Monday, July 3, 2023

Twitter Is Rolling Out An Exciting New Picture-In-Picture Mode For iOS Devices

Twitter appears to be on the move to give iOS users something exciting to rave about while viewing video content on the app.

The popular microblogging website mentioned how it is including a PIP mode for the platform that only those with iPhones or iPads can gain access to. Moreover, a recently published screen recording was also shared by the app’s updates for software and that’s where the feature was seen running in action.

The PIP mode is designed to cause videos to shrink to a small size like a window and then you can go about viewing it while carrying on with your usual tasks in other places.

As revealed in a new screen recording that had been outlined by Macrumors today, it’s quite possible to see videos on the platform through floating windows across your iOS device.

But right now, it appears the platform is having some trouble in terms of finishing the whole launch of this feature as there’s a system-wide support system in place for PiP that’s not up for grabs to everyone out there.

In case you’re still wondering, the app already has one PiP system that’s inside the app and up for grabs to those to all users as it is designed to function in the platform.

The PiP feature is also seen on a number of other popular platforms like Netflix, Apple’s Television, and even the popular video-sharing app YouTube. However, the latter’s PiP mode only works well with free accounts, unless you have content such as music videos to avail.

For now, we’re still waiting to see if this platform’s PiP feature would be up for grabs to the masses or if it’s going to be restricted to only those that are designated as paid subscribers on the app. After all, so many users are now being deprived of so many features including those linked to greater safety and privacy like encryption for messages and 2FA for SMS.

We’re seeing Elon Musk really focus hard on the likes of adding more emphasis on videos recently. And from what we’re seeing through stats from the app, vertical video content is popular for users who spend more than 10% of their time viewing such posts.

In 2022, we also saw how the platform ended up joining the social media bandwagon of popular platforms when trying to copy the entire Fullscreen endeavor launched by TikTok.


Read next: The rise of Generative AI: A game-changer for digital professionals
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

New Fears For Arizona As The Development Of Big Tech Data Centers Are Depleting Water Sources

The American state of Arizona is known for its natural beauty and stunning wildlife. Did we mention how many people come to this state for leisure-filled activities like hiking and more thanks to the beautiful mountain terrain?

The state has a very hot and dry atmosphere and it’s definitely shocking to see the sudden emergency of huge data centers that are owned by the biggest tech giants around the globe.

From Google’s establishment in Mesa to Meta and Microsoft too - you name it and you’ll find some tech giants having their facility developed in the region.

Now at first glance, it might seem like there’s no problem. After all, the more the development, the more the business, and the greater the state can benefit. But wait, this is coming at a huge cost. And that’s linked to the depletion of water sources.

Each data center needs millions of gallons each day to enable the cooling of its facility. Meanwhile, other projects would need even more, and let’s not forget how the state houses thousands of residents that need their own sources.

Ever since such developments started to spring into place, we saw the entire metro area in the Phoenix region be called the destination for all data centers. One after another, they just started to open up, back to back.

So many of these centers are using huge supplies of water to ensure their technical gear stays safe because it can really reach boiling temperatures. Be it mobile sessions, meetings on Zoom, and even videos across YouTube- the things to do are plenty and equipment would obviously be used for this purpose.

For a while now, the search engine giant Google has begun going public with more news on this front. They did admit to using gallons and gallons for their benefits and that’s a lot. It’s almost like supplying 29 entire golf courses with water in America.

In the same way, tech giant Meta has added some of its own details on what exactly it’s doing with the state’s water supplies and how its own facilities make use of several millions of water in cubic meter measurement sources, that are equivalent to 1 billion gallons.

But alarming reports speaking about the state soon having its water supplies depleted are obviously very concerning. Just seven days back, we heard about how the governor put out a plan to prevent construction from taking place in certain regions near Phoenix. The news came when they realized that groundwater couldn’t support the rapid rate at which the construction of these data centers was taking place.

We agree that the data centers are not the only thing to blame but they’re definitely a major factor that contributes to the problem and having scarce water supplies can really be disastrous in the long run as more tech facilities are being planned as we speak this moment.


Read next: The remarkable journey of mobile phones: Exploring the top selling models in history
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

LinkedIn Provides Key Details for Its Updated Algorithm

LinkedIn has emerged as one of the frontrunners for social media domination, and that is thanks in no small part to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s guiding hand as well as the streamlining that occurred after the tech juggernaut acquired it. In spite of the fact that this is the case, users have been taking issue with the massive quantity of irrelevant content that comes their way simple due to the algorithm. Much of this content might make LinkedIn seem less professional than might have been the case otherwise.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the social media platform has just made some changes to the algorithm that governs the feed that most users are able to gain access to. The team that rolled these updates out recently revealed some insights because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up explaining how the modified algorithm might work.

