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.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Android's Find My Device Network Equivalent

The video discusses the introduction of a new feature for Android users that mirrors Apple's Find My Network. Unlike GPS, this system can utilize Bluetooth connections from passersby with recent Android phones to locate lost devices anonymously. The feature is not limited to phones, as it also supports items like AirTags and third-party form factors. Google has also indicated that certain devices, such as the Pixel 8, can be detected even when offline or with a dead battery, hinting at potential NFC or RFID use.

05:00

💻 FCC's New Transparency Requirement for ISPs

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that internet service providers (ISPs) in the United States display a 'nutrition label' for their plans, much like food products. This label includes key information such as introductory and regular pricing, any price increases, additional fees, data allowances, and upload/download speeds. The requirement aims to make it easier for consumers to understand what they are signing up for and to spot any hidden costs.

10:02

🛡️ Microsoft's Patch for a New Spectre/Meltdown Variant

Microsoft has released a registry tweak to address a new variant of the Spectre/Meltdown vulnerability discovered several years ago. The company has provided two registry keys that users can add via an elevated command prompt to mitigate the risk. However, this is not a default update and may come with a performance impact, similar to the original Spectre/Meltdown patches.

🚫 Malicious GitHub Repositories Targeting Search Functions

A warning is given about hackers creating malicious GitHub repositories designed to exploit the search function. These repositories may mimic legitimate but less popular projects or clone popular ones, using fake stars to appear more credible. Developers are advised to verify the authenticity of a project before using it to avoid potential security risks.

📸 Larger and Faster SD Cards on the Horizon

Western Digital and Samsung have announced the release of larger and faster SD cards. Western Digital will release two-terabyte SD cards this year and four-terabyte cards by 2025, complying with a new SD Express speed class standard that supports speeds over 600 megabytes per second. These high-speed cards will be available in smaller capacities, while the larger capacity cards will likely have a slower speed class.

🎥 Adobe Premiere Pro's Generative AI Features

Adobe has announced the addition of generative AI features to Adobe Premiere Pro, allowing users to perform tasks akin to Photoshop's generative fill but for video. The features will enable video editing where users can select a part of a video and instruct the software to generate a replacement, extend a clip, or even create entirely new B-roll clips. Adobe will be partnering with OpenAI and their Sora model, which is considered a top choice for professional use.

🧹 Dyson's Augmented Reality Vacuum Tracking Feature

Dyson is set to introduce a feature using augmented reality on smartphones to track the areas that have already been vacuumed. This follows a viral video concept that showcased a similar idea. The feature is expected to launch in June for Dyson's Gen5 Detect Stick Vacuum and may be available for future models. It uses the Dyson app to track the vacuum's path without being directly connected to the vacuum itself.

💥 Intel's Investigation into Processor Game Crashes

Intel is investigating issues with its latest generation i9-13900 and 14900K processors that have led to game crashes or memory errors, particularly with games using the Unreal Engine like Fortnite and Overwatch. The issue has resulted in a significant number of returns, prompting Intel to examine the problem closely to avoid further returns and to ensure the processors are not architecturally flawed.

🎮 PS5 Pro: Confirmed Specs and Features

The PS5 Pro's specifications have been confirmed, with a planned release before the holidays. The new console will feature a GPU that is approximately 45% faster than the current PS5, a 28% increase in memory bandwidth, and a CPU with a 10% higher clock speed. Additionally, it will have improved ray tracing architecture, potentially four times faster, and a new AI-based super resolution feature akin to NVIDIA's DLSS, targeting 4K 60 or 8K 30 performance, with aspirations for 4K 120 in future generations.

Keywords

💡Android Find My Network

A new feature for Android devices that allows users to locate lost devices without necessarily using GPS. It leverages Bluetooth connections from nearby Android phones running recent versions to anonymously report the vicinity of the lost device. This feature is significant as it enhances device security and user convenience, and it is mentioned as a highlight for Android users in the video.

💡FCC Nutrition Label

A new requirement by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for internet service providers (ISPs) to display a label that provides clear and straightforward information about their service plans. This is akin to food nutrition labels and includes details like introductory pricing, regular pricing, additional fees, data allowances, and upload/download speeds. The FCC Nutrition Label is mentioned as a positive development for consumers in the context of increased transparency and reduced hidden fees.

💡Spectre/Meltdown Variant

A new variant of the Spectre/Meltdown security vulnerability that was previously discovered. Microsoft has released a registry tweak patch to mitigate this new variant, which users can choose to implement. The mention of this in the video underscores ongoing concerns about cybersecurity and the need for regular updates to protect against emerging threats.

