Google Chrome’s latest “IP Protection” feature coming soon will offer enhanced user privacy by routing traffic through a Google-owned proxy server, concealing IP addresses. This could hinder companies and data brokers from tracking users based on web behavior. However, this also implies that Google would have centralized access to users’ web-surfing habits. While the tool promises increased privacy, its potential to consolidate Google’s data access raises eyebrows, especially given the company’s past privacy controversies.

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Show Notes:

* –Dangerous new malware

* –China targets Foxconn

* –A Cybertruck and a Tommy gun

* –People still listen to AM/FM radio

* –Microsoft Q1 preview

* –Amazon enables passkeys

* –Google faces a new antitrust probe

* –Brave under fire

* –Wireless charging at traffic lights

* Dropbox

* –The iPhone 16 could be more expensive

* –Figure

* –‘Tech Hubs’

* –Amazon will now fire employees

* –

The Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, headed by Sean Kirkpatrick, reveals a surge in unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) reports, with approximately 800 incidents reported as of April. Although most are identified as mundane objects like balloons, swamp gas or drones, concerns arise over a potential 2-4% that remain unexplained and might indicate foreign spying activities. The Federal Aviation Administration now shares data with the Pentagon. With the imminent launch of two new public reporting portals, Kirkpatrick anticipates a deluge of new submissions, underscoring the importance of discerning potential threats to national security. We will see what they think of my UFO story.

I detail a conversation with an individual claiming all recent UFO sightings are secret US  aerospace technology. I express skepticism about this based on his own eyewitness UFO experiences – one as a teenager and another while on an active combat mission in the military. I saw technology far beyond what I believe could exist even today. I invite everyone to share their perspectives on whether advanced UFO tech could be manmade or of extraterrestrial origin.

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Abbreviated summary – In other technology news, Elon Musk’s Twitter is beta testing, charging new users a $1 annual subscription fee to post content to reduce spam bots on the platform. Users can still read posts for free. Startup Vital 3D in Lithuania is pioneering 3D bioprinting of human organs like livers to help address the severe shortage of organs for transplantation. Even complex organs like kidneys with millions of nephrons may someday be printed.

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to move forward with reinstating net neutrality rules that were repealed in 2017. The public can submit comments during the proposal process before a final vote. Garmin is rumored to be developing new smartwatch models with advanced health-tracking capabilities and navigation features.

A new, precisely detailed map has located and measured 400,000 galaxies in our celestial vicinity, along with all their stars and planets. This massive trove of data will enable research into galaxy evolution, dark matter, gravitational waves, and more. Virgin Galactic is planning a test flight in November for microgravity experiments and biomedical research.

Social platform Discord is overhauling its community moderation policies to focus on transparency, warnings, and restrictions rather than permanent bans. Tesla CEO Elon Musk admitted they had faced production challenges with the Cybertruck after overly ambitious design goals. A former Navy IT manager was sentenced to 5 years in prison for stealing and selling a database with private information of thousands of people in 2018.

Chipmaker Intel is pushing software developers to create more AI-enabled applications to exploit Intel’s latest ultra-mobile chips. AI research laboratory OpenAI now has a valuation of $86 billion based on recent investment rounds, surpassing Stripe. Amazon is testing a humanoid warehouse robot named Digit that can grasp and stack inventory to automate workflows.

Geek News Central celebrates 19 years of podcasting, one of today’s longest-running podcasts! Our lead story today is a stark warning for all of you: Before you purchase that affordable Android TV box, ensure it’s not from an unknown brand. Cybersecurity experts from Human Security have sounded the alarm, revealing that multiple Android TV boxes, including models like the T95, T95Z, T95MAX, and others, along with a tablet model J5-W, come pre-installed with a notorious malware termed “Badbox”. This malware, rooted in the Triada malware lineage, springs into action when the unsuspecting user turns on their device. It subsequently connects to its command & control server and downloads a second wave of malware as instructed.

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Show Notes:

* –A budget Pixel phone is not in the cards, says Google

* –AI managed to design a robot that walks 

* NASA’s plan to crash and burn the ISS

* –X may test 3 subscription tiers

* –Workers will be back in the office soon

* –Cheap Android TV boxes shipped with “unlikeable” malware

* –Israeli targets hit by Gaza-linked cyberattacks

* –Walmart and data-mining Ozempic prescriptions 

* –IBM CEO in damage control

* –Crypto venture funding drops 63%

* –Microsoft reins in Bing AI’s Image Creator

* –Is broadband “telecommunications”?

