Daily Tech Headlines

Microsoft is testing a free, ad-supported version of Office for Windows, Google launched a free version of its AI code completion and assistance tool, and Adobe launched a new Photoshop app for iPhones.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alibaba announces new cloud computing investment, Google plans to replace SMS authentication with QR codes, Prosus plans to acquire Just Eat for $4.3 billion. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple is removing its Advanced Data Protection encryption feature in the UK, OpenAI is expanding the rollout of Operator AI Agent to other countries, and DeepSeek announced plans to open-source parts of its online services’ code.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft claims a major breakthrough in quantum computing, Amazon is shutting down its Android app store, and Google is removing Gemini from the standard Google App in iOS.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HP acquires AI startup Humane, Niantic looks to sell gaming division, Crunchbase pivots to a prediction engine model. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

xAI Introduce Grok-3, Google uses digital fingerprinting to track all your devices, and The New York Times has approved the use of AI for both its product and editorial teams.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

X blocks Signal.me links, Perplexity launches Deep Research tool, South Korea’s PIPC blocks DeepSeek downloads. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple and Google reinstated TikTok in their U.S. app stores, Apple's artificial intelligence features for iPhones could be available in China as early as May, and Paramount Global and YouTube TV agreed to continue negotiations.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple TV is now available on Android, GPT 5 will be available to free users, and Honda and Nissan scrap their $60 billion merger.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple allows account consolidation for digital purchases, Eskimi suspected to be source of sold US military data, Adobe releases Ai-powered Generate Video tool in public beta. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV screens are now the primary device for watching YouTube in the United States,  Apple and Google remove over 19 apps containing SparkCat malware from their app stores, and US VP JD Vance warns that substantial AI regulations could stifle the technology.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

T-Mobile announces Starlink pricing, Apple may not be done with AR glasses, Discord adds a new “ignore” feature. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government has reportedly ordered Apple to create a backdoor for encrypted iCloud backup access, newly unsealed emails provide “the most damning evidence yet against Meta in a copyright infringement case with authors, and Apple is set to unveil the iPhone SE.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ARM has withdrawn its threat to terminate Qualcomm's license agreement, ChatGPT search is available to all without a login, and Amazon appears primed to launch its new Alexa with AI.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Voldex acquires Roblox game Brookhaven, Gartner data shows record global semiconductor growth, Figure AI severs ties with OpenAI for humanoid robot development. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global smartphone revenue increased by 5% year-over-year, Australia has banned DeepSeek from government devices, and a District Court judge rejects Apple's request to halt the Google Search monopoly trial.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OpenAI announces “Deep Research” Microsoft cancels free VPN from Defender, The Beatles win a Grammy with AI song. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google offers its US Platforms and Devices team voluntary buyouts, Amazon increasing spending on Mississippi data centers by 60%, and Mark Zuckerberg explains why Meta was slow to adapt to TikTok.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft announced new Intel-powered Surface PCs for Business, Waymo Expanded to 10 new cities, and Microsoft integrated DeepSeek's R1 model into Azure and GitHub.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

