it was the best of tech news it was the worst of tech news but hopefully more
the first one you know
I'm mad Google pixel phones have been crashing
in rebooting after loading one specific YouTube video it's like a high-tech
version of the ring but the psychic dead girl can't get past the iPhone security
it's that good the clip a seemingly normal scene from 1979's Alien causes
pixel 6 or 7 phones that try to load it to instantly shut down do scary
after their phones restarted some users found that they couldn't use cell
service until rebooting it again this isn't the first time something like this
has happened in 2020 a particular wallpaper image caused some Android
devices to fall into a boot loop crashing and rebooting in an endless
cycle like our lives
until you do a factory reset this was
likely caused by a bug in the color system as effective phones were
primarily Google and Samsung devices that use the default Android color
engine so pixels were getting wiped out by a pixel with their own kind
with this new bug it's possible that something about the format of the video
4K HDR is messing with Google's exynos
derived tensor chip luckily it seems that a fix is already underway as today
many pixel users reported being able to successfully watch a man get murdered by
a six foot long vent monster without it as I call it a normal Tuesday
my mother-in-law am I right you're a xenophile YouTube has announced it plans
to roll out generative AI tools for creators that's us including the ability
to create artificial scenes and virtually swapped clothing virtually
literally virtually swap clothing I can
be a minimalist the changes are supposed to arrive in
the coming months but who knows maybe they're already here and I'm not wearing
this shirt at all is this the real TechLink set
we don't know there's not a lot of specifics yet as to how the AI features
will be implemented but according to YouTube there will be significant guard
rails in place to avoid abuse particularly given the risk of copyright
infringement associated with generative AI like what if they wear an LTT shirt
and they didn't even go to LTT Store
what YouTube is not avoiding at all is shamelessly copying Tick Tock so they
also announced a new YouTube shorts feature that will allow creators to
record a short parallel to an existing video similar to tick tock's extremely
popular duet feature me myself I'm a Loner it's ironic
because the duet usually involves two people performing complementary Parts
not doubling the melody Kate Blanchett in the movie tar would not stand for
this and privacy focused messaging app signal which I use is threatening to
pull out of the UK in response to the British parliament's proposed Online
safety Bill the legislation which has been in the works since 2021 has
received widespread criticism for granting the government's sweeping
censorship and surveillance Powers as well as content scanning Provisions that
would require service providers to install backdoors into all user
end-to-end encryption
the cool messaging app that won't tattle on you to your mom or the government has
stated that they would rather reverse brexit than provide a service that
fundamentally compromises the security of their users even if those users are
pedophile Isis members according to Signal president Meredith Whitaker the
bill not only turns phones into tools of bass government surveillance but also
creates an access point for criminals hackers and malign State actors the bad
guys stay away from my nudes Kim Jong-un those are for our sponsor iFixit oh now
I have to fix this phone with some quick bits with iFixit you can easily fix all
of your electronics they provide all the bits that fit your needs now say it
romantically either you need the big one or the small one what is this script
they have mini kits with 16 bits to full repair tool kits wow so much room but
I'm not handy that's no problem they have over 70 000 repair manuals on their
website you can be the iFixit Master II
fix your devices at ifixit.com TechLink
how many bits could a quick bit if a quick bit could quick bits Twitter
founder Jack Dorsey has launched a new decentralized Twitter alternative blue
sky on the iOS app store but don't get too excited crypto Bros it's invite only
for now and we're not cool given that
blue skies whole deal is to be the new Twitter as created by the people who
made the old Twitter the Blue Sky app Bears a striking resemblance to Twitter
what no word as of yet whether there will be check marks of any kind I on it
if it's not there actually that's what the currency is blue sky blue called
chip coin it's called check coin RTX super resolution for videos in Chrome
and Edge is Now supported for GeForce RTX 30 and 40 series gpus what's that
Rejoice RTX VSR uses AI upscaling to
sharpen and clarify low resolution video while removing compression artifacts get
them out of here 4K upscaling was previously only available on NVIDIA's
Shield TV but now a new wave of users can watch hyper compressed 2014 bind
compilations with perfect clarity it was basically American Tick Tock it was
great guys they give me live all the perfectly cut screens Tick Tock
will be automatically adding a 60 Minute daily screen time cap for accounts
listed as under 18 which will stop no one after an hour total on the app
teenage users will be required to enter a passcode to continue browsing the
screen time reminder was already available as an opt-in feature but now
teens will have to opt out instead parents using tick tock's family pairing
option will be able to set screen time limits for their children but seeing as
Most teens set up their own accounts and their parents don't even know what it is
I guess we're just relying on them and their underdeveloped prefrontal cortex
to make their own decisions about whether or not to listen to a polite
message about self-control from the people who brought you the algorithmic
equivalent of math it's so good
it's so good at news I can quit thirst traps anytime Google is adding
client-side encryption to Gmail and Google Calendar expanding feature that
was already available in docs Drive meat sheets and slides those also exist this
means that data created by users will be encrypted before it gets stored on
Google servers so Google itself wouldn't have access to the information within a
feature that will help limit the risk of future data leaks politics about to get
boring you see it doesn't matter if North Korea steals my nudes if they're
already encrypted why am I using Gmail to send nudes because it's North Korea
that's all they have I'm a professional you're gonna get the best nudes Ford has
filed a patent for a system that would allow self-driving cars to repossess
themselves if owners fall behind on payments the system would allow Ford to
gradually shut off functions in their customers cars like automatic Windows or
seat controls and locking locking wow elements of the infotainment system and
air conditioning which could kill you in some hot places or simply just have the
car drive away hey this isn't McDonald's where are we going up you promised me
the play plays this will incentivize delinquent drivers to pay up but also to
never leave their children unattended I for one cannot wait until one of these
kidnaps a toddler in a car seat hopefully my toddler when I'm having a
bad day see you later it's not my fault maybe
and we're done kidnapping your attention for today we're gonna do a catch and
release thing if you promise to come back on Friday for more Tech news if you
don't it gets the switch again