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Netflix Tudum

Netflix Tudum 2023: Everything Announced

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Netflix recently held its annual Tudum event where it made several exciting announcements.

They revealed Season 3 of Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth, and concluded with Heart of Stone featuring Alia Bhatt, Jamie Dornan, and Gal Gadot. In between these announcements, they showcased a glimpse of what was to come.

Netflix Tudum
Image Source: whats-on-netflix.com

One of the highlights was a spinoff show centered around Berlin, a beloved character from Money Heist (La casa de papel), played by Pedro Alonso.

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The teaser introduced a new cast for the spinoff. Additionally, they unveiled The Archies, a teen musical drama set in India’s 1960s, providing a desi twist to the popular series Riverdale. Another upcoming series is 3 Body Problem, created by the showrunners of Game of Thrones. Lastly, there was a sneak peek at the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

During the Netflix Tudum event, Chris Hemsworth and director Sam Hargrave announced the third movie in the successful Extraction franchise.

The cast of Squid Game, including Lee Jung-Jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo, will be returning for the highly anticipated second season, joined by new cast members Yim Si-Wan, Kang Ha-Neul, Park Sung-Hoon, and Yang Dong-Geun.

The Netflix Tudum event also showcased a teaser for The Archies, a musical drama set in 1960s India, featuring an all-Indian cast including Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Mihir Ahuja, Dot, and Vedang Raina. Netflix unveiled the first trailer for Heart to Stone, an upcoming movie starring Gal Gadot, Alia Bhatt, and Jamie Dornan.

Netflix is taking the popularity of Squid Game to the next level by creating a reality show based on the series. The show will feature 456 participants competing in schoolyard games across 10 episodes, with a chance to win a whopping $4.56 million prize.

While the games will resemble those in Squid Game, there won’t be any life-or-death elimination. In other news, Lily Collins will be returning for the fourth season of Emily in Paris, as shown in a teaser where Emily prepares for a Roman holiday.

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Unfortunately, fans of Stranger Things will have to wait longer for Season 5, as filming has been delayed due to a writers’ strike. However, Netflix offered a glimmer of hope by announcing that Linda Hamilton, known for her role in Terminator, will join the cast for the show’s fifth and final season.

Other announcements made during the event included Lift, an action-comedy, Love is Blind Season 5, the hiatus of Cobra Kai Season 6, Heartstopper Season 2, All the Light We Cannot See, images from Bridgerton Season 3, Elite Season 7, and You.

Microsoft Teams

Why is Microsoft Teams integration being removed from Win11?

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Nearly two years after the first announcement of the integration, Microsoft is getting ready to remove the built-in Microsoft Teams client from Windows 11.

This integration aimed to provide seamless communication and collaboration for Windows 11 users, enabling them to connect with colleagues, join meetings, and share files easily.

Microsoft Teams
Image Source: theverge.com

The more adaptable free edition of Microsoft Teams, which is also accessible as a Windows 10 app, will replace the Chat capability. Microsoft revealed the improvements this week in a fresh Windows 11 test build.

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According to a blog post by Microsoft’s senior program manager Brandon LeBlanc, “Starting with his build, Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free.” “Microsoft Teams – Free is pinned to the taskbar by default and can be unpinned like other apps on the taskbar.”

The operating system was tightly integrated with the first Teams integration in Windows 11, known as Chat. The Chat app was pinned to the taskbar by default and has to be disabled by navigating to Settings.

Up until now, Microsoft has been steadily introducing new features to Chat inside of Windows 11, including enhanced video conferencing capabilities in October, Discord-like communities in early November, and an AI art tool.

The Microsoft Teams 2.0 client served as the basis for the new MS Teams software that is currently being sent out to organizations, and it also served as the basis for the built-in Chat capabilities in Windows 11.

Days after announcing intentions to discontinue support for Cortana on Windows 11 later this year, Microsoft has decided to remove the built-in Teams client from the operating system. Microsoft is almost at the beginning of a new fiscal year, and it is evident that the corporation is concentrating its resources on brand-new Windows initiatives, such as its AI-powered Windows Copilot tool.

When speaking at CES earlier this year, Windows CEO Panos Panay hinted at the significance of AI for Windows, saying that “AI is going to reinvent how you do everything on Windows.” Undoubtedly, AI will be a significant component in Windows 10 as well.

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Additionally, Microsoft apparently agreed to discontinue bundling Teams with Office only a few months prior to the modifications to Teams. In an effort to placate EU regulators, Microsoft has decided to stop requiring Office customers to install Teams on their devices in April, according to The Financial Times.

After competitor Slack complained about Microsoft’s bundling of Teams in 2020, the European Commission opened a formal antitrust investigation on Microsoft’s practices.

Twitter

Why Music Publishers are suing Twitter?

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On Wednesday, 17 music publishers filed a lawsuit against Twitter in federal court in Nashville, Tennessee. They claimed that by allowing users to upload music without a license, the company was complicit in thousands of copyright violations.

