Innholdsfortegnelse for #696 i Techlife News

Nvidia on Wednesday reported a surge in fourth-quarter profit and sales as demand for its specialized Blackwell chips, which power artificial intelligence systems, continued to grow, sending the company’s stock higher after hours. For the three months that ended Jan. 26, the tech giant based in Santa Clara, California, posted revenue of $39.3 billion, up 12% from the previous quarter and 78% from one year ago. Adjusted for one-time items, it earned 89 cents a share. “Demand for Blackwell is amazing as reasoning AI adds another scaling law — increasing compute for training makes models smarter and increasing compute for long thinking makes the answer smarter,” Nvidia Founder Jensen Huang said in a statement. Nvidia has ramped up the massive-scale production of Blackwell AI supercomputers, Huang said, “achieving billions of…

Unwanted phone calls are out of control. Whether it’s a robocall trying to sell you something or spam calls from scammers trying to rip you off, it’s enough to make you want to stop answering your phone. So what can you do to stop them? The scourge of unwanted phone calls has been branded an epidemic by consumer groups, while the Federal Communications Commission says it’s the top consumer complaint. The calls are a nuisance to many ordinary people, some of whom have complained to The Associated Press. “I need help on getting spam calls to stop,” one reader said in an email. She’s getting up to 14 calls a day despite the countermeasures she’s employed. As the name implies, robocalls are automated calls to deliver recorded messages to a…

Apple is raising the bar by introducing its groundbreaking C1 5G Cellular Chip. Announced alongside the iPhone 16e, the C1 chip is poised to redefine how we experience mobile devices and could signal extended battery life, enhanced processing power, and a host of innovative features that set a new standard for next-generation smartphones. A NEW CHAPTER For decades, Apple has set industry benchmarks with its pursuit of innovation, and the introduction of the C1 chip is the latest example of this. Designed to power the next generation of iPhones, including the highly anticipated iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Max models, the C1 is the start of a new era where mobile connectivity is faster, more reliable, and more energy-efficient than ever. One of the most celebrated features…

Connecticut lawmakers passed emergency legislation prohibiting state agencies and municipalities from purchasing or using Chinese and Russian drones while also imposing restrictions on where drones can be operated in the state. The bill comes amid bipartisan concern in Washington about possible threats to U.S. national security posed by foreign-adversary drones. Several states, including Tennessee and Florida, have already restricted the use of Chinese drones by their public agencies, including police and fire departments. Under Connecticut’s bill, which moves to Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk, certain state agencies and municipalities, as well as entities that contract with them, will be barred from purchasing prohibited drones after Oct. 1, 2026, and from using them after Oct. 1, 2028. The state’s Department Emergency Services and Public Protection, which includes the State Police, is…

Amazon this week unveiled a generative-AI infused Alexa that it says will allow the popular voice assistant to have more personality, check a user’s tone and even plan romantic dates. But unlike before, when Alexa was offered for free on any Alexa-enabled devices, customers will have to pay Amazon a monthly fee of $19.99 for the revamped voice assistant, which it calls “Alexa+”. However, the generative-AI powered Alexa will be free for Prime members, who pay the company a monthly or annual fee for free delivery and other perks. At a media event held in New York City, Amazon executives showed off the update to the ten-year old digital assistant with the new features aimed at boosting sales and interactions with Alexaenabled devices. The company says Alexa+ is able to…

Paul Safarik, 32, of Lincoln, Nebraska, has worked in the food industry since he was 21, delivering for quick service restaurants like Raising Cane’s and stocking groceries at stores like Trader Joe’s. With his earnings, Safarik, who has Down syndrome, recently bought a treadmill to stay active when the weather’s bad and helped cover the cost of braces for his teeth. That’s unusual, financially speaking, and it’s thanks in part to a little-known savings account called an ABLE account, which lets people people with disabilities save money beyond the $2,000 asset limit that’s linked to benefits like Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. Without the account, Safarik could have risked losing government assistance if he had more than $2,000 in assets saved at one time in a given month. “With this…

