Microsoft ends game streaming, teams up with Facebook

Microsoft said Monday it was throwing in the towel on its livestream gaming platform and teaming up with Facebook to better compete with rivals like Amazon-owned Twitch.

Microsoft Mixer will be shuttered on July 22, the tech giant said in a statement.


“It became clear that the time needed to grow our own livestreaming community to scale was out of measure with the vision and experiences that Microsoft and Xbox want to deliver for gamers now, so we’ve decided to close the operations side of Mixer and help the community transition to a new platform,” the Mixer team said.

The gamers will be encouraged to transition to Facebook Gaming, which has some 700 million people who play or watch games every month.

“We will work to transition the Mixer community over the next few weeks. Starting on July 22, all Mixer sites and apps will redirect users to Facebook Gaming,” said by Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, the gaming division of Microsoft,

Microsoft announced it was buying the livestream service Beam in August 2016 to bolster its effort to boost its ranks of people who play and watch games online.


But the service, renamed Mixer in 2017, struggled to gain traction against Twitch, Google-owned YouTube and Facebook Gaming.


Spencer said the move to shutter Mixer would allow Microsoft to focus on its other gaming efforts including “the world-class content being made by our 15 Xbox Game Studios, the evolution of Xbox Game Pass, the launch of Xbox Series X, and the global opportunity to play anywhere with Project xCloud,” referring to the cloud-based game service.

“Bringing that vision to life, for as many people as possible, will see us working with different partners, platforms, and communities for years to come,” Spencer added.

“It will also see us adjusting our strategy to best serve players wherever they gather daily, which includes the category of livestreaming.”

Agence France-Presse

Google boots far-right site from ad platform

Google on Tuesday confirmed that it booted one far-right website from its ad platform and put another on notice for hosting "dangerous and derogatory" comments about civil rights protests.

The internet giant said that it stopped channeling money-making ads to ZeroHedge and warned The Federalist that it too could be blocked from Google Ads for violating policy about content.

“To be clear, The Federalist is not currently demonetized," a Google spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.

"We do have strict publisher policies that govern the content ads can run on, which includes comments on the site. This is a longstanding policy."

The action against ZeroHedge and warning sent to The Federalist related to content in comments sections that consistently violated Google's policy about dangerous and derogatory content, according to the internet company.

The offending content was related to false information about recent Black Lives Matter protets, US media reported.

ZeroHedge said in a post at the website that it is appealing Google's decision and expects to "remedy" the situation.

The policy at issue was put in place by Google three years ago as part of an effort to avoid advertisers from having their marketing messages appear next to vile or hateful content on websites.

Agence France-Presse

Smartphone tool helps users keep social distance

SAN FRANCISCO — Smartphone users have a new way to keep their distance  – a tool that lets them know when people are getting closer than pandemic guidelines recommend.

The Google-developed Sodar tool available this week taps into Android smartphone cameras to put users in the center of a white circle with a radius of about two meters, or 6.5 feet.


The perimeter, determined based on pandemic social distancing guidelines, is made using the same kind of augmented reality technology in smartphone games such as Pokemon Go.

Circles superimposed on surroundings move with users, keeping smartphones in the center. Users get a visual warning when they are within the potentially hazardous radius.




Sodar works through Google-made Chrome browsers on Android smartphones that support augmented reality, according to the California-based internet firm.

“This experiment uses (the application program interface) WebXR to visualize 2-meter social-distancing guidelines in your environment,” a message at the website said.


The tool came out of an “Experiments With Google” project on technology hacks to help people cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Agence France-Presse

Silicon Valley perks up its ears for buzzy audio chat startup

It's a secret, almost. But Silicon Valley is buzzing over a new audio-chat social network which is struggling to keep people out even as it hits an eye-popping value.

The invitation-only platform called Clubhouse lets people drop in on conversations ranging from weighty topics such as artificial intelligence to light-hearted trivia contests.

Silicon Valley venture capital colossus Andreessen Horowitz reportedly invested $12 million in Clubhouse at a valuation of $100 million, edging out rivals eager to get into the hot startup.

Clubhouse has won devotees even though it remains in a "beta" test mode and only has some 1,500 users as it tunes its platform for the masses.

The service has struck a chord with people longing for a return to the time when people could casually engage new acquaintances in banter or discussion.

The startup has been helped by some celebrities such as actor Kevin Hart popping in to conversations which have been growing during the pandemic as people turn increasingly to social media.

"With social distancing, we're all so craving being out and meeting people that, for people who miss that, it's like a godsend," said Nathan Baschez, a business strategy specialist who accepted a Clubhouse invitation two months ago when there was just a single virtual room.

Clubhouse founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth have been noticeably out of the media spotlight as they seek a niche for the new social platform, which has no website or media team. Andreessen Horowitz has not commented publicly.

