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| Here's a look at today's top tech stories: - Samsung unveils Galaxy S24 smartphones today.
- Apple updates App Store policies to allow third-party payments.
- Google admits data collection in Chrome incognito mode.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Samsung today unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S24 smartphones with AI-powered features. The lineup consists of the standard $800 Galaxy S24, the $1,000 Galaxy S24 Plus, and the $1,300 Galaxy S24 Ultra. More: - The 6.8-inch Galaxy S24 Ultra now features a titanium metal body, competing with the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max.
- The 6.2-inch Galaxy S24 and the 6.7-inch Galaxy S24+ feature an aluminum casing.
- All of the phones run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Optimized for Galaxy processor.
- The phones are now open for preorders from Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy, and carriers. They will hit retail stores on January 31.
AI upgrades: - The smartphones are the first to integrate Samsung's new "Galaxy AI" features, which include:
- Live translation of phone calls.
- Chat Assist for text message tone adjustment, translation, and spell-checking.
- Text summarization in the Notes app.
- Generative edits for manipulating objects in photos, and
- "Circle to Search," letting users circle objects in images by circling them.
Zoom out: - The AI features will also added to last year's Galaxy S23 lineup through a software update.
- The Galaxy S23, the predecessor to the S24, is among the best-selling Android phones. In the latest Geekbench performance ranking, the S23 series ranked among the top five in single-core performance among Android devices, with Samsung accounting for five of the top 10 scores.
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| 2 | | Apple has updated its App Store guidelines to allow U.S. developers to link to outside payment platforms for people to make in-app purchases. iPhone and iPad users will soon find links within App Store apps that direct them to external developer websites, where they can buy content and subscriptions, often at discounted rates. More: - iOS and iPadOS developers using an outside website for payments will still owe Apple a cut.
- The amounts is 27% rather than the usual 30% commission, or 12% instead of 15% for those in Apple's small business program.
- The change comes a day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Apple's appeal regarding its anti-steering policies in the Epic v. Apple case.
- Apple will now have to discontinue the anti-steering rules. Apple is allowing the developers to offer alternative payment methods, paying 3% less in commission to Apple, though developers may still have to pay fees to other payment processors.
Limitations: - Developers will first need to obtain permission from Apple if they want to use third-party payment platforms.
- They are also limited in how they can notify users about the other payment methods and are barred from mentioning external payments in their App Store listings.
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| 3 | | Google has updated its Chrome "incognito mode" message to clarify that websites can collect user data while browsing, contrary to what many users have believed. The move comes after Google settled a class-action lawsuit claiming it illegally tracked users in incognito mode. More: - The new message acknowledges that the ingonito private browsing mode won't change how data is collected by sites people visit and services they use, including Google.
- It stll states that Chrome users can "browse more privately" in incognito since others won't see the activity.
- It mentions that downloads, bookmarks, and reading list items will also be saved.
- Google has now added the updated disclaimer on Canary, a Chrome version mainly for developers.
- The change isn't in the latest Chrome version but should arrive soon.
Zoom out: - The class-action lawsuit alleged that Google tracked, collected, and identified users' browsing data in real-time even when they opened a new incognito window.
- The case, previously set for a 2024 trial, is now on hold until settlement details are finalized by late February.
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| 4 | | Security researchers found a vulnerability in some Apple and other GPUs that could open the door for local attackers to gain access to sensitive data. Cybersecurity firm Trail of Bits first discovered the security flaw, dubbed "LeftoverLocals," that could allow attackers to eavesdrop on things like ChatGPT sessions. More: - The vulnerability was found in GPUs made by Apple, AMD, Qualcomm, and Imagination.
- Attackers with local access to a phone or other device with the GPU can access and read data, like AI chatbot sessions, that was already processed in the GPU's local memory.
- Apple has since patched the security flaw in newer devices using A17 Pro and M3 chips.
- However, older models like the iPhone 12 and M2 MacBook Air are still susceptible.
Zoom out: - According to MacRumors, the flaw is especially worrying as GPUs are increasingly used to process data for large language models that power chatbots and other AI apps.
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| 5 | | To comply with the EU's new Digital Markets Act, Google says it will start showing different search results for online shoppers in the EU, with more links to comparison sites. The new law takes effect in early March, forcing major tech companies to modify their search, data, and browser services in Europe. More: - In a blog post today, Google detailed its plans to make sure its products and services are legal under the new law.
- Google will give EU users the option to link or unlink services, such as Google Search, YouTube, Ad services, Google Play, and Chrome.
- The company said it will start offering "choice screens" for Android phones, letting users choose their preferred search engine and web browser upon setup.
- Similarly, Google will have choice screens on the Chrome browser app on desktop and iOS.
- The company will display a new "consent banner" asking for permission to continue sharing data for some services.
Zoom out: - The EU's Digital Markets Act covers at least 22 Big Tech services, including Google Search, Safari, Amazon's marketplace, TikTok, and Facebook.
- Companies will have to make many of their services interoperable with other platforms.
- Certain platforms must refrain from favoring their services over rivals, avoid merging personal data from different services, and allow users to download rival platform apps.
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| 6 | | Telsa founder and CEO Elon Musk said he would be "uncomfortable" growing the automaker to become a leader in AI and robotics without at least 25% voting control, nearly double his current stake. In a series of posts on X this week, Musk wrote that a 25% stake would be "enough to be influential, but not so much that I can't be overturned." More: - Musk said that without a 25% stake, he would "prefer to build products outside of Tesla."
- The main goal is to ensure "the right amount of voting influence."
- With a 25% stake, he is influential but can still be overridden. At 15% or less, the ratio to override Musk, he wrote, "makes a takeover by dubious interests too easy."
Zoom out: - According to the WSJ, Musk owns roughly 13% of Tesla stock after selling billions of dollars worth of shares to help bankroll his purchase of Twitter, now X.
- Musk also faces a lawsuit over his compensation package. On X, the CEO claimed he has no feud with the board over his new package, and a verdict in the case is pending.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is a contributing editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters. She has written for notable publications like USA Today and the Arizona Business Gazette. During her time as a public policy reporter at The Arizona Republic, she received recognition with a Pulitzer Prize nomination and a First Amendment Award for her collaborative reporting on pension cost increases. Beth also authored a book on the solar photovoltaic industry in 2016. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Eduardo Garcia | |
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