The Comunicano for Tuesday November 12th 2024

Ruby Tuesday

Let's take a brisk stroll through the tech news boulevard. Buckle up, we’re going to do this with a little wit, a lot of wisdom, and just a pinch of “Well, isn’t that something?”

First stop: Meta. Over in the EU, they're finally listening to the “less is more” mantra by offering ad-free subscriptions on Facebook and Instagram. Yep, users can now pay to scroll without being bombarded by ads—a novel concept in the age of “Free is Good, but Your Data is Better.” Now, Meta says they’re adapting to align with EU regulations. But we all know they’re actually responding to regulators breathing down their necks. A clever move, maybe even a savvy one—embrace flexibility or embrace fines. Either way, the choice is now in users' hands: pay or see fewer tailored ads. Not exactly a lose-lose, is it?

Then we have Apple, doubling down on a new product line in the smart home market. They’re rolling out a new home camera, and it’s expected to be cozy with the Apple ecosystem by 2026. And if you’re wondering, yes, Goertek’s back in Apple’s good graces, piecing these together as their exclusive supplier. It’s a market shift, yes, but what it really means is this: Apple wants a slice of your living room just as much as they want your ears with their health-savvy AirPods. The tech giant’s stepping up to remind us, they’re watching, listening, and maybe even monitoring our heart rates.

And, oh, Apple’s getting a slap on the wrist for geo-blocking in the EU. Apparently, folks in different countries can’t always access the same content or services. The EU watchdogs say that goes against the “one Europe, one market” vibe they’re pushing. Apple’s got a month to sort it out—or else. And what’s this? A budget iPhone SE is rumored for 2025. Sure, it’ll be “budget-friendly,” but with Face ID, USB-C, and a boosted camera, it’s not exactly slumming it. Expect a price bump, but hey, “budget” is relative, right?

Then there’s OpenAI, shifting the AI game from “size matters” to “let’s get smart about it.” Scaling up models was fun, but it’s not the whole story anymore. So, they’re moving toward giving AI models time to think through problems rather than just bulking them up. Smarter, leaner AI? Ilya Sutskever’s calling it the “age of discovery,” but you could call it AI’s version of “brain over brawn.”

And there you have it. Tech titans adjusting, innovating, and sometimes, well, taking a little nudge from regulators. Just remember, it’s not only about what they’re making, but how they're reshaping the way we live, connect, and—let’s face it—keep an eye on us all. And that’s what we’re doing for you, with THE COMUNICANO!!!

Andy Abramson

Meta Watch

Less is More—Meta is introducing ad-free subscription options for Facebook and Instagram users in the European Union, a move responding to EU regulatory pressures. These subscriptions will allow users to experience both platforms without ads, or they can choose a free version with less personalized ads, meaning reduced data use for ad targeting. Meta emphasizes that personalized ads traditionally support economic growth by maintaining free access to online services, but they’re offering these new choices to align with European regulatory feedback. This shift highlights Meta’s flexibility in balancing privacy concerns with business model adaptations.

Apple Watch

Somebody’s Watching You—Apple is entering the smart home IP camera market, with Goertek as the exclusive assembly supplier, aiming for mass production in 2026. This camera will integrate with Apple’s ecosystem, targeting an annual shipment goal of over 10 million units. Additionally, Apple plans to enhance AirPods with health management features, spurring a rebound in shipments from 2024, reaching 65–68 million units by 2026. Goertek’s role as NPI supplier for both products signals a restored partnership with Apple after previous issues. This development projects strong growth for Goertek’s Apple business from 2025 onwards.

Naughty Naughty Apple—The European Commission and Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network have notified Apple of potentially unlawful geo-blocking practices in its media services, including the App Store, Apple Arcade, and iTunes. Led by consumer authorities in Belgium, Germany, and Ireland, the investigation identified restrictions based on users' country of residence that hinder access to content, payment methods, and app downloads within the EU/EEA. Apple has one month to respond and propose remedies, or risk enforcement action. This aligns with the EU’s Geo-blocking Regulation and Services Directive, aiming to ensure fair, cross-border access to digital services in the Single Market.