- 'Dinner Party' -

Sheel Mohnot, a Silicon Valley investor who joined Clubhouse about six weeks ago, said he came out a cash winner in a trivia game being played in one room, and was the topic of a "discussion party" about a dating contest in which he was a participant.

"It really feels like a great dinner party," Mohnot said.

"It's a product I am really enjoying, at the expense of Netflix."

Mohnot conceded that Clubhouse is benefitting from users having more time available due to the pandemic keeping them at home. He estimated he spends about 15 hours weekly on the service.

"Normally, I have dinner plans several times a week and can't spend all that time talking with strangers on the internet," Mohnot said.

Clubhouse joins other startups vying for consumer attention as Facebook, Google, and Microsoft ramp up online meetings and collaboration offerings.

But in the case of Clubhouse it's not looking for the popular Silicon Valley term "eyeballs", since it frees users from needing to be in front of screens.

- Elitist or cautious? -

Some who haven't been admitted to the Clubhouse, and even some who have been invited, have called the platform elitist.

But users interviewed by AFP countered that Clubhouse is limiting users while it tunes the freshly launched service to handle the load.

If Clubhouse crashes after opening to the world, people might leave and not return.

"The reason it is locked down is not because they want to create a velvet-rope, VIP type atmosphere," said Baschez.

"The founders don't think like that. It does build the buzz, but I genuinely believe they don't like the buzz."

One room calling itself "Back of the Bus" underscores the notion that Clubhouse is more about conviviality than celebrities or events.

"Back of the Bus", favored by Mohnot among others, is a riotous, unrestrained chat where moderators make sure everyone has the chance to talk about anything -- other than tech.

When it opens to all, Clubhouse will likely face challenges including maintaining a sense of community; preventing abusive behavior, and dealing with misleading content.

It will also need to find a way to make money without tainting the experience.

"I think with the funding and celebrity relationship they have built, they won't die any time soon," said Bobby Thakkar, a tech industry product manager who confided that he spends 25 hours or more at Clubhouse weekly.

Agence France-Presse

France looks past Google, Apple for virus contact tracing

France, which has long been sceptical of the growing power of US tech titans, is seeking to bypass Apple and Google for a smartphone app to help trace people infected with the novel coronavirus.

The move, which leaves France relatively isolated in Europe alongside Britain and Norway, reflects differences on how such apps should be structured, who has access to sensitive data and their effectiveness.

A number of countries have already deployed "contact tracing" apps on smartphones that track a person's contacts and alert them if need be, generating vital information to help contain outbreaks and slow the spread of the virus as nations ease lockdowns and get back to work.

These apps can be based either on a decentralised or centralised architecture.

A decentralised architecture keeps the information about whom a person has been in contact with on the smartphone.

If the person declares themselves to have been infected by the coronavirus, then those people deemed to have been in close contact for an extended period receive a notification to isolate themselves and get tested.

In a centralised system the data is managed by an authority, say a national health service, that would have access to the data to ensure those who are exposed are indeed following the proper health and isolation recommendations.

Apple and Google banded together last month to develop coronavirus contact tracing technology that would work across their operating systems.

The technology, set to be released later this month, embraces a decentralised architecture that would enable smartphone users to control their own data, and choose whether to notify the authorities if they have been exposed.

- Titans setting the terms -

Numerous tech experts and privacy advocates prefer a decentralised option because of data privacy concerns, worried about governments establishing databases that could be used for surveillance, even after the pandemic.

But France, along with London, contest that argument and prefer a centralised architecture that will provide them with the information needed to ensure the spread of the disease is effectively contained.

Norway also opted for a centralised system for its "Smittestop" or "stop infection" app launched last month.


Being dependent on Apple and Google means "staying in an extremely restrictive framework for usage" of the data, said a source close to France's contract tracing effort.

"It is Google and Apple who are defining the debate" in what is essentially a public health issue, the source added.

To become an effective tool for public health authorities, a contact tracing app has to be widely used -- experts say by at least 60 percent of the population -- but also provide them with needed information about who is getting sick as well as where, which can be important for taking quick measures to close hotspots.

Decentralised apps that make use of the Bluetooth radios on smartphones can be built so they do not even record the location of where people are in contact.

Nations cannot easily go around Apple and Google and develop their own apps as Apple in particular makes it difficult to keep Bluetooth enabled in its operating system.

People would need to keep the app open at all times, an inconvenience that would likely lead to many people not having it running on their phones.

- Systems rolled out -

So far Apple has resisted pleas from France and other countries for help to get around that technical issue.

While the European Commission has not yet taken a formal position on the options, it acknowledges a decentralised system is better on data privacy grounds.

"If both approaches can be in conformity with data protection laws, from a point of view of minimising the collection of data, the decentralised approach is preferable as less data would be stored" on a centralised server, a Commission spokesman told AFP.

Several European countries are expected to roll out contact tracing apps in June, which should provide some indication as to the best strategies.

France hopes to have its app in operation on June 2, and the official leading its development has said it will work very well on an iPhone despite Apple's lack of cooperation.

