Innholdsfortegnelse for #697 i Techlife News

Utah on Wednesday became the first state to pass legislation requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and get parental consent for minors to download apps to their devices. The bill headed to the desk of Gov. Spencer Cox has pitted Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, against app store giants Apple and Google over who should be responsible for verifying ages. Similar bills have been introduced in at least eight other states in the latest fight over children’s online safety. The proposals targeting app stores follow legal fights over laws requiring social media platforms to verify the ages of users. Meta and other social media companies support putting the onus on app stores to verify ages amid criticism that they don’t do enough to make their products safe for…

NASA’s two stuck astronauts are just a few weeks away from finally returning to Earth after nine months in space. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have to wait until their replacements arrive at the International Space Station next week before they can check out later this month. They’ll be joined on their SpaceX ride home by two astronauts who launched by themselves in September alongside two empty seats. During a news conference Tuesday, Wilmore said that while politics is part of life, it did not play into his and Williams’ return, moved up a couple weeks thanks to a change in SpaceX capsules. President Donald Trump and SpaceX’s Elon Musk said at the end of January that they wanted to accelerate the astronauts’ return, blaming the previous administration. But Williams,…

Apple is taking social gatherings to the next level with Invites, a dynamic app designed to help users create custom invitations, manage events, and engage in shared moments. The app promises to be a game-changer for iPhone users, offering event creation and a suite of features to enhance every aspect of the planning process, from conception to the afterparty. A PERSONAL TOUCH Apple Invites enables users to design beautiful, tailored invitations that stand out. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, casual gathering, or professional event, the app provides an intuitive interface to get started. Users can choose from a library of curated backgrounds or select images, pulling directly from their photo library. Apple has even integrated a collection of pictures crafted explicitly for various occasions, ensuring every invite feels personal and…

Apple ushered in a burst of spring flair earlier this week, unveiling a vibrant lineup of iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands that bring fresh hues to its accessory collection. Launched alongside the new iPad Air with M3 chip, this seasonal refresh, available for order now on Apple’s official accessories shop, introduces a palette of soft pastels and bold tones designed to brighten up devices for the warmer months ahead. From silicone cases in shades like Periwinkle and Aquamarine to a slew of watch bands ranging from Sport Loops to Hermès luxury straps, Apple’s latest offerings cater to both style-savvy users and those seeking a functional pop of color. This week’s debut marks a tradition for Apple—each spring, the company rolls out new accessory colors to complement its hardware, and…

Apple TV+’s Severance has taken the streaming world by storm this week, solidifying its place as the platform’s most-watched series ever, surpassing even Ted Lasso’s three-season run, Apple proudly announced last month. With Episode 7, “Chikhai Bardo,” released last Friday, the dystopian thriller continues to captivate audiences, peeling back layers of its haunting narrative about identity, memory, and corporate control at Lumon Industries. Directed by Ben Stiller and penned by Dan Erickson, Season 2—now seven episodes into its ten-episode arc—has shattered viewership records and earned critical acclaim, weaving a story that’s as unsettling as it is mesmerizing. The series returned on January 17 after a three-year break, and its momentum hasn’t wavered, with last week’s episode spotlighting Dichen Lachman’s Gemma/Ms. Casey in a gut-wrenching turn that’s left fans reeling. Variety…

Across the United States, lawmakers and families alike are wrestling with a critical question: should minors be barred from social media to protect their well-being? This week, bipartisan momentum surged in Congress with the introduction of the Kids Off Social Media Act, spearheaded by Senators Brian Schatz and Ted Cruz, aiming to prohibit children under 13 from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X, while curbing algorithmic feeds for those under 17. The Hill reported this legislative push on December 18, 2024, spotlighting a growing trend mirrored by state actions—Florida’s ban on under-14s took effect January 1, while Texas’ SCOPE Act faced a partial federal block in February, according to CBS News. These developments highlight escalating concerns over the nexus of personal technology and youth mental health, placing parents squarely at…

