Google introduces new features for accessibility tools

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To make daily tasks easier and faster for users, Google has updated Maps, Search, and Chrome with new accessibility features.

Google Maps and Search now have a new identification characteristic for the disability community that gives consumers more information about a company and gives businesses the choice to self-identify as a member of the community.

Eve Andersson, senior director, Products for All at Google, stated, “This update builds on our existing business attributes, including Asian-owned, Black-owned, Latino-owned, LGBTQ+ owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned.”

Using artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality, Lens in Maps (previously known as Search with Live View) enables users to utilize their phone’s camera to find new locations and get their bearings in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

In order to improve accessibility and utility for those with low vision or blindness, Lens in Maps will soon support screen readers on iOS devices starting this Tuesday and Android devices later in the year.

“You can obtain stair-free routes when you request walking directions in Maps,” explained Andersson. “The option to request wheelchair-accessible pathways is rolling out worldwide on iOS and Android wherever we have data available.”

This function expands upon Maps’ wheelchair-accessible transit navigation feature, which displays step-free transport routes.

Meta’s new feature from Instagram

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Meta, with the help of a new feature, users may prevent Instagram from collecting personal data from all the applications and websites they visit.

As part of its growth, Meta is giving users the option to turn off this type of monitoring on Instagram. This way, users can see which companies are providing Meta with information, unfollow particular activity, or remove the data that has already been gathered. The platform’s Accounts Center now offers this function, which goes by the name of Activity Off-Meta Technologies. It used to be only available to Facebook.

You may control how the data that companies submit to us is linked to your Facebook and Instagram accounts by using Activity Off-Meta Technologies. In a blog post on Tuesday, Meta stated, “You can easily review the businesses that are sharing data with Meta, disconnect specific ones to further personalize your experience, or clear this data entirely—it’s up to you.”

Moving images and videos from Instagram to other platforms is one of the additional options that Meta has revealed for the Accounts Center. “Transfer Your Information to Instagram has been expanded, allowing you to move all of your Instagram pictures and videos to other platforms, greatly simplifying the sharing and archiving of memories,” stated Meta.

WhatsApp is updating its beta Android app with a new layout

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An updated Android interface for WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, has been sent out to a select group of beta testers. The new icons in the updated layout, according to WABetaInfo, enhance the app’s overall aesthetic appeal and provide users with a more contemporary experience.

Along with a new green hue for the main concept color for both light and dark modes and an all-new look for conversation bubbles and floating action buttons, the business is also upgrading chat bubbles. According to the article, WhatsApp wants to give users a more aesthetically pleasing and modern experience with the newly updated interface.

According to the article, WhatsApp might gradually roll out tiny changes to the user interface, such as new icons without a new color palette. The new interface is now only accessible to a small group of beta testers, but it will be made available to more people in the upcoming weeks.

IIT Madras Tech Generates Electricity from Tidal & Wind Sources

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IIT Madras Tech Generates Electricity from Tidal & Wind Sources:

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have created an innovative power generation technology capable of harnessing both tidal and wind energy sources. This technology takes the form of an energy converter system designed to produce electricity in coastal regions, reducing the local demand for power.

It can be utilized as a mobile unit for generating, transmitting, and storing electricity according to the specific needs of a coastal area. The system incorporates a wind turbine mounted on a vehicle’s roof, which effectively captures wind energy and converts tidal energy into electrical power. The resulting energy output is entirely renewable and sustainable, and the vehicle’s roof may also feature solar panels to support other onboard equipment.

This groundbreaking technology is anticipated to offer cost-efficiency, reduced maintenance requirements, and a clean, sustainable energy source. Its mobility adds to its versatility, making it a valuable asset for various applications. The technology’s potential industry partners include companies in the power sector, solar, and wind energy, opening up new opportunities in clean energy generation. The energy converter operates with a vertical-axis wind turbine and a horizontal converter mechanism, eliminating the need for hydraulic set generators based on pendulum support.

It offers height-adjustable guider support mechanisms to regulate the height of the elliptical plate attached to the primary shaft, all while avoiding the corrosion issues associated with offshore systems. This innovative converter is designed for remote control and adaptability to different positions based on wave height and power generation needs.

iit madras tech generates electricity
IIT Madras Tech Generates Electricity from Tidal & Wind Sources

It incorporates a chain-toothed wheel arrangement, enabling easy mobility of the vehicle to different locations. Without requiring a submarine connection, the electricity generated can be efficiently delivered from the transformer, further enhancing its practicality and lowering operational costs.

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Google’s AI-Enhanced Search Now Transforms Text into Images

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Google’s AI-Enhanced Search Now Transforms Text into Images:

Google has introduced the capacity to generate images using its AI-driven Search Generative Experience (SGE), enabling users to create images from text prompts.

