YouTube came a long way: it was launched in 2005, it got acquired by Google in 2006, gathered approximately 14 billion videos in 2021… and in 2024, it’s been accused of supporting “Google’s monopoly” and the “prospects for living room dominance”.
That’s what advocacy groups, focused on technology and competition, claim; they’ve urged the US Department of Justice to investigate YouTube. They argue that the video-streaming giant may enable Google and its parent company, Alphabet, to monopolize home entertainment.
There’s a letter to the DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter in which the American Economic Liberties Project, Demand Progress, and nine other organizations express concerns about YouTube’s rise as a rival to cable and streaming services. They argue that’s so because YouTube is pre-installed on smartphones and TVs sold in the US.
The groups requested the regulator to probe YouTube and point out that Google already holds a dominant position in the internet search market and leads in online advertising technology.
“YouTube has a decade-long record of using its dominance across numerous markets to crowd out competitors, lock in customers, and force the purchase of bundled services,” the groups stated. They further mentioned that the expansion of YouTube TV, the company’s subscription-based streaming service, boosts Google’s “prospects for living room dominance”.
A YouTube representative responded, saying, “Anyone looking for something to watch can see this space is very competitive,” and highlighting that the company competes with streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, as well as other video platforms such as Meta’s Instagram and TikTok.
In April, Alphabet reported that YouTube’s quarterly ad revenue exceeded $8 billion, a 21% increase from the previous year.
Google is already dealing with two antitrust lawsuits filed by the Justice Department and several states. One alleges that the company monopolizes the online search market, and the other claims it dominates the market for digital advertising technology. Google has defended its practices, arguing that its successes were achieved through lawful methods.
The advocacy groups argue that YouTube represents “the third leg of the stool that supports Google’s monopoly.”
An Indian national was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail for unauthorized access to his former employer’s computer systems, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Background of the Incident
Kandula Nagaraju, a 39-year-old Indian national, was employed by Singapore’s National Computer Systems (NCS).
His tenure at the company ended abruptly in October 2022 due to poor work performance.
However, Nagaraju’s departure from NCS was not the end of his involvement with the company.
Following his termination, Nagaraju accessed NCS’s computer systems without authorization.
In a calculated act of revenge, he deleted 180 virtual servers, significantly disrupting the company’s operations.
The financial impact of this cyberattack was severe, with NCS reporting losses amounting to SGD 918,000 (approximately Rs 5.6 crore).
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Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
According to India Today reports, the case was brought to light after NCS discovered the unauthorized access and subsequent deletion of critical cyber material.
Following a thorough investigation, Nagaraju was apprehended and charged with unauthorized computer access and data destruction.
Nagaraju was found guilty of the charges in court. The judge, emphasizing the severity of the crime and its impact on the company, sentenced Nagaraju to two years and eight months in jail.
The sentence reflects the judiciary’s stance on cybercrimes and the importance of safeguarding digital infrastructure.
This case underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures within organizations.
It also highlights the potential risks posed by disgruntled former employees.
Companies are urged to implement stringent access controls and regularly update security protocols to prevent similar incidents.
The sentencing of Kandula Nagaraju serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of cybercrime.
As digital infrastructures become increasingly integral to business operations, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated.
This case will likely prompt companies to reassess their security measures and protect their systems against internal and external threats.
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In Japan, there’s an app that’s getting more and more popular: it’s called CatsMe! and, as the name suggests, it has to do with cats.
That’s no wonder, as in Japan, a country with an aging population and a birth rate that has nosedived, there are many pets. According to the Japan Pet Food Association, there were almost 16 million pet cats and dogs in the country in 2023, more than the number of children under 15.
The latest Reuters report tells the story of Mayumi Kitakata and Chi, her housemate who loves treats, enjoys catnip a bit too much, and is 14 years old – an advanced age for a cat.
Kitakata, 57, has had several pet cats over the years, and to extend Chi’s life, she has turned to artificial intelligence.
In March, Kitakata started using the CatsMe! app which utilizes AI in order to detect when a cat is in pain, reducing the need for stressful vet visits.
“He is at an age where more and more diseases are going to appear,” said Kitakata, who is single and has a grown son. “So being able to consult the vet but still reduce the number of visits to the hospital is very important for him and for me”.
Nihon University professor Kazuya Edamura noted that while vets can often tell if an animal is in pain, it is more challenging for pet owners. According to Edamura, over 70% of elderly cats have arthritis or pain, yet only 2% visit a hospital. So, the app helps owners determine if their cat’s situation is normal.
