Leben (Life aka misc)
We’re Fine Without Facebook, German and French Ministers Say
Meta Platforms’ veiled threat to quit Europe because of blocked talks over privacy rules was more like music to the ears of two top German and French politicians. “After being hacked I’ve lived without Facebook and Twitter for four years and life has been fantastic,” German Economy Minister Robert Habeck Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc)
Electric Vehicle Sales Doubled In 2021, With More Now Sold Each Week Than Entire Year In 2012
The electric vehicle (EV) market is soaring, with 130,000 cars sold globally each week, roughly equivalent to sales for the entire year in 2012. Sales of EVs more than doubled in 2021, even with supply chain snarls and pandemic-related shrinking of demand for gas-powered cars. New data, from the influential Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc) Technology
Meta Threatens To Pull Facebook and Instagram From Europe If It Can’t Target Ads
“Facebook is threatening it will simply pull out of Europe altogether if it is no longer able to share data about European users with its U.S. operations, applications, and data centres,” reports ITWire. It’s customary for regulatory filings to preemptively declare a wide variety of possible future hazards, and in Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc)
In Massachusetts Some Car Dealers Have Disabled Telematics System in ‘Ugly’ Right-to-Repair Dispute
“Subaru and Kia dealers in Massachusetts have disabled systems that allow remote starts and send maintenance alerts…” reports Wired. Subaru buyers in Massachusetts also lose access to the telematics system’s app, so “no emergency assistance; no automated messages when the tire pressure was low or the oil needed changing.” Subaru Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc) Technology
Mark Zuckerberg and Team Considering Shutting Down Facebook and Instagram in Europe if Meta Cannot Process Europeans’ Data on US Servers
If Meta is not given the option to transfer, store and process data from its European users on US-based servers, Facebook and Instagram may be shut down across Europe, the social media giants’ owner reportedly warned in its annual report. The key issue for Meta is transatlantic data transfers, regulated Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc) Technology
Should Audiobooks Be Narrated by AI?
“Proponents of AI audiobook narration tout its much lower production costs (compared to a traditional recording of a human narrator) as a way to improve profitability of audiobooks,” reports Publisher’s Weekly, “as well as allowing publishers to publish more audiobooks that have limited audiences. “But according to actor and narrator Read more…