Author: user

from the word-but-wind dept

When Apple unveiled its AR/VR Vision Pro headset early last year, the product was met with nothing but hype from the tech press. You can’t spend thirty seconds online without reading about how expensive headsets ($3,500-$4,600 depending on accessories) will revolutionize every industry in existence or change everything. Seriously: everything.

Less than a year later there were persistent rumors that Apple was ending production of the headset due to “weak demand and customer dissatisfaction.” The information was the first to suggest about last October, stating that weak sales have component manufacturers reducing the production of parts since the beginning of last spring, as soon as it became clear that this is not, it seems, anywhere near the technology. revolution.

For most people, these products are too expensive, uncomfortable to wear, make them vomit, or simply don’t have enough software to justify their constant use:

“Apple has sold less than 500,000 units of the Vision Pro since its launch. While many have returned the product after experiencing headaches, vision problems, neck pain, and motion sickness, even those who stocked it are reportedly not using it as much as Apple would have liked, mainly due to the lack of interesting applications and games.

When bankers and VCs take over Silicon Valley they create a gap between marketing and reality, or adjust the decoration and original innovation. Most people don’t care if a technology product is good or not actually add anything as long as you can convince that person. And with an increasingly feckless, access-obsessed, and dysfunctional tech press, that’s often within reach.

Seriously, the Vision Pro press coverage is just stupid. A lot of unskeptical gibberish by outlets trying to kiss the ring for access. Famous quotes and sentences using the word confetti. Several key influencers claim the Vision Pro is as transformative as the original iPhone:

“I believe it is as important a breakthrough as the Macintosh of 1984 and the iPhone of 2007.”

Many people want to believe that Apple has created another revolutionary miracle. But they built a dud. And it is quite clear to those who pay attention. That price tag is ridiculous. Steve Jobs would never approve of bad ass batteries and short battery life. Outside of some early impressive gimmickry, there is little genuinely evolutionary, useful software.

But in order for the product to be successful, it is necessary improve things. VR and AR are also challenging because the scale of computing and battery life are nowhere near what they need to be to offer the transformative and inobtrusive experiences that companies promise. Most people still just don’t like plastic strapping to the face. A ton of people still can’t use VR without throwing up.

I don’t hate VR. I have three different main headsets. But the technology isn’t ripe enough to warrant the kind of hype Meta or Apple’s VR products are getting. Maybe one day, someone will develop a perfect, smooth, almost magical experience that lives up to the hype in this field, but if I had to bet, when the product comes, it won’t come from Apple or Meta (Apple and Meta will buy themthough).

Apple die hards generally get defensive when someone suggests the Vision Pro is a dud from the start. They usually talk about “it’s just a prototype” and “prototypes are supposed to be expensive,” and so on. really useful it may come down the road a few years from now.

And that may be true. Perhaps Apple turned around and used the lessons of this dud to create something really useful and affordable. But that still doesn’t mean this isn’t a wildly misrepresented dud from the start. And also don’t blame the tech press for repeatedly kicking their own ass for giving praise to undercooked products.

Filed Under: augmented reality, headset, innovation, virtual reality, vision pro, vr

Company: apple

Over the past few months, I’ve been following creators who don’t have the courage to solve problems I know. Finding a solid video game controller for smartphones has always been a struggle. There are many Bluetooth controllers on the market, as well as some that plug directly into your phone. The problem with this controller is that you have to lug around a separate accessory with you everywhere. MCON solves the problem.

Now available to back on Kickstarter, the MCON is a mobile controller that attaches to the back of your phone magnetically. When not in use, the MCON slides onto the back of the phone, allowing you to keep it attached at all times, even when you’re using a case.

Once you have attached the controller to the phone, you can quite literally “open” at any time by pressing down on the two buttons that will spring the phone up. The controller features A, B, X, and Y buttons as well as a D-pad, two Hall effect joysticks, function keys, and right and left triggers. There are also two folding grips that improve ergonomics during long gaming sessions and make the device look like a traditional controller.

