The Japanese government will probe the activities of US tech giants, Apple and Google, amid alleged antitrust violations, the newspaper Nikkei has reported. According to the media outlet, citing sources, a government panel will be formed this month to investigate the connection between domestic smartphone manufacturers and US companies. Currently, …
Read More »Google fined $270 million in France
Google fined $270 million in France for unfair advertising practices Google will pay a €220 million ($270 million) fine and make changes to its huge online advertising business as part of an antitrust settlement with French regulators. The penalty comes as the tech giant faces multiple US suits over anti-competitive …
Read More »Russian court fines Twitter for failing to delete content considered illegal by Moscow
A Russian court on Thursday fined Twitter 19 million roubles ($259,000) for failing to delete content considered illegal by Moscow, in the latest episode of a long-running dispute between Russia and the social network operator. Twitter has been subjected to a punitive slowdown in Russia since March, part of a …
Read More »Microsoft to unplug Internet Explorer next year as it seeks edge in browser war
Microsoft Corp is pulling the plug on its once omnipresent browser, Internet Explorer, next year as it prepares to battle market leader Chrome with its slicker Edge browser. Launched in 1995, Internet Explorer became the dominant browser for over a decade as it was bundled with Microsoft’s Windows operating system …
Read More »EU wants firm pledges from tech giants in fake news fight
Facebook, Alphabet unit Google, and other tech giants will have to pledge to do more to curb the monetisation of false information through advertisement placements, according to a European Commission document seen by Reuters. The EU executive also wants smaller social media or search services, private messaging services, ad exchanges, …
Read More »YouTube to launch $100 mln creator fund for Shorts video feature
Alphabet Inc’s YouTube on Tuesday announced a $100 million fund to pay content creators who make hit videos on its new short-form video feature Shorts, as YouTube aims to court more influencers. The fund will launch in the coming months and pay creators this year and 2022, YouTube said. The …
Read More »Google will soon enforce the use of two-step verification for Google accounts
Two-factor authentication, or as Google calls it two-step verification, is a popular security feature that adds another layer of security to the authentication process. Users who have configured two-factor authentication use a secondary authentication option, such as a code that is sent via SMS to a linked mobile device or …
Read More »Google says 20 U.S. states, territories ‘exploring’ contact tracing apps
Alphabet Inc’s Google said on Friday that 20 U.S. states and territories, representing about 45% of the country’s population, are “exploring” contact tracing apps for the novel coronavirus using a tool it developed with Apple Inc. In addition, the company said public health authorities in 16 countries and regions outside …
Read More »Big Tech results move center stage after Congressional bruising
Four of the United States’ big tech firms, accounting for nearly a fifth of the S&P 500’s total value, report results on Thursday on the heels of a bruising Congressional hearing to look into alleged abuse of their global dominance. It will be the first time Apple Inc, Amazon.com Inc, …
Read More »Alphabet’s Loon launches balloon internet service in Kenya
Alphabet Inc began offering the world’s first commercial high-speed internet using balloons to villagers in remote regions of Kenya’s Rift Valley on Wednesday. The service is run by Loon, a unit of Google’s parent Alphabet, and Telkom Kenya, the East African nation’s third-largest telecoms operator. “Kenya is the first country… …
Read More »Google will start paying publishers for news
Google will start paying to display news content from some media outlets after years of resisting demands from publishers. The company announced several new licensing deals with publishers in Germany, Australia and Brazil on Thursday as part of a “new news experience” due to be launched later this year. It …
Read More »Google Maps adds new COVID-19 alerts as more cities reopen
Google is continuing to build more helpful new features into Google Maps to assist people trying to navigate around cities that have begun emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. When you look for public transit directions, you’ll now see “relevant alerts” from transit agencies about mandatory precautions you’ll need to take …
Read More »Google in $5bn lawsuit for tracking in ‘private’ mode
Google has been sued in the US over claims it illegally invades the privacy of users by tracking people even when they are browsing in “private mode”. The class action wants at least $5bn (£4bn) from Google and the owner Alphabet. Many internet users assume their search history isn’t being …
Read More »Google says most employees will work from home until 2021 amid pandemic
Google has said most of its employees will work from home until next 2021 – the latest major technology firm to stick with social distancing measures until next year. Reports said Sundar Pichai, Google’s chief executive officer, told employees on Thursday to prepare to work from home until October and …
Read More »Microsoft to invest $1.5 billion in Italian cloud business
Microsoft Corp. said on Friday it would create its first datacentre region in Italy under a $1.5 billion investment plan as the U.S. company expands its cloud computing services to more locations across the world. Microsoft’s rival Amazon Web Services last week opened a datacentre region in Milan, while in …
Read More »France Accuses Apple of refusing help with ‘StopCovid’ app
France accused Apple of undermining its effort to fight the coronavirus by refusing to help make its iPhones more compatible with a planned “StopCovid” contact-tracing app. Countries are rushing to develop smartphone apps, which are seen as a way to help keep the novel coronavirus epidemic in check while reopening …
Read More »The First Ever YouTube Video Was Uploaded 15 Years Ago Today
The first-ever YouTube video was uploaded on April 23, 2005 — exactly 15 years ago, Thursday. YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim posted the 18-second video, titled “Me at the zoo.” It has since garnered over 90 million views. To this day, it is the only video on Karim’s channel. Upon clicking …
Read More »Fortnite gives up battle against Google Play store
Fortnite for Android is available through the Google Play store for the first time, almost 18 months after owners Epic Games tried to use the game’s popularity to break the app store duopoly. The release is an embarrassing climbdown for Epic, which has sunk significant resources into building its own …
Read More »Facebook reveals Gaming app to rival Twitch and YouTube
Facebook has launched a dedicated gaming app earlier than planned, in its latest attempt to grow its presence in the online gaming world. Facebook said the “accelerated” launch was a direct response to the COVID-19 lockdown. The app lets users follow high-profile gamers, watch live gaming streams and leave comments …
Read More »Apple and Google are working together to help track the coronavirus
Apple and Google are partnering to help authorities track exposure to the coronavirus using Bluetooth technology. The two Silicon Valley giants will work on a platform to enable contact tracing, a measure that identifies people who have been exposed to the virus and who they have been in contact with, …
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