Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

IBM and GlobalFoundries Settle Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuits

2025-01-03

IBM and GlobalFoundries have settled all their ongoing litigation, encompassing breach of contract, patent, and trade secret disputes. Details of the confidential settlement remain undisclosed, but both companies stated it opens the door for future collaboration. The dispute, initiated by IBM in 2021, stemmed from a $1.5 billion chip manufacturing agreement and accusations by GlobalFoundries of IBM's unlawful disclosure of trade secrets. This resolution clears the path for future projects, particularly IBM's collaboration with Rapidus on 2nm chip technology.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech GlobalFoundries

Space Factories: Trillion-Dollar Space Economy on the Horizon

2025-01-03

The space manufacturing industry is booming, leveraging the unique environment of space (zero gravity, vacuum, etc.) to produce materials and products difficult or impossible to manufacture on Earth, while also supporting space exploration. From advanced materials to large structures, biotech products to microdevices, the potential is immense, promising a trillion-dollar market. This not only addresses Earth's pollution problems but also fuels space colonization, ushering in a new era of human interstellar civilization.

(www.factoriesinspace.com)

Tech Space Manufacturing Space Economy NewSpace Economy

Gift Card Site Leaks Hundreds of Thousands of Identity Documents

2025-01-03

A US online gift card store, MyGiftCardSupply, suffered a massive security breach exposing hundreds of thousands of customer identity documents. Security researcher JayeLTee discovered an unsecured server containing over 600,000 images of driver's licenses, passports, and selfies from around 200,000 customers. MyGiftCardSupply claimed the data was collected for anti-money laundering compliance ('know your customer' checks), but its founder admitted the security lapse, stating the data is now secured. However, the company hasn't disclosed the duration of the exposure or plans to notify affected users. This incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with KYC procedures and data breaches.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Why We Need a Digital Bill of Rights

2025-01-03

This article argues for a "Cyber Bill of Rights" to counter the power of tech giants over free speech and personal data. The author likens these companies to modern monarchs, manipulating information flow through algorithms, suppressing dissent, and exploiting user data. The proposed bill demands algorithmic transparency, fair content moderation, and user ownership of personal data. This is not just about free speech, but also about individual power and the rights of citizens in the digital age.

(www.discoursemagazine.com)

Tech Cyber Bill of Rights Free Speech Data Privacy

Zebrafish Protein Awakens Dormant Genes for Heart Repair

2025-01-03

Researchers at the Hubrecht Institute have repaired damaged mouse hearts using a zebrafish protein. They discovered that the protein Hmga1 is key to zebrafish heart regeneration and, in mice, activated dormant repair genes, restoring heart function without side effects. This breakthrough, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, represents a significant step towards regenerative therapies for heart failure. The team compared zebrafish and mammalian hearts, finding Hmga1 removes 'roadblocks' on chromatin, activating dormant genes. In mice, Hmga1 stimulated heart muscle cell growth, significantly improving heart function, only in the damaged area. The study lays the groundwork for human heart regeneration therapies.

(www.hubrecht.eu)

Tech heart repair Hmga1 protein

Dark Energy's Demise? A New Cosmology Suggests Time Itself is to Blame

2025-01-03

A new study challenges the standard model of cosmology, ΛCDM, which relies on the existence of dark energy and dark matter. The alternative 'timescape cosmology' proposes that time flows at different rates in different regions of the universe, creating the illusion of accelerated expansion. Analyzing over 1,500 Type Ia supernovae, researchers found timescape cosmology provides a better fit to observations than ΛCDM. This suggests a potential need to rethink the foundations of cosmology; dark energy might be a misinterpretation of non-uniform expansion rates.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech dark energy timescape

The Forgotten Tech of Silent Film: Two Turntables and a Microphone

2025-01-03

In the 1920s, struggling British cinemas adopted the Panatrope, a two-turntable record player, as a cheap way to enhance silent films. A skilled musician, Reginald Johnson, pushed the machine's boundaries, pioneering DJ-like techniques by creatively blending record segments to create unique soundtracks. While briefly popular, the Panatrope was quickly superseded by the advent of Movietone's sound-on-film technology. This story highlights not only technological obsolescence but also the challenges faced by the British film industry during this era.

(goodfuzzysounds.com)

Tech Film History Technological Innovation Gramophone

OpenSPH: Interactive Visualization for Astrophysical Simulations

2025-01-03

OpenSPH is a versatile particle code library primarily used for astrophysical simulations. A new graphical application, SpaceSim, provides a more interactive and user-friendly interface for setting up and running simulations. Users can customize initial conditions and simulation steps using a node-based editor. Simulations range from planetary impacts and galactic mergers to black hole accretion disks. Windows installers, source code, and tutorials are available. Community feedback is encouraged via the Discord server.