To support many phones, the controller ships with two 2.5mm discs attached with a MagSafe magnetic array. If the iPhone has a camera bump, you can stack one or two pucks on the MCON to make sure there is enough clearance. If you have a case, you can probably do enough cleaning yourself.

On the other hand, if you have an Android phone or a device without MagSafe, you can use the included adhesive MagSafe adapter to make the controller fit your phone.

The MCON controller will cost $149, but there are some early bird promotions available for those who build the product on Kickstarter, at a price of $99. It will come in white and black colors, and should ship in August 2025.

If you want to pick it up, inside the box, you will find the MCON controller, a USB-C cable, two magnetic pucks, and an adhesive MagSafe adapter.

The dream of flying taxis is getting closer to reality, thanks to the advent of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Unlike helicopters, these machines use small propellers, similar to drones, to take off and land vertically.

Once airborne, the rotors can be tilted forward, allowing them to cruise like fixed-wing aircraft. It offers a combination of versatility, efficiency, and environmental benefits. Major players like Joby Aviation are leading the way, with plans to launch commercial air taxi services from 2025.

Cities like Dubai, New York, and Los Angeles are on the map for this futuristic transportation system. Meanwhile, China’s EHang pioneered unmanned eVTOL, aiming to cater to the tourism sector, The New Scientist report. This rapid development suggests that flying taxis could become a fixture in our skies.

Image source: Joby Aviation

eVTOL aircraft come with some advantages, of course. They are designed to be quieter than helicopters, which will make them more acceptable for urban and suburban use. They are also powered by batteries and have the promise of zero carbon emissions when charged with clean energy.

Reliance on advanced computer systems not only increases operational efficiency but also reduces the risk of pilot error, which enables us to achieve safety standards comparable to those of commercial airlines. However, the road – or rather the sky – to the widespread use of flying taxis is not without challenges.

Current battery technology limits eVTOLs to flight ranges of 185 to 370 kilometers, more than the 400 to 800 kilometers offered by conventional helicopters. This limits its use to shorter journeys, making it ideal for city trips or quick inter-city hops rather than long-distance travel.

We have seen progress in EV batteries that can be recharged in five minutes and allow EVs to run longer. In addition, financial support from military programs has been a lifeline for companies like Joby, which has substantial contracts under the US Air Force’s Agility Prime initiative.

The real test for this technology is to prove demand beyond initial test flights. To truly revolutionize urban mobility, flying taxi services must be practical, accessible, and not just a luxury for the wealthy. As the year 2025 approaches, flying taxis may take flight, signaling a change in the way cities are navigated.

from the two-guilty,-no-right dept

There are no winners here. There are only different levels of losses. The government supports most. As it should be. If there is a need for an adult in the room, the government is responsible for it, no matter how annoying the child is.

It means that the most childish people will not learn anything from this experience. But we expect our fellow Americans to be irrational freaks with idiosyncratic views on every social issue. What we should expect – more unusual – is that the government carries its weight for people who are more stupid than dangerous.

But the government failed here. And, because of that, people full of irrational hatred get empty net goals. I will try to summarize where I can, but there is a LOT going on here.

Angela Reading, a resident of North Hanover, New Jersey and a member of the local school board, walked into her daughter’s school and was immediately outraged by all the inclusiveness she witnessed. From the decision of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals [PDF]:

The controversy that led to this case opened at the Upper Elementary School (UES or School) in the North Hanover Township School District. As part of the “Week of Respect” 2022, the School invites students to design a “demonstration” poster.[ing] that UES [is] a safe place where everyone is [is] accepted.” Some students offer a “generally accepted message,” while others support more specific causes.

One of the posters, which is centered with the acronyms “LGBTQ” and “UES,” features descriptions of various sexual identities and corresponding flags. These posters include “bi” flags, “genderfluid” flags, and “polysexual” flags, among others. It proclaims that “being different is cool” and instructs students that “you are who you are.”

