Simplify Sharing! Meta Tests Epic Facebook-Threads Integration

Facebook Posts to Threads: Meta Tests Cross-Posting & Trends

Meta Tests Sharing Posts From Facebook to Threads, Adding “Trending Topics” Feature San Francisco, CA – February 23, 2024 – Meta is testing new features for its messaging platform Threads, including the ability to directly share posts from Facebook and a “Trending Topics” section. This news comes as the company aims to further integrate its … Read more

OpenAI Loses “GPT” Trademark Bid: AI Term Too Common?

OpenAI

OpenAI Denied Trademark for GPT, Common Use in AI Field Cited New Delhi, India – In a blow to Microsoft-backed research lab OpenAI, the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has rejected their application to register the term “GPT” (generative pre-trained transformer) as a trademark. OpenAI argued that “GPT” isn’t descriptive as consumers wouldn’t readily … Read more

Meta Messenger: Encrypted Now, Fun Features Too

Meta_messenger

Meta Brings Enhanced Security and Functionality to Messenger with Default End-to-End Encryption Meta has just made Messenger even better! Now, your personal messages and calls are super secure with default end-to-end encryption. This means only you and the person you’re talking to can see what you’re saying. But that’s not all – there are some … Read more

YouTube’s New Playables Feature

YouTube

YouTube’s New Playables Feature: A Game Changer for Premium Subscribers YouTube, the world’s most popular video-sharing platform, is constantly evolving to cater to its ever-growing user base. In a recent move, YouTube has introduced a new feature called Playables, which allows Premium subscribers to play games directly on the platform without having to download anything. … Read more

Tesla to Enter Indian Market in 2024 with Plans for Manufacturing Plant

Tesla

Hyderabad, India – November 22, 2023 – Electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla is set to make a grand entrance into the Indian market in 2024, paving the way for a potential manufacturing plant within the next two years. This exciting development marks a significant step forward in India’s efforts to embrace sustainable transportation solutions. According … Read more

AI to Disrupt TV Market with Enhanced Accessibility Features, Say Industry Leaders

AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a game-changer in various industries, and now it is set to revolutionize the TV market with its enhanced accessibility features. Industry leaders predict that AI-powered technologies will greatly improve the way people with disabilities access and interact with television content, making it more inclusive and user-friendly. Accessibility has always been … Read more

Capture YouTube Videos as Images: New Feature for Chrome and Edge

YouTube

Save YouTube Video Frames Directly: New Feature Arrives for Chrome, Edge Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge users will soon be able to save frames from YouTube videos in the original resolution and PNG format. This follows the introduction of an option to “copy video frame” on YouTube. The new feature has been added to both … Read more

Apple Swift Student Challenge to Launch in Feb-2024

Apple Swift Student Challenge to Launch in Feb-2024

Apple has announced that the next Swift Student Challenge will launch in February 2024 with a new category recognizing 50 Distinguished Winners. The challenge invites students to create an innovative coding project using the Swift Playgrounds app.

Students will have three weeks in February 2024 to submit their app playgrounds. To be notified when the challenge opens, students can sign up at developer.apple.com.

Out of the 350 overall winners, 50 Distinguished Winners will be invited to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, next summer. There, they will have the opportunity to connect with each other and the Apple team.

All winners will receive a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program, which enables them to submit apps to the App Store and receive support from Apple.

New Category Recognizes Standout Submissions

The new Distinguished Winners category will recognize students for their outstanding submissions, which demonstrate exceptional creativity, technical skill, and problem-solving abilities.

Apple Releases New Coding Resources for Students and Educators

Apple is also releasing new coding resources for students and educators, including Swift programming tutorials and lesson plans. These resources are designed to help students learn Swift and develop the skills they need to participate in the Swift Student Challenge and beyond.

Apple Partners with Community Organizations

Apple is also working with community partners to offer dedicated Swift programming programs for students. These programs provide students with access to mentors, resources, and training to help them succeed in the Swift Student Challenge and pursue their coding goals.

Apple Encourages Students to Participate

Apple is encouraging all students who are interested in coding to participate in the Swift Student Challenge. The challenge is a great opportunity for students to learn Swift, develop their coding skills, and showcase their creativity.

How to Participate in Swift Student Challenge

To participate in the Swift Student Challenge, students must create an innovative coding project using the Swift Playgrounds app. The project can be anything from a game to an educational app to a tool that solves a real-world problem.

Once students have created their project, they can submit it to the Swift Student Challenge website during the three-week submission window in February 2024.

Judging Criteria

The Swift Student Challenge entries will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Creativity: Does the project demonstrate original thought and a unique approach to solving a problem?
  • Technical skill: Does the project demonstrate a strong understanding of Swift programming concepts and techniques?
  • Problem-solving: Does the project effectively address a real-world problem or challenge?