Elon Musk, ever the tech industry’s maverick, has made headlines yet again with his recent decision to eliminate article headlines from links posted on X. To enhance the platform’s aesthetics, articles now appear as images with the source outlet displayed at the bottom-left. While Musk believes this change “greatly improves the esthetics,” some users are left scratching their heads, likening the new look to memes. This is the latest in a series of unorthodox modifications Musk has made to X, including a proposed site-wide paywall and an overhaul of Twitter’s verification system. One thing is for sure: nothing a X remains the same for long!

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Show Notes:

* –Patreon overhauls its platform

* –Getty Images CEO has a plan

* –Bill Gates says America has a math problem

* –Sony confirms data breach

* –A cat wiped a VA server

* –Disney+ crackdown on passwords

* –Uber will now return your online orders

* –SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites 

* –‘Coffee Badging’

* –iOS 17 update to iPhone 15 Pro overheating

* –Adobe teasing a new tool

* –6 printer tricks

* –Comcast and Charter

* –Hackers grow in sophistication and aggressiveness

* –

In this episode’s top story, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlights the escalating competition among tech giants for crucial content to enhance artificial intelligence. Amid a significant U.S. trial against Google, Nadella expressed concerns about Google’s exclusive and costly deals with publishers to amass content, a pivotal component for training AI systems. Such aggressive moves may restrict other companies’ access to essential data, limiting the diversity and growth of AI advancements. Nadella’s comments underscore the intensifying battle for content and the potential implications for the future of artificial intelligence. There’s nothing like buying up a bunch of content to try and rule the AI space. Call me not surprised.

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Show Notes:

* Eight mental health apps for seniors

* –Anna Wintour and SBF

* –DJI Pocket 3

* –Tesla Q3

* –Data theft is now the biggest worry for IT techs

* –A rare Nintendo 64 controller selling for around $1200

* –Humata AI

* –FEMA’s national emergency alert

* –October’s annual eclipse

* Space Force

* –Apple and X

* –Zelda player awarded with a $10,000 gold trophy

* –Two objects merging in space into 1

* –A paid ad-free version of TikTok

* –NASA’s Ne...

In a striking development, OpenAI, known for the celebrated AI chatbot ChatGPT, is discussing a remarkable share sale, potentially valuing the startup between $80 billion and $90 billion, a substantial leap from earlier this year. As OpenAI’s momentum surges with over 100 million active users of ChatGPT and the development of innovative AI technologies like DALL-E 2 and Codex, this share sale signifies a pivotal moment. It underscores the escalating interest in AI investments and highlights the intensifying U.S.-China competition in the AI arena.

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Show Notes:

* –The new Fitbit Charge 6

* –This tool helps you analyze real estate

* –Super harvest full moon

* –Google rushes to patch

* –Gamestop’s billionaire backer

* –SBF to get wardrobe from his lawyers

* –Tubi and ChatGPT

* –Nord Security

* –Scientists write words in water

* –NASA and Psyche

* –Radio telescope to launch to the moon

* –Sinking “hotspots” in NYC

* –iPhone 15 Pro owners complain

* –SpaceX and Space Force

* –Boundless Life

* –

OpenAI is revolutionizing communication with ChatGPT by introducing new voice and image capabilities. This significant update allows users to voice conversations or visually show ChatGPT what they are discussing. Snapping a picture of a landmark while traveling or your fridge at home can start a live discussion about interesting aspects or help determine what’s for dinner with additional follow-up questions for recipes. The update, available to Plus and Enterprise users, brings ChatGPT to iOS and Android, offering voice and image options to all platforms. This advancement comes as Big Tech firms heavily invest in AI-powered voice assistants, aiming to expand their functionality beyond basic tasks.

