Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Obscura: A Next-Gen VPN Using 2-Party Relays and QUIC

2025-02-11

Existing consumer VPNs suffer from significant trust and privacy issues, as VPN providers act as a man-in-the-middle, seeing both user personal info and browsing history. Obscura VPN solves this by using a 2-party relay architecture and a QUIC-based VPN protocol. The 2-party relay separates "who you are" from "what you do," ensuring that even if one relay is compromised, not all user information is leaked. QUIC disguises VPN traffic as HTTP/3 traffic, bypassing network filters and avoiding the performance degradation of TCP over TCP. Obscura partners with Mullvad as its exit node and open-sources its app's entire source code, aiming for an open and private internet.

(obscura.net)

Tech

First Native Porn App for iPhone Launches in EU Thanks to DMA

2025-02-11

The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) allows developers to distribute iOS apps through alternative app stores. This has led to the launch of "Hot Tub," the first native pornography app for iPhone, available in the EU via AltStore PAL. While Apple scans for malware, alternative stores have fewer content restrictions than the App Store, resulting in a less controlled environment. Hot Tub offers private and secure adult content browsing without ads or tracking. However, this also raises concerns about increased exposure to objectionable content, sparking debate around content moderation and user protection.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech alternative app stores pornography app

YouTube: The New Television?

2025-02-11

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced that TV screens have surpassed mobile as the primary viewing device in the US. This marks YouTube's transformation into a new kind of television, offering an interactive experience encompassing Shorts, podcasts, and live streams alongside traditional programming. YouTube consistently tops Nielsen's streaming charts, and its investment in YouTube TV has yielded over 8 million subscribers. Looking ahead, YouTube will focus on its role as a cultural epicenter, supporting podcasters, improving creator monetization, and leveraging AI to streamline video creation. AI tools will assist with ideation, titles, thumbnails, and auto-dubbing to reach broader audiences.

(www.hollywoodreporter.com)

Tech TV

YouTube: TV Overtakes Mobile as Primary Viewing Device in the US

2025-02-11

YouTube reports that in the US, TVs have surpassed mobile devices as the primary way people watch its content. Despite the rise of smartphones, big-screen TVs and their remotes remain dominant, based on YouTube's watch time data. Nielsen confirms YouTube's leading position in streaming watch time for two years running. Furthermore, YouTube announced a new feature, "Watch With," enabling creators to provide live commentary and reactions to games and events, currently in testing.

(www.engadget.com)

Tech TV viewing

The AI-Powered Programmer Apocalypse: Why Tech Companies Are Making a Huge Mistake

2025-02-11

The tech industry's infatuation with AI replacing programmers is a risky gamble. Over-reliance on AI-generated code will create a generation of programmers skilled in using AI tools but lacking real-world engineering expertise. Laying off experienced engineers only to scramble for replacements when AI falls short will lead to high costs and talent shortages. Ultimately, programmers with deep understanding of fundamental technologies, particularly systems programming or high-performance computing, will become highly sought after, commanding exorbitant fees.

(defragzone.substack.com)

Tech Programmers Tech Companies

Michael Larabel: 20 Years of Linux Hardware Expertise

2025-02-11

Michael Larabel, founder of Phoronix.com (established 2004), has dedicated two decades to enriching the Linux hardware experience. He's authored over 20,000 articles covering Linux hardware support, performance, graphics drivers, and more. Beyond writing, Larabel leads development of the Phoronix Test Suite, Phoromatic, and OpenBenchmarking.org—influential benchmarking tools for the open-source community.

