Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Spotify's Shady Secret: Fake Artists and Inflated Play Counts Exposed

2024-12-21

A year-long investigation reveals Spotify's deceptive practices. A program called "Perfect Fit Content" (PFC) involves partnerships with production companies to create and promote fake artists and tracks, artificially inflating play counts to reduce royalty costs and boost profits. These fake tracks, often ambient, classical, electronic, jazz, or lo-fi, are strategically placed in playlists designed for background listening. The Spotify CEO's significant stock sales around the time of the revelations further fueled controversy. This scandal raises serious concerns about transparency and fairness in the music industry, prompting calls for congressional investigation and a more transparent music streaming ecosystem.

(www.honest-broker.com)

Tech music streaming royalties

Qualcomm Wins Arm Licensing Dispute

2024-12-21

A Delaware jury ruled in favor of Qualcomm Inc. in its legal battle with Arm Holdings Plc, finding that Qualcomm did not breach a license agreement for chip technology acquired through its $1.4 billion purchase of Nuvia Inc. in 2021. Arm claimed Qualcomm used the technology without paying higher licensing fees. While the jury found Qualcomm didn't violate the agreement, they couldn't reach a verdict on whether Nuvia itself breached the license, leaving that question open for a later retrial. The ruling is significant for Qualcomm's position in the mobile chip market.

(www.bloomberg.com)

Tech Chip Licensing

The Winkel Tower: A Unique WWII Air Defense Structure

2024-12-21

In the early 1930s, German architect Leo Winkel designed a unique above-ground air raid shelter, the Winkel Tower. Unlike traditional underground bunkers, its sloped roof was designed to deflect bombs, minimizing the risk of explosion. This innovative design significantly reduced construction costs and time, while the ground-level detonation allowed for pressure wave dissipation. Patented in 1934, approximately 200 Winkel Towers were built throughout Germany during WWII. Many preserved towers now enjoy monument protection.

(www.arcanumurbex.de)

Tech air raid shelter

Google Proposes Remedies in DOJ Search Distribution Case

2024-12-21

Google strongly disagrees with and will appeal the Department of Justice's (DOJ) ruling in the search distribution lawsuit. Ahead of an April 2025 hearing, Google submitted its own remedies proposal, focusing on contracts with browser and Android device makers. The proposal aims to give browser companies and device makers more flexibility in choosing default search engines, while ensuring compliance with the court's order and avoiding harm to consumer privacy and US tech leadership. In contrast, the DOJ's proposal is seen as overly interventionist and potentially harmful to consumers and US tech competitiveness.

(blog.google)

Tech

Retro Revival: Bringing a Tandy Coco Back Online with FujiNet

2024-12-20

This article details the author's journey in connecting an old Tandy Coco computer to the internet using the FujiNet project, an ambitious open-source initiative aiming to be the only peripheral needed for vintage computers. The author faced challenges during the assembly process, including soldering difficulties, hardware bugs, and software compatibility issues. Despite these hurdles, they successfully connected to the internet and ran various applications, including an ISS tracker and games. The experience highlights the vibrancy of the open-source community and the potential of retrocomputing, showcasing the fun of hardware repair and software development.

(www.leadedsolder.com)

Tech internet connectivity

Parker Solar Probe to Make Historic Dive into Sun's Atmosphere

2024-12-20

After six years of traveling through space, NASA's Parker Solar Probe is poised to make history on Christmas Eve, plunging into the Sun's atmosphere at an unprecedented speed, coming within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface. This daring mission aims to unravel the mystery of the solar wind's origin, a question that has puzzled scientists for over half a century. The probe is equipped with cutting-edge materials, including heat-resistant titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy and sapphire crystal tubes, to withstand the extreme temperatures exceeding 2,500° Fahrenheit. This groundbreaking endeavor promises to shed light on the solar wind and its impact on our solar system.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech Parker Solar Probe Solar Wind Solar Atmosphere

UK Electricity Bills Soar: High Subsidies and Grid Investment Lag

2024-12-20

High UK electricity bills aren't solely due to wholesale power costs. A recent analysis reveals that network costs and green energy subsidies are major drivers. Twenty years of stagnant grid investment now necessitate urgent expansion, skyrocketing network costs. Contracts subsidizing renewables will continue increasing bills, while past subsidies, like the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariff, failed to adjust quickly enough to falling renewable energy prices, locking in massive long-term costs. The author suggests reducing grid dependence or improving grid utilization as pathways to lower future electricity bills.

