Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Visualizing Humanity's Knowledge: $10k Bounty for Improved ISBN Visualization

2025-01-10

Anna's Archive, an open library aiming to back up all of humanity's knowledge, is offering a $10,000 bounty for improvements to its ISBN visualization tool. This tool displays collected ISBN data as an image, using color to differentiate between collected and uncollected data. The bounty challenges developers to improve zooming, interactivity, and data presentation to better identify and preserve rare books. Submissions must be open-source and meet specific criteria by January 31st, 2025.

(annas-archive.org)

Tech knowledge preservation

Bird-Inspired Drone Uses Legs to Take Off

2025-01-10

Researchers at EPFL have developed a bio-inspired drone, RAVEN, with bird-like legs that enable it to walk, hop, and even jump into the air for takeoff. This research not only reveals the efficiency of birds' jumping takeoffs but also offers a novel approach for fixed-wing drones. RAVEN uses its legs to store and release energy, resulting in a more energy-efficient and faster takeoff than conventional methods. Future applications could include cargo delivery.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

Tech bio-inspired robotics drone

Meta's New Content Policy: A Blow to Vulnerable Users

2025-01-10

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) criticizes Meta's recent content moderation policy changes, arguing they don't truly promote free speech but could harm vulnerable groups. The new policy allows dehumanizing statements about certain vulnerable groups, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals, and loosens restrictions on hate speech. EFF urges Meta to address biases in its content moderation, invest more in its global user base, improve multilingual support, reduce reliance on automated tools, and increase transparency.

(www.eff.org)

Tech vulnerable users

Bin: AI-Powered Business Intelligence, Dashboards in Seconds

2025-01-10

Bin is an AI-powered business intelligence analyst that lets you build stunning data visualizations and interactive dashboards in seconds. Forget complex SQL queries and cumbersome BI tools. Simply describe what you need in natural language, and Bin instantly creates beautiful charts and dashboards. It supports various data sources and offers a drag-and-drop interface for easy customization and iteration. Bin offers free and paid plans to suit different team sizes.

(bi.new)

Tech Business Intelligence

Kagi Search & Orion Browser: A Three-Month Deep Dive

2025-01-10

This blog post details a three-month review of Kagi search engine and its companion Orion browser. Kagi, a $10/month subscription service, offers ad-free, privacy-focused search results. The author found Kagi's search quality excellent, praising its clean interface and unique features like custom ranking and 'lenses.' Orion, a WebKit-based browser, supports Chrome/Firefox extensions and includes built-in ad blocking. While the $10 monthly fee is steep, the author recommends the unlimited plan over the limited option, suggesting readers try the 100 free searches. The post also discusses Kagi's partnership with Brave Search and its stance on ethical dilemmas, ultimately concluding with a recommendation to try Kagi for yourself.

(flatfootfox.com)

Tech browser

41% of Employers to Cut Staff by 2030 Due to AI, Says WEF Report

2025-01-10

A World Economic Forum report reveals that 41% of global employers anticipate staff reductions by 2030 due to AI-driven automation. While 77% plan to upskill their workforce for AI collaboration, the report highlights the significant impact on the job market. Graphic designers and legal secretaries are among roles projected to decline, emphasizing the growing importance of AI skills, creative thinking, and lifelong learning. Despite predicting net job growth over the next five years, the report acknowledges substantial job displacement due to AI.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech

TikTok's LA Staff Face Paid Time Off Crunch Amid Wildfires

2025-01-10

Devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have forced the closure of TikTok's LA office, leaving employees scrambling. The company is instructing staff to work from home if possible, but those unable to do so are told to use their personal/sick days. Many employees are facing power outages, internet disruptions, or even evacuation orders at home. TikTok's strict return-to-office policy, requiring three days a week in the office, exacerbates the issue, as employees are forced to use paid time off even for illness. While the company claims to prioritize employee safety, this policy has sparked controversy for its lack of flexibility during a natural disaster.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Employee benefits

May Mobility Unveils Electric Autonomous Minibus at CES 2025

2025-01-10

Autonomous vehicle startup May Mobility revealed its latest creation at CES 2025: an electric, autonomous minibus developed in partnership with European electric bus manufacturer Tecnobus. Capable of carrying up to 30 passengers, including wheelchair users, this minibus is slated to join May Mobility's existing fleet of 40 retrofitted Toyota Siennas by late 2026. Designed for urban transit, corporate campuses, airports, and planned communities, it features swappable batteries for minimal downtime and is approved for use in Europe and Canada. May Mobility currently operates autonomous shuttle services in several US cities and has a pilot program in Japan with NTT.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Biden Admin to Further Restrict AI Chip Exports in Final Push