iOS 18.3 lets some T-Mobile users access Starlink, Comcast rolls out new Xfinity low-latency feature, US Copyright Office says AI-generated content alone isn’t eligible for protection. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Gov, Visa and X partner to facilitate payments for X users, and Apple patched an actively exploited zero-day affecting multiple devices.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Perplexity still gunning to buy Tiktok? Kiwi Browser for Android is shutting down, WhatsApp’s latest beta shows support for multiple accounts in the iOS app.Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta plans to invest $60 to $65 billion into AI infrastructure this year, President Trump signed an executive order to advance crypto and potentially develop a national stockpile, and the EU is conducting its first social media stress test.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stargate Project highlights rift between OpenAI and Microsoft, the UK’s CMA investigates Apple and Google over DMCC, DeepSeek releases DeepSeek-R1. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft has revised its multiyear agreement with OpenAI, OpenAI has announced a partnership with SoftBank and Oracle to launch the Stargate Project, and President Trump stated that he would be open to Elon Musk or Larry Ellison buying TikTok.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump Administration will not enforce the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act for 75 days, Instagram is offering creators cash bonuses of $10,000 to $50,000 per month to exclusively post to Reels before other platforms, and WhatsApp is heading to Meta’s Account Center.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta, X, and Bluesky all launch TikTok-style features during the US weekend ban, Apple reportedly overhauling its Mail app on MacOS and iPadOS, Oppo’s Find N5 foldable is thin.. very thin. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a law that will effectively ban TikTok, Apple has canceled its AI-generated news alerts, and the EU has intensified its investigation into X.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nintendo officially unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, Google signs deal with AP to deliver news through Gemini, and the Biden administration is exploring options to keep TikTok accessible in the United States.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DJI removes geofencing restrictions in the US, the FTC sues John Deere for unfair right to repair practices, Drake drops a diss track petition against Spotify and UMG, but doubles down on another. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A U.S. Senator proposes a bill to extend the TikTok sell-by by date 270 days, The UK’s CMA launches an investigation into Google’s search dominance, and DirecTV introduces MySports, a $69.99-per-month sports streaming package.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sonos CEO Patrick Spence resigns, Reilance Jio launches 5.5G network in India, Watch Duty app surges in popularity after Los Angeles fires. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Supreme Court oral arguments on TikTok ban begin, The Linux Foundation backs Chromium support, Automattic reduces contributions to WordPress core project. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta agrees to offer eBay listings in Facebook Marketplace, Apple denies using Siri recordings for advertising, is Radio Shack… back? Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Samsung’s Subscription Club expands beyond Korea, Google announces local control on Matter devices, Microsoft releases its Phi-4 14-billion parameter AI model. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta will phase in community notes to replace third-party fact-checking, Dell changes its laptop branding to Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max, and Samsung announced its next Galaxy Unpacked event will be held at 1 PM Eastern in San Jose, California, on January 22.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Samsung intros Vision AI for TVs at CES, Disney and Fubo join forces, Intel unveils new AI chips, Halliday Glasses have a near-eye “DigiWindow” display. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A federal appeals court ruled the FCC lacks the legal authority to reinstate Net Neutrality, 17 states have enacted strict age verification measures to access adult websites,  and Tesla sales have reached record highs in China.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tesla reported a 2.2% year-over-year decline in vehicle deliveries, the U.S. Commerce Department is considering new regulations to restrict or ban Chinese-made drones, and CNBC is launching CNBC+, a new subscription-based streaming service.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. Treasury confirms a Chinese state-backed hack, YouTube is testing a new floating "Play something" button on Android, and India again delays its cap on UPI transactions. Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LG announces the UltraGear OLED Bendable Gaming Monitor, Ukraine’s Kyivstar partners with Starlink, three crypto industry groups sue the US Internal Revenue Service. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Microsoft's business practices, The European Union’s Common Charging Solution goes into effect, and OpenAI and Microsoft determine AGI by financial metrics.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bluesky has added trending topics to its list of features, Apple wants to join Google’s antitrust case, and xAI has raised $6 billion in Series C financing.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft seeks to reduce its reliance on OpenAI, Hyundai offers free Tesla Supercharger adapters to EV owners, and Telegram is now profitable.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple reportedly developing a smart doorbell camera, MediaTek announces the Dimensity 8400 smartphone processor, is Meta preparing Ray-Ban smart glasses with integrated displays? Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new physics simulation that trains robots 430,000 times faster than reality, Italy’s data protection agency has fined ChatGPT maker OpenAI 15 million euros, and Bluesky has received an update that protects against cybersquatting.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple is in talks with Tencent and Bytedance to integrate their artificial intelligence models into iPhones sold in China, Microsoft expands its live translation capabilities to Intel and AMD-based Copilot Plus PCs, and Amazon Web Services has committed an additional $10 billion to build data centers in Ohio.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nvidia announces the Jetson Orin Nano Super development board, Threads plans to test scheduled posts, Check Point researchers warn of new Google Calendar phishing attacks. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Threads reaches 100 million daily active users, a European Union privacy regulator has fined Meta €251 million, and Waymo is sending its robotaxis to Tokyo.Link to Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple reportedly developing a foldable iPad, TikTok plans to take impending US ban to the Supreme Court, Softbank pledges $100B to US AI and infrastructure. Show NotesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/dth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.