Cisco Unveils Vision for Future of Immersive Collaboration at WebexOne 2024
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/webexone-2024-ciscos-vision-for-the-future-of-immersive-collaboration/
Schools and districts are taking a closer look at their device policies, with some opting to ban both smartphones and smartwatches. The goal is to increase student connection and improve mental health by minimizing distractions. While some argue that the watch is just as distracting as a phone, others see it as a necessary tool for real-time communication and monitoring.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/schools-ban-phones-but-kids-arrive-with-smartwatches-edsurge/
WIRED's Oral History Reveals Insights into the Internet's Early Days. A team from WIRED and HotWired shared their experiences in an oral history, reflecting on the early days of the internet. The conversation touched on topics such as the industry's shift towards prioritizing money over innovation, and how the digital side of things was worth significantly more than the print magazine.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/we-were-wrong-oral-history-hotwired/
Recently, a BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) leak occurred, redirecting internet traffic through Russia and Central Asia. Uztelecom, the incumbent service provider in Uzbekistan, was responsible for the leak. This incident highlights the importance of route hygiene and ongoing efforts to enhance internet routing security.
A BGP leak occurs when incorrect or misleading information is sent into the global routing system, causing traffic to be redirected incorrectly. In this case, Uztelecom's mistake led to a 40-minute disruption in internet traffic, affecting routes from various countries, including Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States.
The incident demonstrates that while progress has been made in containing BGP leaks, human error can still occur. Efforts like MANRS (Mitigating Link Failure) and RPKI ROV adoption aim to reduce the impact of such incidents.
Source: https://www.kentik.com/blog/beyond-their-intended-scope-uzing-into-russia/
Threads, a feature on Meta's social platform, is testing its "Trending Now" view in Japan. This comes after introducing the feature in the US earlier this year. The feature highlights conversations happening in real-time, but it remains unclear if it filters out political topics.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/29/threads-is-testing-the-trending-now-view-in-japan/
A groundbreaking therapy is offering new hope for individuals struggling with acute psychosis. Avatar therapy, which uses computer-generated voices, has been shown to be effective in managing symptoms and improving daily life. Patients report feeling more in control and able to engage in conversations with their inner voices. While the results are promising, it's essential to note that this treatment is still experimental and requires further research.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/oct/29/acute-psychosis-inner-voices-avatar-therapy-psychiatry
Google's Africa Investment Fund and Development Partners International back African fintech Moniepoint in $110M Series C round, valuing the company at over $1B. Moniepoint provides business banking services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) across Nigeria, processing over 800 million transactions with a monthly total value exceeding US$17 billion.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/29/google-dpi-backs-moniepoint-in-110m-round/
Amazon has prematurely revealed details about Apple's new Mac Mini, featuring a tiny M4 chip and impressive specs. The leaked listing shows a silver Mac Mini with a headphone jack and two USB-C ports, supporting Thunderbolt 4. The device will be available in base and Pro versions, boasting up to 14 CPU cores, 20 GPU cores, 64GB of memory, and 8TB of storage.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/29/24282533/amazon-mac-mini-leak-specs-m4-size
In-flight Wi-Fi gets a major boost with Starlink technology, offering high-speed connections on long flights. A recent experience on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from New York City to Maui, Hawaii, showed download speeds of up to 334.76 Mbps, making it an impressive feat for in-flight internet connectivity.
Emidat is building a tool to clean up construction by automating environmental reporting. The startup has raised €500,000 in pre-seed funding and plans to use the latest injection to ramp up its commercial side ahead of EU regulations biting early next year. Emidat aims to close deals with the largest names in high-emitting product verticals.
Infraspeak, a Portuguese startup, raises $19.5 million in Series B funding to enhance collaboration and management in facilities. The platform aims to streamline processes for facility managers by providing real-time data and operational control. With over 182 employees across four offices, the company plans to expand its headcount by 100 people in 2025.
Booking.com Offers Travel Deals and Rewards for Loyalty Program Members
Booking.com, a popular online travel agency, offers a range of travel deals and rewards for its loyalty program members. The Genius Loyalty Program allows users to earn discounts on hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses. With three levels of membership, users can earn up to 50% off exclusive member-only deals.
The program also provides benefits such as free cancellation and bonus secret deals from Booking.com. Additionally, Booking.com offers late escape deals, which provide discounts for last-minute bookings, and frequently changing holiday packages with deeply discounted stays.
The SPLASH conference recently sparked discussions about the state of technology and its impact on innovation. A common theme among attendees was the concern that the rise of systems without elegance, introspection, trust, or capability is a result of the economic environment driven by capitalism. Speakers like Alan Kay highlighted the issue, saying that students are not learning interesting things in college due to the emphasis on industrial applications. The blog post "Before You Can Have Smalltalk, You Must First Defeat Capitalism" argues that the lack of surplus and precarity in modern unrestricted rentier capitalism is a major obstacle to building beautiful systems like Smalltalk.
Krafton, a gaming firm, has backed IMM Investment's maiden India fund as an anchor limited partner. This move enables Krafton to tap into newer business categories and sectors in the country. IMM Investment plans to invest in startups operating at Series A-level or beyond across various sectors.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/krafton-backs-imm-investments-maiden-india-fund/
Apple's Swift programming language has faced criticism for its governance structure and community engagement. The language, developed by Apple, has been criticized for being "strangled" before the public can access it, leading to odd interactions with the community. Critics argue that Apple prioritizes proprietary frameworks and shipping deadlines over community input. However, Apple has also taken steps towards a more transparent and inclusive governance model, borrowing ideas from the Rust programming language's specialized steering groups.
Source: https://blog.jacobstechtavern.com/p/apple-is-killing-swift
Indie game studio creates sci-fi adventure based on classic novel by Stanislaw Lem. The game, Invincible, is set on a mysterious planet and features retro-futuristic visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack. Players take on the role of Yasna, who awakens on Regis III with no memory of how they got there. The goal is to uncover the secrets of the unexplored world.
Are you looking to learn new things on your own? A recent article shares a few effective strategies for self-directed learning. One method is to use a Large Language Model (LLM) like ChatGPT to subdivide your topic, making it easier to focus and prioritize what you need to learn. Another approach is to utilize flashcard programs like Anki, which can help replace traditional note-taking methods.
Source: https://brunothedev.github.io/p/2024-10-28-how_to_learn.html
Vinod Khosla, a prominent investor and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, remains optimistic about the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In a recent conversation at TechCrunch Disrupt, he predicted that AI will make most human labor free, leading to "great abundance" and increased GDP growth. While acknowledging potential risks, such as sentient AI trying to harm humanity, Khosla emphasized the need for policy measures to address these concerns.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/despite-risks-vinod-khosla-is-optimistic-about-ai/
The Foster sisters, co-founders of Oversubscribed Ventures, have shared their perspective on investing in AI. In a recent interview at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, they revealed that they don't understand AI well enough to invest in it. Sara Foster mentioned that the firm doesn't invest in something if they don't grasp its concept. Erin Foster also discussed her personal experience with AI, stating that she has used ChatGPT in a writers' room but acknowledges its limitations.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/foster-sisters-explain-why-they-havent-invested-in-ai/
The Open Cloud Coalition, backed by Google, has launched in Europe to promote competition, transparency, and resilience in the cloud computing sector. The coalition, which includes 10 members, aims to conduct market research and engage with regulators to improve the industry. Microsoft deputy general counsel Rima Alaily has accused Google of conducting a "shadow campaign" to influence cloud regulation.