US to announce billions in subsidies for advanced chip-WSJ

Jan 27 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration is expected next week to hand out billions of dollars in subsidies to top semiconductor companies, including Intel ( INTC.O ), Opens a New Tab, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co ( 2330. TW ), The Wall Street Journal The United States has opened a new tab to help build new factories, it said on Saturday. The upcoming announcements are aimed at starting production of advanced semiconductors that power smartphones, artificial intelligence, and weapons systems, the WSJ reported, citing industry executives familiar with the discussions.

Itel Power lineup will get three new phones in February; Amazon availability confirmed

Itel will launch new models of the Power series soon. The company has confirmed the launch date for the upcoming models and also teased their designs. The teaser images show the screen and rear panel of the models, and a press note hints at some of the key features of the handset The Itel P55, launching in India in September 2023, was the last Power-series model to be unveiled. The upcoming Power smartphones are expected to launch with upgraded features compared to the older models.

Itel has confirmed that they will bring three new Power Series models in February this year. However, the company has not revealed any details other than the names of the models or the key specifications. One of the three models is expected to launch with "a global first Android version" which will be Android 14 (Go Edition). The Go Edition version is used in budget smartphones.

Microsoft to cut 1,900 jobs in gaming division including recently acquired Call of Duty maker Activision

 

Microsoft will lay off 1,900 workers at Activision Blizzard and Xbox this week, it said Thursday, the latest cut in a technology sector that has extended massive layoffs to 2024 in past years.

The cuts represent about 8 percent of the overall Microsoft gaming division and will mostly occur at Activision Blizzard.

Blizzard president Mike Ybarra and chief design officer Allen Adham are also leaving the company, while Blizzard's previously announced survival game has been canceled, Microsoft said.

Intel suffered as the chipmaker fell further behind in the AI race

Jan 26 (Reuters) - Intel ( INTC.O ) fell more than 12% on Friday after a gloomy first-quarter revenue outlook, as the chipmaker played catch-up in the AI race while dealing with a weak PC market.

While AI is driving a boom in the chip sector, Intel appears to be an exception, analysts said. Semiconductor makers that make data-heavy chips for generative AI were among the biggest winners in the stock market in 2023.

OpenAI and other tech giants must notify the US government when they start new AI projects

When OpenAI's ChatGPT took the world by storm last year, it surprised many power brokers in both Silicon Valley and Washington, DC. The US government should now have an early warning about future AI breakthroughs linked to the big language model of the technology behind ChatGPT.

 

The Biden administration is preparing to use the Defense Production Act to force tech companies to notify the government when they use significant amounts of computing power to train an AI model. This rule may come into effect from next week.

Microsoft Teams is back to normal after the outage

A 27 (Reuters) - Teams services were restored on Saturday after an outage on Microsoft's ( MSFT.O ), messaging platform, Opens a New Tab.

"After extended monitoring and mitigation efforts, we have confirmed that our Microsoft Teams services and features have been restored or returned to optimal health," Microsoft said in its post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Crypto Hackers Steal Around $1.7 Billion in 2023 - Report

 

Jan 24 (Reuters) - Hackers on cryptocurrency platforms stole about $1.7 billion in 2023, down about 54.3% from the previous year, a Chain Analysis report showed on Wednesday.

Cyber attacks have been a constant challenge for the crypto industry, and rampant hacking is one of the reasons why most regulators around the world frown on crypto.

Although stolen funds fell by more than half, the number of private hacking incidents increased from 219 to 231 in 2022, Chain lysis said.

WhatsApp found testing third-party chat support again to comply with EU regulations

WhatsApp seems set to actively facilitate support for third-party chats within its platform, thereby complying with the requirements set by the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA). This forces large technology companies, referred to as "gatekeepers", to establish interoperability and enable communication between different applications.

Simply put, this feature will facilitate the ability of WhatsApp users to send messages through applications like Telegram or Signal, eliminating the need for the sender to have a WhatsApp account and vice versa.