Angela Reading first saw the poster when she attended the School’s “Math Night”. After her seven-year-old daughter asked her what the word “polysexual” meant, she became “sad”.

Now, I assume that “livid,” in this context, means unable or unwilling to open a dictionary or do endless googling. Such a definition may be given without disturbing anyone’s (normal) sensibility. It’s definitely not graphic, although it’s a slightly more complex concept than you’d expect a seven-year-old to absorb right away. Instead of just ending this conversation, Reading went on Facebook, which was the trend at the time.

They took their concerns to social media. In a lengthy post to the “NJ Fresh Faced Schools” Facebook page, Reading wondered why elementary schools allow students to “explore the topic of sexuality,” and worried that adults “talk about sex life” with their children. He called the poster “perverse” and said it was “definitely illegal to expose my children to sexual content.”

Narrator: the poster does not contain sexual content.

Although”[k]Id have to respect the difference,” Reading explained, he “shouldn’t be forced to learn and accept the concept of sexuality in elementary school.” Reading concluded the post by noting that his comments were “made in [her] capacity as a private citizen and not in [her] capacity as a [school] board members.”

This non-binding statement means nothing, just like most of the legalistic-sounding statements copied and pasted on the internet. It is made in two capacities because [dun dun DUNNN] he is also a member of the school board.

All of this is stupid and wrong and wouldn’t be a Techdirt post if it weren’t for the government’s response, which includes a group of government employees who are concerned citizens.[!] while using their powers to retaliate against statements they disagree with.

The main problem here is that Reading’s daughter goes to school with an Army kid. (More precisely, they are the children of the “flaps,” a term referring to members of the Air Force I didn’t know until I spent a decade living outside of Ellsworth Air Force Base.)

Back to the story. Weird shit started happening. A group of military officers who were schoolboys with Reading children did not enter the post and began to show. All well and good. Then they started doing things like this, apparently just because they had abilities to do so.

Controversy grew when [Major Chris] Schilling raised his concerns to leaders at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Now writing from a military email account, Schilling warned Major Nathaniel Lesher that Reading’s post could “give[] a road map for anyone who wants to make a statement, political, ideological, or even violent. In response, Major Lesher promised to forward the matter to Robert Duff, Hanover Township Police Chief. After Reading’s post gained traction online, Schilling once again contacted Lesher, who vowed to “push this one more time” to Duff.

Instead of de-escalating matters for the Hanover Township Police, the situation intensified when other military personnel got involved. Air Force Anti-Terrorism Program Manager Joseph Vazquez wrote that Reading’s post “really got under my skin.” He assured Major Schilling that he “sent this to our partners with the NJ Office of Security and Preparedness and the NJ State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center,” who “monitor right-wing/hate groups.” And Lt. Col. Megan Hall advised two local school superintendents, including Defendant Helen Payne, that Reading’s post “has raised concerns for the safety of our military children and families.” He is concerned that he “could become a target of extremist personnel/groups.”

Yes, Reading’s post deserves criticism. And yes, people should question his position on the school board. But “extremist?” This is just suburban Karen shit being thrown onto social media because at least one immediate member of the poster’s family will feel compelled to add a supportive emoji or two. Yes, it is meant to stir up people who barely know the impulses of their own loins, but it is hardly a matter of national security.

And yet, it became a matter of national security, but for a moment. The police chief inserted himself into the online discussion and convinced the owner of the Facebook page to remove Reading’s comments. They did so by insinuating that the post and the owner of the page were “under investigation” by the Department of Homeland Security. Head Duff also (unbelievably) claimed that he had to expel officials to the Hanover school because of the “threat” posed by this idiotic post that treated Reading as an irrational person.

Surely this couldn’t be more stupid, one might think. It is not.

