Google Launches Gemini Ultra, Advanced

Company releases improved AI model and accompanying subscription plan

Google launched a new version of their Gemini artificial intelligence model Feb. 8, alongside a subscription and a mobile app. The new AI model, dubbed Gemini Ultra 1.0, is only available to subscribers of Gemini Advanced, a $20 per month subscription service announced at the same time. The older model, [...]

Court Temporarily Lifts Apple Watch Import Ban

January 1, 2024

Altman Returns To OpenAI

November 22, 2023

Ousted OpenAI CEO To Join Microsoft

November 18, 2023

Hardware

Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 were unavailable directly from Apple while the ban was in effect, though they could still be purchased from third-party retailers. Apple Watch SE is not affected by the ban. Photo by Apple. Court Temporarily Lifts Apple Watch Import Ban

By Josh Levin | Published January 1, 2024

Two Apple Watch models are again available in the U.S. after a federal appeals court temporarily stayed an order Dec. 27 barring the company from
Photo by Lennart Preiss, courtesy of the European Union. What ‘Circular Economy’ Means for Right-to-Repair

By Josh Levin | Published July 28, 2023

According to the regulation, end-users must be able to remove the battery in their devices “with the use of commercially available tools." Removing the battery cannot require heat or chemicals, nor can it require specialized tools unless the manufacturer provides them for free.
Photo by Intel. ASUS To Continue Next Unit of Computing

By Josh Levin | Published July 25, 2023

As Intel stops direct investment in NUC, they will allow ASUS to produce existing 11th, 12th and 13th Gen Intel NUC designs, and develop their own in the future.

Industry

OpenAI President Greg Brockman, who is returning to OpenAI alongside Altman, with the OpenAI team at the company's offices. Photo by Greg Brockman. Altman Returns To OpenAI

By Josh Levin | Published November 22, 2023

OpenAI has reached “an agreement in principle” to rehire their former chief executive, Sam Altman, the company announced this morning. Greg Brockman, who resigned as president of OpenAI after he was removed as chairman of the board of directors, announced that he is also returning.
Sam Altman speaks at Day 2 of TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco, 2019. Photo by TechCrunch, CC BY 2.0 Ousted OpenAI CEO To Join Microsoft

By Josh Levin | Published November 18, 2023

Last Updated at 9:36 a.m. Nov. 20. The board of directors of OpenAI, the Silicon Valley company behind ChatGPT, fired Founder and CEO Sam Altman
After the acquisition, Activision Blizzard will continue to exist as a subsidiary of Microsoft. Photo by Josh Levin. Court Allows Microsoft To Buy Activision

By Josh Levin | Published July 17, 2023

The FTC filed a notice of appeal July 13, and asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to stop Microsoft and Activision Blizzard from closing the deal while the appeal is pending. The court denied the motion.

Software

Photo courtesy of Google. Google Launches Gemini Ultra, Advanced

By Josh Levin | Published February 18, 2024

Google launched a new version of their Gemini artificial intelligence model Feb. 8, alongside a subscription and a mobile app. The new AI model, dubbed
Photo by Sebastian Bergmann via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0 Vim Developer Bram Moolenaar Dead at 62

By Josh Levin | Published August 6, 2023

Bram Moolenaar, creator and maintainer of the Vim text editor, died August 3, his family announced yesterday. Moolenaar was 62.
Threads has faced criticism from privacy advocates because users cannot delete their Threads account separately from their Instagram account, although the two can be deactivated separately. Photo by Josh Levin. Threads Reaches 100 Million Users

By Josh Levin | Published July 11, 2023

Instagram parent company Meta released their Twitter-like short-form text post platform, Instagram Threads, July 5. The app, built by the Instagram team, allows users to