Samsung reportedly shipped 60.1 million smartphone units worldwide in Q1, representing 20.8 percent of the global market share and first place. Meanwhile, Apple shipped 50.1 million units for 17.3 percent of the market share. Both companies, however, saw a decrease from Q1 2023. Apple saw an almost 10 percent drop, while Samsungs hit was less than one percent.
Apple nudged Samsung out briefly in 2023, but its back to business as usual. The IDCs takeaway is that the world of smartphones is strengthening (what does that mean?), with a boost to higher-priced phonestrue for both Samsung and Apple.
Xiaomi rounded out the top five brands with 40.8 million units, Transsion with 28.5 million units and OPPO with 25.2 million units shipped. Never heard of Transsion? Its a global smartphone powerhouse based in China, responsible for phone brands including Tecno, Itel and Infinix.
Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
Rodes $90 MagSafe mount lets you attach pro lights and mics to your iPhone
Threads is testing real-time search results
Tesla is reportedly laying off more than 10 percent of its workforce
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Keanu Reeves latest iconic role is Shadow the Hedgehog
Sonic 3 gets another actor.
Sega
Keanu Reeves will play the broody, tortured Shadow the Hedgehog. The antihero, both an arch-rival and an ally to Sonic, will be created by Jim Carreys Dr. Robotnik after the events of Sonic 2. Whoa.
Continue reading.
Meta is shutting down Threads in Turkey
The social media app goes offline April 29.
Meta is shutting down Threads in Turkey on April 29 after an interim injunction from the Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) against automatic data sharing with Instagram. The TCA ruled that linking Threads and Instagram without user opt-in will lead to irreparable harm and that Meta abused its dominant position in the industry with the practice. This isnt the first regulatory battle between Meta and Turkey. Back in 2022, the country fined Meta $18.6 million for sharing data across its apps.
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Watch a recycling machine shake apart old hard drives
Dismantling an HDD in as little as eight seconds.
Garner Products DiskMantler uses a mix of shock, harmonics and vibration to shake apart a hard drive. The process loosens screws and other fasteners to free up parts like circuit boards, drive assemblies, actuators and rare-earth magnets. The process reportedly takes between eight and 90 seconds for most hard drives and around two minutes for welded helium drives. Only a fifth or so of the planets e-waste is recycled at the moment, so anything that can improve that share would be welcome.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-samsung-is-once-again-shipping-the-most-phones-in-the-world-111511309.html?src=rss
Metas Oversight Board is once again taking on the social networks rules for AI-generated content. The board has accepted two cases that deal with AI-made explicit images of public figures.
While Metas rules already prohibit nudity on Facebook and Instagram, the board said in a statement that it wants to address whether Metas policies and its enforcement practices are effective at addressing explicit AI-generated imagery. Sometimes referred to as deepfake porn, AI-generated images of female celebrities, politicians and other public figures has become an increasingly prominent form of online harassment and has drawn a wave of proposed regulation. With the two cases, the Oversight Board could push Meta to adopt new rules to address such harassment on its platform.
The Oversight Board said its not naming the two public figures at the center of each case in an effort to avoid further harassment, though it described the circumstances around each post.
One case involves an Instagram post showing an AI-generated image of a nude Indian woman that was posted by an account that only shares AI- generated images of Indian women. The post was reported to Meta but the report was closed after 48 hours because it wasnt reviewed. The same user appealed that decision but the appeal was also closed and never reviewed. Meta eventually removed the post after the user appealed to the Oversight Board and the board agreed to take the case.
The second case involved a Facebook post in a group dedicated to AI art. The post in question showed an AI-generated image of a nude woman with a man groping her breast. The woman was meant to resemble an American public figure whose name was also in the caption of the post. The post was taken down automatically because it had been previously reported and Metas internal systems were able to match it to the prior post. The user appealed the decision to take it down but the appeal was automatically closed. The user then appealed to the Oversight Board, which agreed to consider the case.
In a statement, Oversight Board co-chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt said that the board took up the two cases from different countries in order to assess potential disparities in how Metas policies are enforced. We know that Meta is quicker and more effective at moderating content in some markets and languages than others, Thorning-Schmidt said. By taking one case from the US and one from India, we want to look at whether Meta is protecting all women globally in a fair way.