The controversy did not end there. One comment on Reading’s post indicated the “location” of the upcoming school board meeting, which was held at a “time . . . publicly listed on the school’s website.” Become although Reading’s post has been removedMajor Schilling fears that outsiders may still endanger the community. Concern for “military parents [who] attend these meetings,” Schilling sought more support from grassroots leaders. Become Anti-terrorism Program Manager Vazquez forwarded Schilling’s concerns to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, who in turn notified the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. Meanwhile, Chief Duff offered to “continue to monitor social media and take appropriate action if necessary.”

Jesus Christ is Homosexual. I’m also concerned about domestic terrorism in the form of white people with a lot of bad ideas and free time, but this isn’t it. Here’s another one: people who are very uncomfortable with the idea of ​​receiving and accessing their Facebook account. There are millions of them. Let’s go.

On top of the ongoing hassles at Homeland Security posts, various government employees and officials are exchanging text messages criticizing Reading (which is actually OK in some cases) and trying to determine the new government’s pain levels.

Reading sued, as he always should. And, after several rounds in the lower court, this has ended in the lap of the Third Circuit. The Court of Appeal said two things. The first one is, which doesn’t seem right: There is no need for an order because the officials and government employees who followed him for months have since moved on to other things.

Although the Defendants were involved in a conspiracy to take away Read’s First Amendment right to free speech during the last week of 2022, any threat “had greatly diminished” by the time they sued in March 2023.

Given this small gap in time, “adequate subsidy” can be more closely related to his lawsuit (or before the threat to sue), instead of disinterest constantly accused in the rudeness with him more.

The only support for the appeal court’s claim appears to be the statements made by the torturers under the command of the Reading government.

[H]before law enforcement Defendant confirmed that he was not monitoring Reading and had no plans to do so. The record backs him up on that score. While Reading continued to write blog posts about the appropriateness of “LGBTQ+ issues in public schools,” the defendants did nothing more to silence or retaliate against him.

Perhaps. Maybe not. I guess everyone will just have to wait and see.

However, this conglomerate of officials who think there is no need to improve the situation rather than simply ignore it (or give a counter speech) are still on the hook for compensation. Perhaps. They cannot continue to demand in the hope of getting anything in shape season relief. But he still has a (slim) shot at getting compensation for past harassment.

Reading’s allegations are serious and raise important questions under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. Reading expressed concern about whether her seven-year-old daughter was being exposed to inappropriate sexual topics at primary school. Regardless of whether one agrees with Reading’s concerns, the record shows that Defendants’ response to her blog post was, quite simply, disproportionate. Although such past conduct may have resulted in compensatory damages or declaratory relief, this narrow appeal concerned only Reading’s standing to seek a preliminary injunction. And with Reading showing no signs of injury in the future, they cannot stand to seek that relief.

Look, I don’t like Reading’s opinion. But the best response is a strong rebuttal or a heavy sigh in recognition of social media’s ability to amplify even the most ignorant opinions. What we should not be doing is using military power and connections to try to treat idiots as a real threat to public safety. Everyone involved should know better. But in the absence of an order, it is hard to believe that this folly will not be repeated after the damage part of the judgment is over.

Filed under: 1st amendment 3rd circuit censorship free speech hanover new jersey retaliation

Samsung’s next-generation foldable phone is at least seven months away, but it looks like 2025 will be the year when the Korean giant introduces a cheaper model rather than offering a price hike.

Rumors in November and December mentioned the affordable Galaxy Z Flip FE model that Samsung will launch in the summer of 2025. Now we have more evidence that the “Fan Edition” version of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is real and will likely be launched this year.

according to SmartPrixThe Galaxy Z Flip FE has appeared in the GSMA database. The device has been added to the database after Christmas, listed as a “Galaxy Z Flip XE” device with the model number SM-F761B.

The “XE” designator in the name is either a spelling error or an attempt to avoid detection. Another possibility is that Samsung isn’t sure which moniker to use.

