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Zuckerberg Disses Apple Vision Pro, Says It Is Expensive – Meta News

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Shelby
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During Apple’s recent WWDC, the company previewed Vision Pro, historic as it is since it is its very first wearable headset device. It offers a mixed reality experience with features such as 4K micro OLED displays with 23 million pixels combined, eye and gesture tracking for navigation and control, more than a dozen cameras, and more. 

Apple Vision Pro is also winning the hearts of many people around. For instance, Matthew Panzarino from TechCrunch, an online newspaper that publishes content about tech, said the headset’s hardware is “very good.”

“The hardware is good — very good — with 24 million pixels across the two panels, orders of magnitude more than any headsets most consumers have come into contact with. The optics are better, the headband is comfortable and quickly adjustable and there is a top strap for weight relief,” Panzarino wrote.

Nilay Patel, the editor-in-chief of The Verge, a technology news website, also likes the headset. They said they wore the Apple Vision Pro, adding, “It’s the best headset demo ever.”

But apparently, Facebook’s founder and CEO of its parent company, Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, is not part of this group. He actually dissed the Apple Vision Pro. 

‘No magical solutions’

In a company-wide meeting the Meta CEO held with its employees yesterday, he responded to Apple’s announcement of Vision Pro, saying that the device has “no magical solutions” and “costs seven times more” than the headset that Meta also recently unveiled. 

Zuckerberg said those statements in front of Meta’s employees at the company’s Menlo Park, California headquarters. The meeting was also the company’s first all-hands meeting since 2020. 

Notably, the Meta CEO said Apple Vision Pro failed to present any significant technological breakthroughs that his company hadn’t thought of, adding Apple’s vision for how people intend to use the device is “not the one” he wants. 

Zuckerberg also championed his company’s version, the Meta Quest 3, with his employees. He said, “I think that their (Apple’s) announcement really showcases the difference in the values and the vision that our companies bring to this in a way that I think is really important.” 

He added that Meta Quest 3 is about “people interacting in new ways and feeling closer” while “about being active and doing things” at the same time. 

Apple Vision Pro is expensive, Zuckerberg says

A few days before Apple unveiled its Vision Pro, Meta announced Quest 3, a VR headset with a higher resolution, stronger performance, slimmer and more comfortable design, and breakthrough Meta Reality technology, among others. 

It also costs only $499, compared to Vision Pro, that costs a whopping $3,499, which Zuckerberg said “costs seven times more” than its Quest 3. 

Despite the positive feedback to Vision Pro, others agree with what the Meta CEO says. 

The Conversation, a network of not-for-profit media outlets that publish news and research reports online, said in one of its articles, “The Apple Vision Pro hasn’t really impressed consumers… Others can’t help but point out the hefty price tag of US$3,500 – and the fact that the general public has simply not embraced mixed reality headsets.”

How about you? What’s your verdict so far?

Adobe announces new commercial-friendly ‘Firefly for Enterprise’ offering

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Santiago Bongco
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Adobe is bringing its generative AI Firefly model to businesses through a new offering. According to the company, Adobe Firefly for Enterprise will allow businesses to train the model using their brand elements and style. Even more, Adobe promises to secure businesses with a license to the model from any possible intellectual property claims that the Firefly AI might face over its generated creations.

Adobe Firefly is one of the most promising AI models now in the market, allowing users to generate detailed images using natural language. Now, Adobe wants to bring it to businesses. It should enable the convenient and quick generation of images that companies can use for their brands, campaigns, and other purposes.

“Enterprise leaders expect content demands will increase by five-fold over the next two years, making it imperative for them to drive efficiencies internally,” said David Wadhwani, Adobe’s president of digital media business. “This new enterprise offering empowers users of any skill level to instantly turn ideas into content with Firefly, while tapping into the power of Express and Creative Cloud to quickly modify assets and deliver standout designs.”

Adobe’s new enterprise offer for Firefly will give businesses access to the AI via the Firefly application, Creative Cloud, or Adobe Express. Moreover, Adobe will allow enterprises to adopt the model by directly training it to give it the brand’s distinct styles when generating images. 

Unfortunately, Adobe still hasn’t clarified the pricing and official release date of Adobe Firefly for Enterprise. Yet, companies can expect that the price of the offer will be based on their size and needs. Adobe also promotes the AI model as a commercial-friendly tool since it is trained using Adobe Stock images and other content that is openly licensed and doesn’t have copyright restrictions. With this, Adobe confidently vouches for the safety of the tool. Adobe even promises to compensate customers for their loss if the tool generates an image that could lead to intellectual property claims.

Not Again: Several Malicious Apps Stealing Private Data Spotted On Google Play – Alphabet News

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Shelby
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turned on Android smartphone

Google Play pertains to an online store where users can find several apps, games, films, TV shows, books, and so much more. It has a collection of millions of apps and games provided to billions of people around the world.  

