Home HP Agrees to $4 Million Settlement for Deceptive Advertising News HP Agrees to $4 Million Settlement for Deceptive Advertising 4 min read Published: April 20, 2025 Key Takeaways HP agrees to a $4 million settlement to end a lawsuit that accuses it of deceptive advertising tactics. The settlement covers all administrative costs, lawsuit expenses, and compensation to aggrieved consumers. A similar case has also been filed against Amazon for mis-advertising its Fire TV. HP has agreed to enter into a $4 million settlement to rest the allegations that it had resorted to deceptive pricing on its website to defraud customers. The lawsuit alleged that HP has misused strike-through pricing by showing a higher crossed price in the name of special deals or discount prices. However, these striked-out prices were nowhere close to the original or recent price of the products. The Lawsuit’s Backstory The lawsuit was filed by Rodney Carvalho, who purchased a desktop PC from the company’s website for $899.99. The PC was advertised as $100 off as against the original price of $999.99. However, a year later, when this lawsuit was filed, Rodney found out that HP never actually sold that particular model for $999.99. Later, Mark Maher also joined the lawsuit, and together they filed a class-action lawsuit against HP. The $4 million settlement amount includes compensation for affected customers, attorney fees, administrative costs, and service awards to lead plaintiffs. The compensation will only be provided to eligible customers, i.e., those who purchased HP laptops, desktops, keyboards, or mice between 5 June 2021 and 28 October 2024. The exact compensation per plaintiff can range from $10 to hundreds of dollars, depending upon the product that was purchased. A very interesting angle to the settlement is that HP does not require admitting to any wrongdoing. The settlement appears to us as hush money to sweep the matter under the carpet. This means that there will be no legal repercussions for the misleading selling tactics followed by the company. Had the matter gone to court, there might have been a higher penalty or restrictions on doing so again in the future. However, with this settlement, there’s no guarantee that HP won’t do it again. Although the final approval is still due for hearing on August 21, 2025, it’s more or less a formality now. Aggrieved members are also required to submit the claims by June 9 to be eligible for the compensation. Another rather uncomforting condition of the settlement is that the plaintiff and their attorneys are not allowed to speak to the media or issue press releases unless required by law. The question we’re asking is: If there’s nothing to hide or admit, why would HP place such a condition? Not Just a One-off Case This HP case is just one of many such instances and dangers of online marketing and shopping. Sellers often resort to surge pricing to lure in customers, especially during the holiday seasons. Recently, Dell was also fined AU$10 million for overstating discounts on bundled monitors. Allegedly, the company was charging customers more for bundle purchases as compared to purchasing those items separately. Amazon is also facing a lawsuit for fake limited-time discount offers on its Fire TV products. Such deceptive pricing also affects fair competition in any industry. Imagine two companies selling laptops for $500 each. However, the first company advertises its laptops as $800 and slashes the price to offer them at $500. This gives the company an edge because customers think that their laptops are worth $800 (and hence are of superior quality), which was never really the case. Although this case is now a lost cause for the consumers at large, we hope that some of the other lawsuits bring out a definitive law against such advertising malpractices. Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. More from News View all View all

Home Seagate Research Shows Hard Disks Have Lower CO2 Emissions than SSDs News Seagate Research Shows Hard Disks Have Lower CO2 Emissions than SSDs 3 min read Published: April 19, 2025 Key Takeaways New research shows that hard disks produce less CO2 than SSDs or LTO Tapes. The report also lays down three ways for a sustainable future: building energy-efficient tech, recycling, and shared responsibility. However, making the switch isn’t easy considering the benefits of SSD storage. As per reports, global carbon emissions have increased from around 25 billion tonnes in 2001 to close to 38 billion tonnes in 2023 – a whopping 52% increase since the turn of the century. The same report says that the CO2 emissions haven’t peaked yet, which means there’s more to follow.  While only industrial-level regulations can bring about a noticeable change, Seagate has shared vital research that says hard drives are better than SSDs when it comes to carbon emissions in light of increasing data center needs.  With AI growing at never-before-seen speeds, the demand for data centers will increase by a whopping 165% by 2030, which will ultimately lead to more carbon emissions. However, using hard drives rather than SSDs can cut down the emissions. Here’s what the research found: Storage MediaEmbodied Carbon by product (Kg CO²)Embodied Carbon per TB (CO²/TB)Embodied Carbon per TB per Year (CO²/TB/Year)Hard Drives29.7<1<0.2SSD4,91516032LTO Tape482.66<0.6 As the figures suggest, SSDs are a no-go for the environment, emitting the highest embodied carbon by-product, per TB, and CO²/TB/year. On the flip side, hard drives are the most environmentally friendly. The report also shares three strategic pillars for a sustainable future: Building energy-efficient tech like HVAC systems and liquid/immersion cooling technologies can reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption. Reusing, repairing, recycling, and refurbishing storage equipment can increase its lifespan and help reduce e-waste. Collaboration across the entire value chain with shared responsibility among suppliers, vendors, and service providers. The Real-Life Problem While it seems pretty straightforward in theory, switching to hard drives is more difficult than you think. For starters, HDD storage devices are slow since they use magnetic spinning disks to read and write data.  Whenever a data request is made, the disk needs to spin to the right position to be able to retrieve that data, which slows down the whole process. This isn’t ideal for AI tools and products, which rely on instant data retrievals. Plus, with HDDs, data can get scattered over time besides being more prone to physical wear and tear.  SSDs, on the other hand, use flash memory without any moving parts, allowing instant data retrievals. They also use parallel reading and writing techniques, meaning the process is almost instant. At the end of the day, it’s a simple question: Why would tech companies switch to a slower and outdated storage method? Would the fact that it leads to lower CO2 emission be enough to make the switch? Well, it wouldn’t take a genius to guess that the answer is a big fat NO. OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, or DeepSeek won’t just wake up tomorrow, read the Seagate report, and become environmentalists. A more practical solution is to innovate a better SSD prototype that emits less CO2 without compromising its benefits. Seagate is already working on bringing NVMe technology to hard drives, which uses the PCIe interface for faster data transfers. This also allows direct and quick data access required for tech-heavy AI industries. NVMe also enables direct data access from storage to GPU, without any involvement of the CPU, leading to better latency. However, an immediate solution is, unfortunately, not in sight right now, and we might still be 2-3 years away from a major breakthrough. Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. More from News View all View all

Home Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti Reviews Are In, and It’s Better Than We Expected News Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti Reviews Are In, and It’s Better Than We Expected 5 min read Published: April 18, 2025 Key Takeaways The RTX 5060 Ti 16GB outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti thanks to DLSS 4, MFG, and increased VRAM, so overall a strong generational gain. The pricing remains uncertain amidst the ongoing tariff war and potential supply issues. While it doesn’t surpass the RTX 4070 Ti, the 5060 Ti is a good upgrade from older 20/30 series. Nvidia has finally launched the RTX 5060 Ti, and first impressions suggest that it’s not as bad as people thought it would be. The GPU delivers good performance at the right price and with the right features. At the official MSRP ($429) the 16GB variant delivers good value for money, especially when compared to its predecessor. The 8GB variant isn’t made available for general review. However, the only difference between the two seems to be memory capacity. So, the only data available right now is regarding the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, and we think Nvidia knew it would make good headlines and planned for it to go out alone. Talking about performance, the 5060 Ti 16GB offers roughly: 19% generational uplift at 1080p 22% better than 4060 Ti at 1040p and 54% at 4K The credit for these performance gains goes to the increased 16GB VRAM and GDDR7 memory. This is compared to the RTX 4060 Ti, which features 12GB of VRAM. However, despite the bump in memory, the 5060 Ti doesn’t quite outperform the 4070 Ti across the board. Although the two GPUs are close on 1080p games, the 4070 Ti pulls ahead on 1440p and 4K games thanks to its raw power and memory speed, leading to more consistent native frame pacing. You can, however, close the performance gap with the help of the new card’s leaving DLSS 4 and MFG features. That said, the 5060 Ti consistently outperforms the 4060 Ti. It uses double the VRAM and faster GDDR7 memory. The RTX 5060 Ti delivers a higher FPS on almost all games like Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Motorsport, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Black Myth: Wukong at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. The 5060 Ti is closest to the AMD RX 7700 XT in terms of performance, with the former having a slight edge in RT-heavy games. Again, thanks to DLSS 4 and MFG. We do feel the need to stress that both chipsets have more than 8GB of VRAM, so they can compete with one another. Pricing for the 5060 Ti 16GB Version With an official MSRP of $429, this is Nvidia’s most affordable 16 GB GPU yet. But MSRP becoming shelf-price is a distant dream due to supply chain constraints and the current tarrif war. Although we’re not entirely sure you’ll be able to get your hands on it at that price, anything below $500 would be a steal and generally a strong value acquisition. Image credit: bestvaluegpu.com For instance, the RTX 5070 Ti has been selling at a $200 premium above its MSRP, at around $950. Similarly, the RTX 5080 is only available at above its official MSRP of $400, and the RTX 5090 currently costs you twice the MSRP… if you’re lucky. Going by these trends, it’s highly unlikely that the RTX 5060 Ti will be available at $429, but if you happen to stumble across one at $500 or less, you it’ll be good value for money. All in all, Nvidia has done a good job with pricing here. The 16GB 5060 Ti is available at $429, while the 8GB Ti variant costs $379. Obviously, paying $50 extra for double the memory should be a no-brainer… but they know that. The 5060 Ti is also 22% cheaper than the RTX 5070 at launch prices. Should You Buy the Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti? Here comes the million-dollar question: should you buy the new RTX 5060 Ti? Well, a large part of the answer depends on what price you’re able to get the GPU. If you can source it at around $450, it’s undoubtedly a great purchase, seeing as it offers better performance than the 4060 Ti with DLSS 4 and MFG. You’ll see a notable difference, especially if you’re upgrading from older 20/30 models. The 16GB variant is also future-proof and performs well on demanding games like Black Myth: Wukong and Indiana Jones. All of this applies to the 16GB variant of the 5060 Ti. 8GB VRAM GPUs will have very different benchmark results and will likely not be future-proof. Many modern games require at least 12GB of VRAM, and the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB and the RTX 5060 8GB may not deliver the goods. Maybe Nvidia is aware of this, and that’s why they haven’t provided these two variants for reviews. Plus, their launch date is also delayed for some odd reason. These models may quietly hit the shelves sometime in May without a review schedule. Innocent buyers, tricked by the 16GB reviews, may end up buying these 8GB sub-standard GPUs. Also check out: Nvidia releases biggest bug-fixing driver update Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. More from News View all View all