(pavelsevecek.github.io)

Tech astrophysical simulation particle code visualization tool

Deep Zooming into the Mandelbrot Set: Theory and Practice

2025-01-03

This article delves into the theory and practice of deep zooming into the Mandelbrot set. Traditional algorithms for rendering the Mandelbrot set are computationally expensive. The author introduces acceleration techniques based on perturbation theory, including perturbation iterations, glitch detection, and rescaling. Furthermore, the article discusses series approximation techniques and how to handle challenges such as "deep needle" regions and hybrid fractals. These optimizations drastically improve rendering speed, enabling the creation of more detailed images.

(mathr.co.uk)

Tech fractal Mandelbrot set deep zoom

China to Subsidize Smartphone Purchases to Boost Spending

2025-01-03

China will expand consumption subsidies to include smartphones and other electronics to boost domestic spending amid rising external headwinds. Officials from the nation’s top economic planning agency said Friday that a national trade-in program currently covering home appliances and cars will be broadened this year to personal devices such as phones, tablets, and smartwatches. Post-Covid, Chinese consumers have held onto their smartphones longer due to a lack of exciting new features and general belt-tightening. Like with cars and washing machines, investors hope incentives will revive the world’s largest smartphone market and drive sales not only for brands like Huawei and Xiaomi but also for platforms popular with device fans like Alibaba and JD.com. The move is part of China’s efforts to encourage consumption to offset the effects of potential new US tariffs on Chinese exports, a key growth driver. For only the second time in at least a decade, top leaders last month prioritized stimulating spending and domestic demand in 2025. The government will “significantly” increase the sale of ultra-long special treasury bonds to fund the program, which also encourages companies to upgrade equipment, according to Yuan Da, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission. Several provinces started their own trade-in programs for personal devices and phones in late 2024, but a nationwide initiative could prove more effective. The central government committed 300 billion yuan ($41.1 billion) of funds raised from special treasury bonds in July to support the subsidies. Including local government efforts, these incentives led to a surge in car and home appliance sales starting in September. Subsidies for upgrading business equipment will also be expanded to areas including agricultural facilities, according to Yuan. A specific plan for the program’s expansion will be released soon.

(finance.yahoo.com)

Tech consumption subsidies smartphones economic stimulus

33 Malicious Chrome Extensions Stole Data From 2.6 Million Devices

2025-01-03

Researchers discovered at least 33 Chrome extensions secretly siphoning sensitive data, including browser cookies and login credentials for Facebook and ChatGPT, from roughly 2.6 million devices over the past 18 months. Attackers used spear-phishing emails to exploit OAuth vulnerabilities and upload malicious extension versions to the Chrome Web Store. The compromised extensions spanned various categories, with some malicious versions persisting for months. Users are urged to check for these malicious extensions and change passwords immediately.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech malware

Apple Secretly Enables AI Photo Analysis, Sparking Privacy Concerns

2025-01-03

Apple silently enabled a feature called "Enhanced Visual Search" in iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, which analyzes photos for landmarks without explicit user consent. While Apple claims to use homomorphic encryption and differential privacy to protect user privacy, the lack of transparency and opt-in choice has sparked concern. Developers criticize Apple's lack of explanation and user notification, arguing the approach is even more intrusive than its abandoned CSAM scanning plan. Although no evidence suggests Apple violated its privacy statements, the lack of communication is the core of user discontent.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech

Music Publishers and AI Giant Anthropic Reach Copyright Deal

2025-01-03

Major music publishers sued Anthropic, an AI company backed by Amazon, for copyright infringement due to the use of copyrighted song lyrics in training its AI chatbot, Claude. A settlement has been reached requiring Anthropic to strengthen its copyright guardrails, preventing Claude from generating copyrighted lyrics. This landmark agreement marks a significant step in the ongoing debate about AI's use of copyrighted material and sets a precedent for future legal battles in this rapidly evolving field.

(www.hollywoodreporter.com)

Tech Music Copyright

China's Dramatic Reduction in Sulfur Dioxide Emissions

2025-01-03

China has slashed its sulfur dioxide emissions by over two-thirds in the last 15 years. This significant decrease, primarily driven by emission limits on coal plants and the introduction of desulfurization technologies, has dramatically improved air quality, particularly in major cities. Data is modeled from the Community Emissions Data System (CEDS).