💡Malicious GitHub Repos

A type of cybersecurity threat where hackers create GitHub repositories that appear legitimate but are actually malicious. These repositories may use fake stars to seem credible and can infect a developer's system if cloned or used. The video warns viewers to verify the authenticity of projects on GitHub, highlighting the importance of vigilance even with open-source software.

💡SD Express

A new standard for SD cards announced by Western Digital and Samsung, offering significantly higher storage capacities and faster speeds. The SD Express cards comply with the new speed class standard, which can reach over 600 megabytes per second. The introduction of these cards is tied to the theme of technological advancement and is mentioned in the context of professional use cases like high-resolution video recording.

💡Adobe Premiere Pro Generative AI

New features coming to Adobe Premiere Pro that utilize generative AI to enhance video editing. These features will allow users to generate new content within a video, extend clips, or create B-roll without an initial reference. The integration of AI in video editing software is part of the broader narrative of AI's growing role in creative industries, as discussed in the video.

💡Dyson Augmented Reality

An upcoming feature from Dyson that uses augmented reality on a smartphone to track the areas that have already been vacuumed. This feature is set to launch for the Gen5 Detect Stick Vacuum and is an example of how technology companies are integrating AR into their products to improve user experience and efficiency.

💡Intel i9-13900 and 14900K Processors

New generation Intel processors that have reportedly been causing issues with certain games, leading to crashes or memory errors. The video discusses Intel's investigation into these issues, which is significant as it affects the user experience and reliability of high-end gaming systems.

💡PS5 Pro

The rumored upgraded version of the PlayStation 5, with confirmed specifications including a GPU that's about 45% faster, a 28% increased memory bandwidth, a 10% increased CPU clock speed, and improved ray tracing architecture. The PS5 Pro is also said to feature PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, which is compared to NVIDIA's DLSS technology. The discussion around the PS5 Pro fits into the video's theme of reviewing recent tech news and developments.

💡Tech News Format

The video script introduces a new format for discussing tech news, focusing on interesting developments that may not warrant a full video but are still noteworthy. This format is designed to keep viewers informed about a wider range of tech topics, as indicated by the host's invitation for feedback on this approach.

💡Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Companies that provide internet access to customers. In the context of the video, ISPs are discussed in relation to new FCC regulations requiring them to display a 'nutrition label' for their service plans. This is an important aspect of the video as it relates to consumer protection and transparency in the telecom industry.

Highlights

Android is introducing an equivalent to Apple's Find My Network that uses Bluetooth to locate lost devices, even when offline or with a dead battery.

The FCC now requires ISPs in the United States to display a 'nutrition label' for their plans, making hidden fees and service details more transparent.

Microsoft released a registry tweak for a new Spectre/Meltdown variant, which users can opt into but is not enabled by default due to potential performance impacts.

Hackers are creating malicious GitHub repositories that mimic popular projects to target search functions and potentially infect developers' systems.

Western Digital and Samsung announced new SD Express cards with capacities up to 4TB and speeds over 1GB per second, catering to professional cinema cameras.

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 through a smartphone app for their Gen5 Detect Stick Vacuum.

Intel is investigating issues with their latest i9-13900 and 14900K processors that cause game crashes or memory errors, particularly with games using the Unreal Engine.

The PS5 Pro is confirmed to be released before the holidays this year with a 45% faster GPU, 28% increased memory bandwidth, a 10% CPU clock speed boost, and improved ray tracing.

The PS5 Pro will also feature PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-based super resolution technology similar to NVIDIA's DLSS, targeting 4K 60 or 8K 30 performance.

The new Android Find My Network will support third-party form factors like card ones, expanding beyond just device tracking.

The new SD Express standard will introduce speed classes labeled as V30, V90, and up to SD Express with over 600MB/s speeds.

Adobe's generative AI for video editing is expected to significantly streamline the editing process for professionals.

Dyson's upcoming feature will likely be compatible with future vacuum models, despite initial limitations to the Gen5 Detect Stick Vacuum.

The PS5 Pro's confirmed specifications suggest a significant leap in performance for next-gen gaming consoles.

The new tech news format aims to cover a broader range of interesting developments beyond just the biggest headlines.

The introduction of the augmented reality feature by Dyson shows the increasing integration of AR technology in everyday appliances.

The potential performance hit associated with the new Microsoft registry tweak highlights the ongoing balance between security and system efficiency.

Transcripts

I figured I'd try out a new format where I go  over some of the more interesting tech news that  

happened in the previous week that wasn't enough  to make a whole video about, but there's quite  

a bit that usually happens every week I'd like to  talk about, and it's not always the biggest news.  