(climate.benjames.io)

Tech UK electricity bills energy subsidies grid investment

California Orders Uber to Fingerprint Drivers for Teen Rides

2024-12-20

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) ruled that Uber must fingerprint drivers for its teen ride-hailing service, Uber for Teens, to continue operating in the state. This decision stems from safety concerns regarding unaccompanied minors. While Uber has historically resisted fingerprint-based background checks, the CPUC cited the importance of protecting children from potential sexual offenders. The ruling significantly impacts Uber's operations, while competitor HopSkipDrive, which already employs stricter safety measures including fingerprinting, supports the decision. The added cost of fingerprinting may lead to higher prices for Uber's teen ride service.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech teen rider safety fingerprint background checks

Walmart Pilots Body Cameras for Employee Safety

2024-12-20

Walmart is testing body cameras for its employees in select stores to deter conflict and theft. While the company won't disclose specifics, photos have emerged showing employees wearing the cameras and charging stations in stores. The initiative, currently a pilot program in one market, prioritizes employee safety over loss prevention. This follows a trend among retailers to enhance security, with companies like TJX and Greggs also adopting similar measures. The move comes after over 200 violent incidents at Walmart stores in 2023, according to a worker rights group.

(petapixel.com)

Tech Walmart body cameras employee safety

Major Math Error Corrected in Black Plastic Study; Authors Say It Doesn't Matter

2024-12-20

A study reporting toxic flame retardants from electronics in black plastic household products, including kitchen utensils, contained a significant mathematical error. The initial findings suggested exposure levels were near the safety limit, causing public alarm and prompting articles advising people to discard their kitchenware. A correction revealed the actual exposure is far below the safe limit. While the overall conclusion—that flame retardants significantly contaminate plastic products—remains, the study also found contamination is uncommon, affecting only a minority of products.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech flame retardant black plastic math error correction

One Click, Half a Million Lost: Sophisticated Crypto Phishing Scam Exploits Google Services

2024-12-20

Two victims lost nearly $500,000 in cryptocurrency after clicking on a fraudulent Google account recovery prompt. Scammers used a real Google phone number, forged Google security emails, and tricked victims into clicking a Google prompt on their phones, gaining control of their Gmail accounts. One victim's mistake was storing a picture of their cryptocurrency wallet's seed phrase in Google Photos, giving the scammers easy access to their funds. This incident highlights vulnerabilities in Google's authentication system and the sophistication of scammers using Google services for high-tech phishing attacks.

(krebsonsecurity.com)

Tech phishing cryptocurrency security google authentication

Warning Future Generations: The 10,000-Year Challenge of Nuclear Waste

2024-12-20

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico faces a daunting task: communicating the dangers of nuclear waste to future generations 10,000 years from now. The impermanence of language and symbols proved challenging. Experts explored various solutions, from genetically engineered "ray cats" that glow near radiation to a forbidding "landscape of thorns." Ultimately, the most enduring warning might be woven into cultural narratives and belief systems, creating a lasting legend like that of the "ray cats" to warn future people of the danger.

(99percentinvisible.org)

Tech nuclear waste future warning cultural transmission

Clinical Trials Bottleneck: Culture, Regulation, and Innovation Stalled

2024-12-20

This blog post explores the high costs and inefficiencies of clinical trials. The authors argue the root problem lies in industry culture—an overemphasis on safety that neglects the risks of inaction. This leads to regulatory overreach, such as restrictions on patient compensation and slow adoption of innovative methods (like risk-based monitoring). The post calls for a cultural shift, increased transparency, and policy adjustments to incentivize innovation, ultimately speeding up drug development.

(www.writingruxandrabio.com)

Tech clinical trials regulation

NASA's GUARDIAN System Uses GNSS Data to Enhance Tsunami Early Warning

2024-12-20

NASA has developed GUARDIAN, a near real-time ionospheric monitoring software system that leverages Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL) Global Differential GPS (GDGPS) network to detect natural hazards. By analyzing ionospheric perturbations, GUARDIAN supplements existing early warning systems, particularly for tsunamis. Currently, it's the only system publicly providing multi-GNSS near real-time total electron content (TEC) time series data over the Pacific, significantly contributing to improved tsunami warning accuracy and timeliness.

(www.earthdata.nasa.gov)

Tech Tsunami Early Warning Ionospheric Monitoring

Spotify's Ghost Artists: The Algorithm's Dark Secret

2024-12-19

This article exposes Spotify's 'Perfect Fit Content' (PFC) program, which secretly fills its playlists with low-cost 'ghost artists' to reduce royalty payouts. These ghost artists, mass-produced by production companies, lack artistic merit but dominate popular playlists, squeezing out independent musicians. This practice has angered artists and industry insiders, raising concerns about the devaluation of music and the future of streaming. It reveals streaming services' disregard for artistic integrity and musician rights in their pursuit of profit maximization.