(ourworldindata.org)

Tech air pollution sulfur dioxide

India Pulls Cloudflare's VPN App and Others from App Stores

2025-01-03

India has removed several VPN apps, including Cloudflare's popular 1.1.1.1, from its app stores citing a 2022 regulation requiring VPN providers to store user data for five years. This move has sparked backlash from the industry, with some VPN providers withdrawing from India or ceasing marketing there. The action marks a significant tightening of VPN regulations in India.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Serbia: A Digital Prison – State Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society

2025-01-03

Amnesty International's report reveals Serbia's use of surveillance technology and digital repression to control and suppress civil society. The report details widespread use of spyware, including NSO Group's Pegasus and a newly disclosed domestically-produced Android spyware, NoviSpy, along with Cellebrite's UFED tools against environmental activists and protest leaders. This constitutes a serious human rights violation and attack on freedom of expression.

(www.amnesty.org)

Tech digital repression surveillance technology human rights

Xiaomi's Draconian Bootloader Unlock Policy Sparks Debate

2025-01-03

Xiaomi has drastically tightened its bootloader unlock policy, limiting users to unlocking only one device per year. While this change minimally impacts average consumers, it could significantly hinder custom ROM development. This move has sparked a debate about device ownership and user freedom, with speculation focusing on Xiaomi's motivations, including preventing users from bypassing built-in ads and tracking, or thwarting scalpers reselling phones with modified software. Users see this as restricting choice, while developers worry about reduced efficiency in custom ROM creation.

(www.androidpolice.com)

Tech Custom ROM

ICO Slams Google's U-Turn on Fingerprinting: Privacy Concerns Raised

2025-01-03

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has expressed serious concerns over Google's decision to allow fingerprinting technology within its advertising products from February 16th, 2025. The ICO argues that fingerprinting is inherently difficult for users to control, undermining user privacy expectations and potentially replacing third-party cookies. Businesses, the ICO stresses, must adhere to data protection laws, including securing explicit user consent, ensuring transparency and fair processing, and upholding information rights. Draft guidance has been released, with a consultation launching December 20th to ensure compliance.

(ico.org.uk)

Tech fingerprinting

Revolutionary All-Optical Nanoscale Force Sensors Access Unreachable Environments

2025-01-03

Columbia University researchers have developed revolutionary all-optical nanoscale force sensors capable of measuring forces with unprecedented sensitivity and dynamic range. These sensors utilize the photon-avalanche effect, enabling remote, light-based force detection without physical connections. Applications span robotics, cellular biophysics, medicine, and even space exploration. This breakthrough promises to transform force sensing technology, opening up new possibilities for measurements in previously inaccessible environments.

(phys.org)

Tech nanotechnology force sensor optics

NASA JPL Horizons: A Powerful Tool for Exploring the Solar System

2025-01-03

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Horizons system is a powerful online service providing precise orbital data and ephemerides for solar system objects. It offers multiple access methods including a web interface, command-line interface, email, and an API. Users can query information on asteroids, comets, planets, satellites, and more, and perform orbital calculations and visualizations. Horizons is a powerful tool for astronomers, aerospace engineers, and space enthusiasts exploring the mysteries of our solar system.

(ssd.jpl.nasa.gov)

Tech Solar System Data

Windows 10 Remains Dominant Despite Impending Support End

2025-01-03

With only 10 months until support for Windows 10 ends, its market share has surprisingly risen to 62.7%, while Windows 11 lags behind at 34.12%. Statcounter data reveals that many users, after trying Windows 11, reverted back to Windows 10. Enterprises and government institutions are also sticking with Windows 10 due to compatibility issues and stability concerns. Windows 11's hardware requirements and the prevalence of pre-installed Windows 10 devices contribute to this trend. Microsoft appears to have yet to find a solution, and the promotion of Windows 11 still faces significant challenges.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech

Apple's $95M Siri Settlement: More Misinformation Than Microphone Spying?

2025-01-03

Apple settled a lawsuit for $95 million over claims that Siri recordings were used for targeted advertising, despite denying wrongdoing. The author argues that the accuracy of ad targeting is more likely due to app data collection than microphone spying. However, anecdotal evidence of ads matching conversations will likely fuel conspiracy theories surrounding microphone surveillance, regardless of the truth.

