HeyWhatsNew: Bluesky Booms After Brazil Bans X and Sony Shuts Down Concord After Just Two Weeks
What’s new Heyup crew? Welcome back to HeyWhatsNew, your go-to hub for the latest tech updates and breaking news that’s shaping the future. Let’s dive into what’s making waves in the week beginning 02/09/2024.
Intel Launches Lunar Lake with the World’s Fastest Mobile CPU Cores
Ahead of IFA 2024, Intel has pulled back the curtain on its new Lunar Lake Core Ultra 200V-series processors, promising record-breaking power efficiency and blazing-fast mobile CPU cores that could shake up the market. With a 50% reduction in package power consumption over previous generations, Lunar Lake claims up to 20.1 hours of battery life, outlasting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite by nearly two hours and AMD’s chips by almost four.
The Lunar Lake lineup spans nine SKUs, featuring a mix of Lion Cove P-cores and Skymont E-cores, all equipped with impressive AI and GPU capabilities. With shipments beginning on September 24, Intel’s Lunar Lake chips are set to redefine expectations in battery life, performance, and efficiency, putting serious pressure on AMD, Qualcomm, and possibly even Apple’s M-series chips.
Bluesky Surges with Millions of New Users as Brazil Bans Elon Musk’s X
Bluesky is experiencing a major surge in popularity as millions of new users flock to the platform following the suspension of Elon Musk’s X in Brazil. The platform had about 6.2 million global users last week but has seen a swift signup of another 2 million users.
The ban came after a clash between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who ordered X’s suspension until it removes certain accounts linked to far-right activities and appoints a legal representative in the country. The court also threatened fines for users accessing X via VPN and froze Starlink's bank accounts over unpaid fines. Musk has pushed back, threatening reciprocal actions against Brazilian assets and criticizing the court's overreach. Amidst the fallout, Bluesky has emerged as a popular alternative, drawing millions of new users eager to find a stable platform free from legal disputes.
Google Is Rolling Out AI Safeguards Ahead of the US Presidential Election
Google is stepping up its election safeguards by limiting generative AI features related to the U.S. presidential election. This move applies to various AI products, including Search AI Overviews and YouTube summaries, to prevent misinformation.
Alongside these restrictions, Google is enhancing voter resources with new features on Search and YouTube for finding reliable election information. A new badge on Google Play will also highlight apps from official government sources to help users access accurate details.
After a Rocky Launch Sony Is Shutting Down Concord
Sony is pulling Concord offline on September 6th after a dismal launch. The $40 first-person hero shooter, which had been in development for eight years, and debuted exclusively on PS5 and PC on August 23rd, has sold fewer than 25,000 copies and peaked at just 697 players on Steam.
The game will be fully refunded to all players, and the move reflects the game's struggle to stand out in a competitive market filled with popular free-to-play shooters like Overwatch and Valorant. For now, the team is exploring new strategies to better engage with their audience and may release Concord again as a free-to-play title.
Meta and Spotify Warn EU AI Rules Could Stifle Innovation
Meta and Spotify are criticizing the EU's AI regulations, arguing that their complexity and inconsistency could stifle innovation and put Europe at a competitive disadvantage. They warn that unclear rules might delay AI advancements in the region, leaving it with outdated technology.
The companies stress that simpler, harmonized regulations would benefit both developers and users in Europe, allowing for quicker deployment of AI tools. They also highlight that Europe risks falling behind global leaders like the US and China unless regulatory issues are addressed.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google’s Top-Tier Foldable
Reviews are pouring in on the latest foldable phone from Google, and overall they seem to be gushing at its greatness. The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is said to be maturing into a strong contender in the foldable phone market, with improvements in design, camera quality, and battery life. It boasts a sleek, thinner build than its predecessor and offers superior camera performance, outperforming competitors like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, especially in low-light conditions and zoom capabilities.
However, it still faces some software quirks and remains pricey at $1,800, though it's $100 cheaper than its main rival. Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold presents a refined, robust option for those interested in high-end foldable phones.
And that’s all we’ve got for this week’s tech news. Catch up with us next week for the latest updates and breakthroughs in the tech world.
