Friday Tech Focus Newsletter
Welcome to the Friday Tech Focus Newsletter Archive. Here, you will find a curated collection of weekly editions, each offering insights into the latest in technology, from AI and cybersecurity to entertainment. Published every Friday, I share news that I have personally curated over the week, providing a summary of the biggest events based on various news sources. This archive is ideal for busy tech enthusiasts and professionals, offering a concise yet comprehensive overview of the week's developments.
2024
April 4 Newsletters
Week 17 26th of April
This week, Apple's on-device AI LLM focuses on prioritising speed and privacy, while Amazon deploys over 750,000 robots. VW's sensitive data theft via Chinese hackers adds fuel to the e-car market competition. AI plays a double-edged sword role in cybersecurity, while Netflix's Atlas advocates human-robot harmony. Lastly, Meta Quest's open-source OS invites tech giant collaborations.
Week 16 19th of April
This week's edition delves into Limitless' use of AI for personal growth and tackles the issue of AI-authored books on Kindle. A focus on AI innovation with the launch of Meta Llama 3, Mixtral 8x22B and Stable Diffusion 3 is also included. The Cybersecurity section informs about NSA's advice on AI security and the increasing threats to Open Source. Featured tools include the offline, user-friendly API Terminal ACAT. Finally, updates from entertainment and gadgets include the renewal of 'For All Mankind' and the launch of the Boring Phone.
Week 15 12th of April
This week, our newsletter explores Spotify's newly introduced personalized AI playlists and STORM - Stanford’s innovative system for automated Wikipedia writing. In cybersecurity news, Microsoft suffered a major security lapse, leaving an Azure-hosted server unprotected, while Apple warns iPhone users of mercenary spyware attacks. We also delve into the world of gadgets, featuring Logitech's Pro X 60 wireless gaming keyboard, Android's 'Find My' technology, and Humane's AI Pin offering a glimpse into the post-smartphone era.
Week 14 5th of April
This week's tech news spotlighted the IEEE's removal of the "Lenna" image from tech papers, advancing gender equality in the tech industry. A look at Aurora, a robot designed to maintain airport safety in Alaska, and the Invisibility Shield 2.0 garnering Kickstarter support. In software development, we discuss the hidden costs of open-source software; and a comprehensive study on the impact of exercise and sleep quality on mental health. Cybersecurity stories focus on AT&T's major data breach and the insidious XZ Open Source Attack. Also covered are a new AI tool called Upscayl and excitement in the entertainment world with Apple TV+'s captivating new series "Silo" and anticipated sequels, including The Matrix and Dune. Finally, Google settles a lawsuit promising to delete browsing data from Chrome's Incognito mode.
March 5 Newsletters
Week 13 29th of March
This week, scientists created a quantum vortex to study black hole physics, and a lawsuit threatening the Internet Archive sparks copyright reform debates. Telegram's Peer-to-Peer Login program raises privacy concerns, and Facebook Watch expires amidst suspicions of colluding with Netflix. Apple develops an A18 Pro chip for the iPhone 16 Pro, while a massive data explosion risks Parquet's reputation. Confidential files from Europol officials go missing, and Amazon makes a record venture investment in AI startup Anthropic. Finally, Databricks rolls out a new-gen language model, and Sony produces a short film shedding light on Spider-Man character Miles Morales.
Week 12 22nd of March
This week, we explore Rysana's Inversion that overhauls AI speed, reliability, and reasoning, along with Denmark's AI focused supercomputer, Gefion. Apple introduces a new approach to AI with the MM1 model while cybersecurity topics revolve around the alleged AT&T data breach, Firebase exposure, and hotel lock vulnerabilities. In entertainment, Star Wars reveals 'The Acolyte'. We also examine how language influences our perception of time, the impact of Freenom's shutdown on Cloudflare, and the Japanese concept "Ikigai". Privacy updates bring to light Glassdoor's invasive username collection and Mozilla's decision to end its partnership with Onerep.