Car shoppers considering buying an electric vehicle in 2025 will have more factors to consider than buyers in previous years. Most of it is good news. For instance, automakers are continuing to introduce new EVs and improve their current models. Expanded charging options and very attractive used EV prices are also hot topics for this year. But there are also negative trends you need to watch out for. Auto experts break down what you can expect before heading out and buying an EV for 2025. HIGHER NEW VEHICLE PRICES ARE A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY According to the NPR article ” Here’s how Trump’s tariffs could impact you and your wallet,” the price for certain imported electric vehicles will increase with the Trump administration tariffs. Tariffs on other components or materials used…

The modern workplace has morphed into a relentless machine, with employees tethered to their devices, perpetually reachable, and increasingly drained—a phenomenon dubbed the “always on” culture. This week, as tech giants like Apple roll out spring accessories and Uber launches driverless rides in Austin, a quieter but no less pressing story unfolds: burnout among workers who can’t unplug is surging, reshaping discussions about mental health and productivity. Recent publications from McKinsey, SHRM, and the American Psychological Association, alongside chatter on X, paint a vivid picture of this crisis, spotlighting how constant connectivity fuels exhaustion and what leaders might do to stem the tide. Burnout isn’t new—its roots stretch back to the 1970s—but its modern flavor, turbocharged by smartphones and remote work, feels uniquely pervasive. McKinsey reported last year that one…

Microsoft dropped a seismic announcement confirming it will shutter Skype, the pioneering internet calling service, on May 5, 2025—ending a 22-year run that reshaped how the world connects. The company is steering users toward Microsoft Teams’ free consumer version, part of a broader strategy to streamline its communications offerings under a single banner. With a valuation hovering above $3 trillion, Microsoft’s move signals a definitive pivot away from Skype’s once-dominant VoIP legacy. What’s driving this shutdown, what happens to users, and how does it reshape the tech landscape? Here’s the full story, grounded in Microsoft’s official word and verified reports. SKYPE’S FINAL CALL Microsoft broke the news via an official blog post, titled “The Next Chapter: Moving from Skype to Microsoft Teams,” stating that Skype will cease operations on May…

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s top chipmaker, unveiled a massive $100 billion investment to expand its U.S. operations this Monday, March 3, standing alongside President Donald Trump at the White House. This blockbuster pledge aims to build five new factories across the United States, amplifying an industry that powers smartphones, AI, and beyond. TSMC’s chips already drive tech giants like Nvidia and AMD, making this move a game-changer for production on American soil. What’s behind this hefty commitment, how does it reshape the chip landscape, and what does it mean for tech users now? Here’s the full story, grounded in the latest verified facts. THE ANNOUNCEMENT: $100 BILLION HITS HOME TSMC’s CEO, C.C. Wei, joined Trump in the Roosevelt Room to announce the $100 billion investment, a figure…

Apple sprang into action earlier this week, unveiling two powerhouse Macs that redefine performance in their respective lanes: the MacBook Air with the M4 chip and the Mac Studio armed with M4 Max and M3 Ultra processors. Launched on March 4, 2025, these machines hit the scene with a bang, available for order now on apple.com and landing in stores on March 11. The MacBook Air, now flaunting a fresh Sky Blue finish, starts at a budget-friendly $999, while the Mac Studio, tailored for pros, flexes its upgraded silicon starting at $1,999—a price point unchanged from its M2 predecessor. This week’s double launch showcases Apple’s relentless drive to push its M-series chips across the Mac lineup, hot on the heels of last fall’s M4 MacBook Pro and Mac mini debuts.…

Apple has rolled out the second developer beta of iOS 18.4 this Monday, March 3, offering a fresh batch of enhancements and refinements to its mobile operating system, now available for testing among registered developers. This update, build number 22E5200e, follows the first beta’s debut on February 21 and arrives as part of Apple’s ongoing effort to polish iOS 18 ahead of its public release, expected later this spring. While the full suite of promised Apple Intelligence upgrades remains under wraps, iOS 18.4 Beta 2 introduces a range of practical features—from new emoji to expanded accessibility options—designed to enhance the iPhone experience for millions of users. This beta cycle reflects Apple’s methodical approach, building on iOS 18’s foundation laid last September with iterative updates like iOS 18.3, released January 27,…