Indonesia finally greenlit iPhone 16 sales this week, reversing an October 2024 ban after Apple inked a $1.5 billion investment deal. Announced February 18, 2025, the agreement—brokered with President Prabowo Subianto—ushers in factories for AirTags and accessories, unlocking Southeast Asia’s biggest economy for Apple’s latest flagship. X posts are electric with relief from Indonesian fans, but what’s the tech behind this deal, and how does it reshape Apple’s global footprint? Here’s the full story on the ban’s end, the investment’s scope, and its ripple for 280 million potential users. The Ban Ends: A $1.5 Billion Key Indonesia’s iPhone 16 ban hit hard last fall—Apple missed the country’s 40% local content rule, locking out its newest phone since October 11, per Reuters. Initial offers—$10 million, then $100 million—flopped; Industry Minister Agus…

A private company launched another lunar lander Wednesday, aiming to get closer to the moon’s south pole this time with a drone that will hop into a jet-black crater that never sees the sun. Intuitive Machines’ lander, named Athena, caught a lift with SpaceX from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It’s taking a fast track to the moon — with a landing on March 6 — while hoping to avoid the fate of its predecessor, which tipped over at touchdown. Never before have so many spacecraft angled for the moon’s surface all at once. Last month, U.S. and Japanese companies shared a rocket and separately launched landers toward Earth’s sidekick. Texas-based Firefly Aerospace should get there first this weekend after a big head start. The two U.S. landers are carrying tens…

Microsoft kicked off this week by shipping its latest batch of Copilot+ PCs, powered by an AI-enhanced Windows 11 update, marking a significant step in its push to make artificial intelligence a cornerstone of everyday computing. Unveiled at CES 2025 and rolled out to retailers by February 24, these devices promise smarter workflows and seamless integration, backed by the company’s $80 billion AI investment for the year. With Microsoft’s valuation hovering above $3 trillion, this launch isn’t just about new hardware—it’s a signal of where the tech giant sees the future. What’s driving this rollout, how does it work, and what’s in it for users? Here’s the full breakdown of Microsoft’s latest AI leap, straight from the source. THE LAUNCH: COPILOT+ PCS ARRIVE Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs hit shelves on February…

The billionaire owner of The Washington Post, Jeff Bezos, narrowed the topics covered by its opinion section Wednesday to defending personal liberties and the free market, a pivot away from its traditional broad focus and prompting the news outlet’s opinion editor to resign. Bezos, who also is the founder and largest individual shareholder of Amazon, said on X that “viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.” The move was received by some as an indication that Bezos is making decisions for the storied news outlet with an eye toward avoiding retaliation by President Donald Trump. Bezos, though, cast the change as a modernization from the days when newspapers offered opinions on a broad range of topics. Now, he said, “the internet does that job.” “We…

Apple dropped a bombshell this week, announcing a $500 billion investment in U.S. infrastructure over the next four years, with a shiny new manufacturing hub in Houston at its heart. Unveiled on February 24, 2025, this sprawling 250,000-square-foot facility aims to churn out servers for Apple Intelligence—the AI suite powering iPhones, iPads, and Macs—while signaling a broader push to bring production stateside. Posts on X are abuzz with talk of job creation and supply chain shifts, but what’s really behind this move, and how does it affect Apple users? Here’s the full scoop on the Houston hub, its tech underpinnings, and why this could redefine Apple’s global game plan. The Big Reveal: $500 Billion Hits Home Apple’s Monday announcement wasn’t shy on ambition. The $500 billion pledge spans manufacturing, R&D,…

Apple announced this week that it plans to invest more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, including plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas. The move comes just days after President Donald Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook promised him that the tech giant’s manufacturing would shift from Mexico to the U.S. Trump noted the company was doing so to avoid paying tariffs. That pledge, coupled with the investment commitment, came as Trump continues to threaten to impose tariffs that could drive up the cost of iPhones made in China. “We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,”…

