Google In The Works Of Creating A Feature Similar To Apple’s Continuity Service

Android maker Google is reportedly working on the creation of a feature that’s awfully similar in design and function to Apple’s Continuity Service.

The feature has been a useful one for Apple’s ecosystem where several devices may be linked via one Apple ID. Hence, that means providing several features such as Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and Sidecar so users can benefit. Moreover, all of these get powered through Continuity service so there’s no reason to break a sweat.

As a whole, such features were designed to help Apple users in conducting foolproof communication via devices so they could share content and go beyond. Now, however, it seems like search engine giant Google wants to follow in the firm’s footsteps and take a similar approach.

Google is said to be working on incorporating a feature that’s awfully similar to this for its Android devices.

It was first announced by two app researchers who claim the company appears to be busy creating the capabilities that are inspired by Apple. This has enabled the Android maker to bring its vision of allowing Android devices to interface with one another in a seamless manner. The only catch is that they need to get signed in through a similar account on Google. And that’s it!

It’s going to be very useful for all of those that have several handsets in their ownership to make use of for various cases.

So far, we’re seeing two capabilities get spotted out there like call switching and the sharing of the internet. You can take the former to be quite similar in approach to the Mobile Calls offered by Apple’s iPhone. This enables call sharing between several different Apple devices including iPads and Macs too.

Meanwhile, Google’s implementation appears to be a little out of the ordinary. The latter is linked to enabling call switching from Android phones and not devices like Chromebooks. But who knows, this might be a feature for the future, if not now.

This feature is also rumored to receive backing from Telecom’s Jetpack Library. Meanwhile, in terms of the sharing of the internet, tech media outlet Android Police feels it might turn into a means to configure individual hotspot services that are shared with ease across Android phones.

If and when available, we can see these offerings be presented through a feature called Link Your Devices where the menu is found in your Settings Tab, followed by Google and Device Sharing buttons.

For now, that’s all the details we have with no release date in sight. But if things do go as planned, the launch would be through Google Play and each addition would be revamped as necessary with time, bringing plenty of improvements along the way.

Certainly, we’ll keep you updated as that happens but kudos to Google for thinking along the lines of making communication between various phones and other devices easier for users. What do you think?

Read next: Threads App: A Rollercoaster Ride of Buzz and Decline
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Threads App: A Rollercoaster Ride of Buzz and Decline

Apps have surrounded us all from every corner. It is like, you can never get enough of these apps, no matter how much you scroll. And yet new apps are getting introduced every other day. Hold on to your devices because we've got the lowdown on the latest app saga! Threads is Meta Platform's ostensible answer to the Twitter bird. It exploded into the scene like a Fourth of July fireworks display, but guess what? The sparkles died as quickly as a faulty firework.

Threads took off like a rocket, thanks to Instagram users flocking to the platform quicker than you can say, "emoji overload." In July, everyone was talking about this text-based social app. But, boy, did that enthusiasm fade quickly? Remember those viral challenges? Well, it seems like Threads faced the ultimate challenge – staying relevant.

Our trusted app trackers have been hard at work, keeping track of Threads' wild trip, mainly on Android - you know, the platform where the cool kids hang out. What about online usage now? Not at all. So far, the Threads website is a one-way street. Enough of that; let's get down to business.

According to the app wizards at Similarweb, Threads peaked in popularity on July 7 with 49.3 million daily active users globally. Keep your hashtags handy; on August 7, it dropped to 10.3 million daily active users. That's like going from a crowded rock concert to a small coffee shop performance.

Stateside, Threads was making waves too. On July 7, it had 2.3 million daily active users in the United States. Fast forward to August 7, and the figure has dropped to 576,000. It's like the cool kids' party that was cut short far too soon.

Let's speak about quality time now. Threads got off to a fast start, with users spending an average of 14 minutes each day exploring, sharing, and emoji-ing to their hearts' content. In the United States, they pushed it a step further, giving it a whole 21 minutes of their valuable time. But here's the twist: by August 7, it had shrunk to a meagre 3 minutes. It takes less time to cook a cup of popcorn!

