Thoughts Unboxed

Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos, officially commenced her prison sentence on May 30, 2023, marking a significant turning point in the highly publicized case that captivated the business and tech world. Holmes, who founded Theranos—a blood-testing startup once valued at nearly $10 billion—was once hailed as a visionary akin to Steve Jobs. However, she has now been found guilty of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy in relation to her ill-fated venture. After a closely watched trial, Holmes was convicted on multiple charges and sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison, representing a stern reckoning for her deceptive practices. The downfall of Theranos, which initially promised groundbreaking advancements in blood testing but was ultimately built on false claims, serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of corporate fraud and the risks associated with unwavering trust in charismatic leaders. In addition to Holmes, Sun

Ivy Ross, the head of design for hardware products at Google, recently confirmed the existence of a second foldable phone that was ultimately canceled. This revelation came to light during a recent episode of the Made by Google Podcast. During the podcast, Ross admitted that the design of the device did not meet Google's high standards and was deemed unsatisfactory. As a result, the project was abandoned before it could reach the production stage. According to Ross, the team wanted to release a product that was " better than what was out there already ". He said in the podcast: I’m really proud of the team because there was another foldable model that we had created that we had the discipline to say, “nope, it’s not good enough yet,” and really wait until we felt we could do something that was good enough or better than what was out there already. So it’s really a tes

Get ready for a whirlwind week in tech! From surprising resurgences to massive fines, lawsuits, and AI impact, it's been an eventful time. Join our Weekly Recap for a concise summary of the biggest stories and developments in tech and current affairs. Stay informed with key highlights and noteworthy announcements in this comprehensive roundup.   China's Misinformation Crackdown China's Cyberspace Administration (CAC) completed a two-month probe targeting social media activities, resulting in the deletion of over 1.4M posts and 67K accounts. The crackdown focused on issues like impersonation of government officials and spreading misinformation. The CAC's actions raise concerns about online integrity and freedom of expression. YouTube bids farewell to Stories YouTube is discontinuing its Stories feature, originally introduced in 2017, due to lackluster adoption. Users will no longer be able to upload new stories, and existing stories will expire after 7 days. YouTube shi

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) recently completed a two-month probe targeting social media activities, resulting in the deletion of over 1.4M posts and 67K accounts. The investigation focused on issues such as impersonation of government officials and the spread of misinformation. "Self-media" accounts, which are independent news and information sources not owned by the state, were particularly scrutinized, with popular apps like WeChat , Douyin , and Weibo being closely monitored. As part of the crackdown, the CAC specifically targeted fake military accounts (around 13K identified) and accounts impersonating public institutions (approximately 25K). Punishments were also meted out to 187K accounts for impersonating news media businesses and 430K accounts for providing professional advice or educational services without the necessary qualifications. This extensive social media cleanup campaign by the CAC follows similar actions in the past. Accoding to CAC ,

YouTube is bidding farewell to Stories , which allowed users to post time-bound content. Starting from June 26th, users will no longer be able to upload new stories, and existing stories will expire after 7 days. Originally introduced in 2017 as Reels , YouTube Stories enabled creators with over 10,000 subscribers to share updates and behind-the-scenes content that would automatically disappear after a set period. The feature aimed to combine the time-limited nature of Snapchat's content with TikTok's short video format. However, YouTube Stories failed to gain significant traction among both the users and the content creators. The feature was not effectively promoted by YouTube itself, which contributed to its lackluster adoption. As a result, YouTube is now shifting its focus to other content options, namely Community Posts and Shorts . Community Posts , a text-based update feature, allows creators to share their thoughts in writing rathe