Carelogy, a tech startup, and researchers at Nihon University developed CatsMe! by training it on 6,000 cat images. The app, used by over 230,000 customers since its launch last year, is said to deliver over 95% accuracy, expected to improve with more data.
Originally, the cat pain detection AI was launched as “CPD (Cat Pain Detector)” in 2023, but was rebranded as “CatsMe!” in January 2024.
Initially free, the app gained over 230,000 users in more than 50 countries within a year.Now, CatsMe! has transitioned to a basic paid service, offering features previously exclusive to premium members, such as “multiple cat record management”, “simultaneous AI evaluation of multiple photos”, and “cat albums”, to all users.
The key feature of this update is the new “AI Insight Function”, which analyzes AI judgment results, records, and notes from the past two weeks to provide personalized advice.
By tapping the “Perform AI analysis for the last two weeks” button on the calendar on your [My Page], users can easily review trends from the past two weeks.
This “AI Insights Feature” summarizes the past two weeks’ data, useful for sharing with vets or simply reviewing with the AI.
CatsMe! offers a two-week free trial to allow cat owners to experience the service.
Cybersecurity watchdog Shadowserver has identified 256,000+ publicly exposed servers vulnerable to a critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) flaw in Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) services.
The flaw, designated CVE-2024-30080, poses a significant threat to global cybersecurity. It could allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
CVE-2024-30080 is a critical RCE vulnerability in MSMQ, a messaging protocol used for communication between applications.
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The flaw allows attackers to send specially crafted packets to the MSMQ service, enabling them to execute arbitrary code with the same privileges as the MSMQ service.
This could lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and potentially severe disruptions in services relying on MSMQ.
Scope of Exposure
Shadowserver’s extensive scan revealed that approximately 256,000 servers worldwide are publicly exposed and vulnerable to this flaw.
Shadowserver report
These servers span various industries, including finance, healthcare, and government sectors, highlighting the widespread risk posed by this vulnerability.
Mitigation Measures
Microsoft has released a security patch addressing CVE-2024-30080. Organizations are strongly urged to apply this patch immediately to protect their systems. Additionally, it is recommended to:
Restrict Access: Limit MSMQ service exposure to trusted networks only.
Monitor Traffic: Implement network monitoring to detect and block suspicious activities targeting MSMQ services.
Regular Updates: Ensure all systems and applications are updated with the latest security patches.
The widespread exposure of servers to CVE-2024-30080 underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity practices.
The finding that 256,000 servers were publicly exposed and susceptible to the MSMQ RCE flaw (CVE-2024-30080) clearly indicates the ongoing cybersecurity difficulties.
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Both Huawei and Sony released very compelling flagship smartphones in the last couple of months. Huawei’s arrived in April, while Sony’s landed in May. In this article, we’ll compare those two handsets, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VI. Both of these phones are very compelling in their own right, but also very different at the same time. They’re both camera-centric, though.
Before we get started, do note that both come in global variants, but the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does not include Google services. It comes with Huawei’s services, so without Google apps and the Google Play Store. As per usual, we’ll first list the specs of both devices and then move to other categories. We’ll go over their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance.
Specs
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VI, respectively
These two phones both look different and feel entirely different in the hand. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is made out of aluminum and vegan leather. The Sony Xperia 1 VI combines aluminum and glass. Huawei’s handset comes with a quad-curved glass on the front, and its vegan leather backplate is proportional to that. The phone is very comfortable to hold and use, while it’s also not as slippery as the Sony Xperia 1 VI.
The Xperia 1 VI has flat sides all around, with a pattern on them. The back plate and front side are flat, with very slight curves on the edges. The Xperia 1 VI also has less rounded corners than the Pura 70 Ultra. Both smartphones include flat displays. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra has a centered display camera hole. The Xperia 1 VI does not, but it has thicker top and bottom bezels because of it.
The physical buttons sit on the right-hand side of both phones. In addition to standard ones, the Xperia 1 VI also has a shutter key in the lower portion of its right side. On the back, they have considerably different camera islands. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra’s is in the top-left corner, and it has an interesting shape and overall look. The Xperia 1 VI has a smaller camera island in the top-left corner, its cameras are vertically-aligned.
