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Author: Sanjay Patil

Sanjay Patil is a ReturnByte journalist who writes about technology. Follow him on Twitter at @sanjaypatil
Check out what YouTube is planning for the Now Playing feature with a gradient background. (YouTube Music) News 

Gradient Background to be Added to YouTube Music Now Playing Feature

Sanjay Patil

YouTube Music has recently undergone various alterations to its user interface and design. Currently, the platform is experimenting with new features that could potentially be introduced to the app in the near future. One of these tests involves a redesign of the Now Playing tab, incorporating a gradient background to enhance the visual appeal, thereby replacing the current solid background. Stay informed about YouTube’s upcoming plans. YouTube Music Now Playing feature According to a report by 9To5Google, the YouTube Music app is testing a gradient background for the Now Playing…

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A BYD Co. Denza D9 minivan on display at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (Bloomberg) News 

BYD’s Popularity Grows as Tesla Struggles

Sanjay Patil

BYD Co., China’s leading electric-vehicle manufacturer, is experiencing increased expectations due to its record-breaking profits, even as Tesla Inc.’s rally slows down due to weaker sales growth. BYD is fast approaching Tesla as the world’s largest electric car seller. Still, shares of Elon Musk’s company are still up 68% this year, even with the recent pullback, far outstripping the 28% rise in BYD’s Hong Kong-listed stock. That could be ready to change. Investors have snapped up bullish options on BYD, while analysts have raised earnings per share forecasts for the…

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A hacking group claimed credit for the attack and said it stole confidential and internal data from the university, according to a posting on its dark web page. (Bloomberg) News 

Stanford University Investigating Possible Cyber Attack

Sanjay Patil

The Department of Public Safety at Stanford University is currently under investigation for a cybersecurity incident, according to an announcement made by the university on Friday. The university said in a statement that the breach did not appear to “affect police response to emergencies” and that the system is now secure. In addition, Stanford said there is no indication that other parts of the university have been affected. The department is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week police service consisting of sworn officers and officers who patrol the campus and respond to calls,…

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Know what’s new with the iOS 17.2 Beta 1. (AP) News 

Discover the New Features of iOS 17.2 Beta 1 – Journal App, iMessage Sticker Reaction, and More

Sanjay Patil, ,

Apple has once again captivated its audience with its latest release. Shortly after the global launch of the iOS 17.1 update, Apple surprised developers with the release of the iOS 17.2 Beta 1 update, showcasing exciting features that will soon be available on iPhones. While the iOS 17.1 update didn’t introduce any new standalone features, the upcoming iOS 17.2 update promises to be a game-changer. In its initial beta version, Apple has already incorporated a plethora of new features, including the highly anticipated Journal app. Additionally, sticker reactions on iMessage…

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MacBooks--like iPhones--offer a battery health indicator; and you can even check the power cycle count. Here's how to check how much your battery has aged. News 

Find Out If Your MacBook Battery Needs Replacing: Here’s How To Check

Sanjay Patil, , , ,

Like smartphones and most other consumer technology devices, laptops, including Apple’s MacBooks, use lithium-ion batteries. If you’re not familiar, these batteries degrade over time due to their chemical nature. This degradation results in reduced battery capacity and therefore shorter battery life as the battery ages and goes through multiple charge cycles. While most laptops don’t readily provide information on battery health or charge count, MacBooks, like iPhones, have a battery health indicator. You can even check the number of power cycles. Apple recommends replacing the MacBook battery when it drops…

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SAG-AFTRA stands up for actors in the digital age (REUTERS) News 

Actors in Hollywood Clash Over Artificial Intelligence Replicas’ Core Values

Sanjay Patil

Actors are currently striving to secure a comparable agreement for the protection of their own artificial intelligence rights, a month after the conclusion of the Hollywood writers’ strike, which resulted in a significant deal with studios to regulate the utilization of AI in their projects. “The principle that operators must have informed consent to the creation and use of a digital replica and fair compensation is non-negotiable,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-Aftra’s chief negotiator in the latest episode. Bloomberg Originals series AI IRL. “These are the basic principles that need to be…

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Astronomy's next frontier: The Roman Space Telescope's mission promises a profound exploration of our galaxy and the cosmos beyond, unlocking mysteries of distant worlds and celestial phenomena. Pic Credit: NASA (NASA) Space 

NASA to Uncover Universe Mysteries with Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Sanjay Patil,

