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Apple Launched Mixed-Reality 3D Headset Despite Designers Objections

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Apple Launched Mixed-Reality Headset Despite Designers Objections

According to a new Financial Times report, Apple CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams overruled design team objections to proceed with a new mixed-reality headset before designers thought the technology was ready. However, the report is insufficiently detailed to provide a nuanced picture of what’s happening inside the company.

Here’s the image it does create: Executive departures and other factors have resulted in a once-powerful industrial design team reporting to the company’s operations chief rather than a top-level design executive.

We’ve written about the gradual departure of famed design chief Jony Ive, a close collaborator with former CEO Steve Jobs. In addition to Ive, Apple lost Ive’s successor, Evans Hankey.

According to a recent newsletter from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who had often reported accurately on Apple’s internal workings, when Hankey left, Apple leadership either decided against or was unable to fill Hankey’s role, and the design team ended up reporting to Jeff Williams, the company’s chief operating officer.

The Financial Times article also mentions that Hankey’s departure prompted other departures from the design team. It also claims that at some point since the company began working on its mixed-reality headset in earnest in 2016, members of the design team tried to discourage Cook and the rest of Apple’s leadership from moving forward until the technology for a lighter, more practical form factor for the device was available.

According to the report, Williams and Cook overruled them, believing it was time to proceed with the first iteration of the device. Last year, The Information published a similar story, but that one specifically mentioned that Jony Ive was a particularly vocal advocate for keeping the device to a small, standalone form factor—a stark contrast to the device expected to ship this year, which some reports claim will come with a battery pack attached with a wire.

In any case, the Financial Times article claims that Cook and Williams’ decision to proceed is an example of a power shift in a company where the design team used to have more say in the company’s direction. The Financial Times cites two people familiar with Apple’s decision-making and a former Apple engineer—though it is unclear whether that source is one of those two or another.

According to the publication, Cook’s desire to secure a legacy for his time as CEO before his current shares vest in 2027 is a key driver of the push forward with mixed reality despite the objections of some designers.

However, there could be other factors at work. Cook and Williams, for example, may wish to release a more specialized headset this year to pique the interest of creators and developers and to get a head start on both development resources before releasing a more mass-market product later in the year.

Holding off on putting those building blocks in place until the underlying technologies have reached the ideal state for a consumer breakthrough could mean handing over the future of mixed reality to companies like Meta, which are already shipping products and developing an ecosystem.

According to recent reports, Apple plans to release some mixed-reality headsets by the end of this year. If the device and its associated software platform are intended to be an early stab at attracting developer interest, it may make sense to debut them at the company’s annual developer conference, which is expected to take place this June.

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Geoff Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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How to Use Google Bard AI in 2024: Step-by Step Guide

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AI is transforming how we operate today. You’ve used ChatGPT before, but there are other similar AI chatbots, such as Google Bard AI, that you may use in your daily life and at work.

This post will examine Google Bard AI’s features and limitations and present a step-by-step guide to using this chatbot. We’ll also discuss the future of Bard AI and how to utilize it ethically.

What Is Google’s Bard AI?

A conversational AI chatbot, Google Bard AI can generate many text types. Bard AI is still in the experimental stage, but it has been trained on a vast dataset of text and code to generate text, translate languages, write various types of creative material, and provide intelligent answers to your questions.

Bard AI can improve efficiency, accelerate creative thinking, and help you get things done faster. You can ask Bard AI for suggestions on how to meet your goal of reading more books this year, simplifying quantum physics concepts, developing or debugging code, or even stimulating your imagination by planning a blog post.

Google Bard Ai Language Model

Google Bard AI is powered by a large language model (LLM), a version of LaMDA when it was first released. Its most recent upgrade incorporates the Pathways Language Model (PaLM 2), making it more efficient and performing better.

When it first launched in May, it could respond in English, Korean, and Japanese. However, Google Bard AI can communicate in more than 40 languages, including Arabic, simple and traditional Chinese, German, Hindi, Spanish, and others.

Google Bard AI has expanded to 27 European Union (EU) nations and Brazil. Bard is not now part of Google Search, but Google intends to integrate it shortly. This could alter the way people use Google to search for information.