2025-01-10

In a final push before leaving office, the Biden administration plans to further restrict the export of AI chips from companies like Nvidia, aiming to prevent advanced technologies from reaching China and Russia. New regulations will create three tiers of restrictions: close allies will face minimal limits; adversaries will be effectively blocked; and most countries will face limits on total computing power, though higher caps can be obtained by meeting US security and human rights standards. Nvidia opposes the proposal, arguing it will harm economic growth and US leadership.

(finance.yahoo.com)

Tech export controls geopolitics

Meta's Wrist-Based sEMG: Mind-Controlled VR is Closer Than You Think

2025-01-10

Meta's Quest blog announced a groundbreaking new technology: a wrist-based surface electromyography (sEMG) wearable that lets users control their Meta Quest VR headset solely through wrist muscle movements. The device uses advanced sensors to detect subtle muscle activity, translating it into digital signals for precise VR control. This promises a revolutionary leap in VR interaction, offering a more natural and intuitive experience and potentially providing more accessible VR for individuals with disabilities. While still under development, the technology hints at a significant shift in future human-computer interaction.

(www.meta.com)

Tech VR interaction sEMG sensor wearable technology

AI Tsunami Hits Wall Street: 200,000 Job Losses Predicted

2025-01-10

Bloomberg Intelligence predicts that global banks will cut as many as 200,000 jobs over the next three to five years due to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. AI is automating repetitive tasks, with back-office, middle-office, and operations roles most at risk. While some banks emphasize that AI will transform rather than eliminate jobs entirely, the industry will undoubtedly undergo significant changes, leading to increased profitability for banks.

(finance.yahoo.com)

Tech Job Losses

Thousands of Apps Hijacked to Spy on Your Location

2025-01-10

A hack of location data company Gravy Analytics reveals thousands of popular apps, including Candy Crush, Tinder, and MyFitnessPal, are being used to harvest sensitive location data at a massive scale. This data collection, largely occurring through the real-time bidding (RTB) advertising ecosystem, likely happens without users' or developers' knowledge. Gravy Analytics and its subsidiary Venntel have previously sold global location data to US law enforcement, raising serious privacy concerns.

(www.wired.com)

Tech location tracking advertising ecosystem

CES 2025 TVs: More AI Gimmicks Than Real Improvements

2025-01-10

At CES 2025, TV manufacturers showcased AI-powered smart TVs, but Ars Technica's author expresses disappointment. Many touted AI features, such as LG's AI remote lacking a direct input switching button and Samsung's AI food recognition, prioritize corporate interests over user needs. Google TV's Gemini-enhanced Assistant also raises questions about practicality and potential subscription fees. The author argues that the industry's focus on software and data collection overshadows hardware improvements and user experience, forcing consumers to pay for largely useless features. Ultimately, many consumers simply desire TVs with superior picture and sound quality, a goal increasingly difficult to achieve without navigating through excessive gimmicks.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech Smart TVs

Google Loses Privacy Lawsuit, Headed to Trial

2025-01-09

A federal judge refused Google's motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit alleging privacy violations. The suit claims Google collected data from users who opted out of its Web & App Activity (WAA) tracking, even sending data to third-party developers via Google Analytics for Firebase (GA4F). The judge ruled a jury could reasonably find Google profited from this misappropriation of data, setting a trial for August 2025. Google maintains its practices are lawful, but the ruling highlights ongoing challenges for tech companies balancing data collection and user privacy.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech Data Collection

China's Gigantic Pumped Hydro Power Plant Goes Live

2025-01-09

China's Fengning Pumped Storage Power Station, the world's largest, is now fully operational. With a massive 3.6 GW installed capacity, the plant boasts 12 reversible pump-turbine units, including two variable-speed units. Eleven years in the making and costing $2.6 billion, it supports a nearby 10 GW wind and solar farm and connects to the North China power grid via four 500 kV transmission lines. Its underground powerhouse, the largest globally, and cutting-edge technology enhance grid stability and renewable energy integration.