Jim Ryan - The President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed Sony is working on a handheld to make it easier to play PS5 games at the comfort of your couch. It was announced at Sony’s PlayStation Showcase and is called Project Q. “We are launching a dedicated device to let you stream any game from your PS5 console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi,” PlayStation boss Jim Ryan said during the PlayStation Showcase. “ Project Q has an 8-inch HD screen and integrates all the buttons and features of the DualSense Wireless Controller.  Seems like the market for handheld console is getting ripe. After the success of Nintendo Switch and to some extent, Steam's Steam Deck. Sony has decided to enter the arena as well. However, Project Q is strictly a streaming device and Games must be installed on PS5 and excludes VR games. From the verbiage, the cloud streaming device would only work with PS5 Console. Jim also introduced first ever PlayStation Earbuds that would bring wirele

Since the end of the honeymoon period marked by staggering profits and growth during the COVID lock-downs, companies have been facing a sobering reality as both profits and growth rapidly decline. In order to offset the negative impact, companies are resorting to unconventional tactics. One notable example is Netflix's recent crackdown on password sharing. In an effort to overcome the economic downturn and restore profitability, Netflix has implemented restrictions on password sharing across various international markets. Although this decision initially generated controversy, it has not deterred Netflix from moving forward with its plans. For U.S. subscribers, the day has finally arrived. In a blog post , Netflix shared an email that will be sent to its subscriber base, detailing the upcoming changes. According to the post , Netflix is making following changes: Members within the same household can continue to share the Netflix account

Microsoft's developer-focused conference BUILD 2023 commenced today with an impactful keynote speech delivered by Satya Nadella, emphasizing the significance of artificial intelligence (AI). The conference revealed five major announcements, each contributing to the advancement of AI and the integration of ChatGPT. Here are the 5 Major Announcements: Bing Integration into ChatGPT As a result of the collaboration between Microsoft and OpenAI, Microsoft Bing has become the search engine powering ChatGPT. This integration enables the AI bot to access up-to-date global information through its searching capabilities. Copilot for Windows 11 ThoughtsUnboxed had high expectations for the return of Cortana, enhanced with ChatGPT integration. However, Microsoft took us by surprise at the conference by introducing Copilot for Windows 11 as the AI assistant. This move demonstrates Microsoft's commitment to combating the Windows Support Scam and potentially revolutionizing the Windows Tech

There have been numerous optimists who predicted the arrival of the "Year of Linux on the desktop." However, the exact timing of that day remains uncertain. Nevertheless, nobody could have imagined a "Year of the Bing" in their wildest dreams. Microsoft's search engine has long been considered an afterthought in the realm of search. Microsoft itself shares some of the blame for this perception, as even searches related to its own products often yield better results on Google than on Bing. However, things took a drastic turn late last year with the introduction of ChatGPT and its subsequent integration into Microsoft's Bing Search Engine. The conversational API was an instant hit, propelling Bing and ChatGPT into the spotlight. Google was caught off-guard by this surprise reception and quickly launched its own competitor, Bard. Unfortunately, Bard was not fully developed, and its launch was botched, resulting in a highly n

In a highly anticipated move, TikTok has taken decisive action against Montana's recent law that seeks to ban its app within the state's borders. The company has filed a federal lawsuit against the state, marking a significant response to the legislation set to take effect on January 1st, 2024. The crux of TikTok's lawsuit centers around the belief that the ban infringes upon the fundamental right to free speech, constituting unconstitutional censorship. TikTok argues that the state's prohibition violates the First Amendment by unlawfully restricting core freedoms. TikTok firmly refutes the concerns expressed by Montana regarding potential data access by Chinese officials and the exposure of harmful content. The company's legal representatives dismiss the Montana law as an "extraordinary and unprecedented measure driven solely by unfounded speculation." According to a TikTok spokesperson,  We are challenging

Another day, another data privacy investigation and another revelation. This time, it's about Meta's GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) violations. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, faced a groundbreaking move today as it was hit with a staggering €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) fine by the European Union. This punitive measure came as a result of an intensive investigation by the EU's European Data Protection Board (EDPB) into Meta's questionable practice of transferring the personal data of millions of European citizens to Facebook servers based in the United States.  In the press release , the EDPB stated: The EDPB found that Meta IE’s infringement is very serious since it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous. Facebook has millions of users in Europe, so the volume of personal data transferred is massive. The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organisations that serious infringements have far-reaching consequences.