The technology arm of Britain's National Health Service has been testing its centralised system on the Isle of Wight since May 5 and plans to unroll it nationwide in the coming weeks.

Germany has opted for a decentralised system compatible with the Apple/Google initiative that it hopes will be ready in several weeks.

Italy, which has also gone for a decentralised system, should have its app ready by the end of May, Innovation Minister Paola Pisano told the Corriere della Sera daily on Monday.

In Austria, the Red Cross has launched an app based on a centralised model that has 600,000 users, but it is expected to evolve into a decentralised application.

Switzerland is currently testing its decentralised app.

Agence France-Presse

YouTube expands fact-check panels in move against misinformation

YouTube on Tuesday began adding fact-check panels to search results in the United States for videos on hot-topic claims shown to be bogus.

The Google-owned video streaming service said it is expanding to the U.S. a fact-check information panel feature launched last year in Brazil and India.


Fact-check information panels highlight credible findings by third-parties so YouTube viewers can make informed decisions about claims, according to the company.

“Over the past several years, we’ve seen more and more people coming to YouTube for news and information,” the service said.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 and its spread around the world has reaffirmed how important it is for viewers to get accurate information during fast-moving events.”

YouTube described the fact-check feature as part of ongoing efforts to raise the profile of authoritative sources while reducing the spread of misinformation.


Two years ago, YouTube began testing panels providing vetted sources of information on topics prone to bogus assertions such as the world being flat.


“We’re now using these panels to help address an additional challenge: Misinformation that comes up quickly as part of a fast-moving news cycle, where unfounded claims and uncertainty about facts are common,” YouTube said.

Fact-check panels will be shown at YouTube when people search on specific claims found to be false, such as COVID-19 being a bioweapon, according to the company.

YouTube said that more than a dozen U.S. organizations including FactCheck.org and PolitiFact were partners in the effort.

It will take time for the feature to fully ramp up at YouTube, which planned to expand it to more countries as the accuracy of the system improved.

Agence France-Presse

Facebook to warn users who ‘liked’ coronavirus hoaxes

Facebook will soon let you know if you shared or interacted with dangerous coronavirus misinformation on the site, the latest in a string of aggressive efforts the social media giant is taking to contain an outbreak of viral falsehoods.

The new notice will be sent to users who have clicked on, reacted to, or commented on posts featuring harmful or false claims about COVID-19 after they have been removed by moderators. The alert, which will start appearing on Facebook in the coming weeks, will direct users to a site where the World Health Organization (WHO) lists and debunks virus myths and rumors.


Facebook, Google and Twitter are introducing stricter rules, altered algorithms and thousands of fact checks to stop the spread of bad misinformation online about the virus.

Challenges remain. Tech platforms have sent home human moderators who police the platforms, forcing them to rely on automated systems to take down harmful content. They are also up against people’s mistrust of authoritative sources for information, such as the WHO.

“Through this crisis, one of my top priorities is making sure that you see accurate and authoritative information across all of our apps,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page Thursday.

The company disclosed Thursday that it put more than 40 million warning labels in March over videos, posts or articles about the coronavirus that fact-checking organizations have determined are false or misleading. The number includes duplicate claims—the labels were based on 4,000 fact checks.


Facebook says those warning labels have stopped 95% of users from clicking on the false information.

“It’s a big indicator that people are trusting the fact-checkers,” said Baybars Orsek, the director of the International Fact-Checking Network. “The label has an impact on people’s information consumption.”

But Orsek cautioned that the data Facebook provided should be reviewed by outside editors or experts, and called on the historically secretive company to release regular updates about the impact of its fact-checking initiative.

Orsek’s organization is a nonprofit that certifies news organizations as fact-checkers, a requirement to produce fact-checking articles for Facebook. Facebook has recruited dozens of news organizations around the globe to fact-check bad information on its site. The Associated Press is part of that program.

Facebook will also begin promoting the articles that debunk COVID-19 misinformation, of which there are thousands, on a new information center called “Get The Facts.” Putting trustworthy information in front of people can be just as useful, if not more, than simply debunking falsehoods.


Still, conspiracy theories, claims about unverified treatments, and misinformation about coronavirus vaccines continue to pop up on the site dail—sometimes circumventing the safeguards Facebook has implemented.

The new notification feature also only applies to posts on users’ main news feed—not in groups, where misinformation often spreads unchecked, and not on WhatsApp or Instagram, though Facebook has put some other protections in place on those platforms.

That means a lot of users won’t get the new alert from Facebook, said Stephanie Edgerly, an associate professor at Northwestern University who researches audience engagement. She said many users might simply see a false claim in their Facebook feed but not share, like or comment on it.

“A lot of what we know about how people scroll through their news feed not clicking on things, they still reading posts or headlines, without clicking on the link,” Edgerly said.

