Technology
Meta's Next Ray-Ban Stories to Allow Livestreaming on Facebook, Instagram

Google Eradicates 43 Malicious Apps from Play Store; Users Urged to Delete

Google has removed 43 malicious apps from the Play Store after they were found to be running ads even with the device turned off, thereby draining battery and consuming data. These apps, identified by McAfee's Mobile Research Team, were downloaded 2.5 million times and violate the Play Store's policies. McAfee urges users to delete these apps immediately and exercise caution when downloading apps, keeping devices updated with the latest security patches, and using security apps for malware scanning.

Meta's Next Ray-Ban Stories to Allow Livestreaming on Facebook, Instagram

Meta is reportedly developing the next version of Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, which will allow users to livestream video directly to Facebook and Instagram, and receive comments via audio through built-in headphones. The second-generation Ray-Ban Stories will feature improved battery life, better cameras, adaptive volume control, and additional audio services. Currently, Ray-Ban Stories can capture photos and short videos but do not support livestreaming. Additionally, Meta has launched 'SeamlessM4T,' a multilingual multimodal AI translation and transcription model that can perform speech-to-text, speech-to-speech, text-to-speech, and text-to-text translations in up to 100 languages.

Uber India Implements Policy Allowing Fee-Free Cancellations for Safety Concerns

Uber India has introduced a new policy allowing riders to cancel trips without charges even after the driver has arrived at the pickup point, if there are safety concerns. Although a cancellation fee may initially be imposed, it will be promptly reversed if riders request a refund citing safety apprehensions. The new guidelines cover several scenarios, such as vehicle details mismatch, driver identity discrepancy, non-compliance with payment method, excessive fare demands, and inadequate rear seatbelts. Uber's emphasis on passenger safety reinforces its commitment to creating a security-centric environment.

Windows 11 to Integrate AI Features into Paint and Photos

Microsoft is working on integrating new AI features into Windows 11 applications like Paint and Photos to enhance user experience and productivity. The Photos app will have a feature to recognize individuals or objects in pictures, enabling seamless copy-pasting of identified elements. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology will be integrated into the Snipping Tool and Camera app for faster text identification and interaction. Additionally, Paint will have a feature, powered by Bing technology, to create a canvas based on specific criteria. These features are in experimental stages as Microsoft continues to improve Windows 11, as seen in the recent 'Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23516' update.

Google to Simplify eSIM Transfers via QR Code on Android Devices

Google is developing a feature that allows Android users to transfer eSIMs between devices using QR codes. This feature is crucial as currently there is no native way to transfer eSIMs between Android devices, leaving the process up to the carriers. Although the functionality is not yet live, it is expected to prompt users to scan a QR code to initiate the transfer, similar to a tool within iOS that enables wireless eSIM transfers between iPhones. This development follows the recent Android 14 Beta 4 update, which included an 'auto-confirm unlock' feature, system performance improvements, and other fixes.

Google Developing New AI Tool to Serve as Personal Mentor

Google is reportedly developing a new generative AI tool that could provide life advice to consumers, despite previous warnings to executives about the risks of forming emotional connections with chatbots. This development is part of Google's strategy to extend its AI portfolio and stay ahead of competitors like OpenAI, Meta, and Amazon. The new AI mentor is being designed to answer intimate and challenging personal questions, a shift from the current restrictions on Google Bard, which prohibit providing financial, medical, and legal advice. An AI mentor aims to provide personalized guidance and insights, promote data-driven decision-making, and encourage lifelong learning and personal growth.

Google Unveils New Generative AI Features for Search to Compete with Microsoft’s Bing

Google has announced upgrades to its AI-powered Search experience, including a feature that provides concise summaries of technical concepts and another that offers AI-generated summaries of key areas in long-form content. The upgrades, which put Google in direct competition with Microsoft's Bing, also include enhancements for programmers, such as color-coded syntax highlighting in code snippets. Despite the rapid innovation, Google pledges to adhere to voluntary AI guardrails proposed by the U.S. White House, ensuring products are safe for consumer use before full-scale rollouts.

Google Releases Android 14 Beta 5.2, Likely the Final Beta Before Stable Launch

Google has released Android 14 beta 5.2, which mostly focuses on last-minute bug fixes, particularly for the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. While the stable launch of Android 14 is expected to be only a few weeks or even days away, it will likely initially be for the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and may not roll out to Pixel devices until October with the launch of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This release is probably the last beta before the stable launch.