2024 Tech Industry Predictions: A Few May Surprise You

 

Maximize your reach with Tech News World's B2B marketing solutions. We deliver the highest-quality leads to streamline your sales journey. Fill your pipeline and elevate your revenue using our proven lead-generation strategies. Learn more. As we stand on the cusp of 2024, technology continues its relentless march forward, shaping how we live, work, and interact with the world around us.

Indeed, 2023 was an exciting year in tech, and some of you may enjoy my podcast from a few weeks ago, where I opined during my Smart Tech Check podcast on what I believe was last year’s most significant tech issues.

 

Anticipating the trends that will define the technological landscape in 2024 requires a keen understanding of current developments and foresight into the evolving needs of society. It’s no easy task because of the expansive list of hot topics to choose from.

Samsung Elec Considers Leasing Russian Factory - Media

 

SEOUL, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics ( 005930. KS ), New Tab is considering leasing its TV factory in Russia, South Korean media said on Wednesday, as several global companies plan to stop sales or close business in Russia. 2022 attack. After Ukraine

Samsung is considering leasing its TV and monitor factory in Kaluga, Russia, Yonhap news agency and other media reported on Wednesday.

Local electronics wholesaler VVP Group continues to produce equipment under its brand both at Samsung factories and for other companies, citing unnamed electronics industry sources, after a Kommersant report opened a new tab on Tuesday.

Crypto Prices Today: Bitcoin, ETH Under Loss-Spell, Most Altcoins Register Decline

Bitcoin lost 1.06 percent on Wednesday, January 24. At the time of writing, the crypto sector's oldest asset was trading at $39,650 (roughly Rs. 32.9 lakh). In the last 24 hours, Bitcoin has fallen by $170 (roughly Rs. 14,134). According to market analysts, the crypto market is under selling pressure as Bitcoin ETFs make it very easy to enter and exit the investment vehicle.

Ether is down 5.38 percent in the last 24 hours. The asset is currently trading at $2,213 (roughly Rs. 1.84 lakh).

“Users can abandon their positions to book profits and create new positions in anticipation of the next rally. Bitcoin and Ether registered significant declines today, resulting in a decline in the overall crypto market cap. The next market mover could be the US Fed's rate cut announcement which it had hinted at by the end of 2023,” Shivam Thakral, CEO of BuyUcoin told Gadgets360.

Meta allows EU users to access Instagram, Facebook, Messenger individually to comply with regulations

Facebook will allow core users in the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland to block data sharing across the company's apps. As a result, people living in these regions will be able to use Instagram and Facebook separately even if they are connected to the platform. Meanwhile, Meta will allow users to create a Messenger account that isn't linked to their Facebook account while changing how messaging works on the company's marketplace platform.

In a detailed post explaining the changes it is making to comply with regulations - the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) - which Meta and other companies must comply with, the company said users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who already linked them to Facebook And Instagram accounts can continue these accounts, or unlink their accounts "so that their information is no longer used in the accounts".

Computer parts maker Logitech looks poised for growth after beating forecasts

 

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Logitech International's ( LOGN.S ) new CEO said on Tuesday the company would work to return to growth as it forecast annual sales would decline less than previously expected and third-quarter earnings would beat expectations. The maker of computer mice, keyboards, and webcams is dealing with customers wrestling with inflation and uncertainty among businesses about how to furnish their offices as they move toward hybrid work.

Shares fell 6% in early trade. The stock hit its highest level since October 2021 on Monday as sales surged as consumers furnished home offices during the COVID-19 pandemic. "A lot of expectations have already been reflected in share prices after external indicators hit their low points and increased guidance for net sales," Research Partners analyst Reto Huber said. 

The Google Pixel Watch 3 will be available in two different case sizes

 

According to a new report, the Google Pixel Watch 3 may launch in two different size variants. So far, Google has launched its smartwatches in a single-size variant of 41mm diameter, unlike Apple and Samsung. Apple Watch Series 9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 are available in two different sizes. Now, the search giant is also reportedly working on bringing an additional Pixel Watch 3 variant with a larger case size. This development, if true, would address a long-standing user complaint and enable the Pixel Watch 3 to better compete in the market.