Fan Edition (FE) is the name Samsung usually uses for the cheaper Galaxy S models that are launched in the second half of the year. Then there is the name Special Edition (SE) that Samsung will use in late 2024 for the limited version of the thin Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Considering a previous leak that claimed Samsung was developing a cheaper type of foldable Flip, the Fan Edition name seems more likely. That’s why the Galaxy Z Flip FE designer is more useful.

Also, the Galaxy Z Flip line sells better than the Fold, because it’s more affordable. Also, the Fold 6 became more expensive last year. Making a cheaper version of the folding that gets more attention from buyers might be the better play here.

The GSMA listing does not provide any details about the Galaxy Z Flip FE. It’s not clear what compromises to expect from the cheaper Flip variant launched this year. Samsung will also have the regular Galaxy Z Flip 7 in stores and a Fold 7 phone that will look like the Galaxy Z Fold SE.

I expect the Galaxy Z Flip SE to use the Flip 6 design and some key specs. Samsung could also save money by replacing Qualcomm’s flagship chip with an Exynos variant, but that’s all just a guess.

Last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 is easily Samsung’s best Flip phone to date, a better flagship than its predecessor. The phone starts at $1,099 before offers, which is more expensive than the candybar flagship. It will be interesting to see the price of Samsung’s Flip FE variant.

The base 2024 Motorola Razr costs $699.99, which is a great price for a foldable handset. I expect Samsung to target this price point with the Galaxy Z Flip FE.

from the what-free-speech? dept

Elon Musk has once again threatened to sue for a speech he didn’t like – this time, over headlines about a deadly explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck. But not liking how the story is framed does not constitute defamation. For a statement to be defamatory, it must be false, defamatory, and published with “reckless disregard for the truth” (effectively meaning “knowing it is false when you decide to publish it”). None of this applies here.

Poor portrayal, or factual framing that some feel is “misleading” is not defamation.

Musk’s legal threats over the title are not only pointless, they’re dangerous. They show a disregard for freedom of speech and an attempt to intimidate the press. And unfortunately, they are not the only ones pushing this censorial theory.

Back in 2020, you may remember that we criticized Larry Lessig for trying to make what he called “Clickbait Defamation” a thing. The argument is that correct headlines framed to reflect what is perceived to be unfair should be considered defamatory. That, of course, is not how true slander works. Lessig eventually dropped his lawsuit after the NY Times changed the headline he didn’t like, but it appears that others are now picking up on this theory, with Elon Musk leading the charge.

As you may have heard, yesterday, a US Army special forces operations sergeant allegedly drove a rented Tesla Cybertruck loaded with explosives/fireworks in the bed, and parked it in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, where there were explosives in the trunk. then exploded, killing the driver and injuring several bystanders.

As with many news stories, the details of the story are not known at first, with the main facts at first being (1) the Trump Hotel in Vegas, (2) the Tesla Cybertruck, and (3) the explosion.

Since there have been so many stories in the past year about Cybertrucks catching fire, including one just a few days ago, many people thought this was just another incident. Another, noting the close relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk suggests that the image of the Cybertruck burning in front of the Trump Hotel could be used as a metaphor for world news, but also suggests something more deliberate. Investigators are still working on the details.

But, either way, the inclusion of Cybertruck and the explosion in the title is factual. However, Elon Musk suggests that he can claim the title:

But, for there in fact defamation, there must be a false statement of fact (and, possibly, published knowing or previously suspecting that it is false). Nothing in the headline: “Tesla Cybertruck explosion in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas leaves 1 dead, 7 injured” is fake. It’s all factual.

Senator Mike Lee, who once presented himself as a supporter of free speech and the First Amendment, also jumped into the fray suggesting the NYT v. Sullivan had to fall, allowing Musk to claim the same headlines:

I mean, first of all, Elon Musk wasn’t mentioned, so it’s hard to say that this would be defamation of Elon. Second, this is the original AP headline, right after the event happened, when most everyone knows: The Cybertruck actually caught fire outside the Trump Hotel. It was not known at the time that the bed was full of explosives.