Home Microsoft Acknowledges Outlook Classic Bug and Offers a Temporary Fix News Microsoft Acknowledges Outlook Classic Bug and Offers a Temporary Fix 3 min read Published: April 18, 2025 Key Takeaways Microsoft has acknowledged that there’s a bug in Outlook Classic that slows CPUs by 30-50%. The company has offered a temporary workaround by shifting to the Semi-Annual Channel. This issue is six months old, but Microsoft hasn’t offered a permanent fix so far. Microsoft has acknowledged a bug in its Outlook Classic software, which spikes CPU usage by 30%-50%. The problem has persisted since November 2024, with several users complaining of a slow system and an abnormal increase in CPU usage when they type emails. Users have reported that disabling spell-check and graphic acceleration also didn’t help. One user even said that the temperatures of their i9-14900HX CPU reached 95 degrees Celsius when they opened the ‘New Message’ tab. However, Microsoft didn’t offer a long-term fix for the problem. Only a stopgap fix. Users can switch to the Semi-Annual Channel, where this problem hasn’t been observed. The issue appears to be specific to the Current, Monthly Enterprise, or Insider channels. Here’s how you can do it as a home user: Open Command Prompt (ensure you’ve selected the ‘Run as administrator option’) Type the following command: reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\officeupdate /v updatebranch /t REG_SZ /d SemiAnnual Once you’ve added the registry key, select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now to switch. If you’re running an organization, Microsoft has published a detailed guide on how you can update the channel using Group Policy, Office Deployment Tool (ODT), Configuration Manager, Microsoft Intune Administrative Templates, and the admin center. Meanwhile, the company has said that the Outlook team is investigating the issue. Why No Fix? The problem has been around for more than six months now, and it’s quite odd that a tech behemoth like Microsoft has been sitting on it. Is the problem that complex, or is there something under the sheets? Well, it’s a known fact that Microsoft wants to do away with its Outlook Classic product and have users shift to the new Outlook for Windows. However, the company has gone on record to say that it will offer support for Classic until the end of 2029. Those two commitments don’t align well, do they? Users won’t ‘willingly’ shift to the new Outlook because it lacks some features offered by the Classic version. For instance, there are no multiple mail profiles, shared mailboxes, custom forms, or SharePoint calendar sync with the new Outlook. Microsoft Outlook Classic custom forms Plus, many features, such as offline support, the Notes module, and .PST support, are only partially available. So, why would users want to switch to an inferior product? Could it be possible that this whole ‘CPU-slowing bug’ thing is a strategy to push users to the new product? Well, these are just speculations, and we’ll never reach the bottom of this theory. It may be possible that Microsoft will release a permanent fix soon and put these theories to rest. For now, we’ll have to wait for the next development on this issue. Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. More from News View all View all

Key Takeaways Nvidia has released a new 576.02 driver update, fixing 40 issues, including black and blank screen complaints. This is Nvidia’s largest bug fix ever, solving issues on the RTX 50 series chips as well as those on the 5040 and 5030 series chips. The update is also driver-ready for the new GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPUs released on April 16. Nvidia has released the GeForce Game Ready Driver version 576.02, which fixes more than 40 general bugs and gaming issues users have been facing on its RTX 40 and 50 series GPUs.  This is one of the most comprehensive lists of fixes we’ve seen with a driver release, including a fix for the notorious black screen. We’ve counted at least 13 such black/blank screen fixes in this update. The ‘black screen’ issue is addressed in the ‘General Bugs’ segment of the official update release, which includes a total of 25 fixes. Some other issues solved include: System hard hangs with 572.16 driver loaded with the RTX 50 series Higher DPC latency Compute Shader ‘error’ failure General system stability issues The update solves 15 gaming bug issues, including random crashes on Fortnite, stuttering when using VSYNC on Overwatch 2, crashing when using Smooth Motion in Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga and The Last of Us Part 1, and frame generation issues in DLSS 4 games. Problems with the Nvidia RTX 50 Series Ever since their launch in January, the Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs have been plagued with issues. The most common were the black/blank/blue screen and system crashes. These issues popped up after the introduction of DLSS 4 and the 572 driver series, but this latest update seems to have fixed them.  DisplayPort 2.1 issues were also common with the 50 series, including unstable link rates on certain monitors and blank screens on others.  Using DLSS 4 frame generation and G-SYNC on high refresh rates when playing games also led to random blackouts. However, users could disable G-SYNC to deal with the issue, only a temporary fix. These problems also spilled over to the GTX 40 and GTX 30 GPU versions, which forced users to switch back to older drivers released in December last year. However, Nvidia has finally addressed these issues with the latest 576.02 release. This driver is also game-ready for Nvidia’s newly launched RTX 5060 Ti (both 16GB and 8GB variants). The 5060 Ti is also Nvidia’s cheapest 16GB GPU offering to date and costs $429. However, it doesn’t seem to be ready for the RTX 5060 as of now. A Long Overdue Update It seemed as if Nvidia had put its gaming GPUs on the sidelines with all its focus on AI chips. With issues popping up more frequently than ever, its reputation took a significant hit. It was high time Nvidia returned to its core SKU and resolved the issues plaguing its GPUs. And that’s exactly what it has done.  However, this still doesn’t overshadow the fact that Nvidia seems to be pushing its new RTX 5060 Ti sets, especially the 8GB variants, without proper review exercises and with potentially over-hyped marketing. We’ve seen a lot of tech reviewers who were highly surprised that Nvidia didn’t just opt for 12GB of VRAM instead. That said, the new 576.02 driver update must bring in some relief to gamers and, hopefully, confidence in the 5060 Ti GPUs as well. Fingers crossed! Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors.

Handheld gaming consoles are about to see a wave of exciting developments, with the imminent arrival of the Switch 2 in June and rumors of the Steam Deck 2 coming in 2026. Right now, chip giant AMD is considered the pack leader, with its graphics chips used in handhelds from the ASUS ROG Ally to the Steam Deck and the Lenovo Legion Go. Nvidia, on the other hand, dominates the cloud gaming market, with Nvidia GeForce Now available on handhelds like the Razer Edge and Logitech G Cloud. PC players also tend to gravitate towards Nvidia, and it’s ahead in aspects like neutral rendering. With Nvidia’s T239 chip expected to appear in the Nintendo Switch 2, could AMD’s hold on the market falter? Nintendo Switch 2: Tech Specs and Nvidia’s T239 Chip Nintendo has always played its cards close to its chest when it comes to its tech specs, but we do know a bit about the hardware for the upcoming Switch 2: The handheld will feature an Nvidia SoC, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and machine learning capabilities (DLSS). That chip is the T239, according to reputable PC leaker kopite7kimi (h/t Eurogamer) and may share the same GPU architecture as the T234 processor used in Nintendo’s Nanodev kit — the Ampere architecture in RTX 30-series cards. We can also expect a 128-bit memory interface, 1536 CUDA CoreGPU, and the processor to measure 200mm² — though that’s still bigger than the Steam Deck SoC. Nvidia claims the T239 chip provides “up to 10x the graphics performance of the Nintendo Switch”. That means 3.9 teraflops of performance in docked mode and 1.5 teraflops in handheld mode, compared to 4 teraflops in the Xbox Series X and 1.6 teraflops in the Steam Deck. Teraflops (TFLOPs) are a unit of one trillion floating-point operations per second, and are a critical measurement in graphics rendering for games. Generally speaking, more teraflops mean faster performance and improved graphics. The T239 chip is built on Samsung 8nm technology, compared to the Steam Deck’s 162mm² processor’s 7nm process, also used in PS5 and Xbox Series consoles dating back to 2020. Image Credit – Samsing Electronics It will pack RT cores for real-time ray tracing, a variable 120Hz refresh rate via Nvidia G-Sync, and Tensor cores to power DLSS, Nvidia’s AI-based frame generation and resolution scaling. These are nothing new to PC gamers, but seeing them appear in the Switch 2 is still thrilling. AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Street Fighter 6, and Elden Ring have already been confirmed for the Switch 2. Tom’s Guide says the handheld’s “gameplay response times are snappy and tearing is non-existent,” with only the smallest signs of ghosting visible around characters and objects. The Switch 2 will also run at a higher power level, delivering up to 4K resolution when docked, thanks to the dock’s built-in fan. In contrast, the Steam Deck is limited to its maximum wattage in handheld mode, though there are workarounds. AMD Boosts Visuals and Performance with FSR 4 While Nvidia focuses on raw performance claims, AMD prioritizes visual enhancement and performance optimization with its FSR 4 technology. Launched on March 6, 2025, FSR 4 is an upscaling technology that improves frame rate for smoother gameplay on less powerful hardware or at higher resolutions. Perfect for handhelds, then. Image Credit: Carota Design According to Digital Foundry, AMD’s FSR 4 is a major improvement over FSR 3 on the OG Steam Deck and Nvidia’s DLSS 4. The problem is, you can only get it on RDNA 4 desktop GPUs. However, if rumors are true, we could soon see it on the Steam Deck 2. The rumored AMD Ryzen AI Z2 chip could bring better frame generation with its NPU through its AI capabilities. According to leaker Hoang Anh Phu on X, the chip will reportedly use RDNA 3.5. If FSR 4 is ported to RDNA 3.5, that could lay the grounds for better image quality and performance on the Steam Deck 2. Valve has confirmed there will be no Z2 Steam Deck, and the company isn’t thinking about new hardware until 2026 at least. Is Nvidia on the Road to its Own Handheld? AMD rivalry aside, Nvidia’s sidestep into handhelds could pave the way for the graphics giant to launch its own portable gaming device A 2024 leak from YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead (h/t Gamesradar) revealed that the company was “getting serious about making more handheld gaming devices with their graphics IP”. We’ve heard rumors that Nvidia could partner with Intel to make a premium gaming handheld. We could even see a streaming device linked to GeForce Now, or Nvidia could make a version of the T239 for inclusion in PC handhelds. As for whether Nvidia has the goods to go head to head with AMD, we’ll need to wait and see what Valve has in store when the Steam Deck 2 lands next year. Paula has been a writer for over a decade, starting off in the travel industry for brands like Skyscanner and Thomas Cook. She’s written everything from a guide to visiting Lithuania’s top restaurants to how to survive a zombie apocalypse and also worked as an editor/proofreader for indie authors and publishing houses, focusing on mystery, gothic, and crime fiction. She made the move to tech writing in 2019 and has worked as a writer and editor for websites such as Android Authority, Android Central, XDA, Megagames, Online Tech Tips, and Xbox Advisor. These days as well as contributing articles on all-things-tech for Techreport, you’ll find her writing about mobile tech over at Digital Trends. She’s obsessed with gaming, PC hardware, AI, and the latest and greatest gadgets and is never far from a screen of some sort.Her attention to detail, ability to get lost in a rabbit hole of research, and obsessive need to know every fact ensures that the news stories she covers and features she writes are (hopefully) as interesting and engaging to read as they are to write. When she’s not working, you’ll usually find her gaming on her Xbox Series X or PS5. As well as story-driven games like The Last of Us, Firewatch, and South of Midnight she loves anything with a post-apocalyptic setting. She’s also not averse to being absolutely terrified watching the latest horror films, when she feels brave enough! View all articles by Paula Beaton Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors.