(www.phoronix.com)

Tech

Microsoft's Open Source PostgreSQL Extension Challenges MongoDB's Dominance

2025-02-11

Microsoft's release of an open-source extension stack for PostgreSQL to handle document-style data is not only a challenge to MongoDB's NoSQL dominance but also blurs the lines between relational and non-relational databases. This move, from a company built on proprietary software, aims to attract developers with its lightweight approach. The extensions, pg_documentdb_core and pg_documentdb_api, support BSON and provide MongoDB-compatible commands. They work with FerretDB, an open-source MongoDB alternative. Experts see this as document databases becoming features within relational systems. MongoDB dismissed the move, while FerretDB sees it as an opportunity to build a stronger, collaborative foundation for MongoDB alternatives. The move highlights the evolving landscape of database technology and the increasing convergence of relational and NoSQL approaches.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech

TSMC's 2nm Node: Density King, But High Price May Be a Problem

2025-02-11

TSMC unveiled its 2nm platform technology at IEDM 2024, featuring energy-efficient nanosheet transistors and 3DIC co-optimization. The process boasts a 30% power improvement and 15% performance gain over its 3nm node, and is projected to be the densest in the 2nm class. However, analysis suggests that while early yield is impressive, a reported $30,000 per wafer price could hamper competitiveness, potentially opening the door for Intel and Samsung to gain market share. TSMC's 2nm node is expected to enter production in the second half of this year.

(semiwiki.com)

Tech 2nm node

Return-to-Office Fails to Revive the Struggling Office Sector

2025-02-11

Despite numerous companies mandating a return to the office, data reveals that actual office attendance has barely budged since early 2023. Kastle's weekly back-to-work barometer shows an average occupancy rate of only 54% of pre-pandemic levels in the top 10 office markets. Meanwhile, the percentage of work-from-home (WFH) days remains high, exceeding 29% of all full-paid days. This indicates that many companies have adapted to hybrid work models, with WFH proving effective in boosting productivity and reducing office costs. Therefore, hopes that return-to-office initiatives will rescue the commercial real estate office sector appear premature.

(wolfstreet.com)

Tech work from home commercial real estate

Stellantis' In-Dash Ads: A Full-Screen Annoyance

2025-02-11

Stellantis vehicles, including Jeep, are now displaying full-screen pop-up ads on their infotainment systems, frustrating drivers. Ads, such as those for Mopar's extended warranty, appear every time the car stops, interrupting basic functions. Stellantis claims these ads are part of a SiriusXM contract and suggests users manually close them, but this response has done little to quell the backlash and damage to customer trust.

(tech.slashdot.org)

Tech in-dash advertising

Running MacOS 9 on an Unmodified Nintendo Wii: A Retro Hack

2025-02-11

A hacker has successfully run MacOS 9 on an unmodified original Nintendo Wii console! This was achieved by leveraging the Wii's PowerPC processor, similar to those in older Mac G3 machines, and the Wii's ability to run Linux-based OSes. While the installation was challenging, MacOS 9 was successfully booted, running games like DOOM, Internet Explorer 5, and even iTunes (with some audio/visual issues). Attempts to run MacOS X failed, but this feat is still impressive, showcasing the potential of repurposed hardware.

(hackaday.com)

Tech Nintendo Wii

Meta's Data Center Secrets: Scaling to the Extreme

2025-02-11

This collection of papers unveils Meta's cutting-edge research in building and operating hyperscale data centers. From BGP routing to distributed storage (TAO), real-time data processing, cluster management (Twine), global capacity management (Flux), and power management (Dynamo), the papers detail the technologies enabling Meta to handle massive data, global user traffic, and high concurrency. Innovations like MAST for global ML training and RAS for continuous resource optimization highlight Meta's approach to building highly reliable, performant, and efficient data centers. These findings offer invaluable insights for anyone tackling the challenges of hyperscale infrastructure.

(cacm.acm.org)

Tech hyperscale

Apple's Latest Update Sneaky-Reenables Apple Intelligence

2025-02-11

A recent update to macOS 15.3.1 and iOS 18.3.1 has re-enabled Apple Intelligence for some users, even if they previously disabled it. The behavior seems linked to whether the Setup Assistant and welcome screen appear after the update. Developer Jeff Johnson reports this inconsistency across his devices, sparking user frustration. This automatic re-enabling is viewed as a user-hostile move, reminiscent of Apple's past practice of automatically re-enabling Bluetooth in every OS update—a practice eventually fixed, only to be seemingly replaced by this new issue.

