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Digital contact tracing apps in the US that use ENS tech from Google and Apple are still ‘weeks’ away

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In the US Google says that 20 states and territories covering about 45 percent of the population are “exploring apps” based on the systems, and the first ones should launch “in the coming weeks.”

The blog post points out a website explaining more about how ENS works, and even explains things like why it requires users keep their location on if it doesn’t track that (tl;dr — it’s a legacy Android setting that was not designed for this particular situation). It also points out where information has been released to show how the servers work, code to show how the notification APIs work and what data is collected. Microsoft, Google and Apple have collaborated with the Association of Public Health Laboratories on a national key server to store codes for people who test positive, so each state or public health agency doesn’t necessarily have to develop its own and hope to do so securely.

The APIs themselves have gotten an update, in ways that give public health authorities the ability to determine risk level associated with the exposure, as well as a visible on/off toggle in Android so users can more clearly understand if the tech is in use. Another change makes them interoperable between different countries.

With rising numbers of cases in some areas and growing concern over whether or not kids can safely return to school in the fall, these digital contact tracing tools may be able to help push back against the spread of the virus — if they are effective, widely used and follow the advice of experts to keep our privacy protected.



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Apple’s latest acquisition could turn iPhones into payment terminals

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An Apple spokesperson didn’t confirm the acquisition outright, only giving the publication a standard response:

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

The tech giant did snap up a few smaller companies over the past months. Back in January, it purchased Seattle-based AI startup, Xnor.ai, which developed a way to operate AI on devices rather than in the cloud. It also purchased virtual reality startup NextVR, which is known for its partnerships with sports entities, such as the NBA.

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Netflix is making a film based on Ubisoft’s ‘Beyond Good & Evil’

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Netflix is working on a feature film adaptation of Ubisoft’s Beyond Good & Evil, the streaming platform has revealed on Twitter. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project is still in early development and still in in the midst of looking for writers. It already has a few names attached to it, though, including Rob Letterman (Detective Pikachu’s director) who’ll head up what’s apparently going to be a hybrid live-action/animated flick. Meanwhile, Ubisoft Film & Television’s Jason Altman and Margaret Boykin will serve as producers.

Beyond Good and Evil, which came out in 2003, is an action-adventure game that takes place in the year 2435 on a planet under alien attack. It follows the adventures of Jade, an investigative reporter who becomes part of an underground resistance movement working to expose a government conspiracy. While it enjoyed a pretty decent reception, it wasn’t commercial success. Its HD release for Xbox in 2011 “did extremely well,” however, and Ubisoft eventually announced a prequel in 2017.



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Donald Trump claims he will ban TikTok in the US

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According to Donald Trump, he believes he has the power to do that via executive order or emergency economic powers, but was not specific about how such a ban would work. Per Bloomberg, he told reporters he will sign a document tomorrow. On Twitter, the president said “We have more Cases because we do more Testing. It’s Lamestream Media Gold!,” referencing the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 people in the US.

Two days ago, TikTok CEO and former Disney exec Kevin Mayer published an open letter saying his company is “not the enemy,” and “We are willing to take all necessary steps to ensure the long-term availability and success of TikTok. The one thing that will not change is our commitment to ensuring that TikTok remains a safe and secure platform for the tens of millions of American families that derive joy from it.”

We’ve contact TikTok for a comment, and will update this post when more information is available.



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Google tightens its ad misinformation policies ahead of the election

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Google’s ad policy already forbids advertisers from misrepresenting themselves, but the policy change will prohibit advertisers from working together to distribute misinformation and concealing their affiliations. This could include, for example, a spammy marketing company that creates ads that look like newspaper articles, Smith said. The new policy, should it be broken, will enable Google to take action not just against an individual advertiser but also the network they’re working with.

The other policy change will prohibit advertisers from using hacked and leaked political material in advertisements, or directly linking to it. Discussion of these materials is still allowed, but advertisers cannot give direct access to them. An example of this, Smith said, would be a screenshot of an email that was part of the 2016 leaked Hillary Clinton email archive.

These policy changes are the latest in Google’s ongoing work to combat disinformation in ads. In recent weeks, the tech giant has also banned coronavirus conspiracy ads and ads for ‘intimate partner surveillance’ tech.

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Microsoft confirms free ‘Halo Infinite’ multiplayer running at 120FPS

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After a leak from an Irish retailer gave up the goods, Microsoft has confirmed the news — Halo Infinite will include a free-to-play multiplayer mode, and it’s running at 120FPS. This news wasn’t revealed during last week’s Xbox Series X gameplay showcase that disappointed many gamers with the state of its graphics, but maybe it’s enough to reinvigorate some fans of the FPS.

The development team addressed issues with the graphics in a blog post last night, explaining about the dynamic lighting and its pursuit of a classic style. We’ll need to see more to find out how development goes, but support for higher frame rates on the new console may show what they’re using all of that horsepower on.

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Microsoft will shut down the Cortana iOS and Android apps in 2021

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Microsoft’s plan for Invoke speakers is likely to cause the most resentment. The company will push a firmware update to the smart device to turn it into a Bluetooth speaker. “The firmware update will be delivered automatically to devices connected to WiFi within six months of its release,” the company said. 

As an olive branch to Invoke owners, Microsoft plans to send them $50 gift cards. To be eligible, you’ll have to have used your Invoke speaker to ask something of Cortana between July 31st and before today’s announcement.   