Key Takeaways Nvidia has announced three new 5060 series GPUs. The 8GB variants aren’t available for critic reviews, raising suspicion of an underperforming product. Nvidia claims 2x faster frame rates, which we and other critics found misleading. Nvidia just announced the launch of three new graphics cards: the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, and the RTX 5060. Both variants of the RTX 5060 Ti will be available from April 16, whereas the RTX 5060 will come out sometime in May. The RTX 5060 Ti is priced at $429 – the lowest Nvidia has ever gone for a 16GB GPU. This is also about 22% cheaper than the RTX 5070 when it launched at $549. The 8GB variant of the Ti model is priced at $379, whereas the RTX 5060 will cost $299. This is where things start to get a bit damp. It’s not obvious to many why anyone would prefer the 8GB variant for just a $50 price difference. This may have been done purposefully to downplay its 8GB 5060 series GPU variants. We have another reason for this school of thought. Usually, Nvidia GPU launches are preceded by a full-fledged review schedule, where different reviewers are handed out samples before the official release. However, that’s not the case this time around. Nvidia seems to have specifically blocked the supply of the 8GB Ti variant for reviews. So, only the 16GB variant will be reviewed by various tech houses. Also, although the official release mentions April 16 as the official release date for both variants, the 8GB version may come out a ‘few weeks’ after the 16GB one. It seems like Nvidia wants to shift the spotlight to the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and ‘protect’ the 8GB variants from reviewers’ wrath. You’d ask, why the ‘wrath’? Well, the 8GB GPU variants do not have enough VRAM to handle the requirements of modern games. This leads to lower texture quality, stuttering, and poor performance. Although you can still play games at 1080p on these GPUs, they aren’t future-proof. This is why industry experts and gamers suggest 12GB GPUs. Nvidia is aware of this. The whole ‘protecting the 8GB variant’ play is being done because they know they’ve built a substandard product that will be bashed by reviewers, affecting its sales. Instead, Nvidia wants to push the 16GB variant, get positive reviews on it, and then put the 8GB 5060 GPUs on the store shelves. Now, innocent buyers who are oblivious to the specifications may end up buying the 8GB versions since they’re cheaper, only to find they’ve been scammed. Performance Performance-wise, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GPU seems to offer the best value for gamers. It’s 20% faster than the RTX 4060 Ti and 30% faster than the 3060 Ti variant. Plus, after adjusting for inflation, it offers 15-20% lower cost per frame than the RTX 4070 and is 33% cheaper than the RTX 3060 Ti. The 8GB Ti variant offers similar core performance. However, less VRAM is a significant bottleneck that can affect performance on various modern games. The RTX 5060 is also claimed to be 20-25% faster than the RTX 4060 and 30% faster than the RTX 3060, with a 40% lower cost per frame. However, the VRAM drops from 12GB on the RTX 3060 to 8GB on the RTX 5060, which makes it an overpriced GPU at this price. Nvidia’s Marketing Gimmick In addition to the review and price blunder Nvidia has made with this launch, another laughable marketing gimmick is going around. Nvidia claims that the new 50 series GPUs offer 2x the frame rates of the previous models. Good, right? Nope. Nvidia has, very smartly, used the words ‘frame rate’ instead of ‘performance.’ And even in doing so, the numbers are way off. The official launch page says that the frame rate on the 5060 Ti is 171 compared to the 4060 Ti’s 87, and the latency is down from 48 to 47. However, if you look at the small font of caveat at the bottom (something you may need a microscope for), it says that this performance was achieved on DLSS Quality Mode and by using the max frame gen level supported by each GPU. As you might already know, DLSS uses AI to upscale a lower-res image to make it look like a higher-res one. So, Nvidia claims that Wukong runs at 102 FPS in the new GPU. However, in reality, the render rate is below 30 FPS – a sick marketing joke. This also isn’t the first time Nvidia has tried to deceive users. They had earlier said that the 5090 GPU variants would render twice the performance of the 4090 series, which was never the case. That’s all we could muster from the one-page official Nvidia release, and it isn’t looking like a great release for what is the ‘leading AI chip manufacturer.’ We’ll have to wait for all the GPUs to hit the stores and see how they perform in real-world settings. Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors.

US-based nonprofit corporation MITRE announced on Tuesday, April 15, that a looming service disruption could impact the global cybersecurity landscape. In a letter addressed to its board members that was leaked on the decentralized social media platform Bluesky, MITRE Vice President and Director of the Center for Securing the Homeland Yosry Barsoum said that its federal contract is set to expire today, April 16.The contract allows the organization to operate, develop, and modernize its highly regarded Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) repository. This helps identify, catalog, and share known cybersecurity threats to keep systems and data secure. The letter didn’t specify the reason for the contract’s expiry. However, it could be related to the US government’s cost-cutting measures led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Agency.This impacts sectors like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) budget, which is the MITRE CVE program’s primary sponsor. The budget cut may also explain MITRE’s announcement that it will cut 442 jobs effective June 3.Rise in Security Threats Expected Established in 1999, the CVE system is a cornerstone of cybersecurity as we know it, enabling governments, researchers, and organizations worldwide to identify, track, and patch security threats efficiently. It was pivotal in tracking some of the biggest cyber threats in history, including the ransomware WannaCry and SolarWinds Sunburst, a cyberattack on the US federal government. Without funding, the program’s ability to operate would be severely compromised, potentially causing widespread global consequences. If CVE is not picked up by anyone else, sharing threat intelligence and developing critical security patches would slow down significantly. This gap could be exploited by bad actors, from individual hackers to state-sponsored groups, thus increasing the risk of successful cyberattacks. It would also complicate the coordination between different entities. Security researcher Lukasz Olejnik said on X that: This would result in a situation where “no one will be certain they are referring to the same vulnerability. Total chaos, and a sudden weakening of cybersecurity across the board.” – Lukasz Olejnik via X This development could also harm US national security on an even broader scale. The reduction in CISA’s budget will impact MITER and the agency’s ability to provide adequate cybersecurity and infrastructure protection. Like MITRE, CISA is set to cut its workforce, which may impact 1300 people. What’s Next for MITRE’s CVE Program While Barsoum added that the ’government continues to make considerable efforts to continue MITRE’s role in support of the program,’ it’s uncertain how long this will last. Not all is lost, though. If the program goes offline, its historical CVE records will still be available on GitHub. Plus, a global network of CVE Numbering Authorities (CNA) can continue to assign vulnerabilities with CVE IDs and publish CVE records.These CNAs include tech giants Apple, Google, and Microsoft which regularly issue CVE IDs and deploy patches. Despite that, MITRE’s central role in the CVE program cannot be dismissed entirely.In a LinkedIn post, Patrick Garrity, a security researcher at cybersecurity intelligence platform VulnCheck, also revealed that it has proactively reserved 1,000 CVEs for 2025 in response to the uncertainty at MITRE. Garrity commented that: “VulnCheck is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that both the community and our customers continue to receive timely, accurate vulnerability data,” As technology continues to evolve—from the return of 'dumbphones' to faster and sleeker computers—seasoned tech journalist, Cedric Solidon, continues to dedicate himself to writing stories that inform, empower, and connect with readers across all levels of digital literacy. With 20 years of professional writing experience, this University of the Philippines Journalism graduate has carved out a niche as a trusted voice in tech media. Whether he's breaking down the latest advancements in cybersecurity or explaining how silicon-carbon batteries can extend your phone’s battery life, his writing remains rooted in clarity, curiosity, and utility. Long before he was writing for Techreport, HP, Citrix, SAP, Globe Telecom, CyberGhost VPN, and ExpressVPN, Cedric's love for technology began at home courtesy of a Nintendo Family Computer and a stack of tech magazines. Growing up, his days were often filled with sessions of Contra, Bomberman, Red Alert 2, and the criminally underrated Crusader: No Regret. But gaming wasn't his only gateway to tech.  He devoured every T3, PCMag, and PC Gamer issue he could get his hands on, often reading them cover to cover. It wasn’t long before he explored the early web in IRC chatrooms, online forums, and fledgling tech blogs, soaking in every byte of knowledge from the late '90s and early 2000s internet boom. That fascination with tech didn’t just stick. It evolved into a full-blown calling. After graduating with a degree in Journalism, he began his writing career at the dawn of Web 2.0. What started with small editorial roles and freelance gigs soon grew into a full-fledged career. He has since collaborated with global tech leaders, lending his voice to content that bridges technical expertise with everyday usability. He’s also written annual reports for Globe Telecom and consumer-friendly guides for VPN companies like CyberGhost and ExpressVPN, empowering readers to understand the importance of digital privacy. His versatility spans not just tech journalism but also technical writing. He once worked with a local tech company developing web and mobile apps for logistics firms, crafting documentation and communication materials that brought together user-friendliness with deep technical understanding. That experience sharpened his ability to break down dense, often jargon-heavy material into content that speaks clearly to both developers and decision-makers. At the heart of his work lies a simple belief: technology should feel empowering, not intimidating. Even if the likes of smartphones and AI are now commonplace, he understands that there's still a knowledge gap, especially when it comes to hardware or the real-world benefits of new tools. His writing hopes to help close that gap. Cedric’s writing style reflects that mission. It’s friendly without being fluffy and informative without being overwhelming. Whether writing for seasoned IT professionals or casual readers curious about the latest gadgets, he focuses on how a piece of technology can improve our lives, boost our productivity, or make our work more efficient. That human-first approach makes his content feel more like a conversation than a technical manual. As his writing career progresses, his passion for tech journalism remains as strong as ever. With the growing need for accessible, responsible tech communication, he sees his role not just as a journalist but as a guide who helps readers navigate a digital world that’s often as confusing as it is exciting. From reviewing the latest devices to unpacking global tech trends, Cedric isn’t just reporting on the future; he’s helping to write it. View all articles by Cedric Solidon Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors.

