Technology

Spotify Surpasses 300 Million Subscribers Despite Recent Price Hikes

Spotify has announced that its paid subscriber count has exceeded 300 million users. The streaming giant recorded a 9% growth in its subscriber base during the second quarter of the year. This growth is particularly notable as the company had raised its subscription prices across multiple regions in 2024. The expansion demonstrates resilient consumer demand for the platform despite the increased costs passed on to users.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

OpenAI Pushes Back Against Apple Trade Secrets Lawsuit

OpenAI has responded to a lawsuit filed by Apple, calling it 'aggressive and oddly personal.' The ChatGPT maker firmly denied possessing or seeking any of Apple's trade secrets. OpenAI's rebuttal suggests the company views the legal action as an overreach rather than a legitimate intellectual property dispute. The clash marks a notable legal confrontation between two major players in the technology industry.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

India mulls ending zero-fee policy for UPI merchant payments

India is considering a legislative overhaul of its current zero-merchant-discount-rate (MDR) policy governing UPI payments. Under the existing regime, businesses have been exempt from paying fees to accept UPI transactions since 2020. The proposed changes aim to establish a viable business model for the country's widely used instant payments network. The move signals a potential shift in how payment service providers and banks are compensated for processing UPI transactions.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Runware Launches Sonic Inference Pod, a Modular Data Center for AI Workloads

AI infrastructure company Runware announced the launch of its modular data center product, called the Sonic Inference Pod, on Tuesday. The product is designed to offer a portable, self-contained approach to AI computing infrastructure. Runware's move reflects a growing industry interest in flexible, deployable data center solutions. The Sonic Inference Pod represents the company's push to rethink how and where AI workloads can be processed.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Peak Design Launches City Line Collection with Built-In Table Hook Feature

Peak Design has released its new City Line collection, comprising six lightweight bags designed for daily use. The lineup includes two backpacks, a tote, two crossbody bags, and a sling, ranging from 2 to 22 liters in capacity. All bags are available immediately and come in multiple color options. A key feature across the collection is the BagLev hook, which folds into a pocket when not needed and can be used to hang the bag from a table edge or chair. The design focus was on material refinement rather than adding extra features, according to Peak Design.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Nothing's CMF Sub-Brand Launches Clip Pro Open Earbuds at $99

Nothing's budget sub-brand CMF has unveiled the Clip Pro, its first open earbuds, now available in the US. Priced at $99, the earbuds are designed to deliver sound quality while maintaining the wearer's situational awareness. The Clip Pro comes in three color options — white, black, and orange — each paired with a matching charging case. The $99 price point matches that of Nothing's existing Ear 3A and original Ear (a) buds, meaning no premium is charged for the open design. The launch comes as open earbuds are growing in popularity across the consumer audio market.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Apple briefly pulled Telegram from App Store over child abuse material

Apple temporarily removed Telegram from its App Store on Monday night after a review found the app violated its policies prohibiting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The app was reinstated after Telegram removed the offending content and banned the user responsible for posting it. Apple confirmed the action and restoration in a statement to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Telegram acknowledged the incident but responded with a pointed remark on X, questioning whether Apple would apply the same standard equally to all other apps on the platform.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Endeavour Optical Networks plans world's fastest space laser comms system

Endeavour Optical Networks (EON) is developing what it claims will be the fastest laser-based communications system ever deployed in space. The company aims to shift high-speed data transmission away from traditional undersea fiber optic cables toward space-based optical links. EON's system would use laser technology to relay data between satellites and ground stations at unprecedented speeds. The initiative represents a significant push to modernize global data infrastructure by moving it off the ocean floor and into orbit.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Bending Spoons Acquires Airtable for $1.28 Billion

Italian software company Bending Spoons has agreed to acquire productivity platform Airtable for $1.28 billion. The deal marks a dramatic fall in valuation for Airtable, which was worth over $11 billion at its peak in 2021. Earlier this year, Airtable shares were reportedly trading on secondary markets at a valuation of around $4 billion. The acquisition price of $1.28 billion represents a steep decline from those earlier highs, reflecting broader corrections in the tech sector.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

OpenAI publishes private messages to publicly rebut Apple's trade secret lawsuit

OpenAI has responded to Apple's trade secret lawsuit with a blog post titled 'Apple is getting this wrong,' calling the legal action 'careless, aggressive, and oddly personal.' The ChatGPT maker shared iMessage and email exchanges to challenge key allegations in Apple's case. The post is not a formal legal filing but appears designed to shape public perception ahead of court proceedings. Apple filed the lawsuit last month, accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Leaked memo reveals next Xbox console will support every Xbox generation's games

A leaked internal memo obtained by The Verge reveals that Microsoft's next console, codenamed Project Helix, will support games from all Xbox generations. This includes titles from the original 2001 Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and new Helix releases. The console will also be capable of running PC games, giving it potentially the largest game library of any home console. Microsoft had previously announced plans to bring select original Xbox games to PC and a disc digitization feature for Xbox One and Series titles. The leaked memo fills in the remaining gaps, confirming Xbox 360 games are also coming to the platform.