Facebook users, for example, viewed a false claim that the virus is destroyed by chlorine dioxide nearly 200,000 times, estimates a new study out today from Avaaz, a left-leaning advocacy group that tracks and researches online misinformation.

The group found more than 100 pieces of misinformation about the coronavirus on Facebook, viewed millions of times even after the claims had been marked as false or misleading by fact-checkers. Other false claims were not labeled as misinformation, despite being declared by fact-checkers as false.

“Coronavirus misinformation content mutates and spreads faster than Facebook’s current system can track it,” Avaaz said in its report.

This is especially problematic for Italian and Spanish misinformation, the report said, because Facebook has been slower to issue warning labels on posts that aren’t in English. Avaaz also noted that it can take as long as 22 days for Facebook to label misinformation as such—giving it plenty of time to spread.

False claims about coronavirus treatments have had deadly consequences.

Last month, Iranian media reported more than 300 people had died and 1,000 were sickened in the country after ingesting methanol, a toxic alcohol rumored to be a remedy through private social media messages.

Associated Press

TikTok’s time: video platform sees appeal growing during lockdowns

NEW YORK — This is TikTok’s time. The social video platform which was already a favorite of teens is increasingly being used by adults looking for ways to pass the time during coronavirus lockdowns.

Users post short videos — no longer than 60 seconds but often as short as 15 — to showcase their bite-size dance skills or share relatable experiences with a humorous twist.

The application, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, saw 65 million worldwide downloads in March, according to analytics site SensorTower.

In addition to the existing 800 million reported in January by DataReportal, the app is nearing a billion users — though TikTok itself does not publish such data.

And though teens have been posting on the platform for months, it seems adults with more free time — as much of the world is encouraged to stay at home to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus — are finally catching on.

Cecile, stuck at home in Paris with her six- and three-year-old children, was intrigued when a friend sent her a video. Soon, she had downloaded the app and was posting clips herself.


“I said to myself: ‘Well, this is something funny I could do with the boys to pass the time, if only for fifteen minutes,'” she said.

“When I say, ‘Come on, we’re making a video,’ they’re ready to go. It makes them laugh.”

Celebrities have joined the fun too, from Jennifer Lopez to Mariah Carey — even 82-year-old Jane Fonda.

Social media use is up across the board as movement is restricted around the world, but TikTok — already having a moment before the pandemic — is doing better than others.

Idyllic vacation views and perfectly framed artistic shots — long the markers of the Instagram aesthetic — are currently out of reach for most.

But the typical TikTok post does not require a beautiful background, explained Thibault Le Ouay, founder of Pentos, a company that helps brands with their marketing strategy on the platform.

“On TikTok, you do a dance in your own house,” he said, pointing to 15-year-old Charli D’Amelio, one of the app’s biggest stars with 46 million subscribers.

“She is at home in leggings. It’s not a video of a beach paradise,” he said. “It’s still something you can do at home.”

Plus, TikTok has levity baked into its DNA.

Many videos on the platform — a descendant of the website Musical.ly — are amateur performances of short choreographed dances and lip syncs to song clips, repeated and riffed on over and over.

“It’s a very interesting position to be in for TikTok right now, because the videos are generally pretty light, humorous, fun and easy,” said Debra Aho Williamson, principal analyst for market research company eMarketer.

“And with all of the negative news that people are hearing on a daily basis from other media, TikTok is something different, and I think that people need that right now.”

#happyathome
The site has also taken on the role of promoting stay-at-home content in an effort to help fight the virus, a TikTok spokeswoman said.

The hashtag #happyathome has seen more than 7.9 billion views.

“We’re committed to doing our part to help the broader community get through this difficult time,” she said.

The app also has a page with information about COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, with contributions from the World Health Organization (WHO) that “dispel some of the myths” around the illness, she said.

Multiple brands have used civic responsibility as an entry point into TikTok, where advertising has been scarce until recently.

US personal hygiene and cleaning product giant Proctor & Gamble has worked with Charli D’Amelio for a campaign about social distancing, for example.

Brands’ marketing ability in general — including the opportunity to monetize content on TikTok — is limited by the pandemic, experts say.

But they are still interested, according to Williamson.

“The problem is for some companies (that) TikTok is an experiment for advertising,” she said. “And if they are being forced to cut their ad budgets — which many companies are right now — things that are experimental often times are the easiest to cut.”

And the app’s Chinese origins could be a concern for some brands in the US that are worried about data usage, she said.

eMarketer, which already predicted TikTok will grow this year to 45 million US users, up from 37 million, has not changed its forecast based on impact from coronavirus.

“The question I have for TikTok and all of the social media platforms that are seeing increases in engagement now is whether it will continue once things get back to normal, once older adults are back working and they have other things going on,” Williamson said.

“It’s too soon to tell right now.”

Agence France-Presse

Facebook feature lets people reach out for help in pandemic

SAN FRANCISCO–Facebook on Tuesday activated a feature allowing people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic to reach out for help from their community.

