News of the day

• Subscriptions Are Often Paid But Not Used

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:25:12 +0000

  Under the headline „‚Subscription Creep‘ Is Real„, the US magazine CNET conducted a survey on the subscription behavior of Americans. The results are largely applicable to Germany. The survey highlights that paid subscriptions are often hardly or not at all used, leading to a slow accumulation of their total costs. This phenomenon is referred to as „Subscription Creep“ in the USA.

  On average, adults in the USA spend $91 monthly on subscription services, totaling over $1,000 annually. Video service expenses are highest, used by about 60% of respondents. Music services fees rank just behind those for commercial services like Amazon Prime, while 17% pay for digital services such as cloud storage and in-app purchases.

  Many customers forget to cancel subscriptions, with almost half admitting they signed up for a free trial and forgot to cancel in time. Apple is setting an example with easy cancellation options via its App Store.

• Passkeys Should Be Easy and Secure to Exchange

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:05:54 +0000

  Passkeys offer a good alternative to traditional passwords, especially for Apple device users using iCloud Keychain. The FIDO Alliance aims to eliminate the drawback of tying users to platforms and devices by introducing new specifications for the secure transfer of credentials between providers.

  Involved in this draft are Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Samsung, as well as providers like 1Password and NordPass. The aim is to enhance user experience and promote the spread of passkeys, currently in an early draft phase.

• ChatGPT Desktop App Now Available for Windows

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:14:49 +0000

  OpenAI has released the Windows version of ChatGPT, previously available on Mac. Distributed via the Microsoft Store, users need a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, Team, Edu, or Enterprise. The Windows version is less feature-complete compared to the Mac version, lacking some functionalities like voice features.

  The Mac version benefits from a tight collaboration between OpenAI and Apple, with a significant lead in development, integrating features like the „companion window“ for ongoing conversations.

• DJI Challenges Its ‚Chinese Military Company‘ Pentagon Designation in Court

  Published: Sat, 19 Oct 2024 12:00:36 +0000

  DJI has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense over its designation as a „Chinese military company,“ arguing that the label has caused financial and reputational harm. DJI claims it is neither owned nor controlled by the Chinese military and has lost business due to the designation, making contracts with federal agencies impossible. The company also notes a lack of engagement from the Department of Defense to resolve the issue.

• Spider-Man 2 Will Crawl Onto PCs in January

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 22:31:43 +0000

  Spider-Man 2, featuring Peter Parker and Miles Morales, will release on PC on January 30, 2025. Available through Steam and the Epic Games Store, the PC versions will offer exclusive content and enhanced features, bringing the PS5 game’s content and updates to a new audience.

• Google Wants to Put the Consequences of Its Epic Antitrust Ruling on Pause During Appeal

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 21:09:18 +0000

  Google has requested the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to pause the implementation of a ruling from an Epic Games antitrust case which found Google monopolized Android app distribution. Google argues that allowing third-party app stores could expose Android users to security risks. The court’s injunction requires Google to allow developers to bypass Google Play’s billing system, a change Google contests as potentially unsafe.

• Penguin Random House Amends Its Copyright Rules to Protect Authors from AI

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 21:04:36 +0000

  Penguin Random House has changed its copyright statements to prevent its authors‘ works from being used for AI training, following criticism faced by AI developers for utilizing unapproved sources. The updated wording prohibits any use for AI technology, aligning with recent European regulations on text and data mining rights.

• Turns Out Redbox’s Derelict Kiosks Are a Big Red Security Risk

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 19:22:46 +0000

  Former Redbox kiosks, now sold to private owners, have been found to contain sensitive customer information such as personal emails and addresses. With poor encryption and maintenance from the parent company Chicken Soup for the Soul, the machines pose significant security threats as the information is accessible by new owners.

• Nightdive Studios Revives a Cult Classic 3DO Game from 1996

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:54:13 +0000

  Nightdive Studios has remastered „Killing Time“ from 1996, now available on PC with updated graphics, 4K visuals, and new gameplay features. „Killing Time: Resurrected“ offers 4K visuals and re-integrates weapons and content cut from the original version, promising to retain the unique charm of the full-motion video approach.

• Google NotebookLM Adds Improved Audio Overviews and Background Listening Feature

  Published: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:48:04 +0000

  Google’s NotebookLM has introduced new features to enhance its audio overviews, integrating a background listening function that allows users to interact and explore related content without pausing the audio. The label „experimental“ has been removed from the product, signaling a successful adaptation of the platform among users.

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