If you want to catch up on the biggest tech news of the week, you've come to the right place. We've put together a handy update with an easy-to-understand summary of the most important events from the past week.
This outstanding article was published after AT&T experienced a massive 12-hour cell service outage across the United States, leaving some affected people unable to call 911. They say there's no such thing as bad publicity, but this is a one-time thing. AT&T probably hopes it doesn't make headlines.
There's also an AI tool meltdown, Apple launches a new sports app, the first trailer for the Borderlands movie is released, and there's a lot to know. In case you missed it, here are his 7 biggest tech news stories of the week.
7. AT&T caused an almighty cell phone outage in the US
This week, AT&T unintentionally transported its customers back in time to the early '90s, when a massive outage crippled cell phone service in several major U.S. cities. The problem started early Thursday morning when thousands of people found themselves without cell phone signal, and ultimately affected more than 1.7 million customers.
So what could be the cause?Was it a solar flare, a cyberattack, or an elaborate Netflix promotion? leave the world behind?According to AT&T, it was actually a simple user error.? The network said the outage was caused by “incorrect application and implementation of processes” when expanding the network. So if at work he made an IT-related gaffe and you're feeling bad, at least you should feel better.
6. ChatGPT had a meltdown and Google Gemini struggled with accurate art
This week saw yet another change in ChatGPT's behavior, and it might be the weirdest yet. Users reported that the AI chatbot would get stuck in nonsensical loops, spouting unintelligible Spanish, and even claimed to be “in the room” with users at one point.
ChatGPT's creator, OpenAI, issued a statement saying users had nothing to worry about and that the issue had been identified and fixed, but did not explain the bot's strange behavior. Speculation has been rife among users, with some suspecting that the chatbot's creative “temperature” was flawed, resulting in overly imaginative responses to ordinary queries. ChatGPT (including his paid GPT-4 model) seems to be back to normal. So all the behind-the-scenes fixes that OpenAI has rolled out appear to be working.
Google Gemini also encountered some issues this week as users found it struggled to create accurate images of historical figures, especially white men. The issue stems from well-intentioned equality measures taken by Google to ensure Gemini produces a diverse workforce in its AI technology to combat bias in training data. It seems that. For now, Gemini's ability to generate images of people is turned off while we try to fix the bug.
5. Apple launches sports app
Apple is no newcomer to the sports industry. The company has had deals with the big leagues in baseball and football (and soccer for our European friends) over the years, but this is the first time it's building something for sports, and more specifically for sports fans.
Apple's Sports app is a wonderland of statistics and real-time match scores that give you an overview of the wide world of sports at a glance. Even more interesting than the customizable card-based system is how Apple has built its new iOS-only app. Apple's head of services Eddy Cue said, among other things, that the leagues didn't have the real-time data on hand that Apple needed to build the app, but he helped the leagues find it and then Apple said it transmitted a large amount of that data. , and make it work and look great with Apple Sports.
4. I had a feeling of déjà vu when I saw the first Borderlands movie trailer.
It seems like you can't keep Marvel out of the news. After a successful week full of exciting announcements, the comic book giant has been in the headlines again in recent days, and not through any fault of its own.
First, it has been reported that a subsidiary of Disney will change its name. Avengers: Kang Dynasty The company continues to review Marvel's Phase 5 and Phase 6 plans after a tumultuous 12 months. It's interesting, but after moviegoers made comparisons to the upcoming film, the studio found itself at the center of a different kind of discourse. borderlands Online chatter surfaced after the release of the movie Guardians of the Galaxy borderlands' first trailer was released on Wednesday.
Still, as the saying goes, there's no such thing as bad publicity, and the MCU can use every bit of good word of mouth it can get, direct or otherwise.
3. My Apple Vision Pro was returned, but maybe that's a good thing?
The return period for the first batch of Apple Vision Pros officially ends in two weeks, sparking an interesting debate as to why so many people are returning the headsets. While there has been talk on social media about a spike in returns, insider sources paint a different picture and provide some interesting insight into who is returning headsets and why.
In our Vision Pro review, we took a closer look at both the good and the bad of this groundbreaking take on mixed reality. The hefty price tag of $3,499/£2,788 and AU$6,349 seems to be creating a case of buyer's remorse for some people. In addition to that, the influencer or his YouTuber is always on the lookout for the latest technology trends and takes advantage of the return policy to create content for his channel without incurring high funds.
But there is a silver lining here. All returns are accompanied by a detailed questionnaire, giving users the opportunity to share their experiences and suggestions. This feedback may help shape future versions of Vision Pro. Reliable Apple insider Mark Garman agrees, citing discomfort, motion sickness, and high prices as common reasons for returns.
2. Garmin launches more forward-thinking Forerunner watch
Garmin is a well-known manufacturer of: best running watch However, many of its best models Garmin Forerunner 265 965 is a premium purchase. So it was great to see Garmin release a cheaper model this week, his Garmin Forerunner 165. In our early testing, we found this to be a great GPS watch for working out, and a cheaper version of the Forerunner 265's great design.
However, it lacks some features that really improve the product line, such as Garmin's Training Readiness score, and it's made from a much lighter plastic rather than heavier polymer or stainless steel. Nevertheless, Samsung has also released his Galaxy Fit 3 fitness tracker, so now is the perfect time to want a high-quality and affordable workout tracker.
It's only February, but Fujifilm may have already released the most popular camera of 2024. This week, our hands-on review of the Fujifilm X100VI found it to be “the best premium compact camera for most people,” and Fujifilm says this retro star has already reached “its popularity.” says. Largest number of pre-orders in history. ”
Considering how good smartphone cameras are, this is impressive and even a little surprising, especially considering that the X100VI features a fixed 23mm f/2 lens. Again, this is also a beautiful little camera that combines modern comforts like in-body image stabilization and powerful autofocus with classic film camera design and fun film simulations. See you in line.
