Alphabet Inc’s Google on Thursday published reports for 131 countries showing whether visits to shops, parks, and workplaces dropped in March when many governments issued stay-at-home orders to rein in the spread of the novel coronavirus. Google’s analysis of location data from billions of users’ phones is the largest public …
Read More »Google CEO Calls for Regulation of Artificial Intelligence
Google’s chief executive called Monday for a balanced approach to regulating artificial intelligence, telling a European audience that the technology brings benefits but also “negative consequences.” Sundar Pichai’s comments come as lawmakers and governments seriously consider putting limits on how artificial intelligence is used. “There is no question in my …
Read More »Google and Apple remove alleged UAE spy app “ToTok”
Google and Apple have removed an Emirati messaging app called ToTok amid claims that it is used for state spying. Not to be confused with China’s TikTok, ToTok markets itself as an easy and secure way to chat by video or text. However, The New York Times (NYT) has reported …
Read More »Boy, 8, tops YouTube’s highest earners list.
An eight-year-old boy who reviews toys on YouTube has been named by Forbes as the platform’s highest earner in 2019. Ryan Kaji, whose channel Ryan’s World has 22.9 million subscribers, earned $26 million in 2019 — up to $4 million from his earnings in 2018 when he also gained the …
Read More »Huawei CEO: We can still be No.1 without Google
Huawei CEO and founder Ren Zhengfei believe his company can still become the world’s top smartphone brand, even if it remains cut off from Google’s software and apps. The Chinese company is already the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker. It was on track to overtake Samsung as the No. 1 …
Read More »Tech giants watch our every move online. Does that violate our human rights?
Facebook claims its data collection is inherent to the way the internet works. The internet didn’t have to be this way It’s a quintessential experience of the digital age: you’re scrolling through Facebook or reading an article online, and suddenly get served with an advertisement so narrowly targeted to a …
Read More »Google to buy Fitbit in $2.1 billion deal.
Google announced plans on Friday to acquire Fitbit, the world’s leading maker of wearable fitness activity trackers. The deal, worth about $2.1 billion, is one of Google’s largest acquisitions. The wearable market is growing quickly. Although Google makes some hardware, including Pixel phones and Nest devices, it hasn’t made much …
Read More »Google claims ‘quantum supremacy’ for computer
Google says an advanced computer has achieved “quantum supremacy” for the first time, surpassing the performance of conventional devices. The technology giant’s Sycamore quantum processor was able to perform a specific task in 200 seconds that would take the world’s best supercomputers 10,000 years to complete. Scientists have been working …
Read More »Huawei ready to sell its 5G technology to the Western buyer to create a global competition.
The founder of Huawei Technologies Ren Zhengfei said he is ready to share the company’s 5G technology with potential Western buyers. According to Ren, this would help level the playing field in global telecommunications. In an interview with the Economist, he said that Huawei is willing to give buyers perpetual …
Read More »Google accidentally reveals Android 10 release date.
Google has accidentally revealed the release date of the latest version of its mobile operating system, Android 10. A Google customer support agent let slip the arrival date of Android 10 during an online chat with a reporter for Phone Arena. A separate support agent then provided the same information …
Read More »Google forbids political discussion on its internal employee forums.
Google has issued new community rules barring employees from political discussions on internal message boards and seeking to curb leaks that could “undermine trust” in the tech titan, amid swirling accusations of endemic bias. The company released its updated guidelines on Friday, which remind employees to “be responsible,” helpful” and …
Read More »US delays Huawei trade ban for another 90 days.
The US Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, has confirmed a ban on Chinese technology giant Huawei will not come into force for another 90 days. The US blacklisted the company in May because of national security concerns. Huawei was then granted a temporary permit in order to ease the transition, which …
Read More »Ever wondered whether your phone is listening to you?
Yes, your iPhone Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant devices are listening to you, and it turns out that the smart devices can record what you say and share those recordings with Apple, Amazon and Google employees.
Read More »Huawei launches own operating system to replace Google’s Android.
Huawei has rolled out its long-rumored Hongmeng operating system (OS), known as the harmony. The company says it can switch to the new system at any time, including on phones, if it is unable to use Android. The Chinese tech giant officially unveiled the new platform on Friday. The operating …
Read More »Google ‘Terminates’ Chinese Search Project ‘Dragonfly’
Google has terminated its widely covered “Project Dragonfly” to build a search giant in China, Google Vice President of Public Policy Karan Bhatia told a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, in response to a question from Republican Senator Josh Hawley about its potential and planned business ventures on Chinese …
Read More »FedEx sues the US Government.
US delivery company FedEx has filed a lawsuit against the US government, arguing that it should not be required to enforce federal government export bans. The move comes after FedEx mishandled a couple of deliveries for Huawei, and failed to deliver a Huawei smartphone shipped from Britain to the United …
Read More »Huawei delays the global launch of the foldable phone by three months.
Huawei will delay the launch of its much-touted foldable 5G Mate X smartphone by three months, the latest setback for the company that was slapped with U.S. sanctions last month. The Mate X, a competitor to Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Fold, is expected to be rolled out globally in September, Vincent …
Read More »Google releases the first photo of the Pixel 4.
Google unveiled images of its forthcoming flagship Pixel 4 smartphone on Twitter Wednesday. A tweet included two photos of the new phone with one image showing a large, square camera bump on the back of the device, the most apparent design change from past models. The tweet from Google alluded …
Read More »YouTube blocks history teachers uploading archive videos of Hitler.
YouTube has blocked some British history teachers from its service for uploading archive material related to Adolf Hitler, saying they are breaching new guidelines banning the promotion of hate speech. The video-sharing website announced that it would remove material glorifying the Nazis from its platform in an attempt to stop …
Read More »YouTube to Ban ‘Hateful’ Videos, Channels.
The video sharing and streaming service YouTube announced plans on Wednesday to get rid of thousands of videos and channels promoting white supremacy and hate; the move was made to prevent extremism and hate speech, the company said. “It’s our responsibility to protect that, and prevent our platform from being …
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