The Community Help feature was added to the social network four years ago as a way to find shelter, food or supplies during natural disasters, and this week added the COVID-19 crisis to that list.

“We’ve been seeing since the beginning people asking for help,” Facebook app head Fidji Simo told AFP.

“We’ve been working for a couple of weeks at enabling the feature.”

While Community Help has been activated for tragedies such as the recent Australian wildfires, this time the feature reaches far beyond a single country and had to be woven into the coronavirus information hub, according to Simo.

Facebook set the help radius by default to 50 miles in the US and 100 kilometers in other countries, but people can scale back the area in which they are available to be of assistance.

“You can adjust it down if you can only help in your neighborhood,” Simo said.

The feature lets Facebook users request or offer help from walking dogs or fetching groceries to psychotherapy.

People wishing to help support coronavirus relief efforts can donate money through a UN-Facebook fundraiser, with Facebook matching donations up to a total of $10 million.

The leading online social network said it was adding a way to find and donate to local fundraising campaigns.

“Since the beginning of the spread of the virus and especially as people started practicing social distancing, we’ve seen them turn to Facebook to connect with and take action to help their communities,” Facebook said.


The California-based internet giant also said it was continuing to ramp up efforts to provide reliable, timely information about the pandemic and ways to take action.

Since a COVID-19 Information Center launched two weeks ago at Facebook, more than a billion people have been showed notifications about resources from health authorities through the hub and “educational pop-up” notifications at the social network and Instagram.

AP

Oppo continues to push envelope on smartphone technology

In an era of increasingly sophisticated smartphones, being good enough is simply not good enough.

This is why leading smartphone brand OPPO continues to churn out innovative technology that empowers the restless and relentless Filipinos, whose thirst for the best-among-the-best smartphone in the market is ever evident.

Revolutionary smartphone

OPPO’s latest revolutionary flagship smartphone, the Find X2 series was launched globally via livestream in early March, set to be a showcase of the brand’s best technologies yet, as well as a preview of other innovations the brand has in store for everyone.

The OPPO Find X2 Pro features the most advanced screen display OPPO has ever developed, with emphasis on resolution, screen refresh rate, color, and high dynamic range. The Find X2 Pro is the next generation flagship offering of OPPO that promises an all-round powerful camera experience, as well as battery life.

The device is equipped with Grade A screen quality through the 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED screen, an all-round ultra-vision-camera system, the industry’s fastest 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 flash charging technology, and the most advanced mobile platform—the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. The Find X2 Pro continues OPPO’s line of smartphones with amazing camera. It is equipped with a triple-camera combination, 48MP wide-angle lens + 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens + 13MP telephoto lens, whilst supporting 10x hybrid zoom. It uses the Sony IMX689 which has the largest sensor size among all 48MP mobile camera sensors in the industry and Dolby Atmos equipped speakers.

“We are very excited to finally unveil our latest flagship phone Find X2 Pro in the Philippines. We believe that it perfectly matches the fast-paced and highly digital lifestyle of the modern Filipino industry leaders. Its revolutionary features were carefully crafted for years before we released them in public to ensure that we’re able to offer a full and satisfying smartphone experience that can keep up with the ever-demanding lifestyle of its target consumers,” shares Raymond Xia, Marketing Head of OPPO Philippines.

The Future of Intelligent Connectivity

Over the years, OPPO has boosted its multi-billion-dollar R&D facilities across key locations in the world. This ensures that the latest cutting edge technology is always at the hands—quite literally—of its customers around the world.

With nearly 100 million active users in the APAC region, OPPO remains committed to evolve into an R&D-centric technology company. In fact, in the next three years, the brand is set to invest over $7 billion in R&D initiatives, as it continues to focus on developing state-of-the-art technologies such as 5G, 6G, AI, AR, and big data.

“In line with the announcement made during the OPPO APAC Hub launch in Malaysia, we are already evolving beyond being a smartphone company. We have recently expanded our portfolio in the IoT space for a more comprehensive personal technology experience,” said Xia.

During the recent Find X2 series online launch, OPPO announced Find X2 series 5G smartphone globally as well as its latest product innovation on smart devices: the OPPO 5G CPE Omni and OPPO Watch. Adding to its portfolio beyond its smartphone product line, plus the other IoT products that were introduced during the OPPO APAC Hub launch in Malaysia such as the OPPO Enco Free, AR Glass, and VR.

Additionally, OPPO published a whitepaper on intelligent connectivity at the OPPO INNO DAY last December 2019, in partnership with market analytics firm IHS Markit. Titled “Intelligent Connectivity: Unleashing opportunities with the power of 5G, AI, and cloud,” the whitepaper aims to enable the industry to establish a more open and collaborative understanding of the ecosystem, better informing and guiding the sustainable development of intelligent connectivity in the future. The 5G era will be driven by intelligent connectivity powered by AI, cloud, edge computing, and IoT, according to the whitepaper.