Let's compare X, the app that was once known as Twitter. X has over 100 million daily active users on Android alone, and they spend roughly 25 minutes a day hooked to it. That's like pouring salt into Threads' digital wound.

But don't start writing Threads' obituary just yet. This is not the final destination. It's more of a side trip. Threads may not be the immediate phenomenon it intended to be, but who's to say it won't ultimately find its stride?

Consider this: threads flying up, then plummeting. It's similar to a thumb rollercoaster. Speaking of thumbs, Threads appeared to have a brief stint in the limelight, rivalling X in terms of user interest. But, alas, it couldn't keep up the pace. It's like trying to dance the Macarena after everyone's moved on to the Electric Slide.

Threads may have escaped some controversy in the area of hashtags and retweets, but they also missed the target of fascinating content. Unlike X users who can't get enough of Elon Musk debates, Threads is still searching for its "come back for more" charm.

So there you have it - Threads, the program that piqued our interest before abandoning us. Will it emerge from the ashes of the internet? The only way to know is to wait and see. Keep those app updates coming because you never know when the next big item may appear on your home screen!

Read next: The App Money-Makers: From TikTok to LinkedIn, Who's Cashing In
by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

What’s Causing The Average Selling Price Of iPhones In The US To Drop? This Report Has The Answer

When it comes to iPhones from tech giant Apple, we all know that it’s a pricey affair.

The costs have been spiraling in an upward direction since the start of the year 2017 and it never looked back. But wait, we may have spoken too soon.

Top tech analysts at CIRP are finally seeing a unique trend that arose in June’s Quarterly results. The metric is declining for the first time and there’s one thing on everyone’s mind. What could possibly be the reason behind this ordeal?

The latest stats from CIRP claim that the retail expenses for the iPhone in the US stood at $988 during the quarterly results for March and then hit $948 for the quarter in June of this year.

Some felt that a leading factor could be the storage of the device which directly takes a toll on price. But the experts at CIRP were too busy emphasizing which models the majority were turning to in the company’s latest research.

One thing is for sure. There’s a certain shift from people going to the Pro version of the device. Around 46% of the sales stats showed iPhone 13 Pro or the Pro Max variant while the 13 Mini and 13 had 30% of the sales.

This may as well be the beginning of a new shift when it comes down to a flip in trends. Just one year back, the CIRP witnessed the 13 Pro variant become the highest-selling phone, taking a whopping 29% share.

In June, we saw the iPhone hold a bigger share of sales which stood at 24% while those for 14 Pro were 21% and 14 Pro Max was just 22%.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 is priced at $799 which is close to $200 less than the figure seen for 14 Pro and a whopping $300 less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max version. So it does not really make a huge change in the volume of sales that would really affect the device’s average cost for selling.

We can say for sure that the replacement of the iPhone 13 mini with the iPhone 14 Plus assisted in keeping the price from falling further between the 2022 and 2023 period for comparisons. Still, it just fell short of the pro variants.

Now, it’s going to be very unique to keep a lookout for the average selling prices and model variants for the tech giant during the holiday season and see how the trend fares during this festive period. After all, sales do tend to go higher in the annual holiday time period, more than any other time in the whole year.

Let’s not forget how tech giant Apple is finally unveiling its iPhone 15 variant next month, September 22 when both regular and Pro models would be launched. And what better time period would such devices look enticing than the holiday season, right?

Read next: Parents Rally for Stronger Online Shields: Keeping Kids Safe on Social Media
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

The App Money-Makers: From TikTok to LinkedIn, Who's Cashing In

Hold onto your digital hats because ChatGPT just crunched the numbers and boy, are they juicy! We're talking about those handy tiny icons on your phone that are raking in the dough. What's more, guess what? It's not only about the United States; we're going global, baby!

Let's get down to business. But first, consider a future where applications go on dates, binge-watch shows, and network at lightning-fast conferences. Doesn't this seem like a strange movie plot? Well, the top-grossing applications have done their version of everything!

