Thousands of subreddits remain dark as Reddit refuses to back down

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Thousands of subreddits remain dark as Reddit refuses to back down
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The Reddit community is continuing to protest over the company’s recent API policy changes. Thousands of subreddits are still dark or private, long beyond the originally planned 48-hour blackout that ended Tuesday. The social network has refused to back down from the planned changes.

This mass protest began on Monday after Reddit announced plans to charge for access to its APIs. The company claims that the new fees will help make the platform profitable and also monetize its data, which many companies are using to train their LLMs (Large Language Models) for generative AI tools.

However, this policy also applies to indie developers who rely on Reddit APIs for their third-party apps. More importantly, the money that the company is asking for is a lot more than what these apps make. Unable to bear the operating cost, several third-party Reddit apps are shutting down at the end of this month.

This angered the Reddit community. The effects of the proposed API policy changes on moderator tools made the matter worse. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman publicly lashing out at some developers further fueled the anger. On Monday, more than 8,000 subreddits went private in protest, blocking access for people who aren’t already subscribed. These include some of the most popular communities with tens of millions of subscribers.

Many of those subreddits are dark long beyond the original plan

The plan was to remain private for 48 hours, though a few hundred of them pledged to continue the protest indefinitely. Turns out they motivated others as well. As of this writing, more than 4,000 subreddits are still private, while many others are restricted. Among them are some big names such as r/funny,  r/videos, r/music, r/aww, and r/science. Restricted subreddits don’t allow users to submit new content but existing content is accessible for all.

Meanwhile, Redding has announced that the decision is final. It won’t back down from the proposed API policy changes. “We’re not planning any changes to the API updates we’ve previously announced,” a company spokesperson told The Guardian. “Expansive access to data has impact and costs involved; we spend multimillions of dollars on hosting fees and Reddit needs to be fairly paid to continue supporting high-usage third-party apps.”

This came after Huffman encouraged employees to stick to the plan in an internal memo earlier this week, saying that the protest hasn’t affected the company’s revenue and things will be normal soon. “There’s a lot of noise with this one [ongoing protest]. Among the noisiest we’ve seen… and like all blowups on Reddit, this one will pass as well,” Huffman said. “We absolutely must ship what we said we would.”


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Twitch Partner Plus program gives 70% revenue share to all streamers

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Twitch Partner Plus program gives 70% revenue share to all streamers
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Twitch has announced a new revenue-sharing program that promises a higher cut of subscription revenue to streamers. The Partner Plus program, which will go live on October 1, 2023, offers a 70 percent share of net subscription revenue to streamers, up from the current 50 percent share. The higher revenue cut will only apply to the first $100,000 made through subscriptions each year, though. After that, the streamers’ share will drop to the standard 50 percent.

Most live-streaming services offer a 50-50 revenue split on subscriptions. Streamers get half of the net subscription revenue while the company keeps the other half. It’s no different with Twitch, though the platform has negotiated premium terms with some big-name streamers who get a 70 percent share. Until last month, those streamers got a higher cut of their entire subscription revenue. But the company has now limited that to the first $100,000 earned every year. The new terms are effecting this month and will apply to streamers when their contracts with Twitch are up for renewal.

Twitch will treat all streamers the same way with the Partner Plus program

Twitch’s new partner program now treats all other streamers in the same way. Like those big streamers, they will also get a 70 percent share of net subscription revenue until they make $100,000 within a year. These include revenue from recurring monthly subscriptions and gift subscriptions. To be eligible for this 70-30 revenue split, streamers must maintain at least 350 recurring subscriptions for three consecutive months. Streamers who maintain this subscriber threshold in July, August, and September this year will be eligible for the Partner Plus program at launch in October.

Once enrolled, streamers will get a 70 percent share of subscription revenue for a year or until they make $100,000. That’s even if their subscriber count drops below 350. However, they must maintain the minimum subscriber threshold for three consecutive months again to get a higher revenue cut in the next 12-month cycle. Note that gifted subscriptions or free subscriptions for Amazon Prime members do not count toward the qualification criteria. Revenue from gifted subscriptions does count toward the 70-30 revenue split program, though.