OPPO also reiterates its commitment to being a global pioneer of 5G, especially because the coming 5G era is expected to generate 170 million potential shipment units for global smartphone markets. The possibilities of 5G is immense—almost instantaneous download speeds, higher resolution video, and next-level AR and VR capabilities.

business.inquirer.net

Facebook faces off with IRS in big-ticket tax case

SAN FRANCISCO — A multi-billion-dollar dispute between Facebook and US tax authorities over profits shifted to an Irish subsidiary began playing out in front of a judge on Tuesday.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) contends that Facebook dodged about $9 billion in taxes, while the leading social network says it is actually owed a refund, according to US media reports.


“This trial is about transactions that took place in 2010 when Facebook had no mobile advertising revenue, its international business was nascent, and its digital advertising products were unproven,” spokesperson Bertie Thomson said in an email response to an AFP inquiry.

“We look forward to presenting our case in court and putting an end to this years-long dispute.”

The judge is to hear from an array of Facebook executives during the course of proceedings.

Shifting profits to low-tax countries is a routine practice by international companies, and the judge’s decision, in this case, is seen as a possible harbinger about whether that tactic will become less effective.


The tax period involved dates back nearly a decade before Facebook became a publicly-traded company and smartphones became primary devices for engaging with social media.

IRS contends that Facebook undervalued technology it licensed to its Irish subsidiary, thereby cutting the amount of money that came to the US for taxation here.

Facebook has countered that it should have valued the technology even lower, further reducing the amount paid by the subsidiary and, therefore, the amount subject to taxation in the US.

“Throughout Facebook’s history, we have worked with the IRS and complied with all applicable tax laws,” Thomson said.

“Our business has had hits and misses but we stand behind the actions taken over a decade ago during a time of great risk and uncertainty for the company.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

2,000 iPhones given for free by Japanese gov’t to passengers stuck on ship due to coronavirus

The Japanese government gave away 2,000 free iPhones to passengers stranded on a cruise ship due to the COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the novel coronavirus. The country’s health minister stated that 355 people onboard the ship have tested positive for the virus.

The smartphones were handed to each cabin so passengers could access an app made by the government, as per Macotakara via 9to5mac last Friday, Feb.14.

The said app from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will allow people on the quarantined ship to consult with a doctor. Smartphones registered outside of Japan are unable to access the app. This also prompted the ministry to hand out the devices to the passengers.

According to the report, the 2,000 devices were handed out to ensure that each cabin had one unit.

The ship arrived near the Japanese coast earlier this month with more than 3,700 people on board from over 50 countries. It was placed under quarantine after a passenger who left the vessel in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus.

The Japanese government may begin testing the travelers for the disease from Feb. 18, the captain said. Passengers with negative results will be allowed to disembark the ship starting Feb. 21.


The disease has already killed over 1,000 people and infected more than 42,000 worldwide. The World Health Organization named it COVID-19 after declaring the outbreak as a global health emergency. Ryan Arcadio/JB


source: technology.inquirer.net

Amazon is big … really, really big; workforce hits 500K

NEW YORK — Need more proof that Amazon is big? It came this week.

Amazon’s U.S. workforce has topped 500,000 for the first time, up 43% from the year before and more than triple what it was five years ago, the company said Friday. It gained 150,000 workers last year, more than the size of Apple’s entire workforce.




When it reported its quarterly performance Thursday , Amazon revealed that 150 million people were paying to be members of its Prime service, which offers faster shipping and other perks. On Friday, even while the Dow fell 600 points, Amazon shares soared passed $2,000 apiece, doubling in price in about two years.

Amazon’s growth comes with increased scrutiny. Some Democratic presidential candidates want to break it up. Others want it to pay more taxes. It is a regular target of President Donald Trump, who has been tweeting similar complaints as he fights with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post. Amazon has said it shouldn’t be broken up, and that it pays all the taxes it owes.

Being under the microscope has not slowed its phenomenal growth. Sales during the holiday season soared. Its other businesses, including cloud computing and advertising, grew, too, despite increased competition from other big tech companies.

Analysts at Benchmark said the results were a “not-so-subtle reminder Amazon is still king.”


After retreating from a proposed new headquarters location in New York City because of local opposition, it has ramped up hiring across the country, including New York City. Amazon said it has 30,000 workers in tech offices outside of its Seattle home, in cities such as Chicago, Denver and Austin, Texas. That group of workers is up 50% in the last year and a half, Amazon said.

It has also increased hiring at its warehouses and delivery centers, where orders are packed and shipped.

Worldwide, Amazon had 798,000 employees by the end of last year. Only one American company beats Amazon in the size of its workforce: retail rival Walmart, which employs 1.5 million in the U.S. and more than 2 million worldwide.