TikTok, the app that has everyone dancing, lip-syncing, and perhaps even air-guitaring (we made it up, but who knows? ), is leading the charge. In July, TikTok earned a stunning $177 million globally. That's like buying a gazillion ice creams – no, really!

Following that, YouTube comes in with a nice $100 million. Imagine the spectacular YouTube videos you could create with that kind of money! Tinder is not far behind, swiping its way into our wallets with a delicious $85 million - love is in the air, and so is money.

This is when things start to get interesting. Although you'd expect superheroes to dominate, the fourth and fifth slots are taken by streaming behemoths Disney+ and Max (previously HBO Max). Disney+ may have won the war in the United States, but Max is taking the world by storm. Let the streaming battles commence!

When scrolling, you won't believe who else is generating money. LinkedIn is the corporate world's smooth-talkers! Tucked away at number eight on our list, LinkedIn's net revenue for July was a cool $32 million. Consider LinkedIn profiles as dating profiles: "I love long walks on spreadsheets and candlelit Zoom calls."

Don't get the impression that applications are merely making money. They're evolving in the same way as Pokémon do (but without the ball throwing). LinkedIn has been busy growing its creator toolset, and we feel they may also start compensating creators. LinkedIn content creators are on the upswing, not Hollywood!

The top ten highest-earning applications (excluding games) earned $657 million in net income in July. That's more than enough money to buy a lifetime supply of unicorn emojis.

So, the next time you're swiping through profiles, uploading dance challenges, or binge-watching your favorite shows, remember that those apps aren't just having fun; they're laughing all the way to the bank. Continue touching, scrolling, and swiping because you never know which app will be the next to reach the summit of the money mountain!

H/T: Apfigures
Read next: Generative AI is Still Creating Fake News According to This Study
by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

From Likes to Lyrics: Instagram's Tale of Teamwork, Tags, and Post Potency

Once upon a time, in the virtual domain of social media, Instagram, which had developed from its early days of photo-sharing, felt it was time to take cooperation to a whole new level. Instagram users worldwide cheered as the company introduced a stunning new feature called "Collabs." This mystical enchantment permitted up to four companions to band together and construct the most enthralling Carousels, Reels, and Posts.

Creators were no longer required to work alone. They could invite their friends to the creative cauldron with a flick of their fingertips, even those whose profiles were hidden behind a veil of seclusion. All they required was a great buddy bond. Once the masterpiece was woven, it appeared on each collaborator's individual profile, dazzling the eyes of their followers.

But what is a creative masterpiece without a dash of music? Never shy of spectacle, Instagram has welcomed music into the Collabs domain. Reels had danced to the beats of Instagram's music collection for years, but now Carousels could as well. And the group grew around the world, with new countries joining the musical symphony.

But that wasn't the end of it. The story took an unexpected turn when Instagram teamed up with music maestro Spotify in the mystical regions of Mexico and Brazil. They collaborated to create the excellent "Reels Music Chart." Consider a world where Spotify listeners could listen to the 50 most captivating tracks graced by Instagram Reels.

Collabs ushered in a new era in the realm of influencers. They were no longer only content makers. They invited their fans to participate in interactive Reels using the "Add Yours" badge. There were challenges thrown, prompts made, and followers welcomed the call. Chosen ones had their Reels featured, a wonderful moment of pride as they danced in Instagram's domain.

Despite all of the joy and togetherness, another story was developing. Instagram's wise seer, Adam Mosseri, climbed atop his virtual tower and declared a new age of tagging. Adventurers would no longer have to meticulously input @username for each fellow traveller. A single mention, the formation of a group, and the ability to tag all companions in their Stories were all available at their fingertips. No more missing out on adventures, for everyone was included with a single incantation.

But, like any other spell, there were rules. The tagged were alerted, and their Stories invited them to join the fantastic adventure. However, there was a zone of seclusion where labelled Stories wandered into the domain of message requests, hidden from prying eyes. Those with the power of tagging might choose to share their creations, but not all could be resurrected on another's profile.

