Tech News - Android Find My Network, ISP "Nutrition Labels", Microsoft Registry Patch, & More

Summary

This week's tech news roundup covers a variety of updates and innovations. Android users will soon have a new feature similar to Apple's Find My Network, utilizing Bluetooth to locate lost devices. In the U.S., the FCC now mandates ISPs to display a 'nutrition label' for their plans, making hidden fees and service details transparent. Microsoft has released a registry tweak for a new Spectre/Meltdown variant, which users can opt to implement. Security concerns arise as hackers create malicious GitHub repositories, mimicking popular projects. Western Digital and Samsung announce the development of larger and faster SD cards, with new speed class standards. Adobe Premiere Pro is set to receive new AI features for video editing, including generative AI and clip extension capabilities. Dyson is introducing an augmented reality feature to track vacuuming progress. Intel is investigating issues with their latest processors causing game crashes. Lastly, the PS5 Pro is confirmed with enhanced specs, including improved GPU, memory bandwidth, and ray tracing capabilities, aiming for 4K 60 or 8K 30 performance.

Takeaways

• 📱 Android is introducing a new feature similar to Apple's Find My Network that uses Bluetooth to locate lost devices, even if offline or with a dead battery.
• 🏪 The FCC now requires ISPs in the U.S. to display a 'nutrition label' for their plans, making it easier to understand pricing, fees, and data allowances.
• 🛡️ Microsoft has released a registry tweak for a new Spectre/Meltdown variant, though it's optional and may affect performance.
• 🐙 Beware of malicious GitHub repositories that use fake stars to appear legitimate and could infect your system when cloned.
• 💾 Western Digital and Samsung are releasing high-capacity SD cards, with Western Digital announcing 2TB SD cards this year and 4TB in 2025.
• 🔍 SD Express cards will comply with a new speed class standard, offering speeds over 600MB/s for professional use cases.
• 🎥 Adobe Premiere Pro will receive new generative AI features, allowing users to extend clips or generate new B-roll, in partnership with OpenAI's Sora model.
• 🧹 Dyson is set to launch an augmented reality feature that tracks vacuuming progress, initially for their Gen5 Detect Stick Vacuum.
• 💻 Intel is investigating issues with their latest i9-13900 and 14900K processors that cause crashes or memory errors in certain games.
• 🎮 The PS5 Pro is confirmed with specs including a 45% faster GPU, 28% increased memory bandwidth, a 10% faster CPU clock speed, and improved ray tracing.
• 📚 The PS5 Pro will also feature PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, similar to NVIDIA's DLSS, targeting 4K 60 or 8K 30 performance with potential for 4K 120 in the future.

Q & A

What is the new feature Android is introducing that is similar to Apple's Find My Network?

Android is introducing a feature that allows users to locate a lost device without necessarily using GPS. It can utilize Bluetooth connections with nearby Android phones running recent versions to anonymously report the device's vicinity.

How does the new Android feature work when the device is turned off or the battery is dead?

The exact mechanism is not detailed in the announcement, but it is hinted that technologies like NFC or RFID might be used to enable the feature even when the device is offline or the battery is depleted.

What new requirement has the FCC implemented for internet service providers (ISPs) in the United States?

The FCC now requires ISPs to display a 'nutrition label' for their plans, which includes clear information about introductory pricing, regular pricing, potential price increases, additional fees, data allowances, and upload/download speeds.

What is the new vulnerability related to the Spectre/Meltdown issues, and how can users mitigate it?

A new variant of the Spectre/Meltdown vulnerabilities has been discovered. Microsoft has released a registry tweak patch in the form of two registry keys that users can add to mitigate the issue, although it's not enabled by default and may have a performance impact.

What is the risk associated with malicious GitHub repositories?

Malicious GitHub repositories can target the search function, mimicking legitimate or popular projects with fake stars to appear more credible. If a developer clones and uses such a repository in a project, it could contain code that launches upon IDE execution and potentially infects the user's system.

What advancements are expected in the SD card technology according to Western Digital and Samsung?

Western Digital announced the release of two terabyte SD cards this year and four terabyte SD cards by 2025. They will comply with a new SD Express standard, offering higher speed classes up to 600 megabytes per second. Samsung also announced SD Express cards capable of speeds of over one gigabyte per second for read or write operations.

What new features are coming to Adobe Premiere Pro that involve generative AI?

Adobe Premiere Pro will receive new generative AI features that allow users to select parts of a video and generate replacements or extend a clip's length. It will also enable the generation of entirely new B-roll clips without an initial reference. The features will support existing AI video services and will include a partnership with OpenAI and their Sora model.

What upcoming feature has Dyson announced for its Gen5 Detect Stick Vacuum?

Dyson will introduce a feature that uses augmented reality on a smartphone to track where a user has already vacuumed. This is set to launch in June for the Gen5 Detect Stick Vacuum model.

What issues is Intel investigating with its newest generation i9-13900 and 14900K processors?

Intel is investigating issues with its newest processors that cause games to crash or display errors related to invalid or insufficient memory, particularly with games using the Unreal Engine, such as Fortnite and Overwatch.

What are the confirmed specifications for the upcoming PS5 Pro?

The PS5 Pro will feature a GPU that is about 45% faster than the current PS5, a 28% increase in memory bandwidth, the same CPU with a 10% increased clock speed, and improved ray tracing architecture that could be up to four times faster. It will also include a new AI-based super resolution feature called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.

What is the target performance for the PS5 Pro's new super resolution feature?

The target performance for the PS5 Pro's super resolution feature is 4K resolution at 60 frames per second or 8K resolution at 30 frames per second, with future generations potentially targeting 4K at 120 frames per second.

What is the host's opinion on the Sora model from OpenAI?

The host considers the Sora model from OpenAI to be the best one available and the only one that is probably worth using professionally.