HeyWhatsNew: No More Cross-Platform Messaging on Meta and McDonald’s Is Also Delving Into AI
Greetings, Heyuppers. Welcome to this week’s edition of HeyWhatsNew, your weekly round-up of the latest tech news and updates shaping the world for the week beginning 4/12/2023.
The Latest Google Pixel Feature Drop Is Here
Google has set out to release software updates for Pixel Devices, known as Feature Drops, every quarter released in March, June, September, and December. The December 2023 Feature Drop was released this week alongside Google’s latest Gemini AI, and according to the official announcement blog on Google, Pixel devices are about to become more helpful. The features have begun rolling out to most devices including the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, and the Pixel Watch.
The December 2023 Feature Drop includes updates to Photo Unblur and improved Night Sight in the Time Lapse feature for the Pixel 8 series. One of the most notable features is the integration of the new Gemini Nano to Pixel 8 and improved AI abilities across the entire Pixel Portfolio.
Meta Networks Will No Longer Support Cross-Platform Messaging
A feature that was launched by Meta in 2020 will be discontinued in the coming few weeks. Meta spokesperson Alex Dziedzan confirmed in a statement given to The Verge that the ability to make calls from an Instagram account to a Facebook account, and vice versa, would be removed from the platforms starting in mid-December.
When the feature was first released, there was speculation that tying the services of all the Meta platforms together would make it hard to split the union, but The Verge speculates that it may not be a coincidence that this change is taking effect at the same time as Meta’s battle with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
McDonald’s Plans to Add Generative AI to Its Operations
It’s been reported that a new partnership between Google and McDonald’s will see McDonald’s integrative Generative AI into its daily operations, helping to optimize operational efficiency across the fast food chain’s global outlets starting in 2024. According to a statement given by the franchise's Executive Vice President Brian Rice, the ultimate goal is to improve the overall experience for both the crew and the customers.
The biggest concern that comes with this integration is the potential for automation to completely replace the role of a human. However, McDonald’s hopes that these changes will lead to the enhancement of restaurant operations.
The New Apple TV Box Update Doesn’t Have the iTunes Movies and TV Shows Apps
More Apple TV users will be utilizing the TV app as their primary streaming app after Apple decided to remove both the iTunes Movie and the iTunes TV Shows apps in the latest tvOS 17.2 beta version. Users have started getting pop-up messages notifying them that their purchases have been moved to the Apple TV app.
There have been no reported changes coming to the iTunes Store on iPhones or iPads, so the content may still be accessed in the same way from those devices, but not from the TV box. The final version of tvOS 17.2 will be rolled out to the general public by the end of next week.
Some of Our Favorite EVs Are About to Lose Their $7500 Tax Credit
Electric Vehicles are facing heavy regulations and it’s been decided that all cars that utilize electric vehicle battery components from China will no longer be eligible for the huge tax break that makes EVs more affordable, starting January 1st. Major EV manufacturers such as Tesla and Ford have announced that these regulations will impact some of their vehicles, and buyers may now only qualify for half the tax credit.
According to a report on Spectrum News 1, a new IRA rule requires that at least 50% of the battery components in an EV be sourced from North America. Out of the 103 EVs currently on the market, only 20 cars qualify for the full $7500 tax break.
Is Apple Tapping Into UDC Technology?
Rumors have started circulating of a new iPhone to be released in the distant future that will have a true-full screen thanks to under-display camera (UDC) technology. According to Mac Rumors, the 2026 version of the iPhone is in the preliminary stages of development, and LG Innotek is reportedly working on improving existing UDC technology.
Apple will first adopt under-panel Face ID technology in 2025, and they will then venture to a true-full screen in the following year.
Google Has Officially Released Gemini AI
Google has added a new feature to the Bard chatbot with the introduction of Gemini, their most advanced generative AI tool. Google says that Gemini has a more advanced thinking process compared to other generative tools, and that gives it a competitive advantage.
Yahoo reports that Gemini is Google’s long-awaited response to OpenAI and Microsoft, and Google plans to release three versions of the AI model. A series of demonstration videos were released in the official announcement, helping users to get a better feel of how it works.
That concludes this week's tech news roundup. Join us again next time for your fill of the latest updates on developments that are shaping our world.