Home Tariffs Temporarily Lifted on Certain Smartphones, Laptops and Chips: A Reprieve for US Electronics Industry News Tariffs Temporarily Lifted on Certain Smartphones, Laptops and Chips: A Reprieve for US Electronics Industry 4 min read Published: April 15, 2025 Key Takeaways The Trump Administration temporarily rolls back planned tariffs on certain electronics from China. Beneficiaries are major electronic brands like Apple that rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing. The decision reduces the threat of price hikes and could mean price stability for the time being on items such as iPhones. Good news from the US seems to be in short supply these days. But some good news did drop last week with the announcement by US Customs and Border Protection that US tariffs are temporarily being lifted on electronics coming out of China. Tariffs seem to be the only thing on every politician’s lips these days, whether it’s the Trump Administration imposing punitive tariffs on other countries or others retaliating with their own tariffs. ‘Trade war’ has been frequently uttered by the media. The White House’s U-Turn is (Hopefully) The Consumer’s Gain China was the worst hit, with tariffs as high as 145%, which would have meant laptops surging in price by as much as 45%. A new iPhone would have set you back well over $2K.  This would have been a serious problem for Apple, whose iPhone manufacturing plants are nearly all based in China, with 80% of the iOS devices coming from there going to the US. But the White House’s decision to quietly and temporarily pause most of the China tariffs hopefully means that when you buy your next iPhone in the next few months, you won’t have to take out a bank loan.  That said, if you plan on buying things like motherboards, you should know that China is still being charged a 20% tariff on those. The tariff exemptions don’t cover everything. The Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, went to great pains to stress that the tariff relief was only temporary, with new separate tariffs likely coming in a few months.  Nobody will be fooled, though, by the decision to relax the tariffs. By imposing sky high prices, Washington DC more or less made the cost of electronics prohibitive.  Some companies, such as Nintendo, were already raising prices by 10% in anticipation of the tariffs coming down the line. What Was Not on the Exemption List is More Telling Than What Was on it The tariff exemptions took effect retroactively on April 5th at 12.01 am. A huge list of electronics now spared from the executioner’s axe was issued, all with vague-sounding HS numbers (Harmonized Tariff Schedules). But what those corresponded to was telling, especially if we think back to the tech CEOs that contributed to the inauguration fund and/or campaign. A variety of them donated $1M apiece – Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman, to name four – who will now benefit from much-needed electronic components being exempt from China tariffs. Some of the biggest, most notable electronics included in the reprieve were smartphones, semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, LED lights, and flat panel displays. And many, many more. In other words, the backbone of the worldwide electronics industry, producing devices needed the world over. But saying that, what was not included in the exemption list was startling – laptop cases, motherboards, and PSUs. So some price hikes may still be coming if these components are still hit by the tariffs. Some Are Unhappy About the China Tariffs Decision As usual, though, when one side celebrates a win, the loser glowers and starts complaining. In this scenario, the losers are US-based businesses such as Apple. These manufacturers have already spent a small fortune moving their operations back to the US. Apple was committed to a $500 billion investment plan to bring some of its manufacturing back to the US from China. Similarly, Nvidia plans to do the same with a domestic production chain. But with China’s tariff bill now down to 10%, those US manufacturers have suddenly got a serious competitor again in the rear-view mirror. Big Tech Gets a Reprieve – But Will They Drop Their Prices Now? Now that tech companies like Acer will no longer be looking down the barrel of the tariff gun, will they drop their prices again? That’s the real test. Companies are usually loath to drop prices once they’ve raised them. But with tariff relief potentially only for a few months, companies like Apple may have to start investing in more diverse supply chains. The uncertainty in the months ahead may intensify the pressure on these companies, not alleviate it. Mark O'Neill is a tech journalist and editor with 20+ years of experience. He first cut his teeth at MakeUseOf.com, where he rose to become the managing editor for eight years, developing a site from 9,000 monthly subscribers to 500,000+ a month. Over the years, he has covered many subjects, such as reviewing hardware and software for both Windows PCs and MacOS, and even dipping his toes into Linux now and then to keep life interesting. His past writing credits include PC World, XDA, Android Authority, and Teramind. With all of his work, Mark has a clear game plan to educate readers on the subject and make them better informed. He also tests these systems in his personal time, building automated systems and making sure that what he says is accurate and that it works. This commitment to excellence has made Mark a trusted voice in whatever he writes. Although he likes to use a Mac as his primary machine, Mark also uses a Windows PC and a Linux laptop loaded with Ubuntu. If he doesn't know something, he researches it and makes himself an authority on the topic. Check out Mark's LinkedIn profile and his website at markoneill.org View all articles by Mark O'Neill Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. More from News View all View all

Key Takeaways Nvidia plans to shift $500B worth of AI server supply chain to the US. It has partnered with companies like TSMC, Foxconn, Wistron, Amkor, and SPIL. This is a direct positive effect of import tariffs imposed by Trump. Other companies might follow suit. Trump’s tariff was met with severe criticism from business leaders worldwide. However, the positive impacts of these levies have started to come through. Nvidia, the world’s leading AI chip producer, has announced its plans to build $500 billion worth of AI servers in the US. Until now, a large part of Nvidia’s operations have been based in Southeast Asia. However, imposing tariffs would make it infeasible for the tech giants to sustain overseas production units. Hence, the switch. Nvidia and partners such as TSMC, Foxconn, Wistron, Amkor, and SPIL will build a complete AI server supply chain in the US. This includes a plant in Texas to build AI servers and server assembly plants in Dallas and Houston. It’s worth noting that this will be the first time Nvidia will assemble its AI product within the States. The line is expected to be operational in the next 12-15 months. Another partner, TSMC, has already started the production of Blackwell processors in Phoenix. SPIL and Amkor will establish packaging and testing operations in Arizona – something that’s currently done in Taiwan. Donald Trump said that this is a direct result of the tariff imposition. D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria also said that Nvidia would have never considered moving manufacturing to the US if not for Trump and his tariffs. The CHIPS Act, which provides financial assistance to companies for domestic chip production, can also be a factor at play here. Nvidia may be eyeing up a sizable chunk of the grant by moving its production onshore. What Does This Mean for the US? For starters, domestic manufacturing won’t be as cheap as getting it done in Taiwan, owing to the high labor costs in the US. However, the benefit outweighs the costs of this move. It’s no secret that AI tech will be at the forefront of the tech industry in the next decade. Whoever controls AI tech controls global markets. Right now, this power isn’t with the US, something a giant won’t be comfortable with. Considering the omnipresent tension between the US and China, China is the last country the US would want controlling AI production. A leading AI company like Nvidia pulling out of the Southeast Asia production line can have far-reaching impacts. It puts the US back in the lead. Imagine $500B worth of production shifting to domestic shores. It creates more employment, saves shipping costs, and gives Nvidia more control over production and packaging. More importantly, this can also start a domino effect, with other companies following suit. Apple has already made similar commitments in February to establish domestic manufacturing. So, this $500B number can swell up to a few trillion in the next five years. It will surely rattle China, but that’s precisely what the US may be after. Nvidia will use its own in-house technology, like Omniverse and Issac GR00T, to improve every step of the production chain. With more automation and robotization, the actual costs of assembled systems are also expected to go down in the long run – a win-win situation for the company. Cross-Border Tensions Another interesting angle to the whole development is the China-Taiwan-US relations. Now, Taiwan considers itself an independent state, whereas China considers it a part of the ‘China One’ region and wants it to come back to mainland China, by force if not by will. The US, however, doesn’t officially recognize Taiwan as independent. For the US, this means cutting ties with or disrupting manufacturing in Taiwan is as good as an economic attack on China itself. China, too, may not be too impressed with this decision and may retaliate in some way or the other. Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors.

Key TakeawaysReddit has launched a few new content tools that will make it easier for users to connect and contribute across the platform.These tools will help in finding the right communities to post and ensuring that your content does not violate any guidelines.The features are available on both mobile and desktop to users worldwide.On Thursday, Reddit launched a new set of content moderation and analytical tools that will help create a better experience for its users online and boost engagement.These tools are designed to help users find communities, contribute new posts, and ensure that they dont break any community guidelines. This will be especially helpful for new users who might not know where or how to post.Reddit is dedicated to enhancing user contributions and community interactions, paving the way for innovative experiences. Rosa Catal, Senior Director AI & Machine Learning at RedditLets quickly take a look at the new changes Reddit has made.Post CheckThe first feature is Post Check which runs an automatic check on content to ensure its well within the community guidelines. Sometimes a user might have accidentally broken a rule, which would cause the post to be removed later.You can access this feature from the little wand icon on the bottom left corner of your screen. The tool will highlight the parts that are against the rules, making it easier for you to fix them.In case your post is removed because of community guidelines issues, you can now easily post it to a different subreddit. The platform itself will recommend which other communities you can post it on without violating their guidelines.Another feature addition is Community Suggestions. If you are unsure about the community where you should make a post, this feature will be handy.Once you click on the drop-down menu from the Pick a Community option, it will suggest the most relevant communities based on your posts content. This will help you connect with the right audience and increase engagement on your post.Sometimes you might not be able to contribute to a community because of some other criteria that you dont meet. In that case, Reddit will help you understand how you can overcome it.For example, if you are unable to contribute because of low karma points, this new feature will notify you about the same and tell you that you can increase your karma points by commenting and posting on the platform.Post InsightsLast but not the least, Reddit has also introduced Post Insights which will give you better information on how your post is doing in terms of views, shares, and upvotes. This in turn will help you understand which kind of content does well and which does not.The best part is that Reddit went for a global rollout. These features are now available to all Reddit users both on mobile and desktop.These features are the latest in the line of Reddits growing number of innovative tools. The platform has been heavily investing in new technology to keep up with its rivals.In December, it launched a new feature called Reddit Answers (which is still in beta mode and only available in the US), which summarizes community discussions.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysGoogles new Vision Match AI feature lets you describe your dream outfit in your own words and then helps you find the perfect match.It has also introduced an AR-powered makeup try-on feature where you can see how certain makeup products look on your face before purchasing them.A similar try-on feature is also available for garments. You can now visualize a wide range of outfits on real-life models with their sizes ranging from XXS to XXL.On Wednesday, Google announced a new AI feature called Vision Match that will allow you to describe your complex fashion needs and find your perfect match.As per Google, people shop more than a billion times a day on that platform. However, not all shopping experiences are smooth. Its easy to find skinny jeans or a long evening gown, but when you have a very specific need, for instance, a knee-length green dress with polka dots and spaghetti straps, it can get complex. But not anymore.With this new AI feature, users can describe the product they are looking for in their own words and Google will create a few sample pictures using AI image generation to show what it might look like and also suggest similar products.How To Use It?Taking the example of the green dress mentioned above, lets say the first sample image is in mint green, so when you click on it, youll be able to see a bunch of mint green dresses. Similarly, if the next sample has an emerald-colored dress, when you click on it you will be shown a bunch of matching emerald dresses.Note: You can also access this feature by scrolling to the left-hand panel of the Shopping tab. There will be a button labeled Create & Shop.Trying on Makeup Looks with ARAlong with outfits, users can now also try on makeup products and makeup looks with the help of Googles new AR feature.For example, if you want to buy lipstick but youre not sure whether the shade will look good on you, you can try it on virtually.Similarly, if theres a whole makeup look that you like, you can try it on with the help of AR. Whats more, youll also get recommendations on similar products to use to create that exact look.How To Use It?The virtual try-on feature is also for garments. This feature was introduced in 2023 but was quite limited back then. Now you can visualize any garment, be it a skirt, top, pants, or a dress, on real-life models with their sizes ranging from XXS to XXL.All these exciting new features are limited to US users for now. But who knows, Google might soon plan a global roll-out.