LITS bits:
This week, Matt and Griff cover a wide range of developments in the tech world, first the Pebble Smartwatch. The Core 2 Duo ($149) is bringing back the nostalgia of the original Pebble with the same black-and-white e-paper display and a battery life lasting over 30 days. The addition of an in-device speaker for chatting with AI assistance is a modern touch. The Core Time 2 ($225) is a more featured-rich option with a touchscreen, color e-link display, heart rate monitor, and a metal frame. This makes it more competitive in the current smartwatch market while holding onto the simplicity that made Pebble popular.
In other news, Microsoft announced that Skype would officially shut down on May 5, 2025. With Zoom's rise in popularity during the pandemic and Microsoft shifting its focus to Teams, Skype's decline reflects the rapid pace of the change in communications technology.
23andMe, the popular genetic testing company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is seeking a court-approved sale. This raised concerns about the privacy of genetic data, especially since some countries outside the U.S. don't have the same strong protections in place. Genetic data's use in non-health-related contexts is still a growing issue.
Here's a how-to on removing your data from 23andMe databases: https://www.theverge.com/news/634680/23andme-genetic-data-account-deletion-how-to
Roku's new startup video ads that play before the home screen loads have sparked frustration among users, with some threatening to switch to other platforms. Roku has already rescinded the change. While Roku might adjust this strategy, it signals a broader trend of increasingly aggressive advertising in streaming services, which could alienate viewers in the long term.
Meta plans to introduce millions of AI-generated profiles that will engage on Facebook and Instagram, mimicking real users. These profiles will feature realistic bios and images, leading to the potential for widespread misinformation. This move adds concerns about AI's impact of social media and the authenticity of online interactions.
Open-source developers have reported AI web crawlers are consuming an increasing amount of website traffic, which is causing issues for community-managed resources. These crawlers are essentially contributing to what resemble DDoS attacks, overloading servers and disrupting access. New tools are being developed to defend against these crawlers, but industry leaders have yet to adopt better practices to address this growing problem.
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