Google Bard AI’s Interface

Google Bard AI is noted for having a user-friendly interface.

The structured wording makes the results easier to read and scan. You can also see a list of recent talks, allowing you to quickly return to older conversations if necessary. Google Bard AI can also provide the most recent news and information.

Another user-friendly feature is the “Google It” button, which suggests topics based on your questions, making learning more about the subject easy.

You will be led to a standard Google search when you click on one of Bard’s suggested subjects or queries.

How Do I Use Google Bard AI?

Google Bard AI is a powerful technology that can help us with various tasks, including text generation and answering inquiries. This guide will help you maximize Bard’s features and achieve the desired outcomes.

1. Access Google Bard AI.

Visit bard.google.com and sign in with your Google account to access the Google Bard AI interface.

2. Start Your First Chat With Google Bard AI

To initiate your first conversation with Google Bard AI, click the “Enter a prompt here” button at the bottom of the screen and type your queries. Bard will come up with ideas to help you decide what to ask.

  • To ask a question without typing, click the microphone button, and Bard will type what you say.
  • You can edit and update your question by clicking the pencil icon in the top right corner. Once modified, Bard will provide us with a new answer based on your edits.
  • To upload and ask questions about a photo, click the + button in the prompt box on the left.
  • Google Bard AI also has three drafts or forms. You can choose which one corresponds to your desired results.

3. Asking Follow-Up Questions

After Google Bard AI delivers findings for your first request, you may always ask follow-up questions to ensure you obtain the best answer.

To rate Bard’s response, click “thumbs up” for positive and “thumbs down” for negative. We are assisting Bard in improving because it is still in its experimental stage.

Click the Google It button for more information on your queries. You will be directed to the Google website when you click the related search suggestion provided by Google Bard AI. This capability is only available with the Google language model.

4. Share and Export Your Results

With the most recent Google Bard upgrade, we may publicly share a link to the prompt and response, or even the entire chat, with a third-party service.

  • Share a specific prompt and response or the full chat by clicking the Share button.
  • Next, create a public link.
  • Share the produced public link on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit.
  • To export the table directly to Google Sheets, click the “Export to Sheets” button.
  • In addition to exporting the table to Google Sheets, Google Bard AI can also export the findings to documents, such as a Google Doc.
  • To export information directly to Docs, click “Export to Docs”.

In addition to Sheets and Docs, Google Bard AI now supports exporting Python code to Replit and Google Colab. Clicking Export to Colab or Export to Replit will redirect you to their websites.

Tips for using Google Bard AI

To guarantee that you get the best results when utilizing Google Bard AI, you should employ a few tactics that increase its performance.

Here are five pointers to help you enhance your skills with Bard AI and get more precise outcomes.

1. Use simple and concise prompts.

Google Bard AI responds to prompts, so we must frame our inquiries. We must keep requests brief and concise to ensure that Bard understands and meets our needs.

For example, instead of saying, “Write me a short story,” you could say, “Write me a short family story,” Bard will focus on that theme to write a short story for you.

2. Provide enough details and facts.

Bard AI responds to the particular details you supply in your prompts. If we give it additional information, Bard AI will respond more appropriately and accurately.

For example, if you need help composing a follow-up email, provide precise directions for the format and tone.

3. Add Personality to Your Prompts.

We can add personality to our queries to improve Google Bard AI’s response. To create a blog article on opening an online store on your ecommerce website, utilize terms like amusing, professional, or idiomatic to set the tone.

Bard AI will write articles based on our desired writing style. This makes the responses it generates more interesting to read than the regular ones.

The Future of Google Bard AI.

Google Bard AI can truly transform our daily lives and jobs. We may now anticipate that it will have a wide range of applications. We anticipate seeing more engaging and personalized results as AI technology advances.

Because of AI technologies such as Bard, Google will be able to better understand what people want, give more accurate responses, and provide more interesting experiences.

Final Thoughts about Google Bard

Google Bard AI is a great alternative to ChatGPT and demonstrates significant advancements in AI. It can help with coding, vacation planning, and content creation.