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Show Notes:

* –WGA strike ends

* –Instacart founder Apoorva Mehta

* –Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

* –Queen’s Brian May helped NASA

* –Evernote users

* –The five most dangerous Wi-Fi attacks

* –The iPad Mini 7

* –NASA plans to use blockchain

* –EU online piracy on the rise

* –Meta is planning on introducing dozens of chatbot personas

* –City of Dallas and its ransomware attack

* –Alexa Guard security features behind a paywall

* –DJI Mini 4 Pro unveiled

* –

Today’s top story focuses on Microsoft’s latest fall hardware event, where the spotlight wasn’t just on new consumer laptops like the Surface Laptop Go three and the Surface Laptop Studio 2. What stole the show was the company’s deep dive into AI and Copilot. From unifying Copilot across Windows 11 to introducing voice-activated and context-aware features, Microsoft is making AI more integral than ever to its ecosystem. Stay tuned as we unpack all the announcements and explore how they could change how you interact with technology. See the full show summary at the end of the post.

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Show Notes:

* –T-Mobile system glitch

* –A NASA astronaut wants peace and quiet.

* –Sick of Chrome and Edge?

* –Apple store workers in France to strike

* –The Luke Skywalker solution

* –GM CEO drops out of the Code conference

* –Threats bombard consumers

* –Humanoid Robots to Mars

* YouTube Create

* –FBI and CISA issue warning

* –Facebook officially embraces fake profiles 

* –The US and UK strike agreement

* –Vizio’s new 4K TVs

* –A judge “in a pickle”

* –Signal is adding quantum-level encryption

* –

European regulators have issued a hefty $368 million fine to TikTok for failing to safeguard children’s privacy. This marks the first instance of the renowned video-sharing app facing penalties for violating Europe’s rigorous data privacy regulations. TikTok, on their part, said this had been fixed for years. But one thing is sure: European governments, aka EU, love to get their pound of flesh out of big companies.

Tech Fines, Software Updates, and Lost Fighter Jets – A Look at the Latest Tech News

Several interesting tech stories have recently made headlines, ranging from significant companies getting fined to software updates causing user problems. Here’s a rundown of some notable tech news covered in a recent Geek News Central podcast episode.

Apple and Microsoft Release Major Software Updates Apple rolled out updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in mid-September. However, some users report issues like Macs failing to boot after installation. Podcasters using specific Intel-based machines are advised not to update yet. Meanwhile, a Windows 11 update has also caused some users gaming glitches, boot failures, and other problems. Software updates often bring bugs, and it’s best not to rush into installing them immediately.

NASA Spacecraft Returning with Asteroid Samples NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is finally set to deliver asteroid samples it collected in space back to Earth after a seven-year mission. The samples will land in a Utah desert on September 24th. Studying these early space materials could provide insights into the solar system’s history and composition. OSIRIS-REx is the first NASA mission to retrieve asteroid samples.

F-35 Fighter Jet Goes Missing In a bizarre news story, an advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet went missing following an incident that forced the pilot to eject. The $160 million aircraft then continued before presumably crashing in South Carolina. The military has been unable to locate the wreckage of the missing plane so far. Each F-35 costs around $100-160 million, depending on the variant.

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Show Notes:

* –iOS 17, iPadOS 17,watchOS 17, and tvOS 17

* –Cloud changes are to blame for cyber-attacks

* –Here’s the latest from the Mars rover

* –Stoke Space

* –NASA’s Osiris-Rex

* –

American astronaut Frank Rubio has surpassed the previous US record for the most extended stay in orbit, marking over 355 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially scheduled for a six-month mission, circumstances changed due to a rocket leak, extending his stay. Rubio, who has witnessed 28 fellow astronauts come and go, is set to reach an astonishing 371 days by his scheduled return on September 27. Reflecting on his experience, Rubio shared insights into the challenges and blessings of life in space. Congratulations and best wishes for a safe return.

I also discuss my experience in renting a Tesla.

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Show Notes:

* –$100 million to fix EV chargers

* –Instacart deactivated a shopper

* –Crew to replace astronauts stuck in space

* –WD launches new hard drives

* –Chromebooks will get 10 years of updates

* –A wheelchair-accessible robo-taxi

* –A pig kidney works a record 2 months in a donated body

* –Walmart wants associates 

* –Tesla’s new car building process

* –Ex-Twitter employees and Elon is back on the table

* AI Ethics

* AI is a “double-edged sword”

* –Tech leaders endorse AI regulation

* –California passes a bill