The two devices are almost identical in terms of height. The Pura 70 Ultra is slightly wider, and they’re almost the same in terms of thickness. Do note that the Pura 70 Ultra has a noticeably larger display, though, 0.3 inches larger. More on that soon. Both smartphones come with an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. Both feel premium in the hand, but the Pura 70 Ultra is less slippery thanks to its design and design materials.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VI: Display
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra includes a 6.8-inch 2844 x 1260 LTPO OLED display. That panel is flat, and it supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This panel can project up to 1 billion colors, and HDR content is supported. The peak brightness here is 2,500 nits. The screen-to-body ratio on the Pura 70 Ultra’s display is around 89%. Kunlun Glass (Basalt-tempered) protects this display.
The Sony Xperia 1 VI, on the other hand, has a 6.5-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) LTPO OLED display. This panel also has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It can project up to 1 billion colors, and HDR content is supported. The display aspect ratio is 19.5:9, while the screen-to-body ratio is around 86%. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection from Corning is included.
Both of these panels are great. They offer vivid colors, deep blacks, and great viewing angles. They’re also both sharp enough, even though the Pura 70 Ultra has an advantage in that regard. The Pura 70 Ultra is also sharper, while the two displays are similar in terms of the maximum brightness they can achieve. Well, on paper the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does get a bit brighter, but in practice, they’re mostly on par. The touch response is good on both. Chances are you’ll be happy with either of these two panels.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VI: Performance
The Kirin 9010 fuels the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. That is Huawei’s chip made by SMIC, and it’s a 7nm processor. The Sony Xperia 1 VI is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from Qualcomm. That’s a 4nm processor. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra includes 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Sony included 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM inside of its smartphone. Both devices utilize UFS 4.0 flash storage.
Needless to say, the chip inside Sony’s smartphone is more powerful. The US ban did affect Huawei’s ability to use specific processors but don’t write off the Kirin 9010 just yet. Why? Well, because it performs great here. It is noticeably worse in benchmarks, but for the vast majority of intents and purposes, it does a great job. Using the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra was a great experience. Navigating through the phone was very smooth, and the same goes for multitasking, opening apps, consuming multimedia, and so on. The same can be said for the Xperia 1 VI, as the performance was great in almost every way.
Things change a bit in the gaming department. Non-demanding games will run fine on both, truly demanding ones, well, that’s a different story. The Xperia 1 VI does throttle CPU and GPU with truly demanding games, but that’s not something you’ll actually notice on the performance side of things. The Xperia 1 VI will do a better job with such titles than the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. The processor difference will be noticeable. In all other ways, however, they both offer very smooth performance.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VI: Battery
There is a 5,200mAh battery included inside the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. Sony’s flagship, on the other hand, carries a 5,000mAh battery. Despite the fact the Pura 70 Ultra has a larger battery, the Xperia 1 VI has a smaller display and a less sharp one. That does play a role in the battery life department, well, at least based on the results the two phones provided. They both offer good battery life, but the Xperia 1 VI has the edge.
You can technically go over the 7-hour screen-on-time mark on both phones, as long as you’re slightly careful. Games and other demanding tasks will affect that, of course. The Xperia 1 VI has proven to have around 20% better results in terms of battery life, though your mileage may vary, of course. The point is, the vast majority of you won’t have absolutely any complaints about the battery life on either one of these phones. Both are rather solid in that regard. We also did not notice excessive drainage on mobile data either.
When it comes to charging, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra easily trumps the Xperia 1 VI. It supports 100W wired, 80W wireless, 20W reverse wireless, and 18W reverse wired charging. It also includes a charger in the box. The Sony Xperia 1 VI supports 30W wired, 15W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. It does not include a charger or a charging cable in the retail box. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra charges faster in every way, a lot faster.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VI: Cameras
Both of these phones include three cameras on the back. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra has a 50-megapixel main unit (variable aperture, sensor-shift OIS, retractable lens), a 40-megapixel ultrawide unit, and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (3.5x optical zoom, macro). The Xperia 1 VI is backed by ZEISS, and it has a 48-megapixel main camera, along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (123-degree FoV). A 12-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, macro) also sits on the back.
When it comes to camera performance, both devices shine, basically. These are some of the best-performing camera smartphones in the market at the moment. They both provide detailed, sharp, and well-balanced images. The Pura 70 Ultra does have a slightly warmer tone to its images, but both are great when it comes to the final product. Both prefer to keep things rather close to what you actually see. They also do a fantastic job with HDR shots, though the Pura 70 Ultra has a slight edge in such conditions.