A third chapter whispered its secrets as the stories merged. Instagram, which tracks user patterns, saw a change in the wind. A new way was shared through closed conversations, more whispers than yells. Instagram revealed a new approach to unlocking the mysteries of stats with a wave of their digital wand. Posts, once adorned only with likes, now bore the badges of comments and shares. A glimpse into the inner workings of engagement, a feast for the curious eyes.

Looks like @instagram has begun rolling out share/comment counts.

UX wise, it looks sharp. Although, it does seems a little counterintuitive following the removal of like counts all those years ago. pic.twitter.com/fANF1rBCpV

— Nick Alessi (@nckalessi) August 10, 2023

The knowledgeable Mosseri spoke in the middle of this transformation. He recognized the winds of change that had blown through the region. Friends had become messengers, and their stories revealed more secrets than their official pronouncements. The fortunate few, picked by hearts, were destined to dominate the feeds.

As the chapters progressed, Instagram woven a teamwork, convenience, and insight narrative. A platform that began as a blank canvas for images evolved into a tapestry of collaborative creativity. Instagram constructed its tale, enabling users to be the heroes in a digital saga that unfolded one post at a time, with a dash of music, a touch of tagging, and a life of stats.

Read next: Screentime Before Bed Might Be Making Adolescent Health Issues Worse
by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

Google Wants to Use All Sites for AI Training

Training its AI has been a prime concern for Google ever since ChatGPT broke onto the scene. In spite of the fact that this is the case, there are copyright laws that might make this harder than might have been the case otherwise. Hence, Google is trying to urge lawmakers around the world to change these laws in order to make it easier for them to get their hands on valuable data that can make for more robust AI models.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Google is trying to petition the Australian government as of right now. Google wants to make it so that all web content is available for AI training by default, giving website owners the option to opt out if they so choose.

The problem here is that brands might find that their competitors are able to use their data to generate content similar to their own. Not only will this diminish the overall value of their own brand, but these companies might also lose their competitive edge with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Google’s goal here is that it wants to treat mining website data for AI training the same way it does web crawling for its SERP. However, the implications of AI model training might be far more severe because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up changing the face of the internet as we know it.

It will be interesting to see how the Australian government responds to these demands. The way things pan out could shape the future of the AI race, and Google needs to pull out all the stops if it wants to be a match for OpenAI. Failing to do so could lead to Google suffering the same fate as Yahoo, which similarly failed to innovate despite having an enormous head start which it squandered thereby allowing Google to become more or less synonymous with online search engines that people tend to use every day.

Read next: Generative AI is Still Creating Fake News According to This Study
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Generative AI is Still Creating Fake News According to This Study

Generative AI has the potential to completely change life as we know it, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, it is also guilty of creating mountains of false narratives. As ChatGPT became more prominent and competitors such as Google’s Bard began popping up, the higher level of focus should have made these occurrences less frequent than might have been the case otherwise. However, a recent study showed that things are not getting any better.

In the case of ChatGPT, a 100% of the false narratives that were found in the initial test in April came from it. As for Bard, 76% of false narratives were attributed to it. Over the past few months, ChatGPT has hardly made any progress, with more recent tests revealing a 98% of spewing false narratives with all things having been considered and taken into account.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Bard has moved in the opposite direction. It has gone from 76% to 80%, suggesting that it is creating more misinformation than might have been the case otherwise.

Bard even sometimes uses sources attributed to conspiracy theories such as Q Anon. This could lead to an enormous rise in the proportion of fake information out there, and a lack of critical thinking skills could make this situation spiral out of control.

This data comes from an analysis conducted by NewsGuard. It will be interesting to see future results because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up determining the nature of truth online. The combination of faulty AI chatbots as well as social media platforms that can disseminate them to a wide enough audience is creating a ripple effect that might not go away anytime soon.

As the 2024 US presidential election draws closer, all eyes will be on AI chatbots to see the type of impact they have. Chances are that they will be a game changer moving forward and candidates will need to keep them in mind.

Read next: ChatGPT's Summer Slump: Perplexity.AI Steps Up the Game
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World