Apple On A Budget—Apple’s next budget-friendly model, the iPhone SE 4, is anticipated for a March 2025 release, according to sources reporting that LG Innotek has started camera production. Expected upgrades include a 6.1-inch OLED display—replacing the previous 4.7-inch screen—due to the removal of the home button in favor of Face ID. In compliance with EU regulations, the SE 4 will also adopt USB-C charging. The camera is set to receive a boost from 12MP to 48MP, potentially adding features like Apple Intelligence for enhanced user experience. Pricing may increase slightly from the SE 3's $430 due to component and production costs.

Summing It All Up—Apple's new notification summaries, driven by Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, aim to consolidate notifications into brief AI-generated summaries. While useful for summarizing simple app updates (e.g., a garage door’s status), these AI summaries sometimes produce humorous or awkward results, especially with text messages or detailed notifications. Examples include summaries of break-up texts and bizarre misinterpretations of home security alerts, often losing context and delivering amusingly blunt or confusing overviews. Although not transformative, these notification summaries add an entertaining layer to Apple's efforts at managing notification overload, offering users occasional comic relief.

AI Watch

The Age of Discovery—OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever foresees a shift in AI development as scaling large language models (LLMs) reaches its practical limits. Moving away from bigger models, AI companies are focusing on "test-time compute," which allows models more processing time to assess multiple solutions and select the best. This approach contrasts with pre-training scaling, seeking deeper AI understanding rather than sheer model size. This shift could disrupt Nvidia's hardware dominance, inviting competition from specialized chipmakers. Sutskever calls this era an “age of discovery,” emphasizing innovation beyond model size expansion.

It’s Just an Overlay—Google’s Gemini Assistant for Android is testing a new user interface that minimizes its floating panel into a streamlined, bottom-aligned text box. This redesign eliminates the redundant keyboard button, organizing suggestions (like “Ask about this video/screen” and “Summarize”) into pill-shaped icons on the left. The camera button has been moved to a “+” menu for a cleaner look, and the Gemini Live button remains accessible on the right. Additionally, Google is revamping the Gemini extensions page, moving from an alphabetical list to a category carousel for easier navigation. This update aligns with Google’s ongoing improvements, including potential iOS support for Gemini.

Search Watch

Search Me—Ecosia and Qwant, two eco-focused European search engines, have teamed up to develop a European-based search index, named the European Search Perspective (EUSP). This joint venture aims to reduce reliance on U.S. tech giants like Google and is set to launch in France by early 2025, delivering search results in French and German. Ecosia is noted for its sustainable model, planting trees for searches, while Qwant prioritizes privacy with a no-tracking policy. The collaboration reflects a push for tech independence and enhanced regional service in Europe’s digital search landscape.

VoIP Watch

Signal Grows Up—Signal has launched “call links” to simplify group calling, allowing users to generate a link that anyone on Signal can use to join a call without needing a group chat. The update also includes a “raise hand” button and emoji reactions to improve interaction during calls, a dedicated calls tab for quick access, and more display options for desktop users. With a 50-person limit on group calls, these features enhance Signal’s user-friendly, privacy-focused communication platform, now available on updated Signal versions for Android, iOS, and Desktop. Read more from Restore Privacy.

Privacy Watch

You’re Being Watched—Will Freeman, on a move from Washington to Alabama, noticed numerous surveillance cameras on black poles with solar panels, later identified as Flock automated license plate readers (ALPRs), used widely for police tracking. In Huntsville, he observed ALPRs forming a surveillance perimeter around downtown. Motivated to increase public awareness, Freeman launched *DeFlock*, an open-source project mapping ALPRs globally using crowdsourced data on Open Street Map. ALPRs, installed by Flock, Motorola, and others, allow extensive vehicle tracking, raising privacy concerns. DeFlock, now mapping thousands of cameras, aims to offer navigation routes to help people avoid surveillance zones, spotlighting ALPR proliferation and privacy implications.