Their secondary cameras follow the color science of the main shooters really well. When the light goes away, the results are visibly below the main shooters, but still very, very good. Macro photos from the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra in particular are outstanding. Low-light photos from the main cameras are great on both phones. Both devices control the noise very well and also manage to pull out a ton of details in such shots. The Xperia 1 VI does better when it comes to video recording, though.
Audio
Both smartphones include a set of stereo speakers. The thing is, the ones on the Xperia 1 VI are noticeably louder. Both sets of speakers do a fine job of balancing out the audio, however. The quality coming from both is very good.
The Xperia 1 VI also includes an audio jack, while the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does not. You can utilize its Type-C port, though, if needed. The Pura 70 Ultra is equipped with Bluetooth 5.2, while the Xperia 1 VI offers Bluetooth 5.4.
Being inspired by the European Union’s Digital Marketers Act, India has come up with a draft of the Digital Competition Bill to stop tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Apple, and others from dominating the market through anti-competitive practices.
The draft of the Digital Competition Bill aims to prevent giants like Google from taking anti-competitive measures
According to a report by The Indian Express, the draft of the Digital Competition Bill includes provisions aimed at preventing major corporations from engaging in practices that could lead to monopolistic dominance in the market.
The draft also promises to impose “heavy penalties” for violations of the act. The amount could be in billions of dollars, possibly a significant percentage of the company’s turnover.
Reportedly, the Digital Competition Bill is similar to the EU’s DMA, which came into complete effect last year and requires tech giants like Google and Apple to open their services to their competitors. You might have already heard about Apple’s web distribution of apps in the EU. India’s Digital Competition Bill could also require the companies to take similar steps in the country.
The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will hold a meeting on June 18 with tech giants to address “serious concerns” and consider the interests of all parties involved.
The draft faces criticism from tech companies
Just like what we are seeing with the EU’s DMA, tech giants could have to face a significant compliance burden in yet another region. As you may already expect, the bill has faced resistance from both tech companies and industry bodies funded by them.
As a result, the tech giants are seeking changes to strengthen the current competition law rather than moving to the newly proposed bill. For example, an industry executive told The Indian Express that because of the strict requirements of the EU’s DMA, there has been a 4,000 percent increase in the time it takes to find things via Google search.
If the bill comes into effect, Apple will have to allow iPhone users to download apps from third-party sources alongside its App Store. Google also prioritizes its own app store for app downloads citing security risks of sideloading, even if Android allows it.
TikTok has been one of the hot topics in America lately, courtesy of the potential app ban situation in the country. Although the government is concerned about what information users see on the app, a recent survey has revealed Americans do love TikTok when it comes to consuming news.
A recent survey reveals TikTok is one of the go-to news sources for young adult Americans
On Wednesday, the Pew Research Center published a survey that talks about the role major social media platforms play in delivering news to Americans. Notably, the survey includes data related to social media giants like Facebook, TikTok, X, and Instagram. The survey reveals that TikTok grabs the second spot after X as the daily news source for young adult Americans.
Per the survey, young Americans believe that TikTok exposes them to first-hand news that they’re unlikely to find anywhere else. The same has been admitted by 35% of the surveyed TikTok app users. The fact that most TikTok users don’t see the platform as a news source but as a fun gateway makes the findings of the survey even more interesting.
TikTok outranks Facebook and Instagram in this aspect
The survey also reveals that the news American TikTok users consume on the platform comes mainly from influencers and celebrities. On the other hand, X users get their news from media outlets and reporters. Whereas Facebook and Instagram users’ news comes from their friends and family, or other people they may know. Worth noting that Facebook and Instagram fall behind TikTok in this race.
All that said, the published survey hints at the growing popularity of TikTok as a news source among Americans. And, it could be one of the reasons why TikTok influencers are regrouping themselves to save the platform. Last month only, a group of TikTok creators filed a lawsuit against the US government opposing the potential app ban.
It’s not often that a company like Samsung accidentally leaks its own products such as the Galaxy Watch 7, but it does happen. Even if it’s rare. That’s exactly what happened recently as it seems that Samsung mistakenly listed the Galaxy Watch 7 and its other upcoming wearables in its Samsung Members app.
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Watch 7 and its two other variants at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event this Summer. Alongside those two, people are expecting to see the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. None of these devices were confirmed until Samsung’s unfortunate bungle. But it’s unlikely that the mishap did anything but hype up consumers and fans even more.
If anything, people are probably more excited to know that these devices are indeed coming. That being said, this is one of many leaks for Samsung’s watches and earbuds, and it’s far from being the first time they’ve been mentioned.
