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Germany pushes for 7 years of smartphone security updates

But the industry doesn’t want to give in

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Germany security updates

The German federal government is pushing for longer security updates, causing headwinds to phone manufacturers. In a report by c’t, the federal government discusses with the European Union (EU) Commission in upholding strict environmental regulations for smartphones and tablets.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Economics stated that spare parts and security updates should be available for seven years.

This is two years longer than the recently announced proposal of the EU Commission. It mandates manufacturers to provide five years of updates and spare parts for smartphones, and six years of spare parts for tablets.

Making spare parts more available

The German federal government demands replacement parts to be accessible “at a reasonable price”. They should also be delivered swiftly. The government is looking at a maximum delivery time of five working days.

This affirms the Commission’s belief that customers will opt for an exchange instead of a repair if the spare parts aren’t delivered quickly, which could counter the Commission’s environmental initiatives.

The spokeswoman pressed how the production of devices accounts for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, and only a few parts can be recycled — adding more e-waste to our landfills.

The industry doesn’t approve

While the proposal sounds promising for consumers, the industry believes the Commission’s proposals are overboard. DigitalEurope — an association representing Apple, Samsung, and Huawei — steps forward with a position paper.

The paper proposes to dispatch three years of security updates, and two years of function updates. The association believes spare parts should be limited to screens and batteries, which account for the majority of repairs. Cameras, speakers, and other components are sturdier and durable.

Currently, Apple is delivering five years of updates, and Samsung has committed to four years of security updates. However, most Android smartphones stop at two years. If you get up to three years — you can consider yourself lucky.

The Commission’s proposal, in a way, is a win-win situation for both consumers and the environment. When you use your phone longer, you won’t have to buy another device, thus, keeping the production supply low.

h/t: Engadget

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St. Peter reunited people with their deceased loved ones through tech

The new “If Heaven Could Write” campaign generates letters from the imagined perspectives of loved ones.

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Grieving can take many forms. Sometimes, it manifests through a desire to hear a loved one again. We look at their old clothing, a gust of wind, or a butterfly, and imagine them talking to us one more time. This year, St. Peter, through the power of technology, gave 11,000 people that chance through its new “If Heaven Could Write” campaign.

During St. Peter Deathcare Week, which ran from October 27 through November 2, the deathcare provider started the “If Heaven Could Write” campaign, an interactive digital experience that offered participants a chance to reunite with their deceased loved ones. It was available in 37 St. Peter Chapels and 76 cemeteries nationwide.

Upon scanning a QR code which took them to a portal, participants answered questions about their loved ones. Then, the portal generates a personal letter from the imagined perspective of the participant’s loved one, giving them one more chance to converse.

Of course, an imagined letter can’t replace someone who passed away. Still, the experience affords us a way to grieve and process the loss. No, the letter isn’t really from your loved one, but you can imagine what they would have said while reading through it. And sometimes, that’s all we need.

Though St. Peter Deathcare Week has already come and gone for the year, those interested can still participate in the campaign through its link.

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Next iPhone might get rid of the Action Button

Both functions will be in one button instead.

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In a world with a love-hate relationship with extra buttons on a phone, Apple has gone to the deeper end and included two buttons in the latest iPhones: the Action Button and the Camera Control. Next year, Apple might consolidate the two buttons into one, ridding itself of the Action Button.

According to a Weibo leak from Instant Digital, Apple will merge the two buttons starting with next year’s iPhones. Though technically a new button in itself, the merged version will, based on the leak, retain more Camera Control than the Action Button.

Of course, both functions can coexist in the same button. The Camera Control activates with a single press, while the Action Button needs a longer press. In the merged button, a single press can still open the camera and a longer press can activate whatever the user sets it to.

Both buttons have had a storied past. The Action Button came in 2023, replacing the Ring/Silent Switch. Meanwhile, the Camera Control debuted a year later, offering control over the camera with a capacitive button. The current iterations retain both buttons on the same phone.

Personally, as someone used to creating content, the Camera Control button is ultimately a boon to get those shots quickly while in the moment. Retaining that functionality is definitely worthwhile.

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NVIDIA CEO admits to having an affair with alleged Chinese spy

The company is currently investigating the allegations.

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In one of the craziest headlines this year, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to having an affair with an alleged Chinese spy.

Over the weekend, a heavy allegation claimed that the NVIDIA CEO had a relationship with a person actively involved in Chinese intelligence. Since Huang is involved in business globally, the accusation isn’t a light one. In fact, it’s serious enough that Huang admitted to the affair late this past Sunday.

In an internal letter reported by Associated Press, the CEO acknowledged the existence of the affair with a business executive. Of note, Huang did not confirm the executive’s ties to Chinese intelligence. NVIDIA, however, will conduct its own investigations regarding the allegations. Despite the allegations, Huang will remain as the company’s CEO. The company is also confident that the alleged spy did not compromise NVIDIA’s secrets.

According to The New York Times, the executive, Alice Huang, was reportedly feeding information back to Beijing, despite being an executive of the Singapore-based Megaspeed, which is already a serious customer of NVIDIA.

Now, NVIDIA is currently in a prime position when it comes to the industry today. Formerly a huge proponent of gaming peripherals, the company is now one of the biggest names in AI hardware, allotting a lot of its products for data centers. Huang’s allegations come at an interesting time.

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