According to statistics published on the website of Gitnux, a software and digital service review platform, Google Play has over 2.5 billion active users, making it a significant player in the mobile app market. With this number of Google Play users, it just becomes alarming when security threats in the app take their toll on the safety of the users.

Threatening users’ data

Late in May, Dr.Web, a Russian IT security solutions vendor, found out that there are over a hundred apps on Google Play Store containing a spyware module known as SpinOK. According to Dr.Web, SpinOK uses minigames that reward users daily, attracting their interest.  

Once the user downloads these apps, they will take sensitive information from the user’s phone in the background and transfer these data to a remote server. 

App developers who use such software development kits (SDKs) to steal users’ personal information. They then send them to remote servers, and these data can be utilized to steal money from banks or blackmail potential victims with private photos and clips. 

Some of those apps are Macaron Match, Macaron Boom, Jelly Connect, Tiler Master, Crazy Magic Ball, and more. So, if you see any of these apps on your screen, it is best not to download them.

According to reports from various news outlets, these innocent-looking apps that contain spyware have been downloaded over 420 million times. While many of these identified apps have already been removed, some are still accessible on Google Play Store as of press time. 

Not again

But that happened last month. Yet, unfortunately, just recently, CloudSEK, a platform that predicts cyber threats, discovered 193 more apps that are showing similar issues as discussed earlier and have been downloaded 30 million times. Many of them are still on the Google Play Store as of this time of writing. 

The new set of apps discovered on the Google Play Store with the issue includes Quick Loan Pro, Pixel Battle, Dong Bao, and more. 

A spokesperson from Google has reportedly released a statement to the media regarding these incidents. They said, “The safety of users and developers is at the core of Google Play. We have reviewed recent reports on SpinOK SDK and are taking appropriate action on apps that violate our policies. Users are also protected by Google Play Protect, which warns users of apps known to exhibit malicious behavior on Android devices with Google Play Services, even when those apps come from other sources.”

So, before downloading any app on Google Play, it is advisable that you read the reviews first. You may also install a credible anti-virus app. 

Louisiana kids might soon need parental consent to create social media accounts

By
Santiago Bongco
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A new bill in Louisiana has been recently passed by lawmakers. The new law could create restrictions on the internet use of minors, including the access and creation of social media accounts. It is expected to be implemented in August 2024 if Governor John Bel Edwards signs it.

The HB61 bill passed by the Louisiana State Legislature aims to ban the use of “interactive computer services” by minors or those under 18 without the knowledge of their parents or guardians. This could include the use of social media, from TikTok to Facebook and more. It is important to note, however, that the bill remains unclear in some sections, including the platforms and services that it specifically wants to ban.

Louisiana is just of the several places now taking extra caution in allowing minors to use the web. In the future, however, the number of states enforcing restrictive internet use among children might multiply as more legislators from other places are considering the idea now. Some states include Minnesota, Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, and New Jersey.

Montana, on the other hand, took a very distinct path recently by specifically banning TikTok in its state. The new law is expected to be observed on the first day of 2024, which should make it unlawful for online stores to offer the app to Montana citizens. However, the law is now being countered by TikTok, which recently filed a lawsuit against the state.

WhatsApp gets new ‘private broadcast messaging’ feature called Channels

By
Santiago Bongco
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0

WhatsApp might soon become more than just a simple messaging application, thanks to a new feature called “Channels.” According to WhatsApp, the broadcast feature will allow users to follow certain accounts and view their posts.

Despite this, Meta is trying to promote Channels as a way to disseminate important announcements. According to the company, this will turn WhatsApp into a “private broadcast messaging product” by allowing local government accounts, services, and agencies to post all their announcements.

Of course, knowing Meta, Channels is meant more than that. Once released globally, the feature will create a new avenue for creators and businesses to promote their brands. With this, it is not a surprise that Meta has plans to inject monetization capabilities and payment features into Channels in the future. 

Accounts that will be able to access the feature can post content and announcement using channels. These posts could include “send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls.” Channels posts will be displayed in a new tab called Updates on WhatsApp.

Moreover, WhatsApp says channel admin information won’t be shown when a post is made. Similarly, followers’ info, like their numbers, will be incognito. And aside from posts being end-to-end encrypted, WhatsApp will also give Channels admins the ability to enable the blocking of screenshots and forwarding functions, making sure the content their followers are viewing in the place will remain private. 

Colombia and Singapore are the first markets to experience Channels. Meta is partnering with World Health Organization, FC Barcelona, and Manchester City for the feature’s launch and promises to soon bring the feature to more markets “in the coming months.”