(lapcatsoftware.com)

Tech

BYD Undercuts Tesla with Low-Cost EVs Featuring Advanced Autopilot

2025-02-11

BYD, now China's top-selling automaker surpassing Tesla, announced it will equip its budget Seagull EV ($9,500) with its advanced "God's Eye" intelligent driving system. This directly challenges Tesla's AI-centric strategy and its high-priced models. BYD's autopilot features include remote parking and autonomous overtaking, with sensor configurations varying across models. The technology rivals, and in some aspects surpasses, Tesla's capabilities. China's strong government support for EVs and BYD's profitability have fueled its global expansion, while Tesla faces domestic political headwinds and slowing sales in key markets. Tesla's focus seems diverted, while BYD's cost-effective approach may reshape the EV landscape.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech

Relational Quantum Mechanics: A Revolutionary Interpretation

2025-02-11

Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) offers a radical departure from traditional quantum interpretations. Instead of focusing on wave functions or quantum states, RQM centers on the values of physical variables, which are inherently relational and only actualized during interactions between systems. This challenges classical assumptions of absolute, always-defined variable values. RQM reinterprets quantum superposition, not as a 'half-alive, half-dead cat,' but as probability distributions influenced by interference effects. It differs from interpretations like Many-Worlds and Bohmian mechanics by emphasizing the relativity of all physical variables and avoiding the measurement problem. While RQM faces criticism, such as potential solipsism arising from its relative perspectives, it provides a novel and thought-provoking approach to understanding quantum mechanics.

(plato.stanford.edu)

Tech interpretation

Jeep's Full-Screen Ads: A PR Nightmare

2025-02-11

Stellantis, parent company of Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and Ram, is facing backlash for implementing full-screen pop-up ads on its infotainment systems. Jeep owners report being bombarded with ads, particularly for Mopar extended warranties, every time the vehicle stops. This intrusive advertising is disrupting the driving experience and causing significant frustration. While Stellantis claims the ads are part of a SiriusXM contract and suggests users simply close them, the move is seen as prioritizing ad revenue over user experience, particularly given the high cost of new vehicles. The negative response has prompted discussion among Jeep owners about finding ways to disable the ads, highlighting a growing consumer backlash against subscription models and in-car advertising.

(techstory.in)

Tech in-car advertising subscription models

Google Calendar Removes Default Highlighting of Cultural Observances, Sparking Outrage

2025-02-11

Google Calendar has removed the default highlighting of cultural events like Pride Month and Black History Month, leading to significant user backlash. Users have criticized the move as "shameful" and accused Google of capitulating to fascism. Google responded that maintaining hundreds of global cultural events manually was unsustainable, so they reverted to displaying only public holidays and national observances from timeanddate.com, allowing users to add other events manually. The reasoning and timeline behind the change remain contested.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech Cultural Observances Controversy

LHC Ultraperipheral Collisions Unravel the Mystery of Gluon Saturation

2025-02-11

Ultraperipheral collisions (UPCs) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) offer a unique window into gluon dynamics. Experiments use photons to probe gluons within protons and nuclei, investigating gluon saturation—a dynamic equilibrium between gluon splitting and recombination. Researchers found that as energy decreases, the number of gluons in hadrons increases, forming 'gluonic hotspots' that overlap in the gluon saturation regime. The experiments also observed nuclear shadowing, where nuclei contain fewer gluons than expected. These findings shed light on the origin of 99% of the visible universe's mass and the nature of the strong interaction. Future LHC runs and the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) will further explore gluon dynamics, uncovering more mysteries.