The Oversight Board is asking for public comment for the next two weeks and will publish its decision sometime in the next few weeks, along with policy recommendations for Meta. A similar process involving a misleadingly-edited video of Joe Biden recently resulted in Meta agreeing to label more AI-generated content on its platform.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/metas-oversight-board-will-rule-on-ai-generated-sexual-images-100047138.html?src=rss
Netflix has been accused of using AI-manipulated imagery in the true crime documentary What Jennifer Did, Futurism has reported. Several photos show typical signs of AI trickery, including mangled hands, strange artifacts and more. If accurate, the report raises serious questions about the use of such images in documentaries, particularly since the person depicted is currently in prison awaiting retrial.
In one egregious image, the left hand of the documentary's subject Jennifer Pan is particularly mangled, while another image shows a strange gap in her cheek. Netflix has yet to acknowledge the report, but the images show clear signs of manipulation and were never labeled as AI-generated.
Netflix
The AI may be generating the imagery based on real photos of Pan, as PetaPixel suggested. However, the resulting output may be interpreted as being prejudicial instead of presenting the facts of the case without bias.
A Canadian court of appeal ordered Pan's retrial because the trial judge didn't present the jury with enough options, the CBC reported.
One critic, journalist Karen K. HO, said that the Netflix documentary is an example of the "true crime industrial complex" catering to an "all-consuming and endless" appetite for violent content. Netflix's potential use of AI manipulated imagery as a storytelling tool may reinforce that argument.
Regulators in the US, Europe and elsewhere have enacted laws on the use of AI, but so far there appears to be no specific laws governing the use of AI images or video in documentaries or other content. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflix-true-crime-documentary-may-have-used-ai-generated-images-of-a-real-person-090024761.html?src=rss
When Sonic 3 hits the theaters later this year, you may be able to watch a franchise fan favorite be voiced by one of Hollywood's all-time fan favorite actors. Keanu Reeves will play the broody, tortured Shadow the Hedgehog, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. The antihero, who's both an arch-rival and an ally to Sonic, will be created by Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik after the events of Sonic 2, based on the movie's first footage presented at CinemaCon last week.
Shadow has a long history in the Sonic universe and first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2, which came out back in 2001. The black-furred anthropomorphic hedgehog was created in the games to help find a cure for Dr. Robotnik's granddaughter Maria, who had a terminal disease. It's unclear if the movie will follow a similar storyline though we can again expect Sonic and his gang to stop Dr. Robotnik's plans to take over the world but we'll likely get more details about the film before it comes out on December 20. Jeff Fowler will still lead the production as its director, while Ben Schwartz and James Marsden are reprising their roles as Sonic and his adoptive father-of-sorts Sheriff Tom Wachowski, respectively.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/keanu-reeves-is-reportedly-playing-shadow-the-hedgehog-in-sonic-3-072847772.html?src=rss
Metas Threads app is often described as the companys competitor to X. But Threads users, especially those once active on Twitter, are often quick to point out that Metas app is not yet a great source for real-time information. The apps for you algorithm often surfaces days-old posts alongside fresh ones, and its recently introduced trending topics feature only shows five topics at a time. But for those holding out hope that the app may eventually become more useful for real-time information, Metas latest test may be good news.
The app is testing a new search feature that will allow users to filter results by recency, according to a screenshot shared by Threads user Daniel Rodriguez. Threads top exec, Adam Mosseri, confirmed the change. Were starting to test this with a small number of people so its easier to find relevant search results in real time, Mosseri wrote.
That may sound like a relatively minor tweak but the lack of a chronological search has long been frustrating for Threads users looking to find news or commentary about current events. And while sorting by recent posts isnt the same as chronological search, it should help surface posts about breaking news or other timely topics.
Just how useful the feature is, though, will depend on if Meta makes the filter available to all topics on the platform. The screenshot showed a recency option for NBA Threads, a community Mosseri has gone out of his way to encourage in the app. But Mosseri has been considerably less enthusiastic about other timely topics, saying last year he didnt want to encourage hard news. Elsewhere, Threads has angered some users by removing political content from recommendations and blocking search results for topics it deems potentially sensitive, like vaccines and COVID-19, even if the posts dont violate its rules.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-is-testing-real-time-search-results-234857960.html?src=rss
Modern iPhone cameras are extremely capable video recorders, but typically require accessories like lights and microphones to ensure professional results. Audio gear manufacturer Rode just announced a pair of gadgets intended to simplify this process, so streamers wont have to build a cumbersome rig in the computer room or haul one to an outdoor space.