Noticed Apple Made No Mention Of ‘AI’ At WWDC 2023’s Keynote? – Apple Inc. News

By
Shelby
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WWDC 2023, one of the biggest events of Apple, will conclude today. During the event, the company made a series of announcements and revelations that fascinated developers and tech enthusiasts alike. The biggest would probably be the Vision Pro headset, but it also launched the 15-inch MacBook Air, the updated Mac Studio, iOS 17, and so much more.  

Yet, did you notice that Apple did not mention artificial intelligence or AI in its keynote? Looks staged? It could be. But there might be a deeper reason behind this.

Keeping mum on AI

Not jumping into the bandwagon and hype, Apple made no mention of AI as it unveiled its latest products at WWDC 2023.

AI has recently been the talk of the town, especially in the tech world. In the industry, AI has become the biggest buzzword, more so after Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched the controversial yet trendy ChatGPT late last year, as well as competitors launching their own. 

ChatGPT is an AI platform trained to promptly follow its users’ instructions, providing them with a detailed response. It can do things like answering various questions, assisting with different tasks, composing emails, and even coding, among many others. 

Apple has chosen to lie low despite other companies like Microsoft and Google going crazy about sharing how generative AI will revolutionize their products, such as online search, image editing, and word processing. 

The company decided to be discreet and never – even once – mentioned AI in its WWDC 2023 keynote. 

Is Apple an enemy of AI? 

Why

There are various speculations about why Apple did so. In its recent article, the technology magazine WIRED wrote on its headline, “Apple ghosts the generative AI revolution.” 

Also, Matt Turck, an investor at FirstMark Capital, a New York-based venture capital firm that invests in several startups that use generative AI in their products, thought Apple making no mention of AI is its marketing choice. He said it further pushed its Vision Pro into the limelight. 

“The reality is that Apple is a bit behind others like Microsoft and Google in generative AI, so it smartly chose to position itself as running its own race in AI, as opposed to trying to play catch-up with others,” Turck said.

Moreover, a renowned technology analyst, Rob Enderle, also shared his insights about this topic. He told news media, referring to Apple, “They haven’t put much effort into it. I think they just kind of felt that AI was off into the future and it wasn’t anything surprising.”

Apple’s chief executive officer, Tim Cook, has issued a statement regarding the company’s stand on AI. He recently told news outlets, “We do integrate it into our products [but] people don’t necessarily think about it as AI.”

The Cupertino-based technology company chooses instead to use the term “machine learning” instead of “AI.”

Tesla to allow GM EV users to access Supercharger network starting in 2024

By
Santiago Bongco
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0

After Ford, General Motors is now the newest automaker to make an agreement with Tesla, which will allow it to access its Supercharger network.

The companies shared the announcement on Thursday, just two weeks after Tesla handed the same agreement to Ford. According to GM, it will now embrace Tesla’s connector design starting in 2025. Yet, as early as 2024, GM EV customers will be able to use Tesla’s 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in North America via an adapter.

“This collaboration is a key part of our strategy and an important next step in quickly expanding access to fast chargers for our customers,” the GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. “Not only will it help make the transition to electric vehicles more seamless for our customers, but it could help move the industry toward a single North American charging standard.”

Aside from Ford and GM, Tesla also announced that it would soon allow all EV brands to access its Superchargers in Canada later this year. The plan is part of the EV push of the Canadian government, which has supported the installation of over 45,000 chargers across the country in order to lure more of its citizens to switch to EVs.

These agreements are seen as a win for Tesla. Aside from additional revenue, this could help the company to better cement its name in the EV market and result in more automakers adopting Tesla’s technology and designs in the future.

In related news, Hyundai and LG confirmed a joint venture to build a new EV power plant in Bryan County, Savannah, Georgia, which is expected to deliver 30 GWh annual production capacity to support 300,000 EV production. Meanwhile, LG unveiled its new four new EV charger models, which are part of its expansion in the EV charging business. The lineup comprises two 7kW models (wall-mounted and stand-type) and two fast-charging models (100kW and 200kW).

Meta wants to bring Reels to Quest platform

By
Santiago Bongco
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0

Meta wants to bring Reels to its Quest headset. On Meta’s broadcast channel, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared how Reels will appear in the virtual world.

Meta has a huge vision for its Quest devices, and part of it is making the Quest experience more familiar to users. As such, the Facebook and Instagram parent company is bringing one of its creations into the platform: the Reels. In the post shared by Zuckerberg, a sample of a Reels window can be seen flowing in the Quest virtual world. It is complete with the usual Reels features and elements, including captions and other control buttons. It is unclear, however, whether Reels will be included in the Instagram for Quest or if it will be a separate experience.