This functionality is similar to what Google’s competitor Microsoft has offered in Bing Chat through OpenAI’s DALL-E model since March. Additionally, Google now permits users to compose drafts within SGE and customize the output by altering the length or tone of the writing.

As stated by the company, if users search for something like “draw a picture of a capybara wearing a chef’s hat and cooking breakfast,” SGE will present up to four generated images in the search results.

By selecting any of these images, users can see how generative AI has expanded upon their initial request with descriptive details.

The image generation capability is currently available only in the United States in English and is accessible to individuals who have opted into the SGE experiment and are 18 years of age or older, according to the company.

google's ai-enhanced search now
Google's AI-Enhanced Search Now Transforms Text into Images

The technology giant is also working on a tool called “About this image,” which will assist users in evaluating the context and credibility of images.

Google has incorporated protective measures into the Search experience and prevents the creation of images that violate their policy for generative AI use, including harmful or deceptive content.

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2024 Apple Watch Expected to Lack Significant Innovations

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2024 Apple Watch Expected to Lack Significant Innovations:

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the 2024 Apple Watch is unlikely to bring significant innovative features and will not incorporate a micro-LED display. Kuo noted in a Medium post on Tuesday that the highly anticipated blood glucose monitoring feature may not materialize until 2025, indicating a delay of at least two years for these additions to the Apple Watch.

Additionally, Kuo anticipates a decline of approximately 15 percent in Apple Watch shipments for this year, projecting a range of 36-38 million units. He mentions that the Apple Watch’s success has been driven by repositioning in the past and may require further adjustments if there is another year-over-year decline in 2024.

Kuo suggests that integrating Vision Pro headsets with the Apple Watch could create a groundbreaking health management experience that could boost the shipment momentum for both products.

On a separate note, Apple’s 3nm chipsets, which have recently entered the market with the Apple A17 Pro, are expected to experience reduced demand in 2024. Kuo predicts that the demand for this emerging technology may be weak next year, causing major players to scale back.

2024 apple watch expected to lack significant innovations
2024 Apple Watch Expected to Lack Significant Innovations

This reduced demand for 3nm chips is expected to lead to Apple decreasing its chip orders next year, resulting in a 20 to 30 percent reduction in EUV equipment shipments for the Netherlands-based semiconductor company ASML.

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Google Maintains Dominance in Search Engine Market with a 92% Share: Report

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Google Maintains Dominance in Search Engine Market with a 92% Share: Report:

Google continues to assert its dominance in the search engine market, with the tech giant holding an impressive 91.7% share of the market as of August this year. This position places Google well ahead of its competitors, including Microsoft’s Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo, according to a recent report.

In contrast, Microsoft, which integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into its Bing search engine to challenge Google’s search engine supremacy, only managed to secure a 3% market share, as reported by Techopedia.com. Earlier this month, Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, acknowledged that Bing was not on par with this and suggested that becoming Apple’s default search engine could help Bing expand its global search market presence.

Other search engines, such as Yandex (1.5%), Yahoo (1.2%), Baidu (1.1%), and DuckDuckGo (0.5%), held smaller market shares.

By August, the company’s dominance extended to a remarkable 95.2% of the global mobile search engine market, underscoring the company’s commitment to optimizing the mobile search experience, according to the report. Following this in the mobile search market, both Yandex and Baidu held 1.3% of the market share, while Yahoo accounted for 0.6%, and Bing and DuckDuckGo each captured 0.5%.

Furthermore, the report revealed that the United States was the primary source of traffic to Google.com, contributing 26.7%, with India (4.6%), Brazil (4.4%), the UK (3.9%), and Japan (3.9%) being other significant contributors.

google maintains dominance in search engine market with a 92% share: report
Google Maintains Dominance in Search Engine Market with a 92% Share: Report

In July, Google.com received a staggering 85.3 billion visits, with an average visitor spending approximately 10 minutes on the site. Visitors viewed an average of 8.6 pages during each visit, and the bounce rate stood at 28.7%.

Additionally, the satisfaction score increased by 7%, rising from 75 in 2022 to 80 in 2023. This upward trend reflects Google’s commitment to enhancing its search algorithms and user experience, as noted in the report.

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Meta’s Threads Introduces Trending Topics Feature Similar to X

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Meta’s Threads Introduces Trending Topics Feature Similar to X:

In an effort to compete with Elon Musk’s X, Meta’s Threads app is reportedly gearing up to launch a trending topics feature.

This potential feature came to light when an app developer shared screenshots of it, originally posted by a Meta employee. These screenshots displayed a numbered list of trending topics, along with the number of active “threads” discussing each item, as reported by TechCrunch.