(cerncourier.com)

Tech gluon saturation hadron physics

TikTok Sidesteps US Ban: Encourages Android Users to Sideload APK

2025-02-11

Facing potential US bans, TikTok has implemented a workaround. While President Trump's executive order temporarily halted a ban, TikTok is encouraging Android users to download the app directly from its website as an APK file, bypassing the Google Play Store. This allows TikTok to temporarily circumvent app store bans, though a similar option isn't yet available for iOS users.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech APK Sideloading

Google Maps Renames the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America'

2025-02-11

Google Maps has updated its maps in the US to reflect the Trump administration's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America', showing the new name on both web and mobile platforms. Google states this follows the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Mexican users still see 'Gulf of Mexico', while the rest of the world sees the original name with '(Gulf of America)' appended. Location is determined by mobile OS, SIM card, and network data. Desktop users see the changes based on search settings or device location. Apple Maps has yet to change, though redirects 'Gulf of America' searches to the Gulf of Mexico. Other map providers like MapQuest haven't updated either. Interestingly, Waze shows both names when searching 'Gulf of Mexico', but yields no results for 'Gulf of America'.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech Name Change Gulf of Mexico

IT Hiring: A Rollercoaster Ride?

2025-02-10

While US Bureau of Labor Statistics data paints a bleak picture of IT hiring, Janco Associates argues otherwise. A reclassification of job titles led to a downward revision of over 111,000 positions in November and December 2024, resulting in a net loss of 123,200 IT jobs for the year. However, Janco reports that IT hiring is actually on the rise, with 11,000 new roles added in January 2025. Despite this, January's IT unemployment rate remained at 5.7%, higher than the national average. High demand exists for AI specialists, security professionals, and new technology programmers. Janco predicts IT job growth in the next five years, but anticipates the elimination of many white-collar IT roles due to AI automation.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech IT hiring

Greenland Ice Sheet Crevasses Accelerate Melt: A Rising Sea Level Threat

2025-02-10

Numerous studies in recent years highlight the accelerating role of crevasses in Greenland's ice sheet, significantly contributing to ice calving and exacerbating sea level rise. Researchers have employed diverse methods, including satellite imagery, airborne LiDAR, and field observations, to investigate crevasse formation, expansion, and hydrological impacts. Findings reveal that crevasses not only compromise ice sheet stability but also expedite meltwater drainage, further accelerating ice melt. This poses a significant challenge to the future of the Greenland Ice Sheet and presents a major threat to global sea level change and coastal safety.

(www.nature.com)

Tech Greenland Ice Sheet ice melt sea level rise

Apple Patches Zero-Day Vulnerability Used in Sophisticated Attacks

2025-02-10

Apple has released emergency security updates to address a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-24200) exploited in targeted, sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability could bypass USB Restricted Mode on locked devices, potentially allowing data extraction. This mode was designed to prevent forensic software from accessing data on locked iOS devices. Apple urges users to update immediately to mitigate potential ongoing attacks. This incident highlights the importance of regular software updates and mobile device security.

(www.bleepingcomputer.com)

Tech Apple security update zero-day vulnerability iOS security

CIA Leaks Employee Names in 'Counterintelligence Disaster'

2025-02-10

The New York Times reported that the CIA sent the White House an unclassified email listing all employees hired in the last two years, complying with an executive order to shrink the federal workforce. This list, including first names and the first initial of last names of probationary employees—many young analysts focusing on China—was deemed a "counterintelligence disaster" by former officials. They argue the information, easily combined with publicly available data, puts these employees at risk from foreign intelligence services. The article highlights core counterespionage principles: the "mosaic" effect of combining seemingly innocuous data, and the assumption that all unclassified systems are compromised. The CIA's action violated not only classification rules but also the fundamental obligation to protect intelligence sources and methods.

(www.lawfaremedia.org)

Tech Intelligence Leak

Buffalo Comeback: A Keystone Species Restores the Ecosystem

2025-02-10

The US's “scorched earth” policy nearly drove buffalo to extinction, severely damaging the ecosystem. Now, organizations like the Tanka Fund are working to return buffalo to their ancestral lands to restore ecological balance. As a keystone species, their return is crucial for restoring prairie vegetation, maintaining biodiversity, and providing new economic and cultural opportunities for Indigenous communities. Despite facing challenges from government policies and funding, the project relies on diverse funding sources and continues to advance buffalo restoration and ecosystem recovery, showcasing the resilience and collaborative spirit of Indigenous communities.