The first major change that is occurring is that it will no longer be possible to manipulate the system for the purposes of pushing their content to the top. The pandemic saw an abundance of low quality posts flooding feeds, but it seems like the changes will make them a thing of the past.

Secondly, LinkedIn is listening to user feedback wherein it was suggested that users tend to prefer seeing content from those that they are connected to. Hence, LinkedIn will be giving content from first degree connections the highest level of priority in order to make it so that this content shows up before anything else with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Another great step that LinkedIn is taking is that it is placing heavier emphasis on content that features some kind of expertise. Opinion based advice will still be allowed, but more weight will be given to the type of advice that comes from those that have a level of insight that will provide concrete benefits to anyone that checks the content, and this will certainly improve quality across the board.


Read next: Twitter Unleashes the Power of Sharing: Introducing Downloadable Videos
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Sunday, July 2, 2023

The rise of Generative AI: A game-changer for digital professionals

From Generation X to Generation Alpha, AI has emerged as the hottest topic in conversation today. Everybody talks about its consequences in everyday interactions and even in their professional life.

A recent poll by SMT determines how many individuals use the AI app on a regular basis produced results that are not unexpected. 67% of respondents are now using generative AI technologies in their daily work, according to a new LinkedIn study conducted by Social Media Today. This information, which was obtained from roughly 1,300 people, shows how quickly these cutting-edge technologies have been adopted by the corporate world.


Regarding the precise uses of generative AI, the data is not sufficiently detailed. But it's interesting to look at the results in the context of the Social Media Today audience, which is mostly made up of American-based marketing and communications executives.

Moreover, it demonstrates that businesses are quickly embracing and integrating these cutting-edge tools into their processes. As a result, it highlights how crucial it is for marketers to have a clear understanding of the possible uses and benefits these technologies provide for businesses.

However, professionals now have alternative viewpoints and creative components to take into account thanks to the development of generative AI technologies. It's crucial to remember that they should be viewed as complements to human knowledge rather than a full substitute. Professionals need to have a thorough awareness of these instruments, their limits, and the best ways to improve their outputs.

The appeal of generative AI resides in its capacity to generate intricate visual and textual results from straightforward inputs. However, the results are not always accurate and may be blurred, rough around the edges, or just wrong. As a result, it is imperative that people use caution while using generative AI in a professional setting.

Summing up, it is crucial to establish a balance between using generative AI tools and depending on human judgments and knowledge as the corporate sector adopts these new technologies. Professionals may leverage the power of these technologies while assuring the accuracy and refinement of their outputs by realizing the limitations of generative AI and acquiring the appropriate skills.

The LinkedIn poll shows that a sizeable portion of respondents use generative AI tools, indicating the broad adoption and continuous research of these technologies among professionals across numerous industries.

While some people might be more positive about the possibilities of generative AI technologies, others see them as tools to help systems already in place be optimized. One has to have a broad knowledge base and the necessary skills to validate and improve the outputs these technologies provide in order to fully benefit from them.

Read next: Tencent Gained The Top Spot in DataAI's 2023 Publisher Awards for Global Mobile Market
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

The remarkable journey of mobile phones: Exploring the top selling models in history

The mobile phone industry has undoubtedly evolved over the decades, as companies strive to create innovative devices that captivate consumers. From classic button cell phones to modern touch-screen wonders, the industry has come a long way. But have you ever wondered that which phones hold the title for the highest sales in mobile phone history? To shed light on this intriguing topic, "The World Ranking" recently shared a chart on Twitter showcasing the most sold phones and their corresponding unit figures. It provides valuable insight into the popularity and impact of these devices, giving us a glimpse into the remarkable journey of the mobile phone industry.

Over the past years, Nokia has unquestionably made significant strides in the mobile phone industry, with two of its most iconic models, the Nokia 1100 and 1110, topping the list with an astounding 250 million and 248 million units sold, respectively. These phones have earned widespread acclaim for their exceptional battery life and user-friendly design. Following closely behind is Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which have collectively sold 222 million units, owing to their innovative touch screen capabilities.

Continuing the trend of Nokia’s popularity, Nokia 105 series have been considered on the top five, as 200 million plus units have been sold over these years. With notable improvements in camera quality, increased RAM capacity, and the introduction of a new rose gold color option, Apple introduced the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, which interestingly sold 174 million units combined.

Moreover, Nokia has once again captured the hearts of customers with its distinctive models, the Nokia 6600 and 1200, both of which have achieved remarkable sales figures of 150 million units each. Their popularity stems not only from their impressive features but also their affordability, making them accessible to a wide range of consumers. In addition, it seems like Samsung and Motorola have also emerged as strong contenders in the market, with their best-selling phones on this list, the Samsung E1100 and Motorola RAZR V3, with 150 million and 130 million units sold, respectively.