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysIn a speech on Tuesday, Trump criticized the CHIPS act and called for it to be removed.He wants the remaining money to be put to some good use, such as clearing off some of the USs debt.However, as per inside sources, theres no real threat to the act yet. Its not going anywhere.On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that the US should get rid of the 2022 CHIPS act that gave a $52.7 billion subsidy to semiconductor manufacturers. He called it a horrible, horrible thing.We give hundreds of billions of dollars and it doesnt mean a thing. They take our money and they dont spend it. TrumpTrump told House Speaker Mike Johnson to get rid of it immediately and use the remaining money (approximately $36 billion has already been paid out) for something fruitful such as paying off debts.However, as per inside sources, this is still just Trumps personal feelings and not an official decision. Theres no political basis to remove the act yet. In fact, in the current budget proposal as well, there was no sign of the act being in danger.What Is the CHIPS Act?The CHIPS Act was introduced by Joe Biden in 2022. While the world was slowly coming out of the two-year pandemic and lockdown, the US was hit by a massive chip crisis. Thats because the country was heavily reliant on foreign countries for chip imports.So Biden decided to incentivize chip manufacturing to boost domestic production. This is what Trump wants as well to boost production within the US borders and to reduce reliance on other countries. But he has an issue with the approach.For instance, he worries that this act will benefit China indirectly because some of the companies receiving the funds have ties with China. He also has a problem with big corporations, which are already making a substantial profit, and benefitting from this scheme.Most importantly, he is worried that while the act was a step in the right direction, it was not enough to boost domestic production. There needs to be a more rigid framework to ensure that the beneficiary companies are actually using the money to give back to the US.Is Dumping the CHIPS Act a Legit Solution?Trumps concerns are certainly valid but removing the act out of nowhere might not be the best way to handle it. For instance, companies like Intel have secured $7.86B from the CHIPS Act for its semiconductor manufacturing projects in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oregon.Clearly, the Act has helped speed up the chips shortage in the face of growing demand for AI. A better solution can be to resolve the issues within the act.For starters, Trumps administration can create a tighter framework around who benefits from the scheme. Companies that are already financially stable or those who have ties with China can be excluded.Similarly, they can also create a set of guidelines that each company will have to follow if they want to benefit from this scheme. For example, they can direct companies to make their supply chain 100% US-based and to hire more local talent to boost employment.The ultimate goal is to make the US independent in terms of technology and the CHIPS act is a great tool for that. All that it needs is better execution and a little more control.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysElon Musks plea to block OpenAIs transition to a for-profit entity was rejected due to a lack of sufficient evidence, but an expedited trial will be held later this year.Musk argues that OpenAIs shift goes against its original mission, while OpenAI insists that the move is necessary for growth and maintaining its values.OpenAI took a jab at Musk after the courts decision, claiming the lawsuit is about competition, as Musks own AI company, xAI, is also trying to raise funds.The courtroom drama between Elon Musk and OpenAI has taken another twist. The billionaires plea to block OpenAIs transition to a for-profit entity was rejected by federal court judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on the premise of insufficient evidence to justify the injunction.The yearlong battle still doesnt seem to be over, though, as the judge says shes set to hold an expedited trial later this year considering the public impact this decision holds. Using the publics money to fund a non-profits conversion into a for-profit organization should be justified, and the court believes itll deliver a final verdict on it soon.Understanding the CaseTo give you context on the entire fiasco, OpenAI has been trying to transition from a non-profit entity to a for-profit entity. The reason for this, as stated by the company, is that it needs capital for development, as the current structure is making it difficult for the company to grow to its full potential.Now, Elon Musk, one of the initial investors in the AI giant, is against this decision and claims that it goes against the vision of benefiting humanity that was fed to him while seeking investment.Elon has since been trying everything in his power to make things hard for OpenAI from adding Microsoft as a defendant with accusations of handing too much control to including federal antitrust claims in its lawsuit.While Musk left the AI company before it even took off, he has been active and vocal about his views on OpenAIs policy and updates often through his Xeets (formerly known as tweets).OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, disagree with the X founders view and stand their ground that the for-profit model allows the company to raise funding while still upholding its non-profit ideals something that is important for the company to survive in the long run.OpenAI Took a Jab at Musk, attacking xAIMusks intention for trying to obstruct the AI companys transition seems to be more than what appears on the surface, at least according to OpenAI.After the courts decision was announced on March 5, OpenAI thanked the court and stated that the lawsuit has always been about competition. The statement is a direct attack on Elons own AI company xAI, which is apparently trying to raise funds for development as well.The claim holds some truth in it, especially since the X founder has been desperately seen protecting his seat at the table shaping AIs future. OpenAI enjoys immense computational power due to its partnership with Microsoft, which is something that even Musks company hasnt attained yet.So, while this move could be an attempt to gain control over this industry, its repercussions are sure to shake up development and business ethics in AI overall.Its also worth noting that less than a month ago, Elon Musk had offered to buy OpenAI for nearly $100 billion. Clearly, this is not a good look for Musk. It seems like he wants to either participate in OpenAIs success or drive it to the ground.Irrespective of what the conclusion of this lawsuit turns out to be, one major fear for the company right now is being left behind in the AI race due to the time being invested in this case. As of now, ChatGPT easily tops the list of AI tools, but losing pace right now could cost the company heavily. Especially with the likes of DeepSeek and other AI developments hovering around.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysRenowned Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has promised to invest $100 billion in the US over the next 4 years.This money will be used for the construction of 3 manufacturing units and 2 packaging units in Arizona.The announcement of this investment coincides with Trumps proposed plan to impose higher tariffs on imported chips.Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has pledged to invest at least $100 billion over the next 4 years in chip manufacturing plants in the US. This money will be used for the construction of three new manufacturing and two packaging facilities across Arizona.This was announced in a news conference by President Donald Trump on Monday, where he was joined by TSMC chairman and CEO C. C. Wei.We are going to produce many AI chipsto support AI progress Dr. C. C. WeiTSMCs Collaboration with the USThis isnt the first time TSMC is investing in the US. The company had previously invested $65 billion in creating US-based fabrication plants, bringing its total investment in the US to $165 billion.TSMC also received a $6.6 billion grant from the CHIPS Act during Bidens tenure. This money was used to construct 3 fabrication plants in Arizona, one of which is already functional and churning out 4-nanometer chips.Note: The CHIPS Act was introduced by Joe Biden to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors.TSMC has a friendly history with the US, but the timing of this new investment is interesting nonetheless. Previously, Trump had expressed concerns over TSMCs dominance in the chip manufacturing industry and urged the company to expand its manufacturing base to the US. This coincides with the presidents recent announcement that he might impose higher tariffs on imported chips.While some experts have criticized the tariffs move, I believe it could be one of the reasons why TSMC decided upon such a massive investment in the US. Were essentially seeing the exact same thing here as we did when Apple announced a massive $500 billion investment plan for the US.Taiwans Stance on This DealWhile this collaboration is a huge win for both the US and TSMC, Taiwanese citizens are not very happy about it. Theyre concerned that a deal like this could undermine the islands security.However, the Taiwanese government has stepped in and assured the people that its most advanced semiconductor technology will not be passed to the US. They also added that this deal will have to go through extreme scrutiny first, where the interests of all the parties, especially the citizens, will be evaluated.Its important to note that although the government offices were aware of the deal, TSMC hasnt yet applied for the approval, which is usually required for such massive foreign investment.TSMC is the biggest chip company in Taiwan, making it important for the small islands economy and security. A lot of people are worried that sharing this technology will weaken their defense. However, on the flip side, Taiwans defense minister is convinced that the US would protect them.Theres a lot of confusion regarding how this deal will pan out, but its important to note that the US hasnt explicitly promised any security in exchange for this deal.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysThe Reading Cooperative Bank (RCB) was recently hit by a phishing attack that exposed the personal data of more than 24,041 customers.The attack happened somewhere between August 2024 and January 2025. The exact date remains unknown as of now.According to investigations, the attack originated from a phishing email that was sent to an employee.A billion-dollar bank, the Reading Cooperative Bank (RCB), has been hit by a cyberattack, which has put over 24,041 of its customers at risk.A report was filed with the Office of the Maine Attorney General by RCB, which believes that the attack took place sometime between August 2024 and January 2025.What Exactly Happened?The investigation is still ongoing, but so far it seems like an employee of the RCB received a phishing email. And as it goes with phishing attacks, the sender of the email appeared to be from a known organization with whom the bank regularly does business; hence, the employee was not suspicious.Clicking on that phishing email then gave the attacker access to the companys internal network. Typical phishing!This has resulted in a lot of sensitive information, such as names and other personally identifiable information, of affected customers being compromised.The bank has been mostly quiet about the incident as investigations run their due course. But they did implement additional security measures.We are working closely with our internal and external experts to further enhance the security of our systems RCBAs for the customers, they need to wait for further updates from the bank. In the meantime, they can either freeze their account or call a fraud alert on their credit file.The Rising Instances of Cyberattacks in the Banking IndustryCyberattacks have been on the rise since 2020, and the banking industry has been one of its biggest victims, given the nature of their business. In fact, as per a 2024-2025 survey, more than one-fifth of the cyber attacks that happen are targeted towards banks and financial institutions.Attacks on banks are much more disastrous compared to others because the money of common citizens is also at stake, some of whom might not be able to bear the brunt of such an attack.The solution is simple, though. People need to be educated about the different ways scammers might try to trick them.For instance, in this case, it was a phishing email, which is honestly one of the oldest types of cyberattacks. Banks and other companies should invest in better security infrastructure and constant monitoring and reduce their reliance on third parties. Plus, even if they do invest in outside security, they should vet them first. Lastly, the government also needs to step up its game in apprehending such criminals.