This year’s finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame include trailblazers in esports, electronic pets and portable gaming, as well as the arcade favorite brought to life in a 1998 episode of “Seinfeld.” The Hall of Fame revealed the 12 finalists up for induction on Thursday and opened a week of public voting. The winners will be enshrined May 8 at the hall’s new space inside The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. The 2025 finalists are: Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Defender, Frogger, Golden Eye, Golden Tee, Harvest Moon, Mattel Football, Quake, NBA 2K and Tamagotchi. “This year’s finalists span the decades and range from arcade classics to one of the most popular mobile games of all time,” Jon-Paul C.…

OpenAI turned heads last week with the launch of GPT-4.5, its largest and most ambitious chatbot model yet, unveiled as a research preview for ChatGPT Pro users on February 27, 2025. Promising a step up in scale and conversational finesse, this model—nicknamed Orion internally—rolled out to Pro subscribers at $200 monthly, with plans to reach ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise tiers over the coming weeks. OpenAI hailed it as a leap in “natural conversation,” blending hefty compute power with a knack for creative insights, though it’s not without its quirks. This week, as the dust settles, GPT-4.5 stands as OpenAI’s latest bid to keep its edge in the AI race, building on GPT-4o’s multimodal groundwork from May 2024. For the 80 percent of U.S. adults glued to smartphones (Pew Research,…

Apple unveiled a refreshed iPad Air earlier this week, bringing the powerful M3 chip and a sleek new Magic Keyboard to its mid-tier tablet lineup, a move that’s already sparking buzz among tech enthusiasts and casual users alike. Announced in a press release on the Apple, this latest iPad Air comes in familiar 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, blending robust performance upgrades with design refinements that cater to creatives, students, and professionals on the go. Available for order now on Apple’s official site, the device promises to elevate everyday tasks with faster processing, enhanced graphics, and compatibility with Apple Intelligence features—all starting at $599 for the 11-inch model. This week’s launch builds on the iPad Air’s legacy as Apple’s sweet spot—more capable than the entry-level iPad, yet more affordable than the…

Tesla’s Model Y has roared through the automotive landscape like an electric juggernaut, clinching the title of the world’s best-selling vehicle in 2023 and solidifying its dominance with a sleek upgrade that rolled out recently. Launched in late January in China and hitting U.S. and European roads last month, this refresh—announced via Tesla’s official channels—brings sharper looks, boosted range, and a cozier cabin to an SUV that’s already the king of the hill. With over 1.22 million units sold globally in 2023, according to JATO Dynamics, and Tesla estimating close to 1.3 million for 2024 during its Q4 earnings call, the Model Y’s triumph isn’t a fluke—it’s a masterstroke of electric ambition meeting market demand. This week, as Tesla ramps production across its Gigafactories, the upgrade keeps the Model Y’s…

Google is updating its ubiquitous search engine with the next generation of its artificial intelligence technology as part of an effort to provide instant expertise amid intensifying competition from smaller competitors. The company announced Wednesday that it will feed its Gemini 2.0 AI model into its search engine so it can field more complex questions involving subjects such as computer coding and math. As has been the case since last May, the AI-generated overviews will be placed above the traditional web links that have become the lifeblood of online publishers dependent on traffic referrals from Google’s dominant search engine. Google is broadening the audience for AI overviews in the U.S. by making them available to teenage searchers without requiring them to go through a special sign-in process to see them.…

Uber shifted gears in Austin, Texas, earlier this week, launching a landmark service that lets riders hail driverless cars through its app, thanks to a partnership with Waymo, the autonomous vehicle arm of Google’s parent company, Alphabet. This rollout, announced in a joint statement from Uber and Waymo, marks the first time Austinites can summon a fully autonomous Waymo vehicle—specifically, an all-electric Jaguar I-PACE—by requesting an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric ride. Covering a 37-square-mile swath of the city, from downtown to Hyde Park and Montopolis, this service blends cutting-edge technology with the familiar convenience of Uber’s platform, offering a glimpse into the future of urban mobility. The collaboration, live since earlier this week, builds on a partnership first unveiled in September 2023, with Austin now…