(www.nativesunnews.today)

Tech ecosystem restoration buffalo Indigenous communities

reCAPTCHA: A Trillion-Dollar Tracking Cookie Farm?

2025-02-10

A UC Irvine study reveals Google's reCAPTCHA not only fails to prevent bot traffic effectively but also raises privacy concerns through tracking cookies, wastes billions of collective hours, and generates nearly a trillion dollars' worth of data for Google. The study finds both reCAPTCHA's image recognition and behavioral analysis features are valuable to Google, the former for ad targeting and the latter for AI model training. Researchers estimate the time spent solving reCAPTCHA is worth $6.1 billion, while Google's potential earnings from reCAPTCHA could reach trillions. The study concludes reCAPTCHA's true purpose is as a profitable tracking cookie farm, not a security service.

(www.pcgamer.com)

Tech

The Rise and Fall of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC)

2025-02-10

This article chronicles the remarkable history of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). Starting with Ken Olsen's post-WWII creation of the TX-0 in a MIT basement, DEC revolutionized the computing industry with its PDP series of minicomputers, emphasizing low cost, ease of use, and user interaction. The PDP-1 heralded the dawn of the personal computing era. However, facing the onslaught of the IBM PC and strategic missteps, DEC was ultimately acquired by Compaq in 1998. This history showcases the power of technological innovation and the ruthlessness of market competition, offering valuable insights into management decisions and technological direction.

(www.abortretry.fail)

Tech Computer History

Macron: Europe Lagging in AI Race, Needs to Catch Up

2025-02-10

French President Emmanuel Macron, in an exclusive interview with CNN, warned that Europe is falling behind the US and China in the AI race, risking becoming a mere consumer of the technology. To counter this, France is hosting an AI summit and plans to build Europe's largest supercomputer, aiming for 20% of global data centers. However, securing funding and streamlining regulations are crucial challenges. Macron calls for simplified rules and a more business-friendly environment to attract investment and compete with US and Chinese dominance.

(edition.cnn.com)

Tech Europe Tech Competition

Crypto Advocate Demands Retraction: A Debate on 'Debanking'

2025-02-10

A deep-dive article analyzing the phenomenon of 'debanking' in the cryptocurrency industry faced a retraction request from the CEO of a cryptocurrency firm. The author meticulously addressed the CEO's accusations, arguing they lacked merit, and defended the article's core argument: regulators' risk assessments of cryptocurrencies are not unfounded, and banks' cautious approach towards crypto businesses is not entirely unreasonable. The article delves into the complexities of banking regulation and the compliance challenges faced by the crypto industry, using the cases of Silvergate and Prime Trust to illustrate the importance of risk management. Ultimately, the author rejected the retraction request, emphasizing the responsibility of the press in pursuing truth and resisting censorship.

(www.kalzumeus.com)

Tech banking regulation compliance

Genomics Reveals the Origin of Indo-European Languages: An Ancient Secret from the Lower Volga

2025-02-10

A groundbreaking genomics study has unearthed the surprising origins of the Indo-European language family. Researchers discovered that an ancient population from the Caucasus Lower Volga region was the ultimate source of Indo-European languages, sharing close connections with later Yamnaya culture and Anatolian language speakers. The Yamnaya culture spread Indo-European languages across Europe and into the Indian subcontinent through population expansion, with their unique cultural traditions, like kurgan burials, also stemming from the Caucasus Lower Volga people. This research not only reshapes our understanding of Indo-European origins but also showcases the immense potential of ancient DNA technology in tracing human history and cultural diffusion.

(hms.harvard.edu)

Tech Yamnaya culture

Category: Tech