(harpers.org)

Tech streaming ghost artists

Historic Dwingeloo Radio Telescope Receives Signals from Voyager 1

2024-12-19

The historic Dwingeloo radio telescope in the Netherlands, a national monument built in 1956, has successfully received faint signals from Voyager 1, nearly 25 billion kilometers from Earth. Despite the telescope's design frequency not matching Voyager 1's 8.4 GHz telemetry, researchers overcame this by mounting a new antenna and correcting for the Doppler shift. This achievement showcases the ingenuity of adapting older technology for remarkable feats and highlights humanity's enduring quest for space exploration.

(www.camras.nl)

Tech Voyager 1 radio telescope

Google Expands Global Solar Potential Assessment Using Satellite Imagery and Machine Learning

2024-12-19

Google researchers have expanded the Google Maps Platform Solar API's coverage in the Global South by applying machine learning models to satellite imagery to generate high-resolution digital surface models and roof segmentation maps. This innovation overcomes limitations in traditional methods of data acquisition and processing, providing solar potential assessment data for 1.25 billion buildings globally and accelerating the adoption of renewable energy worldwide. The project leverages satellite data to increase data update frequency and reduce costs, particularly beneficial in data-scarce regions.

(research.google)

Tech solar energy satellite imagery

New Underwater Footage Raises Sabotage Suspicions Against Yi Peng 3

2024-12-19

New underwater footage obtained by TV2 reveals drag marks on the seabed near Læsø, Denmark, coinciding with the unusual maneuvers of the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 ten days before the Baltic Sea cable breaks. The footage shows a distinct mark aligning with the Yi Peng 3's path on November 7th, when the ship inexplicably slowed down significantly while passing over the cables. Experts are questioning this unusual behavior for a commercial vessel, citing suspicions of sabotage against three Danish-Swedish underwater cables. The ongoing investigation involves Danish, Swedish, and German naval vessels monitoring the Yi Peng 3, which remains anchored in the Kattegat. Authorities remain tight-lipped, prompting independent investigations by TV2 and its partners.

(scandasia.com)

Tech Underwater Cable Sabotage Yi Peng 3 China

Tektronix DVST Graphic Terminals: Pioneers of Computer Graphics Displays

2024-12-19

This article recounts the legendary story of Tektronix's DVST (bistable direct-view storage tube) graphic terminals. From Bob Anderson's invention of the DVST in 1961, to Tektronix's launch of its first 611 display, and later the iconic models T4002, 4010, and 4014, Tektronix spearheaded the development of computer graphics display technology. These terminals, with their high resolution and stability, became essential devices for computer graphics applications at the time, ultimately driving the progress of the entire industry. Even after the advent of low-cost raster-scanned CRTs, Tektronix's DVST terminals held a significant market share for years due to their compatibility and reliability.

(vintagetek.org)

Tech Computer Graphics

Proposed Google Antitrust Remedies Threaten Independent Browsers

2024-12-19

The US Department of Justice's proposed remedies in its antitrust case against Google could inadvertently harm independent browsers like Firefox by jeopardizing their revenue streams. This isn't just about one company; it threatens the future of the open web. While Google is Firefox's default search engine in the US, this is a non-exclusive agreement, and Firefox has always supported multiple search engine choices. Reducing the number of independent browsers diminishes search engine competition and harms consumer choice and innovation. The article urges the court to consider remedies that don't damage independent browsers and the open web.

(blog.mozilla.org)

Tech antitrust browser competition

Android Phone Compatibility with Apple Watch: An Open Source Exploration

2024-12-19

The open-source project `apple-watch-with-android` aims to make Apple Watch usable with Android phones. While Apple's ecosystem prevents direct activation without an iPhone, this project uses code and techniques to enable some functionality, including notifications, contacts, calls, calendar, and tasks. This project highlights attempts to overcome technological limitations and the challenges of Apple's closed ecosystem.

(github.com)

Tech

Tiny Black Holes May Have Left Tunnels in Earth's Rocks

2024-12-19

Scientists propose a bold hypothesis: primordial black holes, formed in the early universe, might have traversed Earth's rocks, leaving behind microscopic tunnels invisible to the naked eye. While these tunnels are minuscule, powerful microscopes might detect them, offering a potential pathway to discovering these elusive objects. Researchers suggest that searching for these tunnels, despite the low probability of success, could yield immense rewards. Furthermore, they hypothesize that primordial black holes might lurk inside certain planets, hollowing them out by consuming their liquid cores. This research offers a novel approach to finding primordial black holes, representing a significant step forward in exploring the origins of the universe.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech black holes universe origins

Secret German Censorship Organization CUII Exposed: Uncontrolled Power Over Internet Blockades

2024-12-19

A private organization in Germany, the CUII, secretly controls website blocking, bypassing courts and transparency mechanisms. Composed of major German ISPs and copyright holders, controlling over 85% of the German internet market, the CUII decides which sites to block without judicial approval, leading to numerous wrongful blocks. A 17-year-old student exposed the CUII's secret blocklist, sparking media attention and public outcry, forcing the CUII to lift some wrongful blocks. This highlights the risks of power imbalances and lack of transparency, raising crucial questions about internet censorship and copyright law.