Bard and other AI chatbots have restrictions, including ChatGPT, Writesonic, and Copy.ai. We must utilize these restrictions as a guideline and avoid relying solely on them.

With Bard’s ability to continue developing and expanding in the future, it is exciting to watch what technical advances will emerge!

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Top 5 Free Truecaller Alternatives 2024

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Truecaller alternatives: Truecaller is popular for detecting and blocking spam calls and messages. However, you’re in luck if you’re seeking Truecaller alternatives that provide similar services without requiring a paid subscription.

These free alternatives to Truecaller offer effective call identification, spam prevention, and other important features to improve your calling experience.

This article covers Truecaller’s features, benefits, and top free Truecaller alternatives.

Top 5 Free TrueCaller Alternatives 2024

Top Truecaller Alternatives for Android and iPhone in 2024.

Various free Truecaller alternatives for Android and iPhone in 2024 provide similar caller ID and spam filtering capabilities. Some of the most suggested apps include.

1. Whoscall.

Whoscall is regarded as one of the top Truecaller alternatives. It is available on both Apple and Android platforms. Whoscall is the new age identity solution for all technology users. The program’s most appealing aspect is the functionality availability in the free edition. If you’re looking for a free way to identify unexpected callers, try Whoscall.

Features

  • One of the most popular features among users is the offline database. This application allows one to identify callers even when not connected to the internet.
  • You may also see who has seen your profile through the app.
  • Finally, if you wish to block an unknown caller, this program can help you.

Pricing:

Premium Plan: $1.65 per month.

2. Sync.me

Sync.ME is a popular caller ID app for iPhone and Android users. With Sync.ME, it is now simple to ban and notify spammers. The growth of technology has increased spammers and their calls. There have also been numerous reports of fraudulent activity. To address these issues, apps such as Sync.ME have been developed. This could be an ideal tool if you’re looking for alternatives to Truecaller.

Features

  • Features: Identify unknown callers.
  • It can automatically stop nuisance phone calls and robocalls.
  • It is available to both Apple and Android users.

Pricing:

  • The paid version costs $5.99 for six months.
  • Annual Plan: $99.9 per year.

3. Showcaller.

Showcaller is another excellent Truecaller alternative. The app is simple but has features that help users spot scam callers. This application allows you to identify callers’ names, locations, and personal information. It can also display photographs of the caller. In addition, the software scans a database of over 50 million phone numbers to identify your caller.

Features:

  • Identify callers’ personal information, including name and location.
  • This program can help you eliminate spam, fraud, and telemarketing calls.
  • It can also show a photo of the spammer.

Pricing:

The app is free to use.

4. Hiya

Hiya was previously known as the Whitepages Caller ID. It is a popular caller ID app for both Apple and Android devices. This application can stop spam calls and offer consumers call control alternatives. Additionally, features like automated robocall blocking make it a popular choice among clients and one of the truecaller alternatives. So, try Hiya if you’re seeking a caller ID identification app as a true caller alternative.

Features:

  • Effective contact management.
  • One of the software’s most appealing aspects is the call management tool, which includes auto-blocking and reverse phone number lookups.
  • The app is jam-packed with new industry trends and the most recent developments.

Pricing:

Basic plans range from $2.99/month to $14.99/year.

5. Eyecon Caller ID.

Would you like to get rid of all those spam calls? Do you ever become scared that your personal information will be leaked? If so, Eyecon Caller ID could be an excellent alternative. This program can easily identify and block unfamiliar calls, making it one of the best Truecaller alternatives. It is a social app that recognizes strange callers and syncs them with their social media identities. This approach can also provide access to the images of unknown callers.

Features:

  • This tool syncs contacts with Facebook and other social media channels to determine their genuine photographs.
  • It contains a built-in spam filtering system.
  • If you call a new number, it will be automatically added to your contact list.

Pricing:

The monthly plan costs INR 219.
Lifetime plan costs INR 1799.

Conclusion

Truecaller is one of the greatest identification apps available. You may access a wide range of services with various advanced and premium features. However, as a result of recent privacy concerns, people are becoming wary about using the app, therefore various alternatives have emerged. If you don’t want to use Truecaller, we’ve included some of the top options above.

