopped.

Although TikTok has pledged to provide laptops and software controlled by their independent division rather than ByteDance to Project Texas workers, several experienced delays in receiving the new equipment. Some employees are concerned about the security of the tools and gadgets, especially the laptops they own from ByteDance.

According to a Wall Street Journal analysis, TikTok simply needs to know how long you spend on a piece of material (even seconds or a second look) to determine what you desire. The program tracks your every hesitation or any rewatch.

TikTok’s difficulties with its Project Texas division highlight its difficulties safeguarding American data on a worldwide social media platform. Although it doesn’t seem like the Chinese government is trying to obtain user data from Americans, this indicates that TikTok’s infrastructure is vulnerable.

TikTok spokesperson said they are “voluntarily implementing our plan to protect U.S. user data.”

Featured Image Credit: Cottonbro Studio; Pexels

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