Samsung leaks Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and more in Members app
The Samsung Members app is used for plenty of things. One such thing is getting help with a device if you’re having issues with it. As noted by X user @RydahDoesTech (via 9To5Google), Samsung had multiple unreleased devices listed in the section of the app that lets you select a device you’re having trouble with. This included not only the Galaxy Watch 7, but other devices too. Including the Galaxy Watch FE, the Galaxy Buds 3, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and the Galaxy Ring.
Samsung confirmed the Galaxy Ring back in the beginning of this year when it teased the wearable at CES. It then showed it off behind some glass cases at Mobile World Congress. The rest of those devices, however, haven’t been announced yet. Most of these devices have already leaked in various forms. Most recently the Galaxy Watch 7 popped up back on June 10 through a certification. It also leaked with specs information back on June 5.
Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro listing confirms new stem design
Aside from confirming the devices exist, Samsung’s Members app also shows the general design of the upcoming Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. A rumor from June 10 noted that Samsung’s latest true wireless earbuds would take on a stem design popularized by the AirPods. And the Members app confirms this. There’s a little icon that shows the earbuds with a stem next to each of those names.
This sort of design has been used by tons of different brands at this point. We’ve seen it used in multiple products from Razer and more recent options like the OnePlus Buds 3. This will be Samsung’s first time implementing a pair of true wireless earbuds that weren’t completely in-ear.
Google is experimenting with a new way to access Gemini, its large language model (LLM) chatbot, within the Google Messages app. The tech giant is reportedly testing a dedicated button that would take users directly to the Gemini conversation screen, eliminating a few steps from the current process.Currently, starting a chat with Gemini in Google Messages involves tapping the “Start chat” button and then selecting Gemini from the options. The new feature, discovered in the app version messages.android_20240610_01_RC00 through an APK teardown, would introduce a Gemini logo button above the “Start chat” button. Tapping this new button would immediately open the Gemini conversation interface, allowing users to type in their prompts without delay.
New Gemini quick-access fab found in latest beta version of the Google Messages app | Image credit: Android Authority
Interestingly, as seen in the above screenshots, the new Gemini button is notably smaller than the existing “Start chat” button. Whether this size difference is a deliberate design choice or an unintentional bug remains unclear.
While removing a single step might seem like a minor adjustment, it could significantly impact user interaction with Gemini. By making the chatbot more accessible and prominent, Google could potentially encourage more users to engage with Gemini and explore its capabilities.
This change aligns with Google’s broader efforts to integrate Gemini across its product ecosystem. The company has already introduced Gemini in various apps and services, including Gemini 1.5 Pro in Gemini Advanced and the YouTube Music Gemini Extension. The addition of a dedicated button in Google Messages further reinforces Google’s commitment to making Gemini a central part of its user experience.
As of now, the new Gemini button has not been rolled out to beta users, but it is expected to appear in the app soon. With this update, Google could be aiming to make conversations with Gemini more seamless and intuitive, ultimately driving greater adoption and usage of the AI chatbot.
The world is making its way back to the office, but Google Meet remains a widely used video conference platform. Google constantly pushes updates to Meet that improve the overall experience, and that continues today. The company just added some Material You elements to Google Meet that bring it to the future.
Google Meets gets Material You and another feature
Over the past two and a half years, Google has been applying a new paint job to its first-party apps called Material You. It’s helped define Google’s particular software aesthetic. Many of the company’s apps already have the Material You look, but there are still some apps that are on the waiting list. There are even apps that have gotten the new aesthetic, but Google continues to make tweaks to them.
In the case of Google Meet, Google has made some changes to the look of the web version. At the bottom of the call screen there’s a bar full of different options like emojis, raise hand, mute, deactivate camera, etc. All of the icons were in circular buttons, but that has changed. With Material You, the selected icon lives in a rounded square button. The unselected buttons live within nearly-pill-shaped ovals. The mute button is now more square, and the hang-up button is a bit elongated.
This is a pretty minor change, but it shows that Google is looking out for all of the little details that make for a more consistent software experience.
Get ready to ‘Meet’ the new add-ons
Google Meet brings some nice first-party features, but the company reached for some third-party help. Users will be able to use add-ons. These are third-party extensions that add additional functionality to your video call.
These add-ons include plugins like Kahoot!, Figma, Lucidspeak, Polly, and Read Notetaker. These all allow you to perform certain actions within your call. For example, Polly is an advanced tool that allows you to make polls and take surveys within your meetings. So, these add-ons will make using the platform much better.