(damcraft.de)

Tech internet censorship transparency

Toyota Leads New Automotive Grade Linux Expert Group for Open Source Management

2024-12-19

Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) has launched a new Open Source Program Office (OSPO) Expert Group, led by Toyota, to help automakers better manage open source activities. The group aims to promote the establishment of OSPOs within the automotive industry and foster the sharing of best practices. With the rise of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), automakers are increasingly contributing to open source software, and OSPOs streamline these efforts. The group will assist companies in launching OSPOs, share solutions to common challenges, develop best practices, and encourage broader participation in open source contributions within the automotive sector.

(www.automotivelinux.org)

Tech open source software automotive industry software-defined vehicles

Nurses' Nightmares: Algorithmic Exploitation in the Gig Economy

2024-12-19

Cory Doctorow's article exposes how 'Uber for nurses' apps in the US healthcare system exploit nurses through algorithmic discrimination and risk-shifting. These apps use complex fee structures and competitive bidding to lower wages, forcing nurses to cover insurance, equipment, and other costs, resulting in significantly reduced income and precarious working conditions. The article highlights this as a failure of capitalism and calls for stronger labor laws and unionization to protect nurses' rights.

(pluralistic.net)

Tech algorithmic discrimination gig economy nurse exploitation

Apple Accuses Meta of Unreasonable Interoperability Requests Under EU's DMA

2024-12-19

Apple has accused Meta of making 15 interoperability requests under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), more than any other company. Apple claims Meta's requests, which could compromise user security and privacy, seek access to extensive user data including messages, emails, call logs, app usage, photos, files, calendar events, and passwords. Apple argues these requests are unreasonable, emphasizing the importance of iOS and iPadOS integrity and the potential infeasibility of creating effective interoperability solutions. The European Commission is consulting on the matter and may adjust measures based on feedback.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Digital Markets Act

Saturn's Rings: Older Than We Thought?

2024-12-19

A new study challenges the long-held belief that Saturn's rings are relatively young. Previous research, based on data from the Cassini spacecraft, suggested an age of only a few hundred million years. However, a team led by planetary scientist Ryuki Hyodo used computer simulations to show that micrometeoroid impacts on the rings produce far less contamination than previously thought. This implies the rings could be billions of years old, as old as Saturn itself, predating even the dinosaurs. This finding significantly alters our understanding of early solar system evolution and points towards future missions for more detailed investigation.

(www.space.com)

Tech Saturn's rings age Cassini

First Case of Severe Bird Flu Confirmed in US

2024-12-18

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first case of severe bird flu in the United States. A Louisiana resident over 65 with underlying health conditions is hospitalized with severe respiratory illness due to avian influenza. The patient had contact with backyard birds, and genomic data shows the virus strain matches one recently spreading in US wild birds and poultry. While 61 human cases have been reported in the US since April, most were mild and recovered with antiviral treatment. The CDC stresses the risk of human-to-human transmission is low, but advises precautions for those working with or around poultry.

(abcnews.go.com)

Tech avian influenza viral infection

Making Apple Watch Work with Android: An Open-Source Odyssey

2024-12-18

The author details their journey to connect an Apple Watch to an Android phone, bypassing Apple's walled garden. This involved using open-source apps, interoperable protocols, and third-party services, even requiring a secondary, home-based iPhone for initial setup. The author overcame challenges with notifications, calendar syncing, and contact integration, sharing their code on GitHub. This project highlights the power of open-source and the author's commitment to tech freedom, offering a compelling counterpoint to the closed ecosystems of tech giants.

(abishekmuthian.com)

Tech

Metformin's Secret Revealed: Mitochondria Hold the Key

2024-12-18

A new study unveils the precise mechanism of action for metformin, a widely used drug for Type 2 diabetes. Researchers discovered that metformin lowers blood sugar by interfering with mitochondria, the cell's powerhouses. Specifically, it blocks mitochondrial complex I, a crucial part of the cell's energy-producing machinery. This research, published in Science Advances, used genetically engineered mice to demonstrate that metformin targets disease-contributing cells without significantly harming healthy ones. This provides a deeper understanding of how this 'wonder drug' works.

(news.northwestern.edu)

Tech metformin mitochondria diabetes

Category: Tech