Apps

UK starts banning TikTok

On government devices

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TikTok is once again in a heap of trouble. Recently, the United States started pondering on a widespread ban which will take the app from the American digital space. Now, the United Kingdom has started on a path which might lead to the same result for the video-sharing platform.

Today, the Parliament has announced that TikTok is now banned on government devices. Effective immediately, anyone who owns a government device will not be allowed to install the app on them. Likewise, the government is also reviewing the effect of other apps which might scrape valuable data.

As with other bans on government devices, the United Kingdom’s latest declaration comes out of concern for the potential of TikTok as a gateway for Chinese surveillance. Following the United States from a few years ago, other countries, such as Canada, have also banned the app from government devices.

Though the current ban clearly affects only government devices, one can open the argument that this can potentially lead to more stringent bans in the future. Currently, the United States is seeking a new way to ban the app on all devices in the country. Potential laws which can do so are already in relatively advanced stages of approval. The American government is already asking TikTok to divest itself from China if it wants to continue operations in the country.

SEE ALSO: US increases efforts to ban TikTok and other apps

Apps

Are Roblox, MLBB, Call of Duty, Genshin Impact on AppGallery?

Huawei’s App Library gets deeper

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Is it on Huawei AppGallery

This is the question we get asked most when people are curious about a Huawei smartphone. 

It’s no secret to anyone the challenges that Huawei faces.  But they’ve done a wonderful job beefing up their own library of apps. The essentials are there. And now, we’re happy to report that they also added these apps for your mobile gaming pleasure. 

These are: Roblox, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Genshin Impact. 

Here’s how easy it is to download these apps through the Huawei AppGallery.

WATCH HOW TO DOWNLOAD HERE.

Roblox

Roblox describes itself as “the ultimate virtual universe that lets you create, share experiences with friends”. 

It appears to be very popular with kids. And some K-Pop groups have even launched partnerships with the game during their mini album releases.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang 

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang or simply Mobile Legends is a game many of you should be familiar with, especially if you live in Southeast Asia. 

It’s become the de facto MOBA game for many in the region. So much so that huge tournaments have been held over the past few years.

Call of Duty: Mobile

Call of Duty is already a popular franchise on its own. It also found huge success in Asia with its mobile version. 

Call of Duty is no stranger to seasonal content as even their flagship titles operate in the same manner year after year. This is likely why players keep coming back. 

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact took the world by storm when it first launched in 2020. The anime-like art style along with the engaging gameplay and story made it a huge hit. 

HoYoverse continues to provide fresh content to this day, expanding the already vast world in the game. 

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Apps

Bard is now available to try for Google One users

Join the waitlist now

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The race for artificial intelligence is a hot trail. Amid the unbridled popularity of ChatGPT, several companies have started pushing their own language models out the gate. Google, eager to compete in the emerging industry, has now opened Bard to users.

Today, Google has started issuing invitations to Google One subscribers for a chance to try the new chatbot. Subscribers can enter a waitlist to test the technology for themselves.

In essence, Bard acts the same as ChatGPT. Users can talk to the bot conversationally, and it will respond perfectly, as if you were talking to another human being. It’s a language learning model. By talking to so many users, the model can learn the best way to reply to certain prompts.

Although Google has access to its search engine, Bard is currently meant to complement it. The company warns users that the chatbot is still prone to occasional mistakes. As an example, it gave the wrong scientific name for a plant. While this example is innocuous, there can be more nefarious errors that the developers are still trying to fix. With a wider test now open to the public, Google hopes to fix more egregious mistakes ahead of a wider launch.

For now, if you subscribe to Google’s premium subscription service, you can wait in line to try out the new technology.

SEE ALSO: Google is working on a ChatGPT competitor called Bard

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Apps

TikTok enlists users’ help to fight against ban

Ahead of a hearing this week

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TikTok is in for another fight. Recently, the American government upped its efforts to ban the video-sharing platform from the country. The company is preparing to fight back. Ahead of a potential ban, it is enlisting the help of its most precious resource: TikTok users.

Today, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew shared a video to update the entire community about his impending congressional hearing later this week. In the video, the CEO thanks the American userbase in helping the platform grow, enumerating important numbers ahead of the hearing. For example, TikTok now has 150 million users — which, Chew notes, is half of the population of the United States — and 7,000 employees in the country.

The video then goes on to share the government’s plans to ban TikTok, potentially taking the app away from the big numbers that Chew mentioned. Further, the CEO is asking all these users to share what they love about the app in the comments of the video.

@tiktok

Our CEO, Shou Chew, shares a special message on behalf of the entire TikTok team to thank our community of 150 million Americans ahead of his congressional hearing later this week.

♬ original sound – TikTok

For years, the American government has hounded the app over its Chinese ownership. The company — especially parent company ByteDance — has the potential to act as a conduit for Chinese surveillance, the government argues. The company has tried to counter these claims by increasing its employees in the country.

Now, the fight is coming to a head with several government bodies and other countries banning the app outright. It’s unknown how Chew is planning to attack the incoming congressional hearing. However, it’s likely that the company will leverage user feedback to buoy the app as an essential part of the current American landscape.

SEE ALSO: UK starts banning TikTok

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