Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

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

Citizen Science: Analyzing Satellite Imagery of the Palisade and Eaton Fires

2025-01-09

This project analyzes the Palisade and Eaton fires in Southern California in January 2025 using imagery from GOES-16 and GOES-18 satellites. Reprojected data is downloaded from UW SSEC's RealEarth program; each image is 128x128 pixels, centered at (34.1, -118.4), with 1.0 km pixels. The code combines data from both satellites for increased resolution and currently measures hotspot areas. This project showcases the accessibility of citizen science, demonstrating how publicly available data can be used for scientific research.

(github.com)

Tech satellite imagery analysis citizen science fire monitoring

Microsoft 365 Price Hike? Cancel Your Subscription to Get the Old Plan!

2025-01-09

Microsoft 365 quietly raised its prices, claiming integration with Copilot AI, but full access requires an additional subscription. Consumer NZ discovered that by pretending to cancel, users can magically access a cheaper 'Classic' plan retaining original features without Copilot costs. This is considered a 'dark pattern', misleading users through UI design, potentially breaching fair trading laws. The article suggests free alternatives and calls for legislation to regulate such practices.

(www.consumer.org.nz)

Tech dark patterns

FIX Parser: Decoding the Financial Information Exchange Protocol

2025-01-09

The FIX Protocol (Financial Information Exchange) is a standardized messaging system for real-time electronic communication of trade-related information in financial markets. It enables seamless exchange of order, execution, and market data between various financial entities. FIXParser decodes FIX messages into human-readable formats, including FIX JSON and a proprietary message representation. The article also highlights FIX Simple Binary Encoding (FIX SBE), a compact, high-performance format for improved data transfer efficiency and reduced latency.

(fixparser.dev)

Tech FIX Protocol

Apple's AI Backfires: Rewording Scam Messages to Look Legit

2025-01-09

Apple's new AI feature, "Apple Intelligence," aims to summarize and prioritize notifications. However, it's inadvertently rewording scam emails and texts to appear more legitimate, even flagging them as priority. This raises concerns that it could lead to more people falling victim to scams. Screenshots from users show the feature failing to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent messages, even prioritizing obvious scams. Experts warn this could make users more susceptible to scams due to the trust placed in Apple's AI summaries. Apple has yet to respond.

(www.crikey.com.au)

Tech Scam Messages

Salesforce Halts Software Engineer Hiring in 2025 Thanks to AI Productivity Boost

2025-01-08

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff announced that the company will not hire any more software engineers in 2025 due to significant productivity gains from its AI product, Agentforce, exceeding 30%. While Salesforce anticipates growth, the focus shifts to Agentforce, with plans to increase sales staff to promote the AI's value. This decision comes after recent years of layoffs, following earlier mass redundancies attributed to over-hiring during the pandemic.

(www.salesforceben.com)

Tech

LA Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations, NASA JPL Shuts Down

2025-01-08

Massive wildfires raging across Los Angeles County have forced tens of thousands to evacuate, leading to the closure of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Fueled by strong winds, the fires have consumed thousands of acres, resulting in casualties and widespread property damage. California's governor has declared a state of emergency. While JPL itself remains undamaged, many staff have evacuated their homes, with some reporting significant losses. The disaster highlights the severity of climate change and raises concerns about the safety of invaluable scientific data and equipment.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech wildfires California

AT&T Promises Bill Credits After Massive Outage

2025-01-08

Following a major network outage last year caused by a botched update, AT&T is now promising full-day bill credits for future outages. The credits apply to wireless outages lasting at least 60 minutes affecting 10 or more cell towers, and fiber outages lasting at least 20 minutes (using an AT&T-provided gateway). However, the promise has caveats, excluding events like natural disasters or third-party issues. AT&T retains sole discretion on credit eligibility, raising concerns about service reliability and transparency in handling such incidents.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech outage bill credits

White House Unveils Cyber Trust Mark for IoT Devices

2025-01-08

The White House launched a new labeling program, the "Cyber Trust Mark," to help consumers identify more secure internet of things (IoT) devices. Similar to the Energy Star label, the Cyber Trust Mark signifies that a device meets certain government-vetted cybersecurity standards set by NIST. UL Solutions is the primary administrator, with major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy assisting in consumer education. The government plans to mandate procurement of devices with this mark by 2027, driving the IoT market towards improved security.

(www.nextgov.com)

Tech White House

Samsung Expanding AI Subscription Service to Smartphones and Robots

2025-01-08

Samsung is set to roll out its AI subscription service next month, initially launched last December in South Korea for select home appliances. This service will now expand to Galaxy phones and the upcoming Ballie AI robot. Users can subscribe monthly for AI features and optional repair services at a lower upfront cost. It's unclear if the service will expand beyond South Korea, but more information may be revealed at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event in San Jose, California on January 22nd. This expansion signals Samsung's aggressive exploration of AI subscription models in both smart home and mobile device sectors.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech AI Subscription Galaxy Phones

Microsoft Ends OneDrive's Unlicensed Free Ride

2025-01-08

Microsoft is closing a loophole that allowed users to store data for free in unlicensed OneDrive accounts. Starting January 27th, 2025, accounts unlicensed for over 93 days will have their data moved to the recycle bin or archived. Data remains in the recycle bin for 93 days before permanent deletion. Organizations needing to reactivate accounts face a $0.60/GB reactivation fee and a $0.05/GB monthly fee. This move addresses security and compliance concerns.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech Cloud Storage

Atlas of Space: An Interactive Guide to the Cosmos

2025-01-08

Atlas of Space isn't just a static star chart; it's an immersive, interactive online platform that lets you explore the known universe. It presents the vast data of planets, stars, and galaxies in an intuitive way, providing rich detail. Whether you want to understand the composition of the planets in our solar system or delve into the mysteries of distant galaxies, this platform caters to your curiosity. Zoom in on specific celestial bodies, learn about their size, distance, composition, and embark on a truly immersive journey through space. This is an invaluable resource for astronomy enthusiasts, students, and anyone with a thirst for cosmic knowledge.

(atlasof.space)

Tech interactive map astronomical data

Nvidia CEO: AI Chip Performance Outpaces Moore's Law

2025-01-08

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared at CES 2025 that the company's AI chips are improving faster than Moore's Law. He attributed this to Nvidia's ability to simultaneously innovate across the entire stack – architecture, chip, system, libraries, and algorithms. The new GB200 NVL72 data center superchip boasts a 30-40x performance increase in AI inference workloads compared to its predecessor. Huang believes this will lead to lower AI inference costs and further advancements in AI model capabilities.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech AI chips

Category: Tech