User Willian Max spotted the post, and he believes it was meant for an internal feed accessible only to Meta employees. He humorously commented, “Oops. I believe the trending topics feature accidentally made its way onto the timeline in Threads,” commented Willian Max.

The screenshot revealed top trends, including Drake’s new album at the number one spot, as well as other current topics like Billboard’s Latin Music Week and Disney+’s release of Loki Season 2. Unlike X, Threads’ main Trends list does not appear to include additional trending lists categorized by News, Sports, Entertainment, or personalized “For You” trends, according to the report.

If implemented, this addition to Threads would be a significant step towards making it a stronger competitor to X.

meta's threads introduces trending topics feature similar to x
Meta's Threads Introduces Trending Topics Feature Similar to X

The app, which is operated by Instagram, aims to attract users away from the Musk-owned microblogging network by capitalizing on the frequent changes and disruptions there.

Meanwhile, Meta is gearing up to allow Threads users to delete their accounts without affecting their Instagram profiles by December. Currently, Threads users have no option to delete their accounts without also deleting their Instagram accounts.

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India Ranks Fifth in Cyber Attack Targets: Microsoft Report:

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India Ranks Fifth in Cyber Attack Targets: Microsoft Report:

In 2022, India held the unenviable position of being the country with the second-highest number of cyberattacks. However, in 2023, it has slipped to the fifth position. In contrast, Europe, responsible for 14 percent of these attacks, has surged to claim the second spot. The United States, witnessing a steady increase, now leads the chart in various cyberattack categories, as revealed in the Microsoft Digital Defence Report 2023.

The United States faces the greatest share of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, accounting for 54 percent of all such assaults. DDoS attacks inundate targeted devices, services, and networks with fraudulent internet traffic, rendering them inaccessible or unusable for legitimate users.

According to the report, India, which reported approximately 25 percent of attacks the previous year, now registers fewer than five percent. It maintains its third position in terms of threat actors’ focus in the Asia-Pacific region, with Korea and Taiwan following closely.

In Europe, Ukraine tops the list due to Russian state actors’ activities linked to invasion. Meanwhile, Israel is the most heavily targeted country in the Middle East and North Africa, primarily due to Iran’s extensive interests in the region. North Korean and Chinese state actors have elevated South Korea and Taiwan to the first and second most targeted nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The report also reveals North Korea’s particular interest in espionage against institutions and individuals studying North Korea itself, as well as targeting national defense industries in various countries. India accounts for seven percent of these attacks, with Russia taking the lead, closely followed by the USA and Israel. India is also among the ten Asia-Pacific nations that have refocused their attention on regulating critical infrastructure.

india ranks fifth in cyber attack targets: microsoft report:
India Ranks Fifth in Cyber Attack Targets: Microsoft Report:

In a surprising development, North Korea is providing material support to Russia’s war in Ukraine in exchange for food. Its cyber actors are simultaneously targeting Russian nuclear energy, the defense industry, and government entities for intelligence collection.

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UK Regulator Issues Preliminary Enforcement Notice Against Snap Over ‘My AI’ Chatbot

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UK Regulator Issues Preliminary Enforcement Notice Against Snap Over ‘My AI’ Chatbot:

Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, is facing a preliminary enforcement notice from the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over concerns that it failed to adequately assess the privacy risks associated with its generative AI chatbot, ‘My AI.’ The ICO’s investigation found that Snap did not properly identify and assess the risks to millions of ‘My AI’ users in the UK, including children between the ages of 13 and 17.

If a final enforcement notice is issued, Snap may be required to cease processing data related to ‘My AI,’ effectively suspending the product for United Kingdom users until a proper risk assessment is conducted. The Information Commissioner, John Edwards, expressed concern over Snap’s failure to assess privacy risks before launching ‘My AI’ and emphasized the importance of organizations considering both the benefits and risks associated with AI. The preliminary enforcement notice reflects the ICO’s commitment to protecting the privacy rights of UK consumers.

uk regulator issues preliminary enforcement notice against snap over 'my ai' chatbot
UK Regulator Issues Preliminary Enforcement Notice Against Snap Over ‘My AI’ Chatbot

Snap introduced the ‘My AI’ feature for UK Snapchat+ subscribers in February 2023 and expanded it to the broader UK Snapchat user base in April. This chatbot feature utilizes OpenAI’s GPT technology and is a notable example of generative AI integrated into a major messaging platform in the United Kingdom.

Snapchat had 21 million monthly active users in the United Kingdom as of May. The issuance of the preliminary enforcement notice follows an earlier reminder from the ICO to companies using generative AI to consider their data protection responsibilities from the outset of development.

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