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysMozilla faced backlash after updating Firefoxs Terms of Use, which initially suggested the company could exploit user data under a broad license.Concerns grew when users noticed that Mozilla had removed a key statement from its Privacy Notice and FAQ, which previously assured them that Firefox did not sell personal data.In response, Mozilla admitted to poor wording, revised the terms, and clarified that it does not sell or claim ownership of user data.Mozilla rolled out new Terms of Use for Firefox and updated its Privacy Notice last week. However, the changes were not received well by the users, to say the least. A strong backlash from netizens started on social media soon after the update, as the new T&Cs raised concerns about how the company would use customer data.For starters, the Terms of Use initially stated that by uploading information on the platform, you can grant the company a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use that information. The phrase use that information could mean that the company is imposing its own ownership on the data that users put there.What looked like a mere issue of wrong wording started a wave of concern among users, and the case went further downhill when users realized that the updated Privacy Notice and FAQ section no longer stated that the company isnt selling your data to advertisers.Earlier,the privacy notice read, The Firefox Browser is the only major browser backed by a not-for-profit that doesnt sell your personal data to advertisers while helping you protect your personal information, but it was then updated to exclude that doesnt sell your personal data to advertisers.Additionally, the FAQ Is Firefox Free? previously stated that it doesnt sell personal data. However, the statement about it not selling personal data is gone. The rest of the answer remains the same in the updated version: Yep! The Firefox browser is free. Super free, actually. No hidden costs or anything. You dont pay anything to use it.These policy changes come shortly after the company underwent major management changes in December, with new executives stepping in.Firefoxs Response to the BacklashAjit Varma, vice president of Firefox Product, accepted the mistake on their part. Weve been listening to some of our communitys concerns with parts of the TOU, specifically about licensing. Our intent was just to be as clear as possible about how we make Firefox work, but in doing so, we also created some confusion and concern Mozilla in a blog postMozilla added context to the controversial statement in its updated Terms of Service clause. It clarified that the said license does not give any data ownership to Firefox but only permission to use the information for making the platform useful for searching and enabling basic functionalities of Firefox.Ajit also addressed the users concerns by reassuring that the platform did not actually begin selling data anywhere. The only reason the terms were revised was because some jurisdictions define sell more broadly than most people would usually understand that word.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysChinese mobile company Honor has promised to invest over $10 billion in AI over the next 5 years.The company, which has primarily focused on mobiles so far, now wants to focus on developing an AI ecosystem consisting of a variety of devices.The company has also planned to join hands with Google to further its AI initiatives.Chinese mobile company Honor has promised to invest over $10 billion in developing AI for its devices over the next 5 years.The company has highlighted three major investment areas:Infusing AI into hardwareCreating a next-gen AI assistantCreating a platform for a wide array of AI devices, including those from other companiesThis is not limited to our own devices, but also AI devices from different partners, so the different kinds of AI devices can talk to each other, and consumers can have more choices and seamless experiences Honor spokespersonA small percentage of the money will also be used to prepare for the AGI era. The company did not specify how exactly this money will be used, though.The announcement was made on Sunday by CEO James Li at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show in Barcelona. The company had focused on mobile phones forever, but it now wants to shift focus towards creating an AI ecosystem consisting of multiple types of devices, such as PCs, tablets, and wearables.Apart from this, the company also wants to expand its roots outside of China.Collaborating with GoogleIn addition to its independent pursuits, Honor has also decided to join hands with Google on its AI journey. Itll be working closely with tech giant Google and chip designer Qualcomm to create its new AI agents the ones we talked about above. These agents, by the way, will be built on the same technology as Google Gemini.Honor is keen to make its AI smarter than most of its contemporaries. The company showed a live demo in which the AI agent was given some dietary preferences and restrictions and was asked to make a reservation. And it passed with flying colors.However, the company hasnt yet specified an exact timeline for the release.A US-China TieThe timing of this collaboration is particularly interesting, seeing as Google is an American company and Honor is a Chinese company. Both countries have been involved in a tech war for quite some time now.Google hasnt collaborated much with Chinese companies so far. But looks like its about to break this status quo with Honor.On a related note, Honor has also made a 7-year commitment to use the Android operating system in its upcoming Magic series phones. Although this isnt a direct collaboration, Google is the creator of Android, and after Samsung and Xiaomi, Honor is on its way to becoming the next frontline user of this OS. A win-win for both companies? It certainly looks to be the case.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysThe UKs data watchdog has launched an investigation into three social media platformsTikTok, Reddit, and Imgurover their handling of the personal information of children.TikTok will also be judged on its data protection policies, whereas Imgur and Reddit will be scrutinized based on their age verification process for minors.TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur are under fire from the UKs data watchdog over how they handle the personal data of children those aged between 13 and 17.An investigation has been launched by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), which is looking into how these platforms run their algorithms. For those unaware, these algorithms ultimately decide what content gets recommended to users.Some critics are worried that these algorithms can expose young users to harmful content and trap them in a vicious loop, where they get habituated (or even worse, addicted) to such types of content. These concerns are justified, too, as weve recently seen Instagram coughing up sensitive content out of nowhere.This isnt the first time authorities have raised questions on TikTok, either. Back in January, UK technology minister Peter Kyle said, I am genuinely concerned about the ownership model of TikTok.There have also been concerns over TikToks data protection given its track record. Just last year, the ICO fined it 12.7 million for failing to protect the privacy of children. According to the complaint, the company used the data of more than 1.4 million children without the permission of their parents to intentionally profile and target them with inappropriate content.The authorities are worried that a repeat of the 2023 events might be happening again.Reddit and Imgurs Age VerificationIn addition to the investigation over the usage of childrens data, Imgur and Reddit will also be questioned on their age verification process.While both platforms explicitly state that no one under the age of 13 is allowed on their platforms, its really not that hard to bypass these rules.And with the younger generation getting more tech-savvy, companies need to keep up.The authorities want to check exactly what these companies are doing to ensure underage users cant sneak in.What Do the Companies Have to Say?TikTok responded to the probe by saying that theyre deeply committed to creating a safe and positive experience for all their young users. The company is already taking a lot of measures, including best-in-class security and monitoring tools, to protect minors from inappropriate content.The other two platforms, Reddit and Imgur, are yet to respond.Ever since the UK introduced the Childrens Code, tech companies have been under greater pressure to step up their security game. This new set of laws holds online platforms to a higher standard where theyre expected to apply the highest privacy setting by default for all users under 18.Its also on these companies to protect young users from all sorts of online harm, such as exploitation, cyberbullying, and online sexual abuse.While most companies have been trying to adapt to the new changes, there have been instances of slip-ups, such as in the case of TikTok in 2023. However, the good thing is that slip-ups will no longer be ignored. The ICO has decided to fine every offense accordingly to reflect the severity of the issue.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysGoogle has launched a free version of Gemini Code Assist, an AI-powered coding tool that helps developers generate, debug, and optimize code across multiple programming languages with nearly unlimited capacity.Gemini Code Assist supports 128,000 input tokens and allows up to 180,000 code completions per month, enabling developers to analyze large code segments, detect errors, and improve efficiency.AI is enhancing coding but not replacing human coders yet, as Google still requires human review for AI-generated code due to an increase in bugs when relying solely on AI coding assistants.Coding is a demanding job, and with the additional time needed to find errors and fix bugs, it becomes even more stressful. This is where advanced tech like AI, which has been gaining momentum (and utility), comes into play.After giving Gemini a memory, Googles latest announcement has the potential to completely change how developers look at coding.Unpacking Googles Free Coding GeminiGoogle has launched a free Gemini version, which will allow users to code for free. Powered by Googles Gemini 2.0 AI model, Gemini Code Assist is equipped with tools to carry out coding-related tasks. It will do so by analyzing and validating a large number of real-world coding use cases.You can use this tool to generate code in any programming language, be it Python, JavaScript, C++, or anything else.The best part, if you ask me, is that it understands regular, everyday languages, too. So, you dont really need to know the subtle ins and outs of coding to have a code generated. Of course, implementing the code after getting it is a different ball game, so you might need expert assistance if youre a non-coder.Getting the first step done for absolutely free is huge nonetheless and can potentially change the entire web development industry. While there are several free coding assistants on the market, this one has an almost unlimited capacity.You get 180,000 code completions per month on the Gemini Code Assist a limit thats almost impossible to reach. Additionally, Google said that the AI supports over 128,000 input tokens, meaning its also capable of processing substantial code segments.In addition to generating codes, you can also use it to understand why your code isnt working. A simple prompt like Explain what this Python code snippet does and find any errors will get you an in-depth explanation of the code. You can even ask for improvements and suggestions.The good news keeps coming, as the tool can also review existing code in both public and private depositaries. Aspiring coders can dive deep into the work they love and upskill through case studies. Plus, even if you dont want to marry the tool, delegating basic reviews to an AI agent can significantly reduce the amount of time you need on a single project.Its worth noting that the free Gemini version has been released by GitHub, a Microsoft-owned developer platform.The Future of Code with AIAI has already taken over coding, and companies have been quick in adapting and accepting the AI tools available out there. Over 25% of all new code at Google is said to be AI-generated.While Im all in for AI advancement, its also true that AI is currently far from perfect when it comes to coding. In fact, reports suggest that developers have experienced a drastic increase in bugs (up to 41%) when they rely on AI coding assistants to write codes.Even Google only accepts AI-generated codes after a human has reviewed and approved them. So, while the dystopian nightmare of AI taking over coding jobs isnt actually here yet, with the new Gemini, Id say its good to be prepared.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOn Wednesday, a group of 7 customers filed a lawsuit against Apple for falsely claiming three versions of its smartwatches to be carbon neutral.They said that if they knew beforehand that these watches werent exactly carbon neutral, they would have opted for other sustainable options.However, Apple stands by its claims that its watches are in fact carbon neutral.Apple is being sued by customers for falsely claiming that its smartwatches are carbon neutral.A complaint was filed on Wednesday in a California federal court by 7 buyers of green-tagged Apple Watches, i.e., the 9, SE, and Ultra 2 models. They said that had they known these watches were not actually carbon neutral, they wouldnt have bought them.Apples false advertising may lead [consumers] to choose its products over genuinely sustainable alternatives the complaintFor those who dont know, carbon neutral products mean that the company offsets the carbon emissions created during the creation of the product. However, in this case, the plaintiffs feel that Apples offset design is faulty, meaning it isnt properly removing the carbon emission.Therefore, the plaintiffs are seeking monetary compensation for damages (the amount is unspecified) and an injunction to stop Apple from marketing those three watches as carbon neutral.Apple seems to stand by its claims that its products are carbon neutral. Company spokesperson Sean Redding further added that theyre proud of their cutting-edge carbon reduction programs that have allowed them to innovate sustainably.As per him, Apple Watchs carbon emissions have been reduced by 75%. As for the remaining carbon emissions, they invest in nature-based projects that claim to remove thousands of metric tons of carbon from the environment.Now this is what the buyers have an issue with the remaining 25%. The company has invested in two forestry projects. The first is Kenyas Chyulu Hills Project, and the second is Chinas Guinan Project. Its worth noting that both these places were heavily covered by trees even before the project began.So, the buyers feel that this is no credit to Apple. The trees would have existed and continued to remove carbon even without Apples involvement or the projects existence. Hence, its not a genuine carbon offset.The company has promised to become completely carbon neutral by 2030, including its supply chain. So, an allegation like this really raises questions about how committed Apple is towards this goal.This is also not the first time that Apples carbon