Fire TV Stick HD: Amazon replaces the standard model of its streaming stick
Amazon has introduced the new Fire TV Stick HD, replacing the older Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite models. The new stick remains almost unchanged and only supports a resolution of up to 1080p.
The Fire TV Stick Lite, available while supplies last, was never highly recommended. The remote lacked TV control capabilities. The new Fire TV Stick HD includes the Alexa Voice Remote, which offers volume control and TV power options through HDMI commands.
The Fire-TV lineup has been simplified, partly due to a patent dispute with Nokia, making the Fire TV Stick 4K unavailable in Germany. Currently, only the Fire TV Stick HD, the Lite version, and the Fire TV Cube are offered.
YouTube Premium Lite: New tests but no official release
There are new reports about a rollout of YouTube Premium Lite in the USA and Australia. However, there has been no official launch in Germany. The Lite subscription stories date back years, involving trials and adjustments. The lower-cost Lite option is especially attractive amid recent price hikes for YouTube Premium. Expectations haven’t been fulfilled, and it’s still unavailable for new German subscribers.
The US Treasury is using AI to detect fraud
The US Treasury Department claims that its AI-driven fraud detection processes have helped prevent and recover over $4 billion in fraud and improper payments during the past fiscal year, a significant increase from the previous year. This includes $1 billion recovered by expediting fraud identification using machine learning AI. The Treasury plans to share this technology with other federal agencies, like the IRS, which is already utilizing AI for various purposes.
You can now add songs to Spotify directly from Instagram posts
Instagram now lets users add songs from posts and Reels to Spotify directly. If a post features a song, you can tap the song’s name and use the new „Add“ button with the Spotify logo on it to add the track to your Spotify library. This feature requires initially linking your Instagram and Spotify accounts and is being rolled out to users worldwide.
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