Some of this stuff is kind of small, but still  interesting and good to know about. That's the  

kind of stuff that I'd like to talk about. This is  going to be the first week of it, and let me know  

what you guys think. First off, Android users are  going to love this. Android is finally getting an  

equivalent to Apple's Find My Network, where it  doesn't use GPS if you're trying to find a lost  

device, necessarily. It can also use people  just walking by, and if they have an Android  

phone using a relatively recent version, it will  connect via Bluetooth and then report back and be  

able to tell people anonymously that their device  is around this vicinity. It's not going to be just  

for devices. Of course, they're also going to be  supporting basically AirTag-like things where it's  

for items and probably third-party form factors,  like there's actually card ones now for the iOS,  

not just the AirTags, quite a bit. Google also  said that for some of the more recent ones,  

specifically like the Pixel 8 devices, it will  be able to still detect using the network,  

even if the phone is turned off or offline, or  even if the battery's dead, they said. I don't  

know how that works. Maybe it uses NFC or RFID  or something like that. I'm going to have to look  

more into that. They didn't really talk about that  in the announcement very much. Next up, for those  

of you in the United States, you should be happy  to know that ISPs, internet service providers,  

now are not going to have as easy of a time  to shove in hidden fees and all this crap,  

because the FCC now requires that ISPs show  a nutrition label for their plans. It really  

does look like that. It was kind of inspired by  the requirements for food nutrition labels. You  

can see that it has required information for all  plans that they offer, such as the introductory  

price versus the regular pricing, if the price is  going to go up, additional fees, data allowances,  

which is a big one, and also upload and download  speeds. A lot of times plans will kind of hide the  

upload speed because it sucks compared to the  download speed. I looked at a couple internet  

service providers I know, and it does look like  they already show it, and it's not hidden away  

either. There's the requirement that it has  to be pretty apparent. So right on the normal  

page where they show you all the possible plans  you can get, I think it's on those same pages,  

at least the ones that I saw, and I think it's  required to be. Now, does that mean that everyone  

is going to understand what they're looking at?  Maybe not necessarily, but at least if you do,  

it's a lot easier to figure out all the crap  that they try to hide from you. Next, Microsoft  

released a registry tweak patch that you can  choose to do yourself for a new vulnerability that  

was announced. You know that Spectre / Meltdown  thing that was discovered several years ago? Well,  

apparently there's a new variant of it, and there  is a way to mitigate it that Microsoft released  

in the form of two registry keys that you can add,  and on their official site, they have two commands  

that you can put into an elevated command prompt  to add those. I personally did, but it's not going  

to be added as a default thing. You have to choose  to go and do it. I think because probably it might  

not be quite as severe, I think it has like a  four point something severity rating out of 10,  

and also it potentially could have a performance  hit sort of like how the mitigations did back with  

the original Meltdown and Spectre. So I will  put a link in the description to Microsoft's  

official blog post about this vulnerability  and you can see they have instructions with  

the registry keys if you just want to copy that  into a command prompt running as admin. I did,  

I haven't really noticed a huge difference, but  there might be a performance hit. You can choose  

whether or not you want to add it. Also having to  do with security, apparently hackers are creating  

completely malicious GitHub repos that target  basically the search function and I think are  

mostly made to either mimic a legitimate project  that might not be popular, but someone might find  

it and kind of clone it, or it could be like a  clone of a popular project. And when someone goes  

to search for it, it'll have like fake stars that  were botted so it looks more legitimate. And then  

if a developer goes and clones it and tries to use  it in a project, it has code that will be launched  

by the IDE and potentially infect you. So always  important, just because something is open source  

doesn't mean that it's not malicious because it  could be a completely malicious repo in the first  

place. So always try to verify that you're on the  official correct page for a project and don't just  

go by stars because they can be faked. Next up,  we're about to see even larger SD cards coming  

out. Western Digital announced that this year  they're going to be releasing two terabyte SD  

cards and in 2025 four terabyte SD cards. These  actually comply with a new standard for SD card  

speed classes. I didn't actually know this until  now. Basically you know how there's speed ratings  

that might be on an SD card, says like V30, V90,  stuff like that. There's a new one called SD  

Express and these speed classes go all the way up  to 600 megabytes plus. And of course the SD card  

might be faster than the maximum speed rating.  These are just ones they created as a standard.  