“Our focus has always been on inspiring, growing, and sustaining Twitch streamers all around the world. We hope this new program demonstrates that commitment,” Twitch Chief Monetization Officer Mike Minton and Chief Content Officer Laura Lee said in a blog post announcing the Partner Plus program. The announcement comes just a week after the company introduced and quickly rolled back new ad rules. The new rules would have hurt streamers, charities, and brands advertising through partnered streamers on the platform.


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Shell Global Hacked using Flaw in the MOVEit File Transfer System

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Shell Global Hacked using Flaw in the MOVEit File Transfer System
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Shell Global Hacked

Shell corporation has published a report indicating that they have faced a security incident that involved Accelion’s File Transfer appliance in 2021. 

This is the second time the company has faced a security incident after 2021. Shell is one of the major Oil and gas giants, which has a turnover of around $381 Billion (as of 2022) and has employees of more than 80,000 worldwide.

CSN

Earlier this month, the MOVEit File transfer application was reported to be vulnerable to potential privilege escalation and SQL injection attacks. Clop ransomware group has been identified to be exploiting MOVEit file transfer used by many organizations.

The recent security incident states that an unauthorized third party has infiltrated Shell corporation for a short period of time within which they could extract some personal data and other stakeholder information.

“We are aware of a cyber security incident that has impacted a third party tool from Progress called MOVEit Transfer which is used by a small number of Shell employees and customers,” said a spokesperson from Shell corporation.

In addition to this, the Clop ransomware group has published a report on the dark web that showed a number of companies hacked by them showcased several UK-based organizations, including Shell Inc and many US-based financial organizations.

It is still unclear how many organizations were attacked and infiltrated by this. However, Clop ransomware group hasn’t published the complete report yet.

Though this is confirmed, Shell stated, “There is no evidence of any impact to Shell’s core IT systems as the file transfer service is isolated from the rest of Shell’s digital infrastructure.”

The company also mentioned that they have been working with the cyber security team and authorities to investigate this incident further. They are also in contact with the affected individuals to address the possible risk of this incident.

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Take a first look at the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5

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Take a first look at the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5
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Following the official Galaxy Z Fold 5 promo image that surfaced, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is now here too, giving us the very first look at its design. This image also comes from MySmartPrice, by the way.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 appeared in a seemingly-official image, providing us with the very first look at its design

We’ve seen the phone already, in images created based on the phone’s design, but we haven’t actually seen an official image of it. This image is allegedly official, a part of Samsung’s promo arsenal.

We can see the phone semi-closed here, with the focus being on its cover display. That cover display will be one of its main attractions, as it’s considerably bigger than the one on the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

This display has a shape of a folder icon, kind of, and it takes up the vast majority of the phone’s front side (when folded). Unlike the display on the Motorola Razr+, however, this one doesn’t go around the phone’s cameras.

The sides of the phone will also be flat, even though we can’t really see them in the provided image. You can expect a rather boxy design here, as was the case with the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

This phone will fold flat, unlike its predecessor

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is also said to fold flat, unlike its predecessor. Samsung will be using a new hinge on both the Fold 5 and Flip 5. That hinge will allow both phones to fold flat, like basically all of their competitors do these days.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 will become official next month, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The Galaxy Watch 6 will launch during the same event. That event will be hosted in Seoul, Korea, but it will be a global launch event.

All in all, there are two major differentiating points between the Flip 4 and this model. The first one is the cover display, and the second is the fact that Flip 5 will fold flat. If you’d like to know more about the Galaxy Z Flip 5, click here.


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Uber apps will now have video ads up to 90 seconds long

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Uber apps will now have video ads up to 90 seconds long
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Targeted ads have been around for a while, and scenes in movies like WALL-E, where everyone has their own tablet with constant ads in front of their eyes, don’t seem so unusual these days.