neutrality initiative has faced criticism. In 2023, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs found that the carbon footprint of some of Apples suppliers was growing.Apples carbon footprint did reduce between 2021 and 2023, though, but it still churned out a whopping 16.1 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2023.All in all, the better way forward for the company would be to focus on carbon neutrality of its entire supply chain and shift from fossil fuels to green energy sources. As for Apples customers, the best way to support sustainability is to limit impulse buying and follow the reuse-recycle-reduce mantra.Read more: Apple pledges to invest $500B in the USAdd Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOnce a pioneering video calling app with hundreds of millions of monthly users, Skype is officially being retired by Microsoft.Microsoft is urging users to transition to Microsoft Teams, its very own collaboration platform. To ease the switch, users can migrate their contacts, chats, and call logs seamlessly using Microsofts migration services.Users have until May 5 to export their Skype data before the app shuts down permanently.Skype, an app that was once synonymous with video calling, is officially going to be phased out. This marks an end of what the millennials would consider an era.The video calling app has been around for over 20 years and had a few hundred million people using it every single month at its prime. Whether it was corporate or leisure, Skype was one of the first apps to offer internet video calling. It even disrupted the telephone industry soon after its launch.However, the underlying technology of the app soon became obsolete when competitors like WhatsApp and Zoom introduced more user-friendly and advanced features, and users started switching to alternatives.Skype was bought by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion, but that didnt quite positively impact its growth either. Being unable to keep up with its growing competitors, Skype saw a gradual decrease in its number of users over the years.On the other hand, Microsoft Teams, introduced in 2017, is a similar app that has seen substantial growth post-COVID and continues to be a leading collaboration tool, especially in the corporate space.While announcing the retirement of Skype, Microsoft urged the users to try out Teams and move their data to the app while theres still time. Users have until May 5 to figure out what they want to do with their existing chats and data on Skype before theyre gone for good.Microsofts Attempt to Move Users from Skype to Microsoft TeamsA highly possible intention behind shutting down Skype is to shift the focus to Microsoft Teams.Microsoft is providing several perks to make the transition smooth. As mentioned earlier, users will be able to export and move data easily from Skype to Teams with Microsofts migration services. You can even use your Skype login credentials for Teams.Moreover, youll be able to preserve everything from your Skypes chat histories to call logs within the Teams environment. Teams, by the way, provides almost all the features that Skype does, except for the option to video call contacts or phone numbers, which was one of the core reasons why Skype gained popularity.Some of the common features between Teams and Skype include one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. Teams also has some additional features, like the ability to manage calendars and join communities, that can come in handy for business networking.Users who do not wish to switch to Microsoft Teams can choose to export all their data from Skype.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysMicrosoft is planning to request Trump to ease up the restrictions imposed on chip export by Biden.It wants at least the allies of the US, such as India, Switzerland, and Israel, to be able to freely import US chips.However, as per reports, the Trump administration has been planning to strengthen these restrictions. So, a plea like this might not stand a chance.Microsoft has decided to urge President Donald Trump to ease the restrictions imposed on chip exports by the previous Joe Biden administration. The said restrictions were brought into place during the final days of Bidens tenure.Microsoft feels that at least the allies of the US should be spared of these restrictions. These countries include India, Israel, and Switzerland.Why Did Joe Biden Restrict Chip Imports?Joe Biden decided to impose more restrictions on the export of AI chips, especially those created by Nvidia. The initial purpose was to keep advanced AI computing powers within the US, with special focus on ensuring they dont end up in Chinas hands.However, the restriction soon expanded to other countries as well, which included some of the closest allies of the US.Biden thought that it would make the US a superpower in the AI race, but what he did not consider is that sooner or later, other countries would also figure out how to make equally good chips. And in that case, all the buyers that the US had would turn to those countries. This is exactly what Microsoft is worried about.By restricting exports, US chip makers are missing out on some of the biggest international markets, whereas China is taking up all the lost business right from under the USs nose.Left unchanged, the Biden rule will give China a strategic advantage in spreading over time its own AI technology, echoing its rapid ascent in 5G telecommunications a decade ago MicrosoftHowever, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first published this news, the Trump administration is actually planning to strengthen these restrictions. So, whether a plea to ease them up will work or not is hard to say.Should the US Really Restrict Chip Export?The biggest reason the US started restricting chip exports was to keep such advanced technology out of Chinas grasp. However, as mentioned earlier, China is an equally adept country when it comes to tech. So, if the US wont provide it with chips, its capable of creating its own.Look at DeepSeek, for instance. US AI startup OpenAI was one of the first companies to popularize the idea of GenAI, but within just a couple of years, China managed to create something better, and that too, at a fraction of the cost.Similarly, China might soon reach the USs chip prowess. The only ones that will actually lose in the process are the US chip companies, who will now have a limited customer base.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysWhatsApp experienced a temporary outage, preventing users from sending or receiving messages.Meta acknowledged the glitch and fixed the problem within a few hours. This was WhatsApps first major outage in four years, with the last one having occurred in 2021.In the same week, Instagram users reported seeing violent and disturbing content due to an algorithm malfunction. Even accounts with sensitive content filters were affected, raising concerns about Metas content moderation policies.On Friday afternoon, WhatsApp briefly glitched, and users were unable to send or load their messages.Within a matter of a few minutes, there were thousands of reports regarding WhatsApp being down on Downdetector, the tracker website. Several users took to X, too, to complain about being unable to send messages or use the app entirely.While a vast majority of the issues were reported from the UK initially, the outage seems to have been a global experience. Thats because there were more than 8,000 problems logged in the US in a matter of an hour.Besides WhatsApp, there were also reports about Facebook Messenger having issues, but the reports in this case were far fewer than those about WhatsApp.Read more: WhatsApp users targeted by Paragon solutionsMeta took care of this issue quickly, and the platform was back up and working in a matter of a few hours. A Meta spokesperson acknowledged the issues and said that everything has now been fixed.Its worth noting that a downtime on WhatsApp has resurfaced after four long years, with the last outage being a severe 7-hour one across all Meta platforms. It cost the tech company more than $100 million in revenue.Meta Parody of Glitches: Instagram Insensitive Content GlitchWhatsApp downtime isnt the only thing that went wrong in the Meta ecosystem this week. Just a couple of days ago, Metas Instagram suddenly started coughing up gross, violent content for no apparent reason.Even the users who had put a filter on sensitive content were shown reels that had extreme violence or crime involved in them. It seemed to be an algorithm glitch, but it was surely a very concerning one. Unprecedented, too.Good or not, most people open Instagram first thing in the morning. Imagine opening the app and seeing a guy being smashed across his head with a giant rod. Or getting shot at by a terrorist. Certainly a disturbing sight, right? This is what millions of users reported experiencing. Even worse, users less than 18 years old, too, came across such content.This glitch came soon after Instagram revised its policies to give users more freedom on what they want to see. Instagram is known for its stringent content policies and strong regulation systems, but few people consider it a way of content moderation.Keeping those remarks in mind, Instagram changed its content policy and attempted to censor only content that promotes illegal activities. But that clearly doesnt seem to be working efficiently enough.Interestingly, this isnt the first time that a breakout of harmful content has been experienced by the users, with a similar issue happening around the pandemic.Meta apologized for the inconvenience and explained that the glitch happened due to some technical issue. The tech giant is working to make sure that the platform is safe for all users, especially since now it has one of the biggest opportunities to expand amidst TikToks uncertainty in the US.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOn Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the new version of its popular AI assistant. Enter Alexa+.This ones powered by GenAI, making it much more conversational, personalized, and smart.Although Alexa+ will typically cost you $19.99 per month, its completely free for Prime users.Amazons Alexa has now gotten a GenAI makeover that makes it more conversational and personalized. This is the biggest update ever to the assistant since its launch in 2014.On Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the new version of its popular AI assistant, which will now be known as Alexa+. The launch event took place in New York, and the first thing that struck me was how conversational the AI assistant has become.For instance, you can now speak to it just the way you speak to your friends and family in informal words and unstructured sentences. Itll still be able to understand you.Its worth noting that early predictions in January stated that the new Alexa might arrive in October, so the company has clearly fast-tracked its development.Alexas PopularityThere are more than 600 million Alexa devices out there. The product already enjoys the markets favor thanks to how easy it makes managing smart homes.Alexa+ takes its predecessors features to a new level. For example, if youre in the bedroom, you can command it to turn on the TV with your favorite show or movie on it in the living room. So, you can just step outside and fall flat on your couch. Your favorite video will already be playing.Similarly, you can also use Alexa+ to access Ring and check whether your package has been delivered or not.On top of that, the new Alexa+ offers much better personalization. Previously, it only stored information about you, but now you can ask it to remember that information and apply it to the suggestions it makes for you.If you tell Alexa that you make really good spaghetti and then ask it for dinner recommendations a few days later, itll give you a bunch of spaghetti recipes.Alexa+ can also take proactive action. For instance, if youve been browsing a product for a while, it will automatically notify you when its on sale.Last but not least, Alexa has been integrated with new-age LLM models, which expands its knowledge base. This makes it one of the smartest AI assistants out there. This integration not only allows you to ask random questions but also helps you in your day-to-day tasks.If you have a test coming up, you can share your notes with Alexa+ and ask it to turn your notes into a quiz. Similarly, you can share your work emails with it and ask it to set up your calendar accordingly.What About Privacy?If a tool knows so much about you, its quite natural to be concerned about your privacy. However, you dont have to worry about that with Alexa+.All personal information you share is centrally stored on the Alexa Privacy dashboard. Plus, the entire system is housed in Amazons secure AWS infrastructure, which provides world-class security and privacy.Theres another piece of good news. While Alexa+ costs $19.99 per month, itll be available for free to all Prime users. Rollout has already started in the US with devices like the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21. Apart from that, you can also access it through the brand-new Alexa+ mobile app thats available on both Android and iPhone.