As mentioned above, Microsoft also plans to remove the current iteration of Cortana from its first-generation Surface Headphones in early 2021. Once the change goes through, you’ll still be able to use the digital assistant, but only through the integration that comes with Outlook Mobile. First-generation Surface Headphones owners can get a $25 gift card.

“We’ve spent a lot of time thinking through this transition and understand that these changes may be disruptive to some of our customers,” the company said. 

As The Verge points, the changes mark another step in Cortana reinvention as a productivity-focused digital helper. Cortana isn’t going away, but Microsoft is tweaking the software to better compliment apps like Outlook and Teams. In doing so, the company likely hopes to carve out a niche for the digital assistant away from the likes of Assistant and Alexa. Of course, all of that is small consolation if you bought into the company’s original vision for Cortana.   

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Netflix confirms it’s adding playback speed controls to its Android app

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While director Judd Apatow and others were worried that variable playback can distort their art, Netflix VP Keela Robison says that it tried to be respectful of the creative community by capping fast-forward speeds to 1.5x. YouTube, in comparison, lets you double the speed of whatever you’re watching. Netflix’s variable playback settings also need to be enabled manually for every video, so you won’t be stuck watching everything in an altered speed by accident.

“We’ve decided to press ahead for several reasons,” Robison wrote in a blog post. “Similar functionality has been available on DVD players and DVRs for years and the feature has been much requested by members. Most important of all, our tests show that consumers value the flexibility it provides whether it’s rewatching their favorite scene or slowing things down because they’re watching with subtitles or have hearing difficulties.”

She also noted that surveys of users testing the feature didn’t perceive the content any differently (though I’d argue that would be tough to tell). Now I can understand the uproar over changing playback speeds, but it’s hard to fault Netflix for adding a feature that many consumers expect. In addition to YouTube, plenty of podcast listeners speed up their shows.

And, as I mentioned back in October, it’s not as if every Netflix show is a work of art that needs to be savored. I have a feeling I’d enjoy The Umbrella Academy, or plenty of Netflix’s genre offerings, a lot more if I could speed through the dull parts.

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Trump admin will reportedly force ByteDance to sell TikTok

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It’s unclear exactly what steps Trump plans to take separate the U.S. version of the app from its Chinese owners. According to Gasparino, Trump could force a sale via the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The Trump administration used a similar tactic last year when it forced the Chinese owner of Grindr to sell the dating app to a U.S buyer.

In a statement, a spokesperson for TikTok said the company is “confident in the long-term success” of the app. “While we do not comment on rumors or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok,” the spokesperson said. “Hundreds of millions of people come to TikTok for entertainment and connection, including our community of creators and artists who are building livelihoods from the platform. We’re motivated by their passion and creativity, and committed to protecting their privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform.”

Microsoft didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The news comes after weeks of speculation about TikTok’s future in the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier this month that the government was “looking at” banning the app, and Congress has recently moved to bar TikTok from federally-issued devices.

TikTok has maintained that the app operates independently from its Chinese parent company, and that it wouldn’t cooperate with requests to hand over user data. The company recently appointed an American CEO, former Disney executive Kevin Mayer, and has taken several steps to increase transparency of its policies and product.

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Tampa teenager and two others arrested for Twitter Bitcoin hack

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Clark was unnamed by the Department of Justice due to his juvenile status, but was outed by the WFLA affiliate in Tampa, Florida. Clark will be prosecuted in Hillsborough County instead.

According to WFLA, Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren has filed 30 felony charges against the teen, which include one count of organized fraud, one count of fraudulent use of personal information with over $100,000 or 30 more victims, one count of access to computer or electronic device without authority, 10 counts of fraudulent use of personal information and 17 counts of communications fraud.

The outlet reported that the hacked tweets had directed followers to send Bitcoin to accounts that were associated with the Tampa teenager.

“Upon opening an investigation into this attack, our investigators worked quickly to determine who was responsible and to locate those individuals,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge John L. Bennett in a statement. “While investigations into cyber breaches can sometimes take years, our investigators were able to bring these hackers into custody in a matter of weeks. Regardless of how long it takes us to identify hackers, we will follow the evidence to where it leads us and ultimately hold those responsible for cyber intrusions accountable for their actions. Cyber criminals will not find sanctuary behind their keyboards.”

Kelly R. Jackson, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office said that its Cyber Crimes Unit analyzed the blockchain and de-anonymized bitcoin transactions, which allowed them to identify two of the above hackers.

The Twitter hack on July 15th originally targeted Bitcoin-related accounts, but then expanded to include accounts of high-profile celebrities and politicians such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Kanye West, Jeff Bezos, Mike Bloomberg, Joe Biden and even former president Barack Obama. The hacked tweets told their followers to send Bitcoin to a certain address, with the promised exchange of double the amount of Bitcoin in return.

According to Twitter, the hack was orchestrated via a phone spear phishing attack that targeted a few of its employees. The perpetrator then “used their credentials to access our internal systems and gain information about our processes.” There was a report that said access came from finding logins in a Slack channel, but Twitter has not confirmed it.

The company said that the attacker targeted 130 accounts, tweeted from 45 of them, accessed 36 DM inboxes and copied account data from 7. Twitter has said that it is now improving its “methods of detecting and preventing inappropriate access” to its internal systems and “prioritizing security work” across its teams.

Twitter later left a statement expressing gratitude to law enforcement:

Update 7/31 3:33pm: Updated story with details from Department of Justice on the two additional individuals who were accused and charged for the Twitter hack.



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