But also, everything in there is real.

And, yes, you can argue that the framing is ultimately misleading or even unfair. But free speech methods work. There are many titles that people feel are wrong or unfair. I called him out, and I also got accused of misleading the title. That’s how free speech works. Sometimes people don’t like the way other people make things or headlines.

But there is no slander.

Indeed, if Mike Lee is so concerned about the use of the passive voice in headlines, when are we going to see him claim that the traditional passive voice “police-involved shooting” is also defamatory?

Some may argue (and some people shouted at me on Bluesky about this!) that other incidents involving cars, including the attack in New Orleans on the same day, did not focus on the car model involved (Ford F-). 150 Lightning, if you were wondering).

But that’s understandable. Again, before anyone knew the details of what happened in Vegas, all they knew were three simple facts reported in the headlines. Furthermore, the make and model of the car is very good in this story because of Musk’s close association with Trump, which certainly suggests that there is a relationship to be told.

That was not true in the New Orleans case (although some news stories talked about the Ford truck and how heavy it was, it probably caused the damage).

Either way, it’s another case of so-called “free speech absolutist” Elon Musk appearing to threaten legal action over speech he doesn’t like, which isn’t in the same zip code as defamation.

Whether or not they actually demand it, it shows an attitude of intimidation: if you don’t cover the story in a way that makes me look good, I can sue you and drag you into costly and resource-intensive lawsuits, no matter how preposterous the claims may be.

Real free speech means that public figures, like Elon Musk, need to have a thicker skin. They need to understand that not everyone is going to publish something that pleases them, and sometimes you just have to suck it up and take it. Or use the fact that you have one of the biggest megaphones in the world to… use your own voice to respond. Instead of threatening legal recourse. That’s how free speech works.

This is also why we need stronger anti-SLAPP laws in every state and federal anti-SLAPP laws. Because we know that the rich and powerful have no problem blaming the judicial system for burdening the media with a fun SLAPP suit as a form of intimidation.

Filed Under: 1st amendment, clickbait defamation, defamation, donald trump, elon musk, framing, free speech, las vegas, lawsuits, mike lee

Company: Tesla

Samsung is the first major smartphone vendor to launch a flagship phone with AI at the core of its marketing efforts. Last year’s Galaxy S24 series introduced the Galaxy AI suite of features. Samsung followed up with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, which got additional AI capabilities. Samsung later extended Galaxy AI support to older flagship devices. And in a few weeks, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S25 series, which should introduce more Galaxy AI innovations.

But Samsung’s leadership is worse than its AI program in terms of Samsung’s global role in genAI. In their New Year’s speech, Samsung Electronics CEO and Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee and DS Division Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun talked about Galaxy AI, saying that Samsung should be the undisputed leader of AI devices this year.

“Now is the time for bold innovation that goes beyond existing methods of success because we are facing an inflection point in AI technology,” the executive said, according to a machine-translated Samsung release. “Let’s become the clear device AI leader this year through advanced intelligence.”

His goal of becoming the undisputed leader of AI is noble. Here’s what key executives are hoping for ahead of a busy year in which AI will continue to dominate the tech world. This can also be said by officials at other leading technology companies, as AI is a top priority today.

But Samsung is nowhere near the AI ​​leader, and I don’t see that happening in 2025. The main problem with Samsung’s Galaxy AI approach is that it doesn’t have a useful model to power the genAI technology in phones like the Galaxy S24 and S25.

Galaxy AI is a blend of AI technologies. Google Circle to Search is a good example. In addition, the Galaxy S25 phone is rumored to come with free Google Gemini Advanced, the best version of Google Gemini AI.

I will also point out that Samsung’s upcoming XR device, Project Moohan and the unnamed AR smart glasses, will work on Google’s Android XR platform, with Gemini playing a key role. I expect Galaxy AI to be part of the picture for both types of products because Samsung can’t do its own AI.

