Tech

Germany leads efforts to build alternatives to US space tech

Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg have pledged to join Germany’s efforts to build a European military space command to reduce the continent’s dependence on the US.
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The $499 Trump Mobile T1 turns out to be a rebranded 2024 HTC phone with an incorrect American flag

After nine months of delay, the Trump Mobile T1 is finally being shipped to some media outlets for reviews. Turns out, it’s a rebranded HTC phone from 2024.
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“Aliens brought us together:” Is Neil de Grasse Tyson a UFO believer now?

For years, Neil deGrasse Tyson laughed off UFO claims and, as a prominent astrophysicist, told alien believers to look at the stars instead. Now, in an interview with Chris Cuomo, the scientist appears to have fully changed course and sides with the UFO community.
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Hinge’s new Signals feature might be a sign to change your dating style

Dating app veterans who have struggled to find a romantic partner could be in luck, as Hinge has released a new feature that shows just how thoughtful you really are.
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Microsoft ditches SMS codes for sign-in, says there’s a more secure way to reach your accounts

The company believes that two-factor authentication codes sent via text are a recipe for getting your accounts hacked.
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Ditch Signal in favor of domestic apps – Poland

The Polish government has issued an official recommendation to refrain from the messaging platform Signal and use domestic apps instead.
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Your pacemaker data can be used as evidence against you

Your pacemaker can save your life, but won’t protect you from prosecution. As a recent case has shown, law enforcement can use your heartbeat data against you in court.
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Here's how many people it takes to weaponize TikTok's "Not Interested" button and degrade everyone's recommendations

The systems that underpin our social media, video and music platforms can be disrupted by as few as 40 coordinated users, according to new research.
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“It’s not about cash in suitcases:” here’s how the big tech lobby works in Germany

Researcher Joris Leander Kanowski says tech giants such as Microsoft and Meta can afford to be members of nearly every trade association in Germany, thereby exerting significant influence on the country’s digital laws.
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Sony blames “market conditions” for another PlayStation Plus price increase, players unconvinced

PlayStation users are unconvinced that “market conditions” are the main reasons behind a price hike just before the long-anticipated release of GTA 6.
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Think all songs sound the same? It’s proven – Spotify’s algorithms are killing interesting music

The global recorded music industry generated more than $28 billion in revenue in 2023 – but despite all that cash sloshing through the system, the songs topping streaming charts are sounding increasingly samey.
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Meghan Markle speaks of “dangerous bargain” as Big Tech threatens childhood innocence

Meghan Markle arrived in Switzerland to speak at The Lost Screen Memorial, which raises awareness of the devastating effects of digital abuse on children.
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Russia’s largest semiconductor firm, Mikron, selling chip parts as souvenirs to earn extra cash

Russia’s largest manufacturer and exporter of microelectronics and semiconductors is selling souvenirs made from the wafers used to make microchips.
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Do American processors in European clouds make them non-sovereign?

As Europe doubles down on efforts to move its infrastructure to a sovereign cloud, warnings emerge about providers’ reliance on American processors.
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Starbucks eyes first India tech office in a $2bn cost-cutting effort

It's time for a major restructuring for Starbucks, which is considering opening its first corporate technology office in India, as it targets up to $2 billion in cost cuts.
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Elon Musk says SpaceX wants to make it impossible to fire him

Elon Musk has confirmed that SpaceX is considering corporate restructuring that would make it virtually impossible to fire him. The new structure could also include a trillion-dollar compensation package linked to Musk’s Mars ambitions.
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What happens if you get flagged by facial recognition tech like Facewatch?

A frequent customer of Home Bargains, a UK retailer, said they were escorted from one of its shops after being flagged by a facial recognition system. But no one could tell why.
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Google confirms it’s reducing free storage for some Gmail users

Google has been experimenting with Gmail storage limits, and some users are not happy about it. They’re now having to make room for new files by deleting old ones.
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Plinq app, which checks men’s criminal records, has allegedly saved 200 Brazilian women

The Plinq app runs through publicly available records to warn female users about potential abusers, whether they are strangers from dating apps or ride-sharing drivers.
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Microsoft sacks Israel subsidiary boss over using its cloud to store spying data

Microsoft has ousted the head of its Israel subsidiary over the unethical use of its Azure cloud service by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
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