Walmart, however, took 35 years to build a workforce of similar size to Amazon today. Amazon reached the milestone in 24 years, more than a decade sooner.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Google working on call-recording feature for native smartphone app

After first spotting preliminary code for a call-recording tool in version 43 of Google’s Phone app, XDA Developers reported that the feature’s code in Version 44 has been completed enough for the media to fully enable the tool and test it out.

If the feature actually does roll out to the public build of the application, users will be able to tap a “Record” button that is added to the app’s interface when a call is ongoing. This button can be used to both start and end call recording; the audio clip can then be listened to from the call log and exported as a .wav file. Though XDA Developers were unable to activate this element of the feature, users will also be able to view a transcript of the call.


To accommodate the legal conditions of call recording, a message will pop up when the Record button is tapped, reading, “When using the call recording feature, you are responsible for complying with applicable laws related to the recording of calls. Please be aware that many jurisdictions require the consent of both parties for such recording.” Everyone else in the call will automatically be told that “this call is now being recorded” and that “call recording has now ended” when a user begins and stops recording.

As of right now, there is no indication in the code that the feature will be restricted to certain phone models or regions when and if it does roll out the public. RGA

source: technology.inquirer.net

Tinder introduces new tools to keep users safe

Tinder has announced a collection of tools for the app that prevent users from being catfished and help them keep in touch with trusted contacts and emergency services if needed.

A handful of the new tools are available thanks to the integration of Noonlight, a connected safety platform that gives each individual a personal safety service. Through Noonlight, users can share information about their date night — who they are meeting as well as where and at what time — with people they trust. Users can “discreetly trigger” emergency services in the event that they feel uncomfortable or in danger.


Along with Noonlight, Tinder has begun slowly rolling out Photo Verification, a feature that is still being tested, which “allows members to self-authenticate through a series of real-time posed selfies, which are compared to existing profile photos using human-assisted artificial intelligence technology.” Those with verified identities will have a blue checkmark next to their names in a very Twitter-like fashion.

Users will also be armed with a Safety Center tool which provides information about how to stay safe. The company has plans to eventually personalize this guide to each individual, but right now, it is rolling out with the same information for everyone.

Lastly, in select markets, the application will inform users if offensive content was sent thanks to machine learning. If this type of message is detected, Tinder will prompt users with a question asking “Does this bother you?” and if they answer “yes,” they will be presented with the option to block the person. Likewise, if a user is sending offensive content, the app will ask them to verify if they really want to send the material.

All features have already begun rolling out and will continue to over the next few months. RGA

source: technology.inquirer.net

Facebook to boost site safety with 1,000 more UK staff

Facebook on Tuesday said it plans to create 1,000 more London-based jobs this year to improve safety on the social network with the aid of artificial intelligence.

The announcement came as Facebook’s head of global affairs and communications Nick Clegg, a former United Kingdom deputy prime minister, again urged action on setting new rules for the internet.


“Last spring, Facebook’s chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg outlined four areas where he believes smart regulation can make a real difference: harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability,” Clegg said in a speech delivered in Rome.

“In these areas and others we are keen to engage constructively with policymakers. We have not only long accepted the need for new regulation, we are impatient to get going.”

And in a message directed at European policymakers, Clegg added: “Everyone agrees the internet needs new rules. We want them, just as you do. So let’s get to work.”

Facebook’s chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg meanwhile noted that increasing the company’s London workforce by around one third would help to “address the challenges of an open internet and develop artificial intelligence to find and remove harmful content more quickly.

“They will also help us build the tools that help small businesses grow, compete with larger companies and create new jobs,” she added.

Facebook said that it was increasing the number of staff at its largest engineering hub outside the United States to more than 4,000.

“The U.K. is a world leader in both innovation and creativity. That’s why I’m excited that we plan to hire an additional 1,000 people in London this year alone,” Sandberg said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the move, saying that “the U.K. is successfully creating both homegrown firms at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, whilst attracting established global tech giants like Facebook.” RGA

source: technology.inquirer.net

Samsung to release Galaxy S20, Galaxy Fold 2 on Feb. 11

SEOUL — Samsung Electronics will release the sequel to the Galaxy S10 at an event next month.

In an invitation sent to media on Sunday, the Korean tech giant said it “will unveil new, innovative devices that will shape the next decade of mobile experiences. The reveal will take place at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event in San Francisco at 11 a.m. on February 11.”


Samsung is expected to unveil Galaxy S20, the next iteration in the Galaxy S series, and Galaxy Fold 2, the successor to the Galaxy Fold.

The invitation shows two squares instead of the letter “a” in the spelling of Galaxy. The first rectangular shape seems to imply the Galaxy S20 while the second appears to hint that the next Galaxy Fold is folded in half in a clamshell design.

Industry watchers say while the Galaxy Fold could be used like a tablet by expanding the screen, the next product will increase portability by folding the screen in half.

source: technology.inquirer.net

LG announces new home appliance for indoor gardening

With CES 2020 just around the corner, LG recently announced a refrigerator-like indoor gardening appliance that can water plants, moderate temperature and provide artificial sunshine.