Samsung has no alternative to ChatGPT or Gemini. If they are working on upgrading Bixby and Gauss, matching this AI model will take a long time.

Also, Samsung has no desktop presence. ChatGPT is my main AI tool now, and I use it across devices. Most of the time, I access it on my Mac instead of my cell phone.

OpenAI and Google have better models. Meta, Claude, and Microsoft also have more advanced AI tools than Samsung. Apple is working on Siri LLM which will act like ChatGPT and has integrated ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence on the iPhone.

As for AI on devices, Samsung may be the first to push AI on mobile devices with Galaxy AI, but it’s not the only one. Google does it with Pixel phones and Android in general. Apple presented a better vision of AI in devices with Apple Intelligence this year, which Samsung can’t seem to match.

Apple Intelligence may be behind the Galaxy AI and other competitors, but Apple has a rival it can’t match: the base of devices that can use Apple Intelligence, and the list is growing fast. Once Apple Intelligence matures, Apple can become the undisputed leader in device AI.

Speaking of Apple’s AI vision, Samsung has yet to match what Apple wants with the iPhone. It’s not just about summarizing text and notifications, creating text, creating wallpapers, editing photos, and translating. About Siri becomes a more useful assistant by accessing contextual information on the device about the user.

Apple has a plan, at least; one that Samsung can follow. Samsung’s Galaxy AI teaser during the Fold 6 and Flip 6 launch event shows that the company is working on the same vision. But Samsung is waiting for Apple Intelligence to reveal it before revealing its own plans.

I will also point out that Apple Intelligence is designed to offer AI features on devices and better privacy for cloud-based AI than Galaxy AI. Turn off Galaxy AI on your current phone, and you’ll lose a lot of useful features. Samsung has yet to match Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, a private cloud-based AI system.

My point is that it will take years for any company to become the undisputed leader in AI tools. If that happens. And it’s still too early for Samsung to call the shots, especially since it’s so dependent on partners like Google.

Also, let’s say Samsung executives just want the company to sell a lot of products that can run third-party AI programs on the Galaxy AI. In that case, that still doesn’t qualify as the undisputed leader of AI devices.

from the this-why-we-can’t-have-good dept

Another day, another major privacy scandal that never goes away.

Healthcare giant Ascension – which owns 140 hospitals and assisted living facilities – said the May cyber attack compromised sensitive data on more than 5.6 million patients.

According to a filing with the Maine Attorney General and a Dec. 19 post to Ascension’s website, the attack occurred in May, but Ascension only intended to inform the victims six months later. Compromised data includes names, social security numbers, addresses, sensitive health information, Medicare/Medicaid data, payment information, and more.

But don’t worry, Ascension offers users a standard “free credit monitor” today:

“Ascension is currently in the process of notifying affected individuals. The organization also offers two years of credit and fraud monitoring, a $1 million insurance reimbursement policy, and managed ID theft recovery services. These services became effective last Thursday.

I have been involved in so many hacks that I have actually lost a company that is now giving me a free credit report for a year. Often from credit reporting companies that also cannot secure their own networks and systems.

There are a lot of moving parts here. For-profit health care systems routinely weaken their cybersecurity, creating a field day for ransomware attackers. Lax antitrust reforms mean that healthcare giants typically prioritize unprofitable giant mergers that divert attention from cybersecurity (and healthcare). Then of course you have a country that is too corrupt to enforce privacy laws.

These scandals continue to occur because companies and executives do not see the real consequences of failing to properly invest in security infrastructure. When there is regulatory action for lax privacy, it comes in the form of piddly wrist slap fines that are often litigated down to the pittance.

The corner-cutting required to generate unsustainable and unrestricted quarterly growth to Wall Street routinely has cannibalistic effects on public safety and product quality. This “enshittification” is especially problematic when it comes to health care.

Since the Supreme Court has effectively neutered the independence of most regulators, and with Congress too destructive to pass even basic privacy laws for the Internet era, you can expect nothing to change anytime soon. At least not until there is a massive, deadly, or high-profile privacy breach that finally shakes the country from its corrupt apathy.

