Daily Tech Headlines – March 21, 2018
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Daily Tech Headlines – March 21, 2018 | |
| Number | 463 |
| Broadcast Date | MARCH 21, 2018 |
| Episode Length | 3:52 |
| Hosts | Tom Merritt |
Professor Kogan says he’s being used as a scapegoat by Cambridge Analytica, Jimmy Iovine may sort of leave Apple after all, and a new open app platform in China.
Headlines
- WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton posted on Twitter, "It's Time #deletefacebook." Acton left Facebook-owned WhatsApp earlier this year to start his own foundation.
- Aleksandr Kogan, the Cambridge professor who collected the Facebook data that was passed to Cambridge Analytica, told BBC Radio 4 he feels he's being used as a scapegoat. Professor Kogan says Cambridge Analytica assured him it was a normal use case for Facebook data. Kogan also said the accuracy of the data he collected had been extremely exaggerated.
- A Facebook spokesperson told NBC News that CEO Mark Zuckerberg will speak publicly on the Cambridge Analytica privacy violation sometime Wednesday or early Thursday.
- The Wall Street Journal reported Jimmy Iovine would leave Apple, Iovine denied it and now the Wall Street Journal reports its sources say Iovine will transition into a consulting role with Apple this August. In other words, he won't technically leave Apple but he will step back from the day to day operations. Iovine has been with Apple since it acquired Beats in 2014.
- Google announced new security features for Google Cloud Platform. Among the features are a new security level for API-based services, a tool called Cloud Security Command Center, and Denial of service prevention including Cloud Armor. G Suite also got security updates to its dashboard and defaults for flagging untrusted emails.
- There was a lot of debate over the way CTS labs announced a security vulnerability in AMD chips, but everyone agreed it was a real vulnerability. There was also debate over how serious it was, but AMD has acknowledged the problem with the Platform Security Processor and says a patch is coming soon.
- Multiple sources tell TechCrunch that Google will acquire Lytro which makes depth-data light-field technology for VR. It appears it would mostly be an asset sale to get Lytro's 59 imaging patents and not all employees might transfer to Google.
- The European Commission proposed a new tax Wednesday for companies with annual worldwide revenue above 750 million euros and annual “taxable” EU revenues above 50 million euros. A 3% turnover tax would be charged on activities in which a user plays a role in value creation such as viewing ads, conducting online trading or allowing their data to be sold. Large tech companies would be the main ones affected.
- Netflix is changing its typeface from Gotham to something called Netflix Sans. The new typeface was developed with designers Dalton Maag and will save Netflix millions in licensing fees.
- Qualcomm will launch a development kit for its Snapdragon 845 VR platform in Q2. The headset will include inside-out motion tracking, eye-tracking from Tobii, and support HTC's Vive Wave software platform.
- HTC announced the Vive Focus VR headset will be available in international markets later this year. The Vive Focus is the first commercially available inside-out motion tracking standalone headset and has only been on sale in China.
- 11 Chinese smartphone makers are partnering on an open platform of fast apps that can be launched without downloading. The move is seen as a way to combat WeChat's dominance with its mini apps. Among the companies developing the platform are Xiaomi, Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo, OnePlus, Oppo and Vivo.
Links
| Preceded by: "Daily Tech Headlines – March 20, 2018" |
Daily Tech Headlines – March 21, 2018 |
Followed by: "Daily Tech Headlines – March 22, 2018" |