Apparently the higher speed ones are only going  to be 128 or 256 gigabytes, whereas the bigger  

ones that I talked about are probably going to be  like a slower speed class. But Western Digital is  

not the only game in town. Samsung also announced  SD Express cards that are capable of one gigabyte  

plus, depending on whether it's read or write.  So new, very fast SD cards coming out. Of course,  

you would require a device that supports the  latest standard to be able to use that. And  

probably not that many people need that kind  of speed. It's mostly going to be probably for  

professional cinema cameras that are recording  like raw or 8K, that sort of thing. But still  

always going to be nice to have faster stuff  available as an option. This next one got me  

really excited. Adobe announced new generative AI  features coming to Adobe Premiere Pro, which I use  

every day for editing these videos. And they're  basically going to allow you to kind of do like  

Photoshop for videos, where you can either select  part of a video and tell it to generate something  

to replace that with and it'll do it, sort of  like with Photoshop's current generative fill  

that they have. It'll be for video now, or it'll  also have features for extending a clip. So if  

you have an existing clip, you just want to  be a bit longer, you can use AI to do that,  

generate more length. Or you'll even be able to  generate entirely new clips as B-roll that don't  

have an initial reference. So you really have all  the options here. But what's very interesting is  

in addition to supporting some of the existing  AI video services like Pika Labs and Runway ML,  

they said they are also going to partner with  OpenAI and their Sora model, which in my opinion  

is by far the best one, really the only one that's  probably worth using professionally. And really  

we have not seen this as an option for anyone  to actually use. And apparently these features  

in Adobe Premiere Pro are going to be coming out  later this year. So that'll be very interesting  

to see. Do they kind of neuter the Sora model  for this or will it be the full-fledged feature  

set? We'll have to see. This next one is pretty  neat. Dyson announced a upcoming feature where  

it'll be able to use augmented reality on your  phone to basically track where you've already  

vacuumed. You guys might remember several months  ago, there was a video that kind of went viral of  

someone who did this as like a concept, or I think  they might've done it with their Vive headset,  

they set it up where it would do just that.  It would show you exactly where you've already  

vacuumed. And a lot of people obviously liked  that. And I guess Dyson decided they wanted to  

do that. And it'll apparently be launching in June  only for their most recent model at the moment,  

which is the Gen5 Detect Stick Vacuum. And I'm  assuming they're going to be launching it for  

future vacuums because it doesn't actually hook up  to the vacuum itself, I believe. I think it just,  

it mounts on a thing that attaches to the tube,  and then you use the Dyson app and it just kind  

of tracks it. So I don't see why that would  be limited to just one model, but they might  

artificially limit it. We'll have to see. I'm  probably going to see if I can use it. Next up,  

Intel is apparently finally investigating  some issues that have been reported in  

the newest generation Intel i9-13900 and 14900K  processors with some games where it would either  

crash the games or have errors like invalid or  insufficient memory that some people were seeing.  

And apparently this was causing a big amount  of returns, especially in Korea, because one of  

the games that was affected was Tekken 8. I guess  that's relatively popular or newly launched. And  

apparently they're getting like 10 CPU returns per  day. So finally they're taking a look and seeing,  

okay, this could be an issue because I guess it's  just for these specific models. Apparently other  

games are also affected, mostly having to do  with the Unreal Engine. So that would include  

stuff like Fortnite, but also other games like  Overwatch. So I'm assuming this is going to be  

some kind of thing they can patch out if they  figure it out. They don't want people returning  

the CPUs. Hopefully it's not architectural.  Finally the PS5 Pro specs have been confirmed.  

It's going to be apparently released before  the holidays of this year. And we have some  

information finally. It's going to apparently  have a GPU that's about 45% faster than the  

current regular PS5. It's going to have a 28%  increased memory bandwidth. And apparently the CPU  

is going to be the same, but it's going to have  an increased clock speed of about 10%. So it will  

be improved there. And also it's supposed to have  improved ray tracing architecture that supposedly  

will be able to be up to four times faster for  ray tracing purposes. So how much that actually  

translates to real world performance, we'll have  to see. But also interesting is the PS5 Pro will  

have a new super resolution. I guess it's using  AI, called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.  

I think this is going to be kind of like DLSS with  NVIDIA. So this will allow the console to create  

higher resolution output that looks natively at  that resolution, but without having to use as  

much GPU power. Apparently they're targeting 4K 60  or 8K 30 performance. And I've read that they're  

planning to target 4K 120 for future generations  of consoles. So even though I believe the PS5 and  

PS5 Pro are capable of outputting at 4K 120,  that's not really what this is targeting. But  

theoretically, depending on the game, it could be  possible to get to that level. So yeah, those are  

some interesting tech news stories from the past  week. Let me know which was your favorite. And if  

I missed something, of course, let me know down  in the comments and let me know what you think  

of this series in general. If you want to keep  watching, the next video I'd recommend is where  

I went over 17 computer tips that you'll wish you  knew sooner. Those are pretty good. I'll put that  

link right there and click on. So thanks so much  for watching and I'll see you in the next one.