At that point, America’s biggest companies will get together to write a meaningless modern privacy law focused primarily on legalizing incompetence, and making life more difficult for smaller competitors.

Filed Under: cyberattack, enshittification, hacked, health, privacy, ransomware, security

Company: up

The iPhone 17 will be the most important product that Apple ships in 2025, and we already have some exciting rumors about the series. First, the iPhone 17 Air will be Apple’s thinnest iPhone in years. The base iPhone 17 variant will get a 120Hz display, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get a smaller Dynamic Island Face ID. That’s if all the rumors are now true.

But Apple is also working on iPhone innovation for the next generation. A leak from Asia claims that Apple’s component suppliers have now developed components that could be used in future iPhone generations. The insider mentions a foldable display and a Face ID component that could help Apple reduce the footprint of its 3D facial recognition system.

Weibo users Digital Chat Stationknown for various accurate leaks in the past, sent an update that mentions some components for iPhone models that Apple can use.

A machine translation of the post reveals that Apple’s supply chain is developing a multi-folding periscope lens, a variable aperture main camera, a foldable screen, and miniature ToF (Time of Flight) technology for Face ID.

While the leaker didn’t mention a specific iPhone model that the innovation could be implemented on, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen such a claim.

The foldable screen may be related to the foldable iPhone Apple is expected to launch in 2026. A main camera with a variable aperture will be in the works for next year’s iPhone 18. A new report also says that the main camera will get lenses from Samsung instead of Sony.

The smaller ToF component for the Face ID system may be related to previous rumors that Apple wants to shrink the Dynamic Island and turn it into a round hole in the coming years. The Face ID component will move below the screen, while the selfie camera will still be visible through the OLED panel.

The transition to a smaller Dynamic Island could begin this year with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Premium phones must have metalens optics for the Face ID system on Dynmic Island. The pill-shaped cutout will be smaller than the version Apple has been using since the iPhone 14 Pros.

The only iPhone component considered on the list of more surprising leaks is the multi-fold periscope lens. Apple uses a tetraprism zoom lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro models. Apple will want to improve the digital zoom experience in future models by using more complex prisms to bend light.

It’s unclear which iPhone model will introduce the next-generation zoom camera. But if the parts supplier has sent Apple samples for prototype testing, it should happen in the not-too-distant future.

That assumes Apple likes the component and is moving forward with the feature. iPhone manufacturers tested all their ideas for headsets, but not all of them were promoted as commercial products. For some leaks, it can be delayed.

Over the years, Apple has released new iPhone colors in the spring. While it bucked that trend last year with the iPhone 15 lineup, it’s possible that the company will be preparing a new iPhone 16 option for customers this spring.

While we haven’t heard from reliable sources that Cupertino will offer new iPhone 16 colors this spring, previous rumors suggest that this could be part of Apple’s plans. For example, Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, which is often more accurate than not, predicted that Apple will release seven new colors for the iPhone 16 series. However, the company chose only five colors:

• Ultramarine
• Teal
• Pink
• White
• black

This color was also reported by X user Sonny Dickson, who is right about it. Still, Fixed Focus Digital suggests two other options:

Previously, Apple has offered iPhone models in this color, including the spring version of the autumn release. While the company once offered (PRODUCT) a RED iPhone model, it seems that this partnership will not be seen again for the iPhone 16 series.

That’s when Apple releases new iPhone colors in the spring

In the past five years, the company has tripled its new colors during spring. Also, Apple’s current iPhone 16 case at least makes us wonder how the new yellow iPhone will look with the current Star Fruit case option.

While we still have to wait a little longer to find out if Apple plans to update the iPhone 16 with a new spring color, we already know that the company has exciting plans for the beginning of 2025. We expect the new MacBook Air model, the anticipated iPhone. SE 4 (or iPhone 16E, as it’s called), AirTag 2, and more.