TechSlice 2023-11-14

💻

BIG TECH & STARTUPS

iPad Pro OLED Panels Rumored to Start Production in 2024 (2 minute read)

LG Display is reportedly set to begin OLED production for the new iPad Pro in February 2024, three months earlier than expected, with the displays costing three times more than those used in iPhones. The move to OLED technology would eliminate the need for backlighting, offering benefits such as higher contrast ratios, deeper blacks, lower power consumption, and potentially allowing for a slightly thinner iPad Pro. Apple aims to procure around 10 million OLED panels for the iPad in 2024, with LG supplying 60% and Samsung supplying the rest, primarily focusing on the 11-inch model.

Elon Musk says X is changing its algorithm to highlight smaller accounts (1 minute read)

Twitter, known as X, is set to launch a significant algorithm update that will prioritize posts from smaller accounts, exposing users to content outside their usual network and giving smaller creators a chance to be discovered by a wider audience. This move aligns with X owner Elon Musk's vision to transform X into a creator platform, following recent features like long-form posts, extended character limits, two-hour video uploads, and an ad revenue-sharing program that has paid out nearly $20 million to creators.

🌌

SCIENCE & FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY

Joby, Volocopter fly electric air taxis over New York City (2 minute read)

Joby Aviation and Volocopter showcased brief demonstration flights of their electric aircraft in New York City, coinciding with the city's announcement to electrify two of its three heliports, the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and East 34th Street. New York City's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to clean energy aligns with the eVTOL industry's goals, and Joby Aviation, in particular, plans to roll out its commercial air taxi service in the city as part of a city-to-airport service deal with investor Delta Airlines.

This AI robot chemist could make oxygen on Mars (3 minute read)

Chinese researchers have developed an AI-powered robot chemist capable of extracting oxygen from water on Mars. Using a machine equipped with a robotic arm, the team analyzed meteorites mimicking the Martian surface to identify catalysts. The system, described as having a "chemistry brain," could potentially work continuously for years, producing nearly 60 grams of oxygen per hour for future Mars missions.

Foxconn launches its first satellites on a SpaceX rideshare, to advance Microsoft space plan (3 minute read)

Foxconn, the Taiwanese contract manufacturer, has launched its first pair of satellites, named PEARL-1H and PEARL-1C, as part of its plan to create a space internet solution. The move is seen as Foxconn's foray into the satellite industry, where it aims to leverage its capabilities to meet the increasing demand for key components and drive innovation in the new space industry. The company has also partnered with Microsoft for a low Earth orbit (LEO) global satellite system and is exploring opportunities in satellite broadband communications and beyond 5G capabilities.

👩🏻‍💻

PROGRAMMING, DESIGN & DATA SCIENCE

The age of UX Design is over. The time for Content Design has come. (4 minute read)

The article suggests that the digital landscape is undergoing a significant shift, making it the era of Content Design, as opposed to the age of UX. This change is attributed to technological advancements, the spatial web, and AI, which are transforming how users interact with content, creating a more personalized and curated experience. The key principles of Content Design, including a content-first approach, user-centric solutions, personalization, accessibility, consistency across platforms, and engagement, are highlighted as crucial in shaping the future of user experiences in the digital age.

What is Session Fixation and How to Prevent it in Node.js (5 minute read)

The article discusses the concept of Session Fixation attacks, where an attacker hijacks a valid user session, and emphasizes the importance of understanding this vulnerability and how to protect against it. It explains the basics of sessions in web applications, how session authentication works, and introduces the concept of session identifiers. The article also provides insights into preventing Session Fixation, highlighting the significance of generating new session identifiers during actions like login and addressing potential vulnerabilities, especially when dealing with shared computers.

🎉

MISCELLANEOUS

One of Wall Street's biggest bears says a 'huge crash' is coming as markets are in the biggest credit bubble in history (3 minute read)

Mark Spitznagel, CIO of Universa Investment, known for his pessimistic views, warns of an imminent market crash, describing the current situation as the "greatest credit bubble of human history." He attributes this to artificially low interest rates and liquidity injected into the economy since the financial crisis. Spitznagel predicts a significant crash as debts become unsustainable, particularly in the face of rising interest rates, with experts from Bank of America and Charles Schwab also expressing concerns about potential defaults in private and corporate debt. Despite the looming crisis, Spitznagel advises long-term stock investments, citing the S&P 500's historical outperformance.

Google Sues Scammers Over Fake Bard AI Chatbot That Downloads Malware (2 minute read)

Google is suing five unidentified scammers who exploited public interest in the AI chatbot Bard, tricking users into downloading malware. The scammers created social media accounts promoting a fake version of Bard, and upon download, malicious software was installed, granting access to users' social media accounts. This marks the first such lawsuit from a major tech company, underlining the legal challenges arising from the growing popularity of artificial intelligence.

🔗

QUICK LINKS

A lithium mine for EV batteries is coming to Arkansas, says Exxon (1 minute read)

Exxon is set to extract lithium from a deposit in Arkansas using direct lithium extraction from brine, aiming to produce lithium by 2027 with sufficient output to build a million EVs annually by 2030.

Amazon Lays Off 180 Employees In Its Games Division (2 minute read)

Amazon is eliminating 180 positions in its games division, including the entirety of Crown Channel and the Game Growth team, with a larger focus on Prime Gaming, marking its second round of cuts in the games division this year after eliminating around 100 jobs in April.

WhatsApp is adding a new way to voice chat with large groups (1 minute read)

WhatsApp is introducing a voice chat feature for large groups, allowing participants to join via push notifications and in-chat bubbles without automatic ringing. The end-to-end encrypted feature supports up to 32 participants and offers call controls without obstructing text messaging. It will roll out on iOS and Android in the coming weeks.

Google reportedly pays Apple 36 percent of search advertising revenues from Safari (1 minute read)

Google pays Apple 36 percent of ad revenue generated from Google searches on Apple's Safari browser, a confidential figure revealed during an economics professor's testimony at the Justice Department trial; the relationship between the tech giants has been scrutinized for antitrust concerns.

TechSlice is a daily newsletter with links of the most interesting stories in startups 💡, tech 💻 and programming 👩🏻‍💻.

See you next week!