Lastly, we have Apple's latest offerings, the iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max, which have collectively sold 100 million units since their launch. It comes as no surprise that Apple's mobile phones continue to dominate the market due to their sleek design, exceptional camera quality, and unwavering reliability.


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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

AI Pioneer Geoffrey Hinton Feels AI Is A Threat To Humanity And Says Good AI Wont Defeat Bad AI

One of the top minds in the world of AI, Geoffrey Hinton has been expressing major concerns about the revolutionary technology for a while now.

And if you think his mind has changed anytime soon about the power of AI and what good it can do for us all, well, that’s not the case for now.

Hinton recently called out officials for not doing enough in terms of providing protection and allowing the threat to rise to new levels where controlling the matter might be difficult. We saw him quit his job at tech giant Google this past year so he could free more time and focus on the field that he was at the center of creating.

Today, he feels tools like ChatGPT and even Bing Search are further developing at an alarming pace and since they’re all going unchecked for so long, it’s a huge threat to the human race.

Then we’ve got more competitors popping up in the industry as we speak. From Bard and others, the playing field is full of all kinds of products. And this sort of development is very dangerous for obvious reasons.

Search engine giant Google explains that it’s making Bard better and more comprehensive so that it turns into a product that people would adore for obvious reasons. Moreover, we even saw at recent tech conferences where the topic is the center of a lot of people’s attention with concerns coming from all directions.

No one wants the human race to become extinct or for AI to take over the world. So many firms are relying on AI to get the job done at a faster pace than before. And what might appear as a solution for some right now might soon sound an alarm for others in the near future when their own work is taken over by AI.

Hinton further elaborated upon how he felt about good AI replacing bad AI as the adoption of this technology could prove to arise at a high cost.


It’s interesting how the threat to humanity exists and now Hinton says the product is just as great as the individuals who produced it and that in the end, bad technology would win. He feels a point has come where the technology might soon be unstoppable and we’ll be battling against robots.

But Hinton did explain more about how he did agree that language models were beneficial and their use was helping us all in terms of greater productivity. But in his opinion, the ruling class would exploit such means and widen the gap and make the rich society richer while the poor keep getting poorer.

No one wants to see AI get smarter than the human mind and if that does happen, what’s the assurance that humans would be in control anymore?

Clearly, he’s signaling red alarm bells and hopes it’s not just him that sees the dangers in this but others too because it’s a matter that deserves more attention in the form of regulation.



Read next: When Will the First Thinking Machines Come Into Being
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Twitter Wont Be Accessible Without An Account As The App Makes Log Ins Mandatory For All

Leading microblogging website Twitter is making sure people are gaining access to the app through authentic means.

The platform is only providing access to users on the web and through their smartphones if they have an account. So logins are now mandatory if you wish to use the app, it was confirmed today.

Those who happen to be using the app now and aren’t logged in would be getting an alert that requests them to Sign In. So you can either do that if you have an existing account or sign up if you’re new.

And those who choose to dismiss this alert that pops up across their screen, well, you’ll surely be sent back to the app’s homepage and then asked again to make an account to use the platform further.

The company provides both iOS and Android users to make accounts through phones or simply go on the web and sign in. So to put things simply, there’s no running away from this ordeal anymore.

What we are aware of right now is that the platform is yet to put out an official statement regarding this or even regarding the firm’s own online blog as to why it’s making such a change all of a sudden.

For now, Twitter is yet to share the reason with other tech media outlets who happen to be asking for an answer regarding the change too. But we know it’s going to come out soon. As of this moment in time, all you’ll get in return is an emoji that comprises poop.

A few months back, we saw the organization disable the field for search queries that had to do with unregistered users. It only showed up a few suggestions for tweets whenever someone arrived on the homepage. Similarly, we saw the platform put out a cap limit for free APIs that arose in the month of February.

People were shocked to learn how the app was requesting $100 each month if they wished to read or even add a post as the collection was huge. For now, there is no proper explanation as to what is taking place for such moves and it hoped to shut the platform further as a lot of individuals feel it could be a major effort to block people from attaining access to tweets online.

As one can imagine, Twitter users are not happy with this change and it’s causing a huge trigger for outcry for a lot of others.

The change that was published today has people upset because no one likes being bound to having an account or logging in or being part of the whole redirecting loop too. They want to use the app like they’ve been doing for years but Twitter says that’s not going to be happy anymore.

Errors are already popping up for those using the app who don’t have accounts as their experience is disabled temporarily while being redirected to new pages that want them to sign up or sign in.


Read next: Twitter Unleashes the Power of Sharing: Introducing Downloadable Videos
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World