(simonwillison.net)

Tech apple targeted advertising

Leaked: Microsoft's Scrapped Dynamic Wallpapers for Windows 11

2025-01-03

Former Microsoft designer Sergey Kisselev revealed designs for dynamic wallpapers intended for Windows 11. These wallpapers, featuring various animations and still images, were designed to complement the centered Start Menu and Taskbar, primarily targeting educational users. However, the feature never shipped, suggesting cancellation or postponement. While early hints appeared in Insider builds, it didn't make it into the 23H2 release, and its future remains uncertain.

(www.windowscentral.com)

Tech dynamic wallpapers

Anthrobots: Self-Assembling Biobots Revolutionize Regenerative Medicine

2025-01-03

Dr. Michael Levin's team has created Anthrobots, autonomous biorobots constructed from adult human lung epithelial cells. Unlike previous Xenobots, Anthrobots, with their wild-type genome, self-assemble and exhibit diverse behaviors. Remarkably, clusters of Anthrobots can facilitate neural tissue repair, showcasing immense potential in regenerative medicine. This research challenges our understanding of cellular capabilities, opening new avenues for personalized medicine and novel bio-medical platforms.

(thoughtforms.life)

Tech regenerative medicine biobots self-assembly

Meta's Nick Clegg Departs After Seven Years

2025-01-02

Nick Clegg, Meta's President of Global Affairs and former British Deputy Prime Minister, is leaving the company after seven years. His departure follows a period marked by significant policy decisions, including the handling of Donald Trump's account and navigating the evolving relationship between big tech and regulators. He'll be replaced by Joel Kaplan, a veteran policy executive with strong ties to the Republican party. Clegg's exit signifies a shift in the dynamics between tech giants and societal pressures.

(www.engadget.com)

Tech Policy

EU's USB-C Mandate: Tech Giants Bend to the Pressure

2025-01-02

The EU's Common Charger Directive is now in effect, mandating USB-C charging for most electronic devices. Companies like Apple have begun adapting their product lines to comply. This directive aims to reduce e-waste and improve convenience for consumers, but has also sparked debate about innovation and future charging technologies. While some exceptions exist for wireless charging and devices with specific battery types, the directive will have a significant impact on both manufacturers and consumers.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech EU regulation e-waste

Appeals Court Strikes Down FCC's Net Neutrality Rules

2025-01-02

A US appeals court overturned the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) net neutrality rules. These rules mandated equal treatment of all internet traffic by broadband providers, prohibiting preferential treatment. The court's decision partly relied on last year's Supreme Court ruling in Loper Bright, which limited regulatory agency power by overturning the Chevron Doctrine. The FCC chair called for Congressional action to enshrine net neutrality in federal law, while another commissioner lauded the decision as a reversal of the Biden administration's regulatory overreach.

(www.tvtechnology.com)

Tech

4.5 Million Fake GitHub Stars: A Shadowy Popularity Contest

2025-01-02

A new study reveals 4.5 million suspected fake stars on GitHub, primarily used to promote short-lived malware repositories disguised as pirated software, game cheats, or cryptocurrency bots. Researchers developed StarScout, a tool to detect anomalous starring behavior. The study shows a rapid surge in fake star activity since 2024. While fake stargazers don't differ significantly from average users in profile characteristics, their activity patterns are highly abnormal. While offering short-term promotional benefits, fake stars ultimately become a long-term burden. This research has significant implications for platform moderators, open-source practitioners, and supply chain security researchers.

(arxiv.org)

Tech

DOTS: A 100+ Year Digital Archive Solution

2025-01-02

Group 47's DOTS (Digital Optical Technology System) offers a revolutionary approach to long-term digital data archiving. Promising a lifespan exceeding 100 years, DOTS utilizes non-magnetic, chemically inert media impervious to electromagnetic fields, including EMP. Its low-cost, environmentally friendly design requires no demanding climate control, functioning reliably in standard office environments (15º to 150º F). Uniquely, DOTS employs a visually readable format; with magnification, the digital information itself is visible, ensuring recoverability even decades later. Unlike magnetic tapes and hard drives demanding costly, frequent data migrations to prevent data loss, DOTS provides a stable, reliable solution for preserving legal, cultural, and historical data for generations to come.

(group47.com)

Tech archival technology

Morgan Stanley Abandons Net-Zero Banking Alliance

2025-01-02

Morgan Stanley has followed Citigroup and Bank of America in withdrawing from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a global initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This decision raises questions about Wall Street's commitment to climate action. While Morgan Stanley claims continued support for client transition efforts, its departure casts doubt on the future of financial institutions' involvement in climate initiatives and raises concerns about the alliance's effectiveness.

(www.bloomberg.com)

Tech

Category: Tech