Scheduled for a launch in approximately May 2027, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is poised to offer an unprecedented perspective on the Milky Way Galaxy. This NASA endeavor seeks to observe an extensive array of stars, numbering in the hundreds of millions, in order to detect minute fluctuations that may signify the existence of various cosmic entities such as exoplanets, far-off stars, icy bodies within our solar system, black holes, and other celestial phenomena. Roman’s abilities are essential in time-domain astronomy, which focuses on studying the evolution of the…

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NASA's Juno mission spots an eerie 'Face' on Jupiter, just in time for Halloween. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS) Space 

NASA’s Juno Mission Uncovers Spooky ‘Face’ on Jupiter for Halloween

Sanjay Patil,

NASA’s Juno spacecraft, during its 54th close flyby of Jupiter, has made a bone-chilling discovery that is bound to give you goosebumps! In the expansive northern region of Jupiter called Jet N7, Juno has captured a captivating image. This unsettling snapshot unveils a landscape of turbulent clouds and storms along Jupiter’s terminator, the line that separates day and night on the planet. Illuminated by the gentle glow of “moonlight,” this enigmatic picture offers a fascinating glimpse into the intricate workings of Jupiter’s atmosphere. In short, just in time for Halloween,…

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OnePlus' next flagship, the OnePlus 12 is going to feature BOE's latest flagship panel with a 2600 nits peak brightness. Here's what you must know. News 

OnePlus 12 Display Outshines iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro in Brightness

Sanjay Patil

The OnePlus 12 is set to become the company’s next flagship phone – the successor to the OnePlus 11, which was released earlier this year in February. Now, the BBK-owned company has revealed the device’s display specifications after several leaks and rumors have already surfaced about the next OnePlus mainline flagship. During OnePlus’ recent conference, it was revealed that the OnePlus 12 will feature a QHD+ (1440 x 3168) AMOLED display made by BOE. It supports a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, making it brighter than some recent flagships, including…

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The Electronics and Information Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar reacted to the ongoing Meta lawsuit over-exploitation of children and said that social media platforms must ensure they don’t cause harm to Indian citizens. (PTI) News 

Rajeev Chandrasekhar Declares an End to Unpunished Child Exploitation After Meta’s US Lawsuit

Sanjay Patil,

More than 30 US States have taken legal action against Meta Platforms, accusing them of enticing children to use Instagram and Facebook and exposing them to harmful content. In response, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasized the need for social media platforms to take responsibility for the content shared on their platforms and ensure the well-being of Indian citizens. In an interview with NDTV, the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology said, “It is important that (social media) platforms are much more responsible and accountable in what they do, what content…

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In 2025, Apple plans to update the ‌AirPods Pro‌ with a new design, a faster chip, and possibly hearing health features News 

Rumored Release of AirPods Max and AirPods 3 Expected in 2024

Sanjay Patil

The Cupertino-based technology giant Apple is said to be planning major changes to the AirPods range in 2024. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the iPhone manufacturer will launch the new AirPods Max and AirPods 3 next year and the AirPods Pro in 2025 with a new design and major improvements in sound quality. When AirPods are updated, Apple will stop selling the older second-generation and third-generation models and instead offer two fourth-generation models at different price points, MacRumors reports. The report suggested that both fourth-generation AirPods models will look like…

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AI is being used by UK officials, but it has been providing discriminatory results. (Bloomberg) News 

Allegations of Discrimination Surround UK Government’s AI-Based Immigration and Crime Policies

Sanjay Patil

The global adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has been widespread, with almost every industry incorporating this technology. In recent months, AI has been utilized in various sectors including education, finance, healthcare, and agriculture. Although it has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving efficiency, it has also given rise to concerns regarding misinformation and illusions. Despite ongoing efforts by governments to regulate AI, its extensive usage has resulted in discriminatory outcomes. The use of artificial intelligence leads to discriminatory results According to a Guardian report, UK government officials are using artificial intelligence…

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Far from what most films and TV shows would have you believe, teenagers want their location to be tracked by their parents for safety. (Unsplash) News 

Survey Reveals Teenagers Open to Being Monitored by Parents on Mobile Devices

Sanjay Patil

Parents have long been concerned about the safety of their teenage children, as crime rates continue to rise. However, there is now a shift in awareness among teenagers themselves, who are taking proactive measures to ensure their own safety and that of their loved ones. The extent to which teenagers are willing to go for the sake of safety is astonishing, as revealed by a recent survey. Surprisingly, millions of teenagers willingly choose to be tracked by their parents, believing that it contributes to their overall safety. This contradicts the…