The Rode Magnetic Mount is exactly what it sounds like. Its a MagSafe mount with a pair of connection points for accessories like the aforementioned lights and microphones. There are two adjustable cold shoe arms that allow people to use the phone in portrait or landscape mode. For the uninitiated, cold shoe refers to metal connection brackets that lack power, whereas hot shoe would refer to metal connection brackets that feature electronic contacts.
Its not just for iPhones, as any smartphone snuggled into a MagSafe-compatible case should work. The Rode Magnetic Mount is made from high-grade aluminum, so its on the pricier side when compared to the endless barrage of similar products on Amazon. It costs $90 and begins shipping on April 24.
Rode
Rode also announced the Phone Cage, which promises to turn your smartphone into a professional filmmaking rig. This is basically a beefier version of the aforementioned accessory, with five cold shoe mounts for attaching anything a budding filmmaker could possibly need, all while keeping the phone safe and snug inside its cage.
To that end, the mounts integrate with an array of thread sizes for attaching accessories like tripods and handles. There are also cable management slots, as five accessories could mean five cables snaking about and threatening to ruin that perfect shot. Again, this is for MagSafe models, which start with the iPhone 12. Itll also work with another brand of smartphone inside of a MagSafe-compatible case. The Phone Cage starts shipping on April 24 and costs $120.
Rode recently purchased rival audio gear company Mackie and announced a renewed effort to design and release products for content creators. It looks like these mounts are part of that push. The company also just launched a new dual-receiver wireless lapel microphone for multi-mic setups.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/rodes-90-magsafe-mount-lets-you-attach-pro-lights-and-mics-to-your-iphone-184033154.html?src=rss
Disney is reportedly planning to add linear cable-style streaming channels to Disney+. According to The Information, the company wants subscribers to spend more time in the app and, by offering more viewing options, it may entice users to stick around. In addition, by running ads on these channels, Disney could boost its bottom line.
There are already a bunch of free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) services such as Roku, Pluto TV and Tubi. Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery brought FAST channels featuring its shows and movies to Roku and Tubi. Disney itself has some FAST channels inside the ABC.com app, including ones dedicated to General Hospital and 20/20. But none of those are inside a subscription service.
The report suggests that Disney may offer channels based on tentpole franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel, along with others showing animated movies from Pixar. Many folks have FAST channels on as background noise while cleaning and so on, and given the high brand affinity for Disney, this makes sense for the company to explore.
Beyond Marvel and Star Wars, Disney has a deep well of shows and movies to pull from for its linear streaming channels. There's absolutely a market for a channel that shows The Simpsons 24/7. There's probably an audience out there that would love to have Boy Meets World or Scrubs on in the background as they go about their day, and of course Disney has a large library of animated kids shows in its locker. A DuckTales channel seems like a no-brainer.
Disney is trying to make Disney+ a one-stop shop for consumers. It recently folded in Hulu and it reportedly plans to do something similar with ESPN when the sports network's standalone streaming service arrives next year. Adding linear streaming channels to the mix could help Disney pull eyeballs away from the likes of Roku and Pluto TV as well.
Another major streaming platform has explored different strategies too, according to the report. At one point Netflix is said to have considered offering the option to subscribe to and watch other streaming services from within its app, much like Amazon does with Prime Video Channels. The Information notes that while Netflix hasn't moved forward with that plan, the company hasn't ruled it out as it too tries to get users to spend more time in its appThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/disney-may-add-cable-style-streaming-channels-focused-on-marvel-and-star-wars-180035875.html?src=rss
The Biden administration just announced a preliminary agreement to award Samsung up to $6.4 billion in grants as part of CHIPS Act funding. This money will complement the $44 billion in private investment that the company has promised to spend in the state to build a semiconductor ecosystem.
This money will be spent to finish a leading-edge campus in Taylor, Texas that will focus on research and development of advanced logic technologies, manufacturing and, perhaps most importantly, packaging. When it comes to chips, packaging refers to providing power, inputs and outputs. Its a highly specialized process thats typically done overseas, which means that even chips built on US soil have to get shipped to another country and then mailed back. Samsungs dedicated packaging facility should eliminate some of these headaches and strengthen the overall supply chain.