Week 11 15th of March
Quiet-STaR's innovative AI method fosters advanced reasoning. Excel-based AI learning demystifies technology for all. Quantum experiments and CISA's hack underline cybersecurity's importance. Anker and Apple lead in sleep tech and VR, setting industry standards. De-Googling campaigns and Sand Battery project champion privacy and sustainable energy.
Week 10 8th of March
The EU's Digital Markets Act enforces messaging interoperability, enhancing user choice. WhatsApp enables cross-platform messaging in Europe, meeting strict guidelines. Google and Apple impose new fees for developers bypassing app store payments. OpenAI discusses its evolution and Elon Musk's departure, reflecting on funding and mission alignment. The British Library's cybersecurity review underscores the need for robust protections. Nikon acquires RED Digital Cinema, aiming to revolutionize the digital cinema camera market.
Week 09 1st of March
Hugging Face's AI platform has been infiltrated by around 100 malicious AI models, threatening user security. Google introduces Gemma, a new Large Language Model noted for its performance and unique features. WhatsApp secures a legal victory against NSO Group, demanding the handover of Pegasus spyware code. NIST releases an updated Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, broadening its applicability. Canon's EOS R5 Mark II sticks to a 45MP sensor but adds AI autofocus. "Tron: Ares" sets its 2025 premiere, while CACM becomes fully Open Access, and Google's role in the decline of RSS feeds is critically analyzed.
February 4 Newsletters
Week 08 23rd of February
FOSDEM 2024 highlights key Linux and open-source developments, with notable talks from Jozef Mlích and Linaro. AI innovations from Stability AI and Phind-70B lead in text-to-image and code generation. Cybersecurity insights expose China's espionage and new threats, while Signal and the University of Waterloo make strides in privacy. Fujifilm introduces the X100VI camera, Vice Media shuts down, London's BT Tower turns into a hotel, and the UK's Trident missile test falters, spotlighting a week of tech progress and challenges.
Week 07 16th of February
GitHub and Polar launch a funding model for open-source sustainability. Apple disables PWAs on iPhones in the EU for compliance, sparking debate. OpenAI's Sora advances video AI, while Google's Gemini 1.5 enhances developer tools. Microsoft fights AI-exploiting cyber threats. New Raspberry Pi-powered module upgrades gaming on Flipper Zero. X-Men '97 and Lemmings' anniversary highlight entertainment milestones. A week of tech innovation, security developments, and digital nostalgia.
Week 06 9th of February
Dive into this week's tech scene with fresh gadgets like the M1 and Apple Vision Pro, stirring up the security world and redefining wearables. We're also unpacking major tech shifts from Google's cookie conundrum to AWS shaking up the internet with IPv4 charges, and Microsoft's legal tangle over Activision Blizzard. On the security front, deepfake scams and cyber-attacks are on the rise, spotlighting the digital battleground. Plus, a peek into Google's morale dip paints a picture of a tech titan at a crossroads. Explore these developments to stay informed on security risks, tech advancements, and shifts within major tech firms.
Week 05 2nd of February
This week's newsletter highlights key tech updates: NSA's data privacy issues, Google's MobileDiffusion for instant mobile art, DeepSeek's AI revolutionizing coding, and OpenAI's strategies against AI-driven biothreats. Discover the Bartkira project, streamline design with Tailwind CSS's palette generator, explore the quest for the largest PDF, uncover the best hotel breakfasts worldwide, and learn about a novel "bone bandage" that accelerates healing. Engage with the latest in tech, security, and more.
January 1 Newsletter
Week 04 26th of January
The tech world is transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6, led by initiatives in the Czech Republic and the U.S., while major layoffs at Riot Games and TikTok reflect broader industry shifts. A record-breaking data breach exposes 2.6 billion records, raising cybersecurity concerns. New sci-fi series on Apple TV+ and Netflix, and AI developments with OpenAI's new military policy and Google's collaboration with Hugging Face, are also highlighted. The newsletter also covers Google's Kubernetes security risk, the SEC's SIM swap attack, and Berlin's near-Earth asteroid encounter.