Starting this week, Uber is introducing video ads in its apps: Uber, Uber Eats, and Drizly. According to The Wall Street Journal, these ads will appear while you wait for your ride, during the ride itself, after placing an order on Uber Eats, and while browsing Drizly. Essentially, they will be displayed in almost all possible places.

Certain Uber cars will be equipped with tablets that show ads throughout the entire trip. The rollout of video ad products will initially take place in the USA, followed by later introductions in the UK, Australia, and France.

These ads can be as long as 90 seconds and will be customized for each Uber user by tracking their location and purchase history. For instance, if your ride passes by a particular restaurant, you may see an ad for it on the app or in the in-car tablet. You will have the option to disable the sharing of specific data, such as gender or ride history, but you can not choose to disable ads altogether.

One thing users can do while riding in a car with installed tablets is mute the sound of the ads, which is at least something. The ads on the apps will be muted by default. While this news might not be very appealing to users, Uber plans to continue expanding its retail media networks.

Retail media networks are consumer-oriented companies that offer advertising platforms that use their own customer information to assist brands in delivering targeted messages. Marketers now have various options for these platforms, including not only Uber but also Lyft, Walmart, Marriott, Kroger, and CVS Health.

Uber’s apps have previously featured static display ads, but with the introduction of video ads, the company aims to achieve its goal of $1 billion in ad revenue by 2024. In the last quarter of 2022, Uber had 315,000 merchants who purchased ads through its apps, and this number increased to 345,000 in the first quarter of 2023.


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WhatsApp is copying circular video messages from Telegram

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WhatsApp is copying circular video messages from Telegram
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WhatsApp is adding support for video messages. It’s testing a new feature that lets you record and send short videos in real-time, similar to audio messages. The feature is currently available in the latest beta version of the app for Android and iOS, but only for select users. A wider rollout should follow in a few weeks.

This update improves the video messaging experience on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is the most-used instant messaging app globally. The Meta-owned platform has over two billion users and tops the local chart in several countries around the world. However, it still isn’t the most feature-rich option out there. As in, it’s missing some popular features found on other apps. Thankfully, WhatsApp seems to be ever-improving lately, frequently pushing updates with new features.

One of the upcoming updates will bring video messaging to the platform. Of course, you can already send videos through WhatsApp. It lets you send pre-recorded videos saved in the gallery or use the camera to record a video from within the app (with a size limit). However, these videos don’t evoke a sense of immediacy. Even if you record and send the video in real-time, it goes through as a regular video file.

The upcoming feature, meanwhile, gives video messaging a welcome twist. You will be able to record videos up to one minute long direct from the chat screen. The microphone button that sits to the right of the compose box in WhatsApp will double up as a video button. It will switch between the two with every tap. If you want to record an audio or video, you can press and hold the button (check whether it’s in the audio or video state). The existing function of swiping up to lock the recording will work for videos as well.

Moreover, videos recorded using this feature are circular. They feel like part of the conversation and not a separate video file. Recipients will be able to tell that the video is recorded in real-time during the conversation. While it’s unclear at the moment, WhatsApp probably won’t save the video to the gallery. So you can’t send the same recording to someone else. Recipients also can’t forward those videos to others. That’s not the case with the current state of video messaging in WhatsApp. Even videos recorded from within the app are saved in the gallery.

WhatsApp is playing catch-up to other apps, again

WhatsApp isn’t the first messaging app to introduce a video messaging feature. Telegram already offers the same experience. It’s available in a few other apps as well. Meta is playing catch-up here and is still testing the feature in a small group of beta users. It may take a while before the feature reaches everyone globally.

As pointed out by WABetaInfo, which first reported this update, video messages can’t be sent as “view once,” at least not just yet. But WhatsApp may change a few things before the public rollout. Meanwhile, if you want to try this feature early, you can join WhatsApp’s beta program for Android here and see if you’re lucky enough to get it. Video messages are available with WhatsApp beta version 2.23.13.4 for Android and 23.12.0.71 for iOS.

