News
Facebook might be forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp
End of an era?
Did you know that Facebook owns other platforms besides Facebook itself? Though security-conscious users are staying away from Facebook, getting away from the company is harder than just deleting your Facebook account. Unsurprisingly, Facebook’s growing empire is coming to a head. Forty-eight states are suing Facebook for antitrust reasons, potentially forcing the platform to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.
For months, the platform has gone under fire for similar reasons including violations against privacy. Foremost among those reasons, Facebook is allegedly taking out rival companies a little more aggressively than normal. For example, the company reportedly threatened rivals if the latter didn’t sell their businesses to Facebook.
In today’s blockbuster announcement, New York Attorney General Letitia James explains that Facebook’s monopoly heavily shrinks a consumer’s options of social media platforms. As a result, Letitia’s state, along with 47 other states, will pursue legal action to separate Instagram and WhatsApp away from Facebook.
Facebook, as expected, is defending against its actions, calling the legal action unfair, “sending a chilling warning to American business that no sale is ever final,” says Facebook Vice President Jennifer Newstead.
Similarly, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg states that the multiple acquisitions are merely to compete against other rivals including Google and Apple. The defense isn’t holding a lot of water in American courts, though. If the courts are getting their way, Big Tech, which includes other companies, will slowly lose its grip on American business.
SEE ALSO: Facebook on iOS now has dark mode
vivo has officially announced the global launch of the X300 Ultra, marking the first international debut of its top-tier imaging flagship.
The device introduces the ZEISS Master Lenses Collection, featuring triple prime focal lengths at 14mm, 35mm, and 85mm. It supports up to 200MP output across key focal lengths and can extend reach to 200mm and 400mm using optional telephoto extenders.
A 200MP 85mm telephoto camera with gimbal-level stabilization and 60fps AF tracking enables detailed long-range shots. Meanwhile, the 35mm camera uses a large Sony LYTIA sensor for natural perspective and improved low-light performance.
For video, the X300 Ultra supports multi-focal 4K 120fps recording in both 10-bit Log and Dolby Vision formats. It also introduces Pro Video mode with LUT support and compatibility with ACES workflows for advanced color grading.
The phone runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, paired with a dedicated imaging chip. It packs a 6600mAh battery with 100W wired and 40W wireless charging.
Other features include a 2K ZEISS Master Color Display, quad-mic audio recording system, IP68/IP69 durability, and up to five years of OS updates.
Pricing and availability will depend on the region.
Enterprise
Allbirds suddenly turns into an AI company
Allbirds is an odd shoe company. Though it already enjoyed a cult following in some circles around the world, the brand suddenly expanded its reach everywhere, offering a lighter and more environment-friendly alternative to the usual suspects of the shoe world. Now, getting even odder, Allbirds is ditching the shoes and going barefoot into the world of AI.
It’s one of the oddest transitions in the corporate world. In an official statement, Allbirds has confirmed that it will pivot fully into a “fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service and AI-native cloud solutions provider.” From Allbirds, it will be known as NewBird AI.
It’s not an incredibly abrupt change, though. The shoe brand and its stores won’t disappear overnight. The company will still hold a shareholder vote on May 18. If approved, they will transition into the new brand gradually.
The transition to AI, itself a gremlin of a keyword in today’s financial world, has resulted in the company’s stock value rising up. However, its long-term viability is in question, especially for a company with no experience in a world already drowning in AI.
From last year to today, AI has been the darling child of investors and a plague to consumers. While the former salivates over the short-term gain of AI adoption, the latter ruminates on the technology’s projected effects on the world.
SEE ALSO: Lenovo accelerates production-ready enterprise AI with NVIDIA
vivo has announced the vivo X300 FE, a compact flagship built around pro-grade imaging, long battery life, and extended software support.
The device features a ZEISS co-engineered camera system, led by a 50MP Super Telephoto camera with up to 200mm equivalent focal length via the all-new Telephoto Extender Gen 2. It also includes a 50MP main camera alongside a 110° ultra-wide lens.
This camera system is designed for flexible shooting across travel, concerts, and street photography.
AI imaging powers much of the experience, with features like AI True Clarity Engine, Stage Mode for low-light concerts, and AI editing tools such as AI Erase and AI Image Expander. Video capabilities go up to 8K at 30fps and 4K at 120fps.
The X300 FE adopts a compact flat design with a 6.31-inch display, weighing 191g and measuring 7.99mm thin. It comes in Mist Purple, Glow White, Luxe Black, and Urban Olive colorways.
Powering the device is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. You should not confuse it though with the more superior Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Moreover, it has a 6500mAh battery paired with 90W wired charging plus 40W wireless charging that the newer V70 series lacks.. It also features a vapor chamber cooling system for sustained performance.
The phone runs OriginOS 6 with cross-device features and promises five years of OS updates, seven years of security patches, and long-term smooth performance.
The vivo X300 FE also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.
Pricing and availability will depend on the region.
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