Geekly Update - 07 August 2024

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

A New York Times headline says “Google Is a Monopolist”. A U.S. District Court judge recently ruled that Google has violated antitrust laws by maintaining an illegal monopoly in the online search and advertising markets. The ruling issued by Judge Amit Mehta determined that Google has been using its dominant market position to stifle competition, particularly by making deals with companies like Apple to ensure Google is the default search engine on devices such as the Safari browser. It is not yet clear what remedies the judge will impose on the company.

On the flip side, the companies that offer Google Search to their customers claim there is no viable alternative. Apple, for example, receives almost $20 billion annually for Google to be the default search engine in their Safari browser. Apple’s senior vice president of services had some harsh words for Microsoft's search competitor Bing. During the trial, he said that “there’s no price that Microsoft could ever offer” to Apple to get the company to replace Google with Bing in Safari.

Finally, a human-friendly use for AI. Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton has progressive supranuclear palsy, a condition which makes it difficult for her to speak. Wexton used an artificial intelligence program to make a clone of her speaking voice using recordings of speeches she made in Congress, and has become the first person to “speak” on the House floor with a voice recreated by AI.

The BBC wanted to know what would happen if an AI walked into a bar. They asked Karen Hobbs, a professional comedian to deliver some jokes written by artificial intelligence app ChatGPT. It turns out AI is not ready for prime-time, at least not on the standup comedy stage. "I've literally never felt more stupid in my whole life," Hobbs said, after reading a few of the robo-generated one-liners.

If you miss the venerable WordStar program, last updated in 1992, here's good news. Robert J. Sawyer, an award-winning science fiction author who is still using the program, says WordStar is better than WordPerfect, Word, or any other "modern" word processor. That's because it had numerous features geared toward writing, as opposed to coding or other tasks. He has cobbled together a platform that will allow the 32-year-old WordStar to run on today's computers.

Have you ridden a Ford lately? Ford announced today that it would be working with bike company N-plus to introduce two new e-bikes inspired by the automaker’s most iconic brands, the Bronco and Mustang.

In a tweet from the FBI’s Denver branch, the agency is warning against the use of public phone charging stations commonly found in airports, hotels and shopping centers. USB charging stations, they claim, are being used by “bad actors” to spread malware. “Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead,” the agency advised in the tweet. That's not bad advice, but to my knowledge there have been no credible reported cases of “juice jacking”.

Google has unveiled the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat, featuring a 60% larger LCD display with a bezel-less design, allowing for customizable watch-like faces. The thermostat uses Soli radar sensors to adjust the display based on proximity and incorporates AI for precise temperature management and energy-saving suggestions. It includes a wireless temperature sensor, with support for up to six sensors, and offers eco-friendly features like a recycled cobalt battery that should last three years. Available in silver, black, and gold, the thermostat is priced at $280.

Tesla is being sued by the family of a motorcyclist who was killed in a 2022 collision with a Model 3 Tesla that was operating in Autopilot mode. In recent years Tesla has been sued multiple times by people or the family of people involved in major accidents, and Landon Embry’s family is the latest to file a lawsuit.

Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber floated the idea of a “Forever Mouse” that would never need to be replaced, and mentioned that a subscription fee might be required. After online backlash, the company backed away from those statements, saying that was only one “monetization model” they were considering.

And finally, this week's Just Here For The Headline item: Woman Learns Of $207,199 Lottery Prize From Email In Spam Folder

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