Meta’s move to inject Reels into Quest is not surprising. In April, as part of its first quarterly earnings call for 2023, the company reported that Instagram saw a 24% increase in time engagement after the launch of Reels.

“We’re very pleased with what we’ve seen Reels drive in terms of incremental engagement on the platform so far.” Meta CFO Susan Li shared the news at that time, saying this increase extends to Reels sharing. “We’re seeing the sharing flywheel take off with Reels re-shares, with re-shares doubling over the last six months.”

The test should also better lift Quest’s name in the VR market, especially now that Apple has officially unveiled its high-end Apple Vision Pro headset. Quest headsets and the Vision Pro have different market tier targets, yet the latter’s arrival is still a threat to Meta. And now that Meta is trying to promote its newly announced Quest 3 device, it has to double down on its efforts to boost the Quest experience to make the Quest products relevant despite the current Vision Pro buzz. As part of that, aside from this Reels test, the company recently announced making price reductions on its Quest 2 headset variants. Also, Meta promised to deliver a software update to Quest 2 and Quest Pro, giving them better CPU and GPU performances.

Apollo, other third-party apps are shutting down due to Reddit’s API pricing

By
Santiago Bongco
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0

Popular third-party Reddit app Apollo announced that it is shutting down at the end of the month due to Reddit’s API pricing. Prior to this, the developer of the app, Christian Selig, expressed fears about a possible shutdown, saying that operating the app in the future could cost him up to $20 million per year. This, however, is now official as Selig shared on Twitter that Reddit’s API pushed him to the decision. And more apps are joining.

“Apollo will close down on June 30th,” the developer tweeted. “Reddit’s recent decisions and actions have unfortunately made it impossible for Apollo to continue. Thank you so, so much for all the support over the years.”

The shutdown also extends to other third-party apps affected by the API changes. Others include rif is fun for Reddit (previously Reddit is Fun), ReddPlanet, and Sync. The three announced the same plan to close on the same date indicated by Selig and expressed different concerns revolving around Reddit, aside from its expensive API pricing.

“The hurdles placed on third party apps by reddit just aren’t a feasible obstacle to overcome,” the developer of ReddPlanet shared. “With the removal of explicit content, the unreasonable pricing structure, short time period, lack of responsiveness, and unwillingness to come to a middle ground, reddit has shown that their intent is to extinguish all 3rd parties.”

“RIF will be shutting down on June 30, 2023, in response to Reddit Inc’s API changes and their hostile treatment of developers building on their platform,” RIF wrote.

Other moderators are also expressing doubt over Reddit’s ability to understand the requests and pleas of third-party apps, developers, and moderators, though the company recently announced it is making exemptions for accessibility apps. The r/Blind shared that, together with u/rumster, it has been trying to contact Reddit over accessibility issues “over the past 3 years” with “no substantive response” from the company. It added that another moderator had talks with Reddit, but “as of the current time, our concerns have gone unheard, and Reddit remains firm.”

Next week, different subreddits will protest by going all dark. In the list of participants shared on the platform, there are over a thousand subreddits expressing support for the move, with some having more than 30 million users. Some of the subreddits on the list include r/aww, r/Music, r/Pics, r/DIY, r/EarthPorn, r/explainlikeimfive, r/LifeProTips, and r/videos.

Before the protest, however, Reddit announced that its CEO, Steve Huffman, would host an AMA “about the latest API updates, including accessibility, mod bots, and third-party mod tools.” No details on what exactly will be tackled by Huffman, but one can only hope the event will announce some significant considerations that will end all these issues being faced by the entire Reddit community.

ChatGPT app update includes support for iPad, Siri, more

By
Santiago Bongco
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0

Apple users can now use the official ChatGPT app on their iPads. Aside from this, OpenAI’s update to the app includes other features, allowing the app to better complement Apple devices and features.

It is no doubt that the arrival of the ChatGPT app to the App Store was a success. It raked a total of 480,000 installs just within its first five days in the place, allowing it to surpass the download performance of Edge and Bing. After this, ChatGPT expanded to more markets. Now, as a response to the warm welcome of the Apple community to the app, OpenAI enabled native iPad support to ChatGPT. This optimization includes a tweak in the ChatGPT app to allow it to work on a bigger screen.

Moreover, the app should now also work with Siri and Shortcuts. The drag-and-drop function is also now available to the AI app, so users can move messages from ChatGPT to their other apps. 

The app is now available to Albania, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, South Korea, the UK, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Estonia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Slovenia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. 

And while the ChatGPT app is free, Apple customers can opt for OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus subscription at $20 per month. It comes with a bunch of features, including general access to ChatGPT during peak times, faster response times, and priority access to new features and improvements. According to OpenAI, it plans to bring this service to Android users via a dedicated ChatGPT app in the future.

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