Prizes

All winners of the Swift Student Challenge will receive a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program.

The 50 Distinguished Winners will also be invited to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, next summer for a three-day experience. During their visit, they will have the opportunity to connect with each other and the Apple team and learn more about the latest Apple technologies.

Conclusion

The Swift Student Challenge is a great opportunity for students to learn Swift, develop their coding skills, and showcase their creativity. If you are a student who is interested in coding, I encourage you to participate in the challenge.

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YouTube Crackdown on Ad Blockers Spurs Record Uninstalls

YouTube

YouTube: YouTube’s recent efforts to counter ad blockers have backfired, leading to a surge in uninstalls of these extensions. According to AdGuard, a popular ad-blocking company, its Chrome extension has witnessed a daily uninstall rate of over 11,000 since October 9th, compared to the previous 6,000 per day. This spike coincides with YouTube’s implementation of … Read more

Google Rolls Out New Features to Help Small Businesses

Google

Google has announced new Shopping features that will help small businesses attract new customers and make it easier for shoppers to find them.

One of the new features is a “small business” attribute that merchants can add to their Google Business Profiles. This will allow their products and businesses to be labeled as “small business” in Search and Maps.

Another new feature is Product Studio, a set of AI tools that helps merchants create and manage product imagery. This includes an “experimental AI-powered scene generation feature” that can generate product images in any creative scene the merchant imagines.

Google is also expanding the information that shows in the knowledge panel for retailers. In select countries starting this month, the knowledge panel will start showing current deals, shipping and return policies, customer service information, and ratings and reviews.

These new features are part of Google’s ongoing effort to support small businesses. The company has said that it is committed to helping small businesses succeed online and reach more customers.

Here is a summary of Google’s new features:

  • Small business attribute: Merchants can add this attribute to their Google Business Profiles to have their products and businesses labeled as “small business” in Search and Maps.
  • Product Studio: A set of AI tools that helps merchants create and manage product imagery, including an “experimental AI-powered scene generation feature.”
  • Expanded knowledge panel for retailers: In select countries starting this month, the knowledge panel for retailers will start showing current deals, shipping and return policies, customer service information, and ratings and reviews.

These features are now available to all Merchant Center Next users in the U.S., and the expanded knowledge panel for retailers will be rolled out to more countries in the coming months.

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YouTube Tightens Global Crackdown on Ad Blockers

YouTube

YouTube, owned by Google, has intensified its global efforts to crack down on users who use ad blockers on its platform.

According to Android Authority, more and more YouTube users are seeing a warning message asking them to either disable ad blockers and watch ads, or pay $14 for a YouTube Premium subscription.

In the past few weeks, more users with ad blockers installed have discovered that they are unable to watch YouTube videos.

The company has now launched a global effort to encourage users to either allow ads or try YouTube Premium, which includes YouTube Music.

A company spokesperson told The Verge that using ad blockers violates the platform’s terms of service. Ads support a diverse ecosystem of creators globally and allow billions to access their favorite content on YouTube,” the spokesperson said.

In June, YouTube confirmed that it was disabling videos for users with ad blockers. At the time, it was only a “small experiment globally.” In May, YouTube added unskippable 30-second ads to its TV app and later began testing longer but less frequent ad breaks on TV as well.

Last month, the streaming platform announced that it would be discontinuing its lower-cost “Premium Lite” subscription plan after a two-year pilot in select countries.

The company stated that it would no longer offer “Premium Lite” after October 25th.

YouTube’s “Premium Lite” plan, which costs $7.39 per month, was first introduced in select European countries in 2021. It offered ad-free viewing across YouTube’s spectrum of apps and formats, but it did not include other Premium features such as offline downloads, background playback, or any YouTube Music benefits.

The removal came after YouTube Premium raised its individual plan prices for the first time, with the plan now starting at $13.99 per month. Family plans were also raised to $22.99 per month late last year.

Analysis

YouTube’s crackdown on ad blockers is a sign that the company is taking the issue of ad revenue seriously. Ads are the primary way that YouTube creators are compensated for their work, and YouTube relies on ad revenue to keep its platform free for users.

However, many users are unhappy with YouTube’s decision to crack down on ad blockers. They argue that they are using ad blockers because they are concerned about their privacy and security, and because they find many ads to be annoying.

It is unclear how effective YouTube’s crackdown on ad blockers will be. Some users may simply find ways to circumvent YouTube’s new measures. However, YouTube’s decision to crack down on ad blockers is a sign that the company is committed to protecting its ad revenue and supporting its creators.

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