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Asteroid 2019 HH4 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. (Pixabay) Space 

NASA Announces Giant Asteroid the Size of Empire State Building to Pass Earth Today

Sanjay Patil,

NASA monitors asteroids by utilizing both ground-based and space-based telescopes. The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), which is funded by NASA, examines the night sky for any moving objects and notifies authorities of potential asteroid sightings. Additionally, certain space-based observatories, such as the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and the NEOWISE mission, employ infrared sensors to identify asteroids and gather data about their characteristics. With the help of these advanced instruments, NASA has recently disclosed details about a 1200-foot Potentially Hazardous Asteroid that is expected to pass by Earth…

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The publishing industry is at risk due to rapid AI growth. (Pixabay) News 

Book Industry Confronts Challenges of Artificial Intelligence

Sanjay Patil

The publishing industry is now facing the repercussions of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, ranging from an influx of low-quality computer-generated books saturating the market to potential copyright infringements. Since the launch last year of ChatGPT, an easy-to-use AI chatbot that can deliver an essay on demand in seconds, there has been growing concern about the impact of generative AI across a range of industries. There is a “deep sense of insecurity” among book industry players, said Juergen Boos, director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest book fair,…

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Peak XV said 13 startups in the newest Surge cohort, of which 10 are in the AI and deep tech field. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (REUTERS) News 

AI Companies Lead Peak XV’s Initiative to Support Startups

Sanjay Patil

Peak XV Partners, a venture capital firm, has announced that the majority of startups in its accelerator program are focused on AI and deep tech. This comes as investors worldwide compete to invest in these types of companies at an early stage. Peak XV, formerly known as Sequoia Capital India & Southeast Asia, said the latest Surge cohort includes 13 startups, 10 of which are in AI and deep tech. Seven of the startups are from India, four from Southeast Asia and two from Australia, the fund said on Monday.…

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The video site has approached music companies about obtaining the rights to songs it could use to train this tool,. (Pixabay) AI 

YouTube Developing Feature to Help Creators Imitate Drake’s Vocals

Sanjay Patil,

According to individuals familiar with the situation, YouTube is in the process of creating a tool that utilizes artificial intelligence to enable content creators to record audio using the voices of renowned musicians. The video site has reached out to music companies for the rights to songs it could use to train this tool, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are confidential. The major record companies have not yet signed the contract, although discussions between the parties continue. We are now on WhatsApp. Click…

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Netflix increased subscription prices for some streaming plans in the United States, Britain and France as it shattered expectations for new customers. News 

Netflix 4K Subscription Plan Price Increase in Select Countries

Sanjay Patil

LOS ANGELES: Netflix raised subscription prices for some streaming plans on Wednesday in the United States, Britain and France as it beat expectations for new customers and boosted its share by 13 percent. According to LSEG, Netflix added nearly 9 million subscribers worldwide in the third quarter, beating Wall Street analysts’ forecast of 6 million. Netflix said it expects the same number of additions in the current quarter. The strong performance showed that Netflix was thriving despite labor tensions in Hollywood that shut down much of its US production. Netflix…

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Thus far, 2023 has proven to be a great year for gamers, offering quality games on all fronts, whether it's PlayStation, Xbox, or the Switch. Here, let's take a look at some of the best games you need to play this year. Gaming 

5 Exciting Action-Adventure Games to Try Out in 2021

Sanjay Patil, ,

The video games launched this year have received high ratings, making 2023 a fantastic year for gamers. First-party games for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo have been impressive, but third-party games have also been well received. This list includes five action-adventure games – both old and new – that you should consider playing this year. Notably, the games listed here are in no particular order and include games from most platforms. Starfield – PC, Xbox Series X/S Starfield was arguably the most anticipated Xbox game of the last decade, and it’s…

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Threads is getting two new features. Know details. News 

Threads App Introduces Functionality to Streamline Following People

Sanjay Patil,

Meta is continuously adding new features to its microblogging platform Threads in order to compete with X (formerly Twitter) and potentially gain an advantage. Recent reports suggest that Threads is planning to introduce a Trending section, displaying the top 5 trending topics and the number of threads mentioning them. Additionally, the platform has announced that users will soon be able to delete the app without losing their Instagram account. Now Threads has got another new feature. Know all about it. Chains update Instagram head Adam Mosseri posted yesterday on Threads…

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