Katy Perry and Gayle King are headed to space with Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez and three other women. Bezos’ rocket company Blue Origin announced the all-female celebrity crew on Thursday. Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and former TV journalist, picked the crew who will join her on a 10-minute spaceflight from West Texas, the company said. They will blast off sometime this spring aboard a New Shepard rocket. No launch date was given. Blue Origin has flown tourists on short hops to space since 2021. Some passengers have gotten free rides, while others have paid a hefty sum to experience weightlessness. It was not immediately known who’s footing the bill for this upcoming flight. Sanchez invited singer Perry and TV journalist King, as well as a former NASA rocket scientist…

Longtime Apple executive Phil Schiller this week conceded he initially opposed fees that the iPhone maker charges for in app-transactions processed outside its own payment system because he feared violating a court-ordered mandate designed to create more competition. Schiller, who oversees Apple’s lucrative App Store for iPhones, made the admission during three hours of testimony in the same Oakland federal courtroom where he last appeared on the witness stand nearly nine months ago as part of a long-running legal battle with Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game. Epic began the showdown four and half years ago when it first filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging that Apple had built an illegal monopoly around its popular App Store that makes billions of dollars annually from a then-exclusive payment…

Amazon took flight this week, expanding its Prime Air drone delivery to 10 U.S. cities on February 21, 2025, powered by AWS artificial intelligence. Announced via an Amazon press release, the rollout spans urban hubs like Atlanta and Dallas, promising 30-minute drops for packages under 5 pounds. With a $1.9 trillion valuation, this isn’t a test run—it’s Amazon doubling down on logistics supremacy. What’s driving this expansion, how does it work, and what’s the payoff for users? Here’s the full story on Amazon’s drone leap, grounded in official word and hard data. DRONES TAKE OFF Amazon’s February 21 press release confirmed Prime Air’s leap—10 cities now get drone drops, up from one (Lockeford, CA) since 2022. Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, and seven others (full list TBD) join, with 500,000 households in…

Apple’s iPhone SE 4 dropped February 19, 2025, but the rumor mill’s already churning—next up might be an M4 MacBook Air, slated for a March reveal. With the M4 chip powering MacBook Pros since November 2024, whispers of a lightweight refresh are hitting fever pitch on X and beyond. Could this bring OLED screens, a thinner chassis, or just a speed bump to Apple’s fan-favorite laptop? Here’s everything on the M4 MacBook Air—leaks, tech specs, and why it’s poised to thrill Mac users this spring. THE RUMOR SPARK: MARCH IN SIGHT Mark Gurman’s February 16 Power On newsletter lit the fuse—Apple’s prepping an M4 MacBook Air for March “at the latest,” mirroring last year’s M3 rollout (March 4, 2024). The iPhone 16e debut—$599 and A18-powered—shifted focus, but X posts from…

Google Maps flipped the switch on ads globally this week, launching a monetization drive on February 19, 2025, that Alphabet hopes will rake in $11 billion annually. Announced in a Google blog post, the rollout sprinkles promoted pins and banners across its 1 billion monthly users’ navigation app, turning a free staple into a revenue engine. With Alphabet’s valuation steady above $2 trillion, this isn’t a side hustle—it’s a bold play to juice its ad empire. What’s behind this shift, how does it work, and what’s it mean for users? Here’s the deep dive into Google Maps’ ad era, straight from the source. ADS HIT THE MAP Google’s February 19 blog confirmed the news—Maps now features ads worldwide, from New York to Nairobi. Promoted pins highlight businesses (e.g., Starbucks near…

Apple said it will stop offering an advanced data security option for British users after the government reportedly demanded that the company provide backdoor access for any data those users have stored in the cloud. The iPhone maker said its Advanced Data Protection encryption feature is no longer available for new users in the United Kingdom and will eventually be disabled for existing users. Advanced Data Protection, which Apple started rolling out at the end of 2022, is an opt-in feature that protects iCloud files, photos, notes and other data with end-to-end encryption when they’re stored in the cloud. British security officials demanded in a secret order that the U.S. tech giant create so-called backdoor access so that they could view fully encrypted material, The Washington Post reported earlier this…