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is one of the most hotly anticipated tech events of the year. Sometimes, it would correct the direction of the entire tech industry. The other times, it would convince the world they need another gadget in their lives. Not only media, fans and users look forward to this event, rivals also keep a deep tap on what would come out of Cupertino. It usually is a restless time for everyone until the Keynote is delivered. For the past few years, WWDC has been a bit muted if not outright meh. Except for Apple's in-house silicon announcement for Macs, there isn't anything major that has come out of Cupertino in almost a decade. Things may very well change this time around. The rumor mill is in full swing, especially surrounding Apple’s Mixed Reality Headset. Will Apple enter the nascent arena and create a completely new stream of revenue for Apple, or would it become one

  Samsung has paused its internal review of replacing Google with Bing as Default Search Engine on its Mobile Internet Browser, reports The Wall Street Journal . In report published last month by The New York Times , it was reported the Samsung was planning on switching to Bing as the default Search Engine for its mobile browser. The news came as a big surprise, and it could have cost Google around $3B in annual revenue. Details are scarce regarding why Samsung was planning to drop Google as default search engine before course correcting it later.  TU believes the decision may have to do with the success of ChatGPT and its inclusion in Bing. This AI aspect of Bing put into a limelight that Microsoft's search engine has never enjoyed in the past. Samsung may have sensed an opportunity to utilize Bing's new AI features within its Smartphone lineup. However, the plans might get dropped later with fears of severing ties with Google.  Google may have a sigh of relief for no

Good Twitter, Bad Twitter Since the take-over by Elon Musk, Twitter has been in the news in one way or another. This time it is a letter sent to the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, reported by The New York Times (paid content) . According to the letter, Twitter has accused Microsoft of allegedly:  Not paying Twitter for data it uses Using more data than mutually agreed upon Sharing data with government agencies without Twitter's permission It is the last accusation that should raise eyebrows. If Microsoft is really illegally using Twitter's Data and sharing it with government agencies, it could be a red-herring.  Twitter has not explicitly identified which countries and government agencies were involved in this data sharing. The letter doesn't threat any legal action from Twitter against Microsoft for now. All Twitter demanded Microsoft was to share a report by next month indicating: How much data from Twitter Microsoft uses across it various products including B

  Supreme court ruled in favor of Google and Twitter over the lawsuits filed based on Anti-Terrorism Act by the families of those who were killed during two different terrorist attacks. The first lawsuit was filed by the relatives of Nawras Alassaf who alongside other 38 victims was killed during the Reina Nightclub shooting in Instanbul on January 1st, 2017. The lawsuit alleged Twitter failed to police its platform of ISIS related accounts that resulted in the shooting incident. The second lawsuit was filed by the family of the exchange student killed in Paris during 2015 shootings . The family alleged Google's YouTube platform should be held liable for the incident. In both cases, the court sidestepped the requests to limit a Section 230, a law that protects social media platforms from lawsuits over content posted by their respective users. In case of Twitter, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote: Plaintiffs' allegations are insufficient to establish that these defendants aided and

If you have a burner Google account that you created more than 2 years ago for one-off signups never to be revisited again, you may be up for a surprise coming this holiday period. This is according to the recently updated Inactive Account Policies . Ruth Kricheli, The VP of Product Management at Google recently announced the changes on company's blog. According to Ruth, untouched accounts are at risk of getting compromised despite best security practices. The reason being old or unprotected or common passwords being used for such accounts.Ruth also detailed the approach company is taking to remove inactive accounts. According to Ruth: The policy has taken affect immediately but the account deletion would defer till December 2023 It would be a phased approach where accounts that were created but never used would be cleaned up first For each affected account, the company would try to communicate via the account's email and alternate email addresses before the actual delet

