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Android smartphone market share goes up, iOS phones down

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Based on a report made by market data provider Strategy Analytics, Android’s market share is steadily going up for its smartphones, while Apple’s iOS handsets are slumping. The other operating systems are nowhere to be found.

According to the statistics, Android smartphones now hold 87.5 percent of the total global audience in the third quarter of 2016, which is up from 84.1 percent during the same quarter last year.

Meanwhile, iPhones have gone from 13.6 percent of the total market in Q3 2015, to just 12.1 percent in this year’s third quarter. Every other OS dropped to a negligible 0.3 percent market share from 2.3 percent last year.

Android’s success is credited to the 10.3 percent increase in smartphone shipments in Q3 2016, as compared to Q3 last year. Apple’s iPhone shipments have decreased by 5.2 percent during the same period.

What does this all mean? Even though Apple continues to dominate the high-end smartphone segment and is raking in major profits out of the sales, Android smartphones are dominating the much more abundant lower-end categories — albeit making less money because of smaller profit margins.

Smartphone market shares Q3 2016

Global smartphone shipments and market shares in Q3 2016

The sad part is the lack of competition outside of those two operating systems. BlackBerry and Windows-powered phones, which comprise the “others,” are practically nonexistent now, after experiencing a 84.1 percent year-over-year decrease in smartphone shipments.

Otherwise, smartphones are doing pretty well in general. With a six percent growth in shipments since this time last year, consumers are more reliant than ever on all-in-one pocket computers.

In related news, Windows-powered tablets are doing better than ever. The same Strategy Analytics report claims that although tablet shipments are lessening with a 10 percent year-over-year slump, Windows slates now have a 16 percent market share, which is 25 percent better than last year’s number.

This doesn’t sound great compared to the current 64 percent share of Android tablets and 20 percent mark of iPads, but it proves consumers are now choosing productivity over entertainment when it comes to larger-sized mobile devices.

In summary: Android smartphones, great; iPhones, still okay; and Windows tablets, fantastic. Everyone else, good luck.

[irp posts=”4855″ name=”Report: Android Nougat has much higher network crash rate than iOS 10″]

Source: Strategy Analytics, (2)

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Logitech introduces a dedicated shortcut for ChatGPT

Compatible with most keyboards and mice

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April 19, 2024

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Artificial intelligence is already meant to simplify a workflow. However, despite the ease, there are still a few ways to optimize the process. Today, Logitech has launched a new shortcut to launch ChatGPT straight from your mouse or keyboard.

Minus programmable hotkeys or buttons, there are hardly any built-in way to easily access an AI model. For a typical workflow, it still consists of manually opening the model on a separate window and keeping it within cursor’s reach throughout the day.

Logitech is simplifying the process by adding a dedicated shortcut for its devices. With a Logitech keyboard or mouse supported by the Logi Options+ app, users can program a keyboard or mouse button for the new Logi AI Prompt Builder.

Once activated, the AI Prompt Builder automatically accesses easy options for highlighted text. For example, users can easily rephrase or summarize the text. Likewise, they can input their own custom queries. By eliminating a few clicks and some typing throughout the day, the new tool hopes to save you time.

While most Logitech keyboards and mice are compatible with the new tool, it is also more easily accessible with the new Logitech Signature AI Edition Mouse. The new mouse has a dedicated button just for AI prompts. If you’re an AI power user, this one is perfect for you.

SEE ALSO: Logitech unveils G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard: Price, details

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X’s AI accused Klay Thompson of vandalizing houses with bricks

AI thought joke posts were real

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April 18, 2024

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Image source: Keith Allison, Wikimedia

Despite the ease that the technology promises, artificial intelligence still isn’t the most reliable thing you can depend on. Today’s models can still flub answers. Now, the pitfalls of AI are abundantly clear with a few mishaps on X. Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson was just “accused” of a vandalism spree involving bricks.

Late Tuesday night, X presented an AI-generated news snippet. The article, posted soon after the Warriors’ play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings, reads: “Klay Thompson Accused in Bizarre Brick-Vandalism Spree.”

The snippet hilariously described an incident where Thompson supposedly vandalized houses in Sacramento with bricks. Thankfully, according to the snippet, no one was hurt. It even had a few sources for its claims below the news summary.

The sources, however, are just joke posts stemming from the recently concluded game. In that do-or-die game, Thompson put up a staggering 0 points on ten shot attempts, the most misses without a make by a Warrior since the ’68 season. Naturally, everyone joked that the Warriors guard just threw bricks all over Sacramento.

Now, X is currently experimenting with a new AI feature called Grok. The model collates trending topics and creates snippets of what’s happening for X users. However, it’s not exactly the smartest in determining real news from satiric ones. The feature notes as much, carrying a fine-print caveat warning users to “verify its outputs” because it’s an early feature and can make mistakes.

SEE ALSO: New X users must pay a dollar per year to post and reply

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New X users must pay a dollar per year to post and reply

Rolling out globally now

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April 16, 2024

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New users on X might soon face a tough time on the platform. The social media website will likely start charging new accounts a small fee for the right to post on the platform.

Now, the fee isn’t a new one. Almost six months ago, the company tested the paid system in New Zealand and the Philippines. New users in those countries had to pay a dollar per year for the ability to post and reply to content.

As spotted by X Daily News on the same platform, the company might be ready to take the experiment to a larger market. New text strings have shown that the policy is rolling out worldwide.

The policy is designed to combat a wave of bots appearing on the platform. By preventing new accounts from creating posts, X hopes to stave off the standard behavior of bots these days. You might have noticed them as OnlyFans creators in unrelated posts, peddling NSFW content on their bio.

Though the global rollout was only just spotted, owner Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed the change. Replying to X Daily News, Musk says that it is “the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.” He says that the current breed of bots can easily bypass simple checks these days.

SEE ALSO: X will no longer let you hide your blue checkmark

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