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysGoogles Results about you tool lets users track and remove sensitive personal details, like phone numbers and addresses, from search results.The tool notifies users when new personal information appears online and allows them to easily request removals or updates.Besides this, Google has also introduced SafeSearch Blurring to hide explicit content by default, reinforcing its push for better privacy controls.Imagine a dream recruiter searches your name on Google, and it shows your phone number from two decades ago. Frustrating to have little control over this, right? Well, thats about to change. Google is taking steps to give you more control over the personal information that appears in search results through its new update.With the new Results about you tool, you can proactively monitor what sensitive information about you is appearing in Google search results, and you can request the removal or update of that information with just a few clicks.Weve significantly updated and improved the tool, helping you keep track of your personal contact information in Search and alerting you when we find it, so you can get it removed GoogleBesides this, you will also be alerted when new results from the web containing your contact information pop up in Google search. Although the tool isnt available everywhere at the moment, the company plans to slowly roll out the feature to all supported countries.Google has really been trying to up its game when it comes to privacy. For instance, it recently announced the replacement of SMS authentication with QR codes for GMail.Results about you is another tool in its arsenal that will help it achieve that. In addition, there have also been other privacy improvements, including a SafeSearch Blurring setting that blurs out any explicit content by default whenever it appears in search results.How to Use the New Google Privacy FeatureTo use this tool, you need to first input personal data, like your name, address, and phone number. Google will scan this data and notify you as soon as a match is found. Anything that you wish to get removed from the search results can be requested for removal by clicking on the three-dot menu next to the results and selecting the remove this result option.There will be three options to choose from:First is the straightforward personal information removal, which can be selected for removing PII or doxxing content.The second option is flagging illegal content like copyright infringement.The last one is a new feature for situations when the user has already submitted an update on the data, but search results havent reflected those changes yet. When you select the third option, aka the refresh option, Google will be prompted to recrawl the website and update its information.Its worth noting that this feature has actually been around for quite some time now, but it was only accessible through the Google app. On the mobile web and desktop, it was tucked away in the history settings that most users didnt even know about. By making it more visible and adding a healthy dash of new updates, users will certainly feel more in control of their information.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOn Tuesday, a number of users reported that they were constantly being shown violent reels on Instagram.Meta has apologized for the incident and fixed the error within two days of the first report.However, we are yet to know the exact cause of the glitch or how many people were affected by it.Imagine you wake up and instinctively start scrolling Instagram and the first reel you see is of a man getting shot in the head. Not a good start to the day, is it?This is exactly what happened on Tuesday when Instagram was suddenly filled with gruesome and gore reels. Meta has now fixed the technical glitch that was causing a flood of violent and not-safe-for-work reels in users feeds. The tech company has also apologized for the inconvenience.We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended. We apologize for the mistake. Meta spokespersonA Little BackgroundThe problem arose on Tuesday when a number of users complained that they were constantly being recommended videos featuring violent content such as someone being beaten or killed. Even those who had the sensitive content filter on were recommended such videos.The only silver lining is Meta was quick to fix the issue within 2 days, the glitch was completely fixed. But we are yet to find out what caused this glitch or exactly how many people were affected by it.Usually, Meta automatically removes such violent content from its platform. However, the company has a history of accidentally promoting harmful posts such as misinformation during the pandemic, violent clips from the Myanmar genocide, eating disorder content to teens, and so on.Meta raised a lot of eyebrows in January when the companys policies went under a change and it decided to shift away from third-party fact-checkers and rely on community-driven monitoring (just like Elon Musks X).Basically, its now the responsibility of the users to report content that goes against the platforms guidelines. On top of that, Meta is heavily dependent on automated tools for the processing of such reports.Previously these tools were instructed to scan all posts that violate the platforms content policy but now Meta wants to give its users more freedom of expression which is why it has instructed the tools to only look for posts that promote illegal activities such as terrorism and human trafficking. Due to this approach, a lot of offensive posts are making it to the main feed.Apparently, these changes have been made to align with the new Presidents views on this matter, who had previously criticized Meta for its stringent monitoring policies. However, as we can see from the Tuesday incident, this approach is clearly not working.This is a huge concern because Meta is now trying to expand its short-video user base amidst TikToks troubles with the US authorities. The latter has less than a month remaining to find a non-US buyer or it will be banned in the country.If the ban does go through, Meta will be the biggest beneficiary as it is the next best option. However, with such a great opportunity comes a great responsibility to create a safe space for all users, especially for underage users, which Meta hasnt been doing well so far.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysGoogle is replacing SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) for Gmail with QR code scanning to enhance security and convenience.The shift is driven by the increasing exploitation of SMS authentication by hackers through phishing, spoofing, and mobile carrier manipulation.QR codes offer a more secure alternative, as theyre unique to each session, cannot be intercepted, and eliminate risks tied to SIM card theft or fraud.A Gmail spokesperson recently confirmed that Google will let go of the current SMS two-factor authentication process. Itll bring in QR code scanning as a verification step instead, making the process more secure and convenient.Just like we want to move past passwords with the use of things like passkeys, we want to move away from sending SMS messages for authentication Ross Richendrfer, head of security and privacy public relations at GoogleCurrently, when you log in to your Google account on a device, you receive a six-digit authentication code on your registered phone number that you need to manually enter to complete the login process.This SMS-based two-factor authentication process is a widely used method by apps and platforms to ensure extra security. However, with the recent increase in the abuse of SMS verification systems, its evident that hackers have found multiple ways to exploit this tactic. Through phishing, spoofing, and other methods.One common instance of scammers tricking users into getting their verification code is by calling them disguised as representatives of banks or big companies. Then, they ask for the verification code as an OTP to move forward with a fraudulent online process that likely doesnt lead anywhere legitimate.Another concern is that SMS authentication relies on mobile carriers, and its possible to manipulate the carrier itself. This would involve generating fake requests and making money through the messages sent, or even worse, deflecting such important private messages to cybercriminals.Read more: Google will use AI to determine whether youre really 18+Why Are QR Codes a Better Alternative?Scanning a QR code will in all likelihood get rid of the security concerns mentioned above. The update is supposed to be rolled out soon.Its also worth noting that this update aligns with Googles long-term security strategy to reduce dependence on SMS-based 2FA and move towards a more seamless and convenient security system that doesnt put passwords at the forefront of security.Unlike SMS codes, QR cannot be intercepted. Theyre unique, meaning every user gets a different QR every time they initiate a session. Simply put, QR codes cannot be imitated that easily, either. Users will be required to scan the QR code displayed on the screen with their devices camera to authenticate the login.This mechanism solves one more major issue with SMS-style verification. Stealing or losing the SIM card. Such an unfortunate incident so far meant losing access to your Google account, putting the account at the risk of being used by the person who has stolen the SIM. Not anymore, says Google.QR codes make sure youre not dependent on your SIM, a small chip, for your digital privacy. It essentially puts the power back in your hands, as bad actors will now need physical access to your device to execute anything malicious.In addition to Google, WhatsApp Web is one of the famous platforms known for using QR codes for logins.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOn Tuesday, iPhone users noticed that often when they said the word racist, it was transcribed to Trump by the phones voice-to-text software.Apple has addressed the issue and blamed it on a glitch that makes it difficult for the AI to differentiate between words containing r and having a phonetic overlap.However, experts are of the opinion that a phonetic overlap between these two words is just not possible.Nevertheless, Apple has started fixing the issue.iPhone users were in for a surprise on Tuesday when their phones voice-to-text feature suddenly started swapping the word racist with Trump briefly before correcting it to racist again. Although the glitch is not happening every time you say the word racist, its still a sensitive issue given the current political tensions across the country after Trumps elections.Apple has addressed the glitch and said that its caused by a bug that theyre working on to fix.We are aware of an issue with the speech recognition model that powers Dictation and we are rolling out a fix today Apple spokespersonApparently, the Dictation service was facing issues distinguishing between words containing r because of the phonetic overlap. However, the company did not elaborate on why the word racist was always confused with Trump.Is This Really an Honest Mistake?While this might look like an honest mistake on the surface, speech recognition experts are of the opinion that phonetic overlap couldnt be the reason behind this swap.Peter Bell, a professor of speech technology at the University of Edinburgh, said that although the two words contain the letter r, theyre not phonetically similar enough to confuse the AI. Its more likely that someone intentionally tweaked the underlying software to make this swap.This comes at a time when theres already a lot of tension between Trump and Apple. Firstly, Trump decided to impose an additional 10% tax on all the goods imported from China. Since most of Apples products are manufactured in China, it would be a disaster for the company. This is likely what prompted Apple to announce a massive $500 billion investment in the US. The tech giant plans to create new facilities and expand existing ones.Note: Apple didnt explicitly say that the increased taxes are the reason behind its investment. However, Trump feels that given the timing, theres no other plausible explanation.The second issue is regarding the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). After Trump came to power, he decided to dismantle all DEI initiatives and programs. However, during a recent meeting, Apples shareholders voted against scraping off DEI at the insistence of the board members.CEO Tim Cook said that their aim is to create an environment where everyone can deliver their best. Hence, Apple will be keeping the DEI framework. Still, considering the new legal landscape, theyll probably have to make some adjustments.This angered Trump, who lashed out at the company and said that it should completely ditch the DEI framework instead of making adjustments.Looks like theres enough reason for a disgruntled employee at Apple to tweak the software and make it replace the word racist with Trump. However, in the absence of any evidence, I guess well have to stick to Apples version of the events.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysApple and Indonesia recently negotiated the terms of their deals to uplift the 5-month-long ban on the sale of iPhone 16.In October 2024, Indonesias Ministry of Industry banned the sale of iPhone 16 and a few other Apple products citing Apples failure to meet investment conditions.As per the new terms of the deal, Apple will have to invest a total of $1 billion alongside training the locals in component manufacturing.The months-long struggle between Indonesia and Apple is finally coming to an end as the two parties have decided on terms to lift the ban on the sale of iPhone 16.In October last year, Indonesia decided to ban the sale and use of the iPhone 16 along with a few other Apple products such as the Watch 10 series. The ban extended to new devices as well as those that have already been sold. This means anyone within the borders of Indonesia, including tourists, could no longer use their iPhone 16 phones.Note: The ban was only on the latest iPhone 16 model. If you had an earlier model, you could continue to use it.The reason behind this ban was Apples failure to meet local guidelines. As per Indonesian law, it is mandatory for all domestically sold devices to have at least 40% of their components locally sourced. This is done to boost the local economy and employment.If a company doesnt want to source components locally, it can bypass this mandate by investing in the country.Apple took the second route and initially promised to invest $1 billion in building local development and research units. These units would develop the components used in Apple devices. However, the company failed to deliver on its promises which resulted in the ban.Given the gravity of the situation, Apple renewed the offer to invest $1 billion in the country which President Prabowo Subianto asked his ministers to accept. But last month, they suddenly backed out of the deal, hoping to negotiate for better terms.So now, on top of the $1 billion investment, Apple will also have to train local Indonesian companies in research and development to be able to manufacture similar components.This is a better deal for Apple, which was initially being forced to manufacture iPhones locally. However, Indonesia has been known to retreat from its promise, so until things are set in stone, theres still a chance for the deal to fall through.Apple was already struggling to gain traction in the Indonesian market. As of last year, its not one of the top 5 smartphones sold in the country. The biggest reasons behind this are the price of iPhones and the purchasing power of the locals. A lot of them cannot even afford the latest models such as the iPhone 16 and often resort to buying second-hand models.Regardless of that, the countrys 280 million population is too good an opportunity to let go. Now that the initial legal hurdles are out of the way, Apple might find a way to expand its market share in the country which, as of January 2025, is merely 7.3%.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.