(www.ess-news.com)

Tech pumped hydro energy storage

Britain's First Internet Connection: The Untold Story of a Pioneer

2025-01-09

This article recounts the story of British computer scientist Peter Kirstein, who in the early 1970s, connected Britain to ARPANET, marking the beginning of the UK's internet era. Despite governmental hurdles and technical challenges, Kirstein's innovative approach and perseverance led to the successful connection of London computers to ARPANET, for which he created the internet's first password. The article provides a fascinating glimpse into the early days of the internet, from its Cold War origins to its global impact, showcasing the twists and turns of technological advancement and the contributions of its pioneers.

(theconversation.com)

Tech

AI-Driven Job Cuts: 41% of Companies Plan Workforce Reductions by 2030

2025-01-09

A World Economic Forum report reveals that 41% of companies globally intend to reduce their workforce by 2030 due to AI-driven automation. While many companies plan to reskill their existing employees, unlike previous reports, this one doesn't predict a net positive job creation from AI. Jobs like postal clerks, executive secretaries, and payroll clerks are projected to decline rapidly, while demand for AI-related skills skyrockets. Although the report highlights AI's potential to augment human skills, some tech firms have already laid off employees due to AI, signaling a significant transformation of the future labor market.

(edition.cnn.com)

Tech Job Market Layoffs

The Curious Case of Consumer Routers and Weak Power Supplies

2025-01-09

A senior computer scientist recounts two incidents highlighting performance issues with consumer-grade routers stemming from inadequate power supplies. The first involved the author's home router, exhibiting slowness when powered by a solar inverter. The second occurred in Kiribati during an ISIF Asia-funded project. Using an oscilloscope, the author observed the router drawing excessive current during voltage dips, leading to instability. Adding capacitors to stabilize the power supply resolved the issues, underscoring how seemingly minor power problems can cause significant network failures.

(blog.apnic.net)

Tech router power supply network issues

Kate's App: Secure & Private Medical Collaboration

2025-01-09

Kate's App is designed to support medical caregivers and their patients. It allows for the secure sharing and coordination of medical information, enabling users to privately share prescriptions, doctor details, appointments, and more. Access control features ensure privacy, while notifications keep users updated on record changes and new messages. Whether managing cancer treatment or a common cold, Kate's App facilitates better medical information management and collaboration with loved ones.

(katesapp.org)

Tech Data Security

Atari ST's 40th Anniversary: A Budget 16-bit GUI Revolution

2025-01-09

Atari's 1985 CES unveiling of the Atari ST, a 16-bit GUI computer, sent shockwaves through the industry with its surprisingly low price ($800-$1000 for a 520ST bundle). While the 130ST failed due to insufficient RAM, the 520ST's powerful performance and innovative GEM operating system made it a hit, challenging Commodore and Apple and injecting new energy into the personal computer market. Its impact on software development remains significant.

(www.goto10retro.com)

Tech 16-bit computer

Microsoft Starts the New Year with More Layoffs

2025-01-09

Microsoft has begun the new year with another round of layoffs, affecting less than 1 percent of its workforce. The company claims the cuts are performance-based, aiming to improve overall team efficiency. While Microsoft laid off over 10,000 employees in 2023 and more in 2024, these latest cuts come despite record earnings. The layoffs may be linked to Microsoft's aggressive push into AI, with some suggesting that the eliminated positions will be quickly refilled with AI-related roles. This suggests a significant shift in Microsoft's strategic direction.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech Microsoft layoffs AI transformation tech industry

WorstFit: Exploiting Hidden Transformers in Windows ANSI

2025-01-09

Security researcher Orange Tsai unveils WorstFit, a novel attack surface in Windows. Exploiting the Best-Fit charset conversion feature, WorstFit leverages unexpected transformations during UTF-16 to ANSI conversion, leading to path traversal, argument injection, and even remote code execution (RCE). The unpredictable nature of Best-Fit mappings across different language configurations affects numerous well-known applications. The research highlights the challenges of patching this in the open-source ecosystem and proposes mitigations like using wide-character APIs.

