TechSlice 2023-10-24

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BIG TECH & STARTUPS

Google Chrome's new "IP Protection" will hide users' IP addresses (3 minute read)

Google is testing an "IP Protection" feature for Chrome that enhances user privacy by masking their IP addresses using proxies to thwart covert tracking, offering control over their privacy, and adapting as the ecosystem evolves to safeguard against cross-site tracking; it will begin with selected domains and only be available to users logged into Google Chrome with US-based IPs as a preliminary test, expanding to a 2-hop proxy system for improved privacy in later phases, but it poses cybersecurity concerns about blocking DDoS attacks and manipulating traffic if Google's proxy servers are compromised.

DOJ probing Tesla’s EV range after reports of exaggerated numbers (2 minute read)

The US Department of Justice is investigating Tesla over allegations that the company exaggerated the range of its electric vehicles through software manipulation, which resulted in widespread customer complaints and appointment cancellations by a special "diversion team." This inquiry comes as part of broader investigations into personal benefits, related parties, and personnel decisions at Tesla.

Apple could spend $5B on servers to catch up in AI race (3 minute read)

Apple may spend over $5 billion on servers for its generative AI development over two years, with a substantial portion allocated to the acquisition of AI servers in 2024, driven by the company's aim to catch up with competitors in the AI field, particularly in the generative AI realm, while focusing on enhancing privacy, security, and design flexibility in its approach. Despite this significant investment, Apple's AI infrastructure is still expected to lag behind major competitors like Meta and Microsoft, which are projected to make much larger AI server purchases in the coming years.

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SCIENCE & FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY

Scientists create world’s most water-resistant surface (3 minute read)

Finnish scientists have developed the world's most water-repellent surface, featuring a "liquid-like" layer that makes water droplets slide off with high efficiency. This innovation has the potential to enhance various industries and technologies, from plumbing to transportation, by offering improved water repellency and challenging conventional notions of friction at the molecular level.

New AI-powered socks send signals to assist dementia, autism patients (3 minute read)

Milbotix has developed AI-powered SmartSocks for detecting distress in individuals with autism and dementia. These medical socks, which are machine washable and battery-free, will undergo trials in care homes in the southwest England county of Dorset, where sensors collect physiological information from the wearer's ankle, and sophisticated algorithms estimate the likelihood of distress, notifying the care team for intervention.

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PROGRAMMING, DESIGN & DATA SCIENCE

Free Midjourney alternative: Ideogram AI (4 minute read)

Ideogram is a free-to-use AI image generator that allows you to create images with text, including images of celebrities and mascots. However, the level of realism in the generated images is average compared to other AI generators, and many images have visual defects. Additionally, the prompt accuracy is not very high, so it may not fully follow your input. While Ideogram can be useful for free image generation, it may not replace more advanced options like Midjourney.

GitHub Compliance – All You Need To Know (12 minute read)

This article delves into GitHub compliance and certifications, highlighting the importance of meeting various standards and regulations for data security, privacy, and access control. It covers the shared responsibility model, compliance requirements, and key factors such as data location, access and identity control, access permissions, monitoring, ransomware protection, backup, disaster recovery, and corporate security policies, all critical for ensuring a robust and compliant GitHub environment.

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MISCELLANEOUS

Europe has ‘no other choice’ but to depend on SpaceX for upcoming satellite launches (2 minute read)

SpaceX has signed a deal with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch four Galileo navigation and communications satellites. The agreement marks the first collaboration between ESA and SpaceX on a satellite containing classified information, with a focus on encrypted communications for European governments and the bloc's satellite navigation system.

Centralized Exchanges Record Net Outflows as Bitcoin Price Inches Near $35,000 (2 minute read)

As Bitcoin approaches $35,000, centralized exchanges witness substantial net outflows, indicating a newfound bullish sentiment with investors holding onto their crypto assets, rather than selling them. This shift in behavior aligns with the broader market's positive sentiment, driven by speculation surrounding a potential spot Bitcoin ETF approval and the stock market's similar gains.

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QUICK LINKS

Google could be facing yet another antitrust case (2 minute read)

The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) is investigating Google to determine if it violated antimonopoly regulations by allegedly incentivizing Android phone manufacturers to avoid installing search engines from its competitors.

Apple HomePods now have native YouTube Music support (2 minute read)

YouTube Music can now be set as the default music service on HomePod, allowing users to ask Siri to play tracks from the service directly on their HomePod without needing their iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch nearby.

Samsung's new Galaxy Tab A9 series is your best shot at cheap big tablets (3 minute read)

Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+, budget-friendly Android tablets featuring varying screen sizes, octa-core Snapdragon 695 SoC, and up to 8GB of RAM, targeting users with simple use cases.

Google Decides To Pull Up The Ladder On The Open Internet, Pushes For Unconstitutional Regulatory Proposals (6 minute read)

Google is being criticized for supporting regulatory measures aimed at protecting children and teenagers online, which critics argue could create a compliance burden that only large tech companies like Google could bear while stifling smaller competitors.

Murena Kickstarter pulls in more than $150K for new phone with a built-in privacy switch (2 minute read)

The Murena 2 smartphone, a privacy-focused device running /e/OS without Google apps and featuring physical privacy switches, has exceeded its Kickstarter goal and offers various backing tiers for supporters.

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