TechSlice 2023-10-25

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BIG TECH & STARTUPS

WordPress owner buys all-in-one messaging app Texts (4 minute read)

Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, has acquired Texts.com, a company specializing in universal messaging services. This move could potentially expand Automattic's reach beyond website building and into messaging platforms, bringing new communication capabilities to its users. The acquisition aligns with Automattic's strategy to provide a comprehensive suite of digital tools for web content creators and marketers.

Meta sued by 42 attorneys general alleging Facebook, Instagram features are addictive and target kids (4 minute read)

A group of 42 bipartisan attorneys general is suing Meta, alleging that features on Facebook and Instagram are addictive and target kids and teens. They claim Meta's practices negatively affect the mental health of young users and violate the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal data on users under 13 without parental consent. The attorneys general are seeking to end these practices, penalties, and restitution, and their united action highlights bipartisan concern about protecting young people online.

Apple to make tools and parts to fix phones, computers available nationwide (1 minute read)

Apple is set to announce plans to provide parts, tools, and repair documentation for its products to independent repair shops and consumers across the U.S., endorsing "right to repair" legislation to give consumers more control over fixing their devices, in line with President Biden's competition-promotion initiatives. Apple's support for nationwide right-to-repair laws and its endorsement of similar legislation in California reflect the company's evolving stance on device repair and its push for greater accessibility to repairs and parts.

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SCIENCE & FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY

How this Berlin startup deploys AI to make preventative healthcare accessible (6 minute read)

HealthCaters, a Berlin-based startup, aims to revolutionize healthcare by offering DIY health screenings using a portable testing station and app, analyzing results with an AI-powered algorithm to provide personalized risk assessments and mitigation advice, ultimately focusing on preventative medicine. The company collaborates with corporations to offer employee health screening days and recently secured $1.2 million in seed funding to expand its team and product, emphasizing the importance of strong tech expertise in the healthcare field while prioritizing data security and privacy.

Startup bags €8.5M to bolster Europe’s EV battery upcycling (3 minute read)

Battery upcycling startup Circu Li-ion has secured €8.5 million in seed funding to create a circular battery value chain for Europe's growing electric vehicle (EV) market, with the aim of upcycling three billion batteries by 2035, using AI to optimize battery discharging, dismantling, disassembly, and health diagnostics, and can save up to 48% of CO2 emissions compared to conventional recycling. This comes as the European Union introduces new battery regulations to encourage a circular economy and boost sustainable battery recycling.

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PROGRAMMING, DESIGN & DATA SCIENCE

GoSub: Gateway to Optimized Searching and Unlimited Browsing (3 minute read)

The GoSub Engine is an open-source web browser engine written in Go, which aims to provide a lightweight and performant alternative to existing engines like Chromium and Gecko. It focuses on simplicity, speed, and compatibility with web standards, making it suitable for various web development projects.

Don't Code Alone: The Best Developer Communities of 2023 (4 minute read)

In a recent blog post, Permit.io highlights the best developer communities of 2023, recognizing groups that offer valuable resources, support, and networking opportunities to developers. They provide insights into the top communities and the benefits they offer to those in the software development field.

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MISCELLANEOUS

Firefox 119 Lets You Add Images to PDFs, Import Chrome Extensions (2 minute read)

Mozilla has released Firefox 119 with improvements that enhance its utility, including the ability to import some Chrome extensions and enhancements to the Firefox View, providing a better browsing experience. However, not all Chrome extensions are supported, and the update includes various security and privacy enhancements such as Encrypted Client Hello and Font Fingerprinting Protection.

How AI Can Be Regulated Like Nuclear Energy (5 minute read)

Technology visionary Eric Schmidt and renowned statesman Henry Kissinger contend that the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) should mirror the rigorous oversight applied to nuclear weapons. They highlight the imperative for international collaboration in defining regulatory frameworks to promote the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies.

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QUICK LINKS

Search engine that scans billions of faces tries blocking kids from results (7 minute read)

The implementation of safeguards in a search engine that scans billions of faces aims to prevent children's images from appearing in its results.

Apple announces October Mac event called 'Scary Fast' (1 minute read)

Apple's upcoming October event is set to reveal new Macs with faster processing and improved performance.

Google Photos makes it easier to create your own highlight reels (2 minute read)

Google Photos is adding generative AI-powered "Highlight Videos" that automatically create short, shareable clips from users' photos and videos.

Twitter clone Pebble is shutting down just five weeks after a rebrand (2 minute read)

Pebble, a social media platform created by ex-Twitter employees, is shutting down due to slow growth, competition, and investor concerns, just five weeks after a rebrand; however, they hint at a potential reinvention in the future while giving current users time to download their personal archives.

Apple to Overhaul TV App, Remove Standalone Apps from Apple TV (1 minute read)

Apple plans to streamline its TV app by eliminating standalone apps for renting and purchasing movies and shows, pushing users toward the Apple TV app that combines purchased content, Apple TV+, and third-party channel subscriptions, with an update in December aimed at making content navigation clearer.

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