(blog.orange.tw)

Tech Character Encoding

Zero-Day Exploit in Ivanti VPN Allows Hackers Network Access

2025-01-09

A critical zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-0282) in Ivanti's widely used enterprise VPN appliance has been exploited by hackers to compromise corporate networks. The vulnerability affects Connect Secure, Policy Secure, and ZTA Gateways products, with Connect Secure being the most widely adopted SSL VPN. Mandiant and Microsoft researchers observed exploitation as early as mid-December 2024. The attack shows hallmarks of an advanced persistent threat (APT), and suspicions point towards a China-linked cyberespionage group. Ivanti has released a patch for Connect Secure, with patches for others coming January 21st.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech zero-day exploit

Babylonian Eclipse Omens: Dark Predictions from Ancient Astronomy

2025-01-09

Newly deciphered Babylonian clay tablets from 1900-1600 BC reveal the earliest known records of lunar eclipse omens. These omens are overwhelmingly ominous, predicting everything from pestilence and famine to the death of kings. The Babylonians believed the sky mirrored the earth, making eclipses dire warnings of divine displeasure. While mostly foretelling doom, kings could attempt to avert fate through rituals and even using substitutes to bear the brunt of the ill omen. This discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient worldviews and how celestial events were interpreted.

(archaeology.org)

Tech Ancient Babylon Lunar Eclipse Divination

Software Bugs Lead to One of Britain's Biggest Miscarriages of Justice

2025-01-09

Nearly 1,000 UK post office managers were wrongly convicted of theft between 1999 and 2015 due to flaws in Fujitsu's Horizon accounting software. Poor coding, inadequate testing, and expanding functionality led to bugs causing account discrepancies, resulting in imprisonment, financial ruin, and even suicides. The convictions were overturned in 2024, and a compensation scheme was launched. This case highlights the devastating societal impact of software failures and the critical need for rigorous software development practices.

(cacm.acm.org)

Tech software bugs miscarriage of justice Horizon software

Italy Eyes $1.6B SpaceX Deal for Secure Telecoms

2025-01-09

Italy is in advanced negotiations with Elon Musk's SpaceX for a five-year, $1.6 billion deal to provide secure telecommunications for its government. This massive project, already approved by Italian intelligence and defense, would encompass top-level encryption for government communications, military services in the Mediterranean, and direct-to-cell satellite services for emergencies. While boosting national security, the deal faces opposition from some officials concerned about its impact on local carriers. Negotiations, stalled until recently, reportedly advanced after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's meeting with President-elect Trump. Alternatives, including the EU's IRIS² and building a national constellation, were considered, but deemed far more expensive.

(finance.yahoo.com)

Tech Telecom Security Italy

VLC Hits 6 Billion Downloads, Teases AI-Powered Subtitles

2025-01-09

The popular open-source media player VLC has surpassed 6 billion downloads. At CES 2025, VideoLAN showcased a new AI-powered subtitle system that generates and translates subtitles in real-time using locally-run open-source AI models. This eliminates the need for internet connectivity. While a release date wasn't announced, this innovative feature demonstrates VLC's continued commitment to free, ad-free, and cutting-edge technology.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech AI subtitles

Delta Air Lines Partners with YouTube Premium for In-Flight Entertainment

2025-01-09

Delta Air Lines has partnered with YouTube to offer free YouTube Premium and YouTube Music to its SkyMiles members on flights. This exclusive deal includes curated content from top YouTube creators and is part of Delta's broader strategy to enhance the in-flight experience and attract entertainment industry travelers. The airline is also rolling out an AI-powered personal assistant, Delta Concierge, and a new in-flight series hosted by Tom Brady focused on wellness travel tips.

(variety.com)

Tech Airlines

Four Reasons Why Zoom Meetings Are So Exhausting (and How to Fix It)

2025-01-09

Stanford researchers have identified four key causes of 'Zoom fatigue': excessive close-up eye contact, constantly seeing yourself on camera, restricted mobility, and increased cognitive load. Excessive eye contact and large face sizes create stress; constantly seeing yourself leads to self-criticism; limited movement and higher cognitive load exacerbate fatigue. Solutions include reducing Zoom window size, hiding self-view, increasing movement, and taking 'audio-only' breaks. A Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue (ZEF) scale is also being developed to measure the extent of Zoom fatigue.

(news.stanford.edu)

Tech Zoom fatigue video conferencing human-computer interaction

NASA's JPL Shuttered by Raging LA Wildfires

2025-01-09

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a crucial center for robotic space exploration, has been temporarily closed due to the nearby Eaton wildfire. Hundreds of JPL employees have been evacuated from their homes, with many experiencing property loss. While JPL itself has escaped direct fire damage, strong winds caused some wind damage. The closure impacts NASA's ongoing missions, including the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers and the recently launched Europa Clipper. The Eaton fire is one of several large wildfires currently burning in the Los Angeles area, fueled by record-setting winds.

(www.space.com)

Tech Wildfires

Category: Tech