The lawsuit claimed that “numerous infringing copies of musical compositions” are used on Twitter to increase user engagement.

Twitter
Image Source: engadget.com

For claimed violations of nearly 1,700 copyrights, members of the National Music Publishers’ Association, including Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group, are suing for more than $250 million in damages.

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Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October, the long-standing violation, according to the lawsuit, has gotten worse, since other significant platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube have legitimate music licenses from the publishers.

According to the NMPA President David Israelite, Twitter “stands alone as the largest social media platform that has completely refused to license the millions of songs on its service.” The lawsuit includes Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, and Rihanna among the artists it represents.

The lawsuit claimed that Twitter “routinely ignores” repeat infringers who send out messages containing illegal music. The publishers claimed that Twitter encourages user infringement, giving it an “unfair advantage” over platforms that purchase music licenses by raising engagement and ad revenues.

He slammed Twitter for consistently failing to take action against individuals who repeatedly violate the terms of service by tweeting lyrics from unlicensed songs.

The claim made by the music publishers is that Twitter actively promotes user infringement, using it to raise user engagement, boost advertising revenue, and obtain an unfair competitive advantage over other platforms that pay for music licenses.

The publishers said that, since Musk took over, “Twitter’s internal affairs regarding matters pertaining to this case are in disarray,” pointing out significant staff reductions to the company’s legal and trust and safety departments.

In general, music publishers and copyright holders can take legal action against various platforms, including social media platforms like Twitter, if they believe that their copyrighted music is being used without proper authorization or licensing.

This could involve users on the platform sharing copyrighted music without permission or platforms allowing the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material.

Music publishers typically hold the rights to the songs and compositions created by songwriters and composers. They rely on licensing agreements and copyright protection to ensure that they are compensated for the use of their copyrighted material.

If they believe that Twitter or its users are infringing on these rights, they may choose to take legal action to protect their interests and seek damages.

Gigacasting

Why are other automakers chasing Tesla’s ‘Gigacasting’?

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Toyota Motor announced this week that it is going to employ a technology powered by Tesla called “Gigacasting” as an element of a plan to increase the efficiency and reduce the price of potential electric vehicles (EVs).

Toyota is not the only company imitating Tesla’s innovation.

Gigacasting
Image Source: reuters.com

Here’s an overview of Gigacasting along with how the invention is pushing car companies to compete with Tesla:

Tesla has implemented the Giga Press which is an aluminium die-casting device, in its facilities in the United States, China along with Germany. The home-sized machines can create aluminium components that are much larger than anything previously used in the auto industry.

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An average vehicle body is made up of over one hundred separately pressed metal pieces that have been soldered together.

According to experts, Tesla’s industry-leading economic viability has been attributed to fewer components, cheaper costs, and a streamlined manufacturing facility.

Tesla claims that by using just one part in the back of the Model Y, its most popular model, it was able to reduce associated costs by 40 per cent.

Tesla purchases its presses from IDRA in Italy which is a division of LK Industries since 2008 in China.

According to an AlixPartners estimate, the overall market for aluminium die-casting was over 73 billion USD last year and is expected to reach a value of $126 billion by 2032.

Along with Toyota, other automakers employing the technology include Hyundai Motor, General Motors, and also, Volvo Cars, Polestar along with Zeekr, all of which are subsidiaries of China’s Geely.

For the multifunctional van that it sells in China, Zeekr has begun using enormous aluminium die casts, while the company has stated that it would also use the approach for other kinds of vehicles.

Volvo stated last year that it will spend over 900 million dollars to renovate its facility close to Gothenburg in Sweden so that it would feature mega press technology.

Only the Model 3 as well as the Model Y represent the majority of Tesla’s revenues. It is simpler to justifiably invest in innovative manufacturing methods when there are high sales volumes on just two platforms. That benefit also applies to other Electric vehicle startups.

Experts have stated that it can be difficult for traditional automobile manufacturers to decide whether they should invest hundreds of millions of bucks in new casting technologies because they have more complex product lines and production machinery that has previously been amortised.

solid-state batteries

How could solid-state batteries improve next-gen EVs?

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Small electrical gadgets like pacemakers and smartwatches have utilized solid-state batteries. The development of EV battery mass production has been slower than expected.

Toyota claimed to have solved a solid-state battery durability problem, clearing the door for manufacturing, which it anticipates will start in 2027–2028.

solid-state batteries
Image Source: timeslive.co.za

·Solid-state batteries offer higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. This means they can store more energy per unit volume or weight, enabling EVs to have longer driving ranges on a single charge.

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This improved energy density is particularly advantageous for electric vehicles where maximizing range is a critical factor. Solid-state batteries are considered safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries.

The absence of liquid electrolytes eliminates the risk of leakage, thermal runaway, and fire hazards associated with traditional battery chemistries. This makes solid-state batteries more stable and less prone to accidents, increasing the overall safety of EVs