LG is taking indoor gardening to the next level with its home gardening cultivator. The appliance resembles a fridge, but instead of simply providing cool, controlled temperatures in which to store food, it gives plants light and water, and can be monitored through a complimentary mobile application.



The unit mimics optimal outdoor growing conditions with temperature control, LED lights, forced air circulation and wick-based water management to help consumers who want to know “exactly what’s in their food and where it comes from,” and “anyone interested in pursuing a healthier, greener lifestyle” grow herbs and vegetables all year round, per LG.

Up to two dozen of LG’s available seed packages — each containing seeds, peat moss and fertilizer — can be moderated by the device. A non-circulating water system administers the appropriate amount of water to each packet while discouraging the growth of algae and the diffusion of odors. When the appliance launches, 20 different varieties of plants will be available, including various types of lettuces, basil and arugula.

The appliance will be unveiled in full and demonstrated at this year’s CES conference, which runs from January 7 to 10, 2020, in Las Vegas. Pricing and availability of the cultivator and accompanying seed packets have not yet been announced. NVG

source: technology.inquirer.net

Dating app Tinder to move out of parent’s home

The popular mobile dating app Tinder will move out on its own next year in a spinoff announced Thursday by corporate parent IAC.

Tinder and its online dating siblings including PlentyOfFish, OkCupid and Hinge, which make up the Match Group, will be spun off as an independent company in 2020, according to an IAC statement.


“We’ve long said IAC is the ‘anti-conglomerate’ — we’re not empire builders,” said Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of the holding company IAC.

“We’ve always separated out our businesses as they’ve grown in scale and maturity and soon Match Group, as the seventh spinoff, will join an impressive group of IAC progeny collectively worth $58 billion today.”

Tinder, known for giving users the option to “swipe” right or left to accept or reject a date, is the largest of the apps in Match Group with an estimated 57 million users worldwide.

The friendly breakup creating two separate public companies will give Match Group more flexibility while providing fresh capital to IAC, a media and entertainment group which also includes the Daily Beast, Dotdash Vimeo, Investopedia and HomeAdvisor.

“We’ve grown up tremendously over the last 20 years as part of IAC, from an innovator in a nascent category to a global leader in a fast-growing market with millions of users all over the world,” said Mandy Ginsberg, chief executive officer of Match Group. “Match Group is in an incredibly strong position as we enter this transaction and we are ready for the next chapter of the company’s journey.” RGA

source: business.inquirer.net

Report: Popular UAE chat app ToTok a government spy tool

NEW YORK  — A chat app that quickly became popular in the United Arab Emirates for communicating with friends and family is actually a spying tool used by the government to track its users, according to a newspaper report.

The government uses ToTok to track conversations, locations, images and other data of those who install the app on their phones, The New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials familiar with a classified intelligence assessment and the newspaper’s own investigation.


The Emirates has long blocked Apple’s FaceTime, Facebook’s WhatsApp and other calling apps. Emirati media has been playing up ToTok as an alternative for expatriates living in the country to call home to their loved ones for free.

The Times says ToTok is a few months old and has been downloaded millions of times, with most of its users in the Emirates, a U.S.-allied federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula.


Government surveillance in the Emirates is prolific, and the Emirates long has been suspected of using so-called “zero day” exploits to target human rights activists and others.

Zero days exploits can be expensive to obtain on the black market because they represent software vulnerabilities for which fixes have yet to be developed.

The Times described ToTok as a way to give the government free access to personal information, as millions of users are willingly downloading and installing the app on their phones and blindly giving permission to enable features.

As with many apps, ToTok requests location information, purportedly to provide accurate weather forecasts, according to the Times. It also requests access to a phone’s contacts, supposedly to help users connect with friends. The app also has access to microphones, cameras, calendar and other data.

A security expert who said he analyzed the app for the Times, Patrick Wardle, said that ToTok “does what it claims to do” as a communications app, which is the “genius” of the app if it is being used as a spy tool. “No exploits, no backdoors, no malware,” he wrote in a blog post. The app is able to gain insights on users through common functions.

In a blog post Monday, ToTok did not respond directly to Sunday’s Times report, but said that with “reference to the rumors circulated today about ToTok,” the one goal of the app’s creators was to create a reliable, easy-to-use communications platform. The post said ToTok had high-security standards to protect user data and a privacy framework that complied with local and international legal requirements.

ToTok said the app was temporarily unavailable in the app stores from Google and Apple due to a “technical issue.”



The Times says that based on a technical analysis and interviews with security experts, the company behind ToTok, Breej Holding, is most likely affiliated with DarkMatter, an Emirati cybersecurity company that has hired former CIA and National Security Agency analysts and has close business ties to the Emirati government.

Emails sent to ToTok through its website and to the Emirates embassy in Washington were not immediately returned.

source: technology.inquirer.net