Category: Tech buzz
-
Gboard for Android hits 10 billion downloads on Play Store
Gboard hitting 10 billion downloads on the Play Store is a major milestone for Google. Since its release in 2013, it has evolved significantly. After replacing the Google Keyboard in 2016, Gboard’s web search functionality was a key differentiator for a while, although it was eventually removed in 2020. This achievement reflects how Gboard has…
-
TikTok Shares Insights Into the Rise of Ecommerce in the App
TikTok’s in-app shopping feature is slowly gaining momentum, although not at the rapid pace seen in China, where Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) generated nearly $500 billion in sales last year. This impressive figure is a big motivation for TikTok to continue pushing its shopping features. This week, TikTok released a new report examining the…
-
Instagram Explains How Its Algorithm Weighs Time Spent Watching Longer Clips
If you’re trying to figure out the best approach for your Instagram video content, especially now that views and watch time are key factors for engagement, this new insight could be helpful. Today, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri shared more details about how the platform’s content algorithm evaluates watch time. Instead of just counting views, Instagram…
-
Report Looks at How Workers Feel About the Potential Impacts of AI
As Meta continues to integrate its AI models across more platforms, and X promotes its latest Grok 3 AI model, a new report from Pew Research arrives at a crucial time for evaluating the potential impact of AI on the workforce. Pew Research surveyed 5,395 U.S. adults to gauge public sentiment regarding AI’s potential…
-
Android phone makers now have one fewer excuse to end software updates early
Qualcomm has announced that smartphones powered by its Snapdragon 8 Elite chips will be eligible for up to eight years of Android OS and security updates. This program aims to reduce update costs for manufacturers, but it will be up to individual phone makers to provide the extended support. The first devices to benefit from…
-
The cost of generating a video every second with Google’s AI, Veo 2, is 50 cents.
It seems that Google’s Veo 2 AI charges 50 cents for generating a video per second. Currently, Veo 2 is limited to producing two-minute clips with a maximum 4K resolution, which is significantly more than the 20-second 1080p clips created with OpenAI’s Sora model. Comparing the pricing of Sora and Veo 2 is a bit…
-
Gmail will stop using SMS for two-factor authentication
Google is planning to end support for SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) for Gmail, according to Forbes. While sending a code via text has been a long-standing method to verify identity, it comes with significant security concerns that Google aims to address. The goal is to “reduce the impact of rampant, global SMS abuse,” as Gmail…
-
Even Elon Musk forgets that X isn’t Twitter sometimes
Do you still sometimes call X by its old name, Twitter? You’re not alone—even Elon Musk, the man behind the rebrand, occasionally does the same. In fact, on Monday, Musk himself referred to the platform as Twitter in a post on X, stating: “Twitter added far more features with fewer people.” Musk’s comment came in…
-
YouTube’s mid-roll ads are getting better about interrupting your videos
YouTube is set to change mid-roll ad placements starting in May 2025 to enhance the viewing experience. Ads will now be inserted at more natural points, such as pauses or scene transitions, to minimize disruptions. While creators should be aware of these adjustments, viewers won’t need to take any action. If you’re an average YouTube…
-
Instagram Tests AI-Based Tasks via DMs
The next phase of generative AI involves AI agents—chatbot tools capable of handling tasks and projects on your behalf. OpenAI recently took a step in this direction with the launch of its “Operator” app, which can initiate web-based actions at your request. Now, Meta appears to be exploring similar capabilities, testing a new task assignment…