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TechnologyBBC Tech ·

Apple renews legal fight against UK government order to access user data

Apple has filed a new legal challenge against a UK government order requiring access to private user data. The dispute is between Apple and the Home Office, Britain's interior ministry responsible for national security and law enforcement. The tech giant has consistently opposed the directive, citing concerns over user privacy and data security. This latest move marks a fresh escalation in an ongoing standoff between Apple and UK authorities. The case raises broader questions about the balance between government surveillance powers and individual privacy rights.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Reddit Battles Rise of AI-Generated Spam Disguised as User Recommendations

Reddit is facing a growing wave of AI-driven spam accounts that pose as genuine users to promote products within niche communities. In one documented case, an account named Primary-Taro4254 appeared in a skincare subreddit, offering an unsolicited recommendation for a brand called Honeydew Labs under the guise of personal experience. These accounts mimic authentic community engagement, making them harder to detect than traditional spam. The trend raises concerns about the integrity of Reddit's user-generated content, which has become increasingly valuable to search engines. The platform is now under pressure to find effective ways to identify and remove such deceptive AI-assisted promotional activity.

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TechnologyNYT Technology ·

Trump Administration Divided Over How to Regulate Open-Source AI Models

The Trump White House has been grappling internally with how to set policy on open-source artificial intelligence models. These models are freely downloadable and widely used, including by Chinese technology companies. The administration's conflicting signals have created uncertainty across Silicon Valley. The core tension lies in balancing the promotion of AI innovation with concerns over national security risks posed by open access to powerful AI systems.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation Falls Short Despite High Expectations

Beast of Reincarnation is a new action game from Game Freak, the studio best known for developing the mainline Pokémon series. The title marks one of the studio's periodic departures from its flagship franchise, an approach it has taken before with experimental titles across different genres. Despite the promise of a seasoned studio exploring fresh creative territory, the game has drawn criticism for lacking originality. Reviewers suggest that Beast of Reincarnation does not fully deliver on the potential expected from a studio stepping outside its comfort zone.

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TechnologyBBC Tech ·

AI Pricing Dilemma: Both Buyers and Sellers Struggle to Find the Right Cost

The AI industry is facing a significant challenge around pricing, with no clear consensus on how to value AI services. Companies purchasing AI tools are finding it difficult to manage and predict their spending. On the other side, AI service providers are uncertain about how to set appropriate and sustainable prices. This mismatch between buyer expectations and seller strategies is creating friction across the market. The issue highlights broader growing pains as the AI industry attempts to mature into a stable commercial ecosystem.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Palantir CEO Slams AI Labs as Untrustworthy After Company Posts $1B Profit

Palantir CEO Alex Karp made provocative remarks about the AI industry following the company's latest quarterly results. The data analytics firm reported $1 billion in profit for the quarter, marking a strong financial performance. Karp used the term 'Marxist' to describe frontier AI laboratories, questioning their reliability for enterprise use. He reiterated his position that leading AI labs are too untrustworthy to be adopted by large businesses. The comments came on Monday as part of Karp's broader skepticism toward mainstream AI development practices.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

US AI Deal to Equip 50,000 Ukrainian Kamikaze Drones with Autonomous Targeting

A US company has signed a $100 million deal to supply Ukraine with AI-powered targeting technology for its drones. The agreement will equip 50,000 Ukrainian kamikaze drones with the capability to autonomously track and engage targets. These low-cost drones, previously reliant on human operators, will gain independent targeting abilities through the US-developed artificial intelligence. The deal marks a significant step in integrating autonomous AI systems into Ukraine's drone warfare strategy.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Snap CEO Avoids Specs Pre-Order Questions During Q2 Earnings Call

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel declined to answer specific questions about pre-orders for the company's Specs product during the Q2 earnings call. The questions centered on whether the product had found its product-market fit among consumers. Spiegel acknowledged that mass-market consumer adoption of such technology is unlikely to happen before the end of the decade. His evasive responses drew attention amid investor interest in Snap's hardware ambitions.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Google Health Update Lets Fitbit Data Sync Directly to Apple Health

Google has released version 5.05 of the Google Health app, enabling users to sync their Fitbit workout, step, and vitals data directly to Apple Health. The feature can be activated by navigating to the profile icon, selecting 'Partner apps,' and linking Apple Health. Previously, the data flow only worked in one direction — from Apple Health into Google Health — leaving users reliant on third-party workaround apps. This two-way sync eliminates the need for tools like Power Sync for Fitbit or Fitbit to Apple Health Sync. Google Health had earlier replaced the standalone Fitbit app as the primary platform for Fitbit device data.

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