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TikTok, ByteDance File Appeal US Government Nationwide Ban

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TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance filed a lawsuit in federal court in the United States on Tuesday, seeking to overturn a law signed by President Joe Biden that would require the divestment or prohibition of the short video app used by 170 million Americans.

The corporations filed their action in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, claiming that the statute violates the U.S. Constitution for various reasons, including violating First Amendment free speech protections.

Biden signed the measure on April 24, giving ByteDance until January 19 to sell TikTok or face a ban.

“For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban,” the firms claim in their case.

The lawsuit stated that the divestment “is simply not possible: not commercially, technologically, or legally.” There is little doubt that the Act (law) will compel the shutdown of TikTok by January 19, 2025, silencing the 170 million Americans who use the platform to communicate in ways that cannot be replicated elsewhere.”

The White House has stated that it wants to restrict Chinese ownership for national security reasons, not a ban on TikTok. The White House and the Justice Department have declined to comment on the case.

TikTok’s political uncertainties

The complaint is TikTok’s latest measure to stave off efforts to shut it down in the United States. Competitors like Snap and Meta seek to profit from TikTok’s political uncertainties and steal advertising dollars from its competitors.

Driven by concerns among U.S. senators that China may use the app to acquire data on Americans or spy on them, the bill was passed by Congress overwhelmingly just weeks after it was presented.

TikTok has denied sharing U.S. user data and accused American politicians of raising “speculative” fears in the case.

Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the lead Democrat on a House Committee on China, stated that the proposal is “the only way to address the national security threat posed by ByteDance’s ownership of apps like TikTok.”

“Instead of continuing its deceptive tactics, it’s time for ByteDance to start the divestment process,” he stated.

The rule prevents app stores such as Apple and Alphabet’s Google from supplying TikTok and internet hosting providers from supporting It unless ByteDance divests by January 19.

The suit stated that the Chinese government “has made clear that it would not permit a divestment of the recommendation engine that is critical to TikTok’s success in the United States.”

Conflicts between the United States and China

The firms urged the D.C. Circuit to prevent U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland from executing the statute, arguing that “prospective injunctive relief” is necessary.

According to the lawsuit, global institutional investors such as BlackRock, General Atlantic, and Susquehanna International Group hold 58% of ByteDance, while the company’s Chinese founder owns 21%, and employees, including around 7,000 Americans, own another 21%.

The four-year battle over TikTok represents a crucial battleground in the ongoing conflict between the United States and China over the internet and technology. In April, Apple announced that China had asked to remove Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China because of national security concerns.

According to the lawsuit, TikTok spent $2 billion on steps to secure U.S. users’ data and made additional pledges in a 90-page draft National Security Agreement established through negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

According to the claim, TikTok agreed to a “shutdown option” under which the U.S. government could stop TikTok in the U.S. if it violated specified requirements.

According to the lawsuit, CFIUS discontinued significant conversations concerning the transaction in August 2022, and in March 2023, CFIUS “insisted that ByteDance divest the U.S. TikTok business.”

Biden Campaign Using TikTok

CFIUS is an interagency body chaired by the United States Treasury Department that investigates foreign investments in American enterprises and real estate that raise national security issues.

In 2020, judges ruled against President Donald Trump’s attempt to prohibit TikTok and WeChat, owned by Tencent (0700. H.K.).

Resides in the United States. Trump, the Republican candidate running against Democrat Joe Biden in the November 5 presidential election, has shifted course, stating he does not support a ban but that security concerns must be addressed.

If Biden believes ByteDance is progressing, he may extend the January 19 deadline by three months. According to the lawsuit, Biden’s presidential campaign’s continued usage of TikTok “undermines the claim that the platform poses an actual threat to Americans.” The Trump campaign does not use TikTok.

Many experts have questioned if any potential buyer has the financial capacity to acquire TikTok and whether Chinese and U.S. government authorities would authorize a sale.

According to the lawsuit, moving the TikTok source code to the United States “would take years for an entirely new set of engineers to gain sufficient familiarity.”

Source: Reuters

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