WhatsApp video messages testing


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The generative AI is disrupting the most important industries

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The generative AI is disrupting the most important industries
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Generative AI has made a significant impact in various industries, including sales, marketing, programming, and copywriting.

Sales & Marketing

Generative AI has revolutionized sales by enabling personalized product recommendations and sales forecasting. AI-powered recommendation systems analyze customer data to suggest relevant products, increasing sales conversion rates. Furthermore, predictive analytics models leverage generative AI to forecast sales trends, enabling businesses to optimize their strategies and inventory management.

Similarly to sales, the generative AI has transformed marketing. AI algorithms can generate compelling ad copy, social media posts and email campaigns through content creation, ad optimization, and customer segmentation.

In some businesses like ecommerce, financial services and casinos, the content is one of the most important parts of the business. For the latter, on top of deposit bonuses and spins, the key factor to attract players is properly conducted copy.

This way the time and effort required for content creation is significantly reduced. Additionally, AI-powered tools can analyze customer behavior and demographics to create targeted marketing campaigns, enhancing customer engagement and conversion rates.

Creative work

Generative AI has had a significant impact on copywriting by automating the generation of marketing content. AI-powered language models can produce blog posts, product descriptions, and social media captions, saving time and resources for businesses. These models are trained on vast amounts of data and can mimic human-like writing styles, generating high-quality content at scale.

Generative AI has also disrupted more technical aspects of website creation such as programming. Certain aspects of software development can be easily automated and AI models like GPT-3 can generate code snippets, providing developers with helpful suggestions and accelerating the coding process. Moreover, AI can assist in bug detection and code optimization, enhancing the overall efficiency and quality of software development.

More practical implementations

On top of it all, with help of generative AI there are whole communities taking advantage of its benefits. For example, in the country of India which is well-known for its social struggles, an AI trial was launched to help some of the poorest communities.

The idea is to see and test how artificial intelligence can help people learn about government aid without getting lost in bureaucracy and corruption.

Future projection

As for the future projection of generative AI, the possibilities are vast. Next, we will see some of the potential developments.

Enhanced creativity

Generative AI is expected to become more proficient in creative tasks like art, music, and storytelling. AI-generated artwork, compositions, and narratives could find applications in various creative industries, pushing the boundaries of human-machine collaboration.

Natural language understanding

Future generative AI models may possess a deeper understanding of human language and context. This would enable more sophisticated interactions and provide more accurate and contextually relevant responses.

Improved personalization

Generative AI will likely enhance personalization in various domains, such as customer experience, healthcare, and education. AI algorithms will be able to better understand individual preferences and tailor recommendations and services accordingly.

Ethical considerations

As generative AI becomes more advanced, ethical considerations surrounding bias, fairness, and privacy will become increasingly important. Efforts will be made to ensure that AI systems are transparent, accountable, and aligned with human values.

It’s important to note that these projections are speculative and subject to ongoing research and development. The field of generative AI is evolving rapidly, and its future impact will depend on various factors, including technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, and societal acceptance.


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Instagram broadcast channels feature to start its global rollout

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Instagram broadcast channels feature to start its global rollout
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Instagram is now rolling its broadcast channels feature globally after the feature has spent some time being limited to select creators, reports Engadget. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced that the feature will now be starting its global rollout.

Instagram broadcast channels feature starts rolling out globally


This new feature allows users to send messages to their followers which they can react to and vote in polls. However, followers are unable to respond directly to the message. For example, Zuckerberg’s channel is used to share announcements and updates. The feature was announced back in February for select creators.Of course, you don’t need to only send text updates to your followers using this feature. You can also share images, videos, and audio clips. On top of that, you can also invite others to join your channel as a collaborator, so it seems like a pretty useful feature for content creators.