The money will also go toward an expansion of Samsungs pre-existing facility in Austin. Taylor and Austin are only 40 minutes away from one another, leading the Biden administration to suggest that the combination of both facilities will turn Samsungs existing presence in Texas into a comprehensive ecosystem for the development and production of leading-edge chips in the United States. The president also says itll lead to 21,500 jobs for Texans, with $40 million set aside for training.
The CHIPS and Science Act has given the federal government authority to award funding and offer loans to tech companies to encourage domestic spending. GlobalFoundries received a grant of $1.5 billion back in February to help with a major expansion, in addition to snapping up a $1.6 billion loan. The company plans on spending this money in Malta, New York to build a new fabrication facility that manufactures chips for the automotive, aerospace, defense and AI industries.
Intel recently received the largest CHIPS grant to date, grabbing up to $8.5 billion to continue various US-based ventures. Intel plans on using that money to build some new plants that manufacture semiconductor chips for the AI industry. Its building two new fabrication facilities in Arizona and two more in Ohio. Intel will also use the financial windfall to modernize a pair of pre-existing plants in New Mexico and one in Oregon. The company says itll be investing $100 billion in US-based chip manufacturing, leading to an influx of around 30,000 jobs.
President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law back in 2022 to encourage domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing in order to lessen America's reliance on Chinese suppliers. All told, it sets aside $52 billion in tax credits and funding for companies to expand stateside production.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-awarded-64-billion-chips-act-grant-to-build-semiconductor-ecosystem-in-texas-165414946.html?src=rss
Traditional hard drives typically contain useful components. But dismantling them manually would be too labor-intensive. As things stand, old hard drives tend to go through a shredder and it's often down to luck whether there's anything usable left after that process. A company called Garner Products claims to have a better solution with its DiskMantler.
This machine (spotted by Ars Technica) uses a mix of shock, harmonics and vibration to shake apart a hard drive. The process loosens screws and other fasteners no matter what kind of oddly shaped screw heads are used to free up parts like circuit boards, drive assemblies, actuators and rare-earth magnets. The process reportedly takes between eight and 90 seconds for most hard drives, and around two minutes for welded helium drives.
The DiskManter can seemingly disassemble as many as 500 hard drives a day and only a fifth or so of the planet's e-waste is recycled. So at least for now, Garner's recycling efforts may seem a bit like a drop in the ocean. However, if the company can help to retrieve valuable components such as rare-earth magnets without having to break them down into elements and starting the production process over, that surely has to be a net positive.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-a-recycling-machine-shake-apart-old-hard-drives-to-recover-components-163442500.html?src=rss
Meta is shutting down Threads in Turkey on April 29 after an interim injunction from the Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) against automatic data-sharing with Instagram. The TCA ruled that linking Threads and Instagram without user opt-in will lead to irreparable harms and that Meta abused its dominant position in the industry with the practice. The TCA also suggested that the linking exists primarily to increase the companys market power.
Rather than make any changes to how Instagram and Threads integrate in the region, Metas pulling the nascent social media app. The company says this is merely a temporary measure as it works to appeal the injunction, but theres no timetable for that. In the meantime, Meta suggests that users in Turkey either deactivate their accounts or delete them entirely. Those who deactivate will have their posts and interactions restored if Threads returns to the country.
Turkish regulators arent the only people who think the automatic linking between Threads and Instagram is, at best, a bit creepy. Its been a point of contention since the platform launched last year. The apps were so tied together that users couldnt even delete a Threads account without nuking their Instagram account, though Meta patched this several months back.
Meta also began promoting Threads posts on Facebook and Instagram without user consent, eventually allowing people to opt out of the, uh, feature. This is the type of automatic data-sharing that bristled the TCA, leading to the recent injunction.
Also, this isnt the first regulatory battle between Meta and Turkey. The country fined Meta $18.6 million back in 2022 for data-sharing across its apps, according to a report by TechCrunch. This is an alleged violation of the countrys competition laws. The country asked Meta to submit documents detailing its efforts to stop violation of these laws, but Turkish regulators said the explanations were lacking. As such, the country slapped Meta with additional fines, to the tune of $160,000 each day.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-shutting-down-threads-in-turkey-following-injunction-against-data-sharing-with-instagram-154725011.html?src=rss