  Another day, another Microsoft news to hit the wire. After an expected yet surprising victory in EU over Activation-Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft hits another road. This time surrounding its Cloud Business - Azure. According to a Bloomberg report , EU's antitrust watchdog has opened an informal probe into Microsoft's Azure Cloud Platform over anti-competitive practices.  It should be clarified that this probe has nothing to do with the recently concluded EU's probe into Microsoft's proposed Activision-Blizzard acquisition. Customers and competitors contacted by the EC have until May 16th to respond and have been asked to submit any non-confidential evidence of Microsoft’s abuses. This, Bloomberg says, indicates that the EC is close to announcing a formal investigation.  According to EC: The commission has received several complaints regarding Microsoft, including in relation to its product Azure, which we are assessing ba

Reuters has reported that the personal information of more than 200 thousand current and former government employees got exposed in a latest data breach affecting U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Data breach has become a common trend across all sectors both public and private. In the past few years, many companies got compromised, some multiple times. The increase in data breaches coincides with the increased usage of public clouds. This doesn't necessarily means the cloud is inherently unsafe. However, it must be understood that security in the cloud is considered a Shared Responsibility Model . The Cloud providers are responsible for the Security of the Cloud however, the consumers are still responsible for the Security in the Cloud  It is usually the former where the lapse is typically happening, thus risking the personal information of the customers at risk. ThoughtsUnboxed can't confirm or deny whether the USDOT was using any cloud based tools or was it an in-h

  In an anticipated yet surprise win for Microsoft, EU Regulators have approved the proposed acquisition of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft. However, it is not a completely free lunch for Microsoft. The regulators have imposed some conditions.  In a nutshell, the regulators found: Microsoft would have no incentive blocking Activision's games from Sony's PS Consoles In a scenario where Microsoft did withdraw Activision's games from PlayStation Console, it would not harm Sony in a significant way Regulators also put certain conditions for the merger to be approved: 10-year commitment for CoD to be on PlayStation Gamers in EU would get a free license for all current and future Activision's Games for the Cloud-Streaming Service of their choice provided they already own the license of those games. Cloud Streaming services would also be given free licenses to stream Activision's Games in EU countries

  FTC Chair Lina Khan has reiterated her commitment to protecting the future by implementing measures that create obstacles in the present. In a surprising interview with CNBC, Khan briefly discussed the Microsoft-Activision acquisition. She stated:   This matter is currently under active proceedings, so there are limitations to what I can disclose. However, the FTC filed a separate lawsuit to block this deal in early December. The Complaint highlights various concerns the Commission has, particularly in the console market, as well as the expanding and evolving cloud and subscription markets.   The Complaint focuses on multiple markets, including those that are still experiencing rapid growth and development.   We have witnessed time and again how these emerging markets require enforcers to prioritize safeguarding competition and innovation, ensuring incumbents do not stifle competition and innovation.   Considering the FTC's decision to exclude Nintendo from what it considers the

 Apple has reportedly decided to postpone the release of MacBook Pros with OLED Panels, likely due to a recent decline in sales of the MacBook Pros. Over the past two quarters, MacBook sales have experienced a significant decrease of nearly 50%. In response, Apple has chosen to delay one of the most anticipated upgrades to the MacBook Pros, namely the introduction of OLED display panels. It's worth noting that the decline in sales is not exclusive to Apple computers alone. The entire PC industry has been adversely affected by this sudden and substantial sales slump. Chromebooks have been hit particularly hard, while other PC manufacturers have also struggled. Reports from Korean media outlet TheElec suggest that Samsung's plans for investing in Gen-8 OLED panels will also be put on hold, as Apple would have been one of the major customers for these panels. Apple, along with other technology companies, has been making adjustments to their plans in recent months, often cancellin

  Hello world! Finally, after contemplating for more than a year, ThoughtsUnboxed is about to start churning in blogs. ThoughtsUnboxed would mostly be focused on technology and anything and everything surrounding it. There would be occasional news and opinions as well.  We would invite you to join us in this journey to something exciting. Let's us grow together! We wish you all best of luck and we hope the contents of the blog would be both informational and beneficial. Happy reading!