Reportedly, you will be able to go to the DM section and see the “Suggested channels” section to look for channels you can join.


WhatsApp got channels last week, and currently, the feature is available for a few organizations for now (with broader access coming in the next months). Meta also plans to bring the feature to Facebook and Messenger. On the other hand, Meta’s been working on a Twitter-like app recently, according to reports. It could be a standalone service, however, you’ll be able to log in with your Instagram account.

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Meta makes creating and monetizing your content easier

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Meta makes creating and monetizing your content easier
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Aside from other things, Meta is a social media empire. It owns Facebook and Instagram among other platforms. If you’re a content creator for any of those platforms, then there’s good news. Meta made creating and monetizing content much easier on these platforms.

Facebook and Instagram are two of the most popular social media platforms in the world, but that doesn’t mean that other platforms can’t swoop in and cause trouble for Meta.

TikTok has been a thorn in Facebook’s/Meta’s side since it hosted its first dance video. It revolutionized the short-form video market, and Meta has been trying to keep up.

Well, Meta is making it easier to create and monetize content

Meta has been focusing more on video content with it pushing Reels into more corners of its services. Thus, this is an area where we see the company making changes.

For starters, the company is making it easier to create Reels. When creating a Reel, you’ll see a new editor screen that will let you edit the video, audio, and text all in one screen. This makes it look more like a traditional video editor.

Next, following in the footsteps of YouTube, Meta will take clips from your longer-form videos and live streams and edit them into Reels. This will distribute your content into the stream of other Reels. That way, more people will be able to discover your content.

When you enable Pro Mode on your account, it will provide you with tips and resources to increase your engagement. You’ll have insight into your overall reach and it’ll give you tools to create content on your profile. Also, Pro Mode users could also be promoted on the “Creator To Follow” feed so more people can see what they create.

Monetization

The subject of monetization is one of the biggest when it comes to content creation. Thankfully, Meta gave us some good news on that front. The company lowered the bar for creators to monetize their content.

Before, you needed to have gained 1,000 followers over the past 60 days. Well, that was reduced to 500 followers, but there’s one thing to notice. You will need to have gained these followers over the past 30 days rather than the past 60 days. If you want to read more about the changes, you can view the blog post right here.


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New EU law says smartphone batteries should be easily replaceable

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New EU law says smartphone batteries should be easily replaceable
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The EU is approving a new law that would make batteries in smartphones easily replaceable again. You know, like they used to be back in the days of yore. The law, which gained 587 votes in favor of the change, says that batteries in all gadgets in the EU should be easily replaceable, and this includes smartphones. The law states that consumers “shouldn’t need special tools” to swap out a battery. Which would mean manufacturers would have to change the way they design phones. This way consumers could get to the batteries without needing tools that are currently required to take phones apart.

These days, if you want to replace a smartphone battery, you need a few things. The battery, for one. But beyond that, you need some proper tools to get the pieces of the phone apart in addition to some free time. Because it’s not a simple process that takes less than 10 seconds.

Think back to the days of the Galaxy S5. If you needed to replace your battery, you could simply pop off the back and swap it out. This was useful for numerous reasons. You could keep spare batteries charged up and ready to go if the one in your phone needed a recharge. It also made things easy if the battery just needed to be replaced completely. None of that is possible now without extra time and equipment.

The EU law for easily replaceable batteries in smartphones could have a global impact

While this law is only going into effect in the EU, it’s unlikely that this won’t have a more far-reaching impact. Smartphone manufacturers would be wasting time and resources to create devices for the EU that meet the requirements of this law while making separate versions for the rest of the world that have batteries sealed up.

It’s also worth noting that the law in the EU doesn’t just apply to phones. It specifically refers to batteries and waste batteries. But nowhere is it mentioned that the law is limited to smartphones. Which means all future gadgets. That being said, the law isn’t immediate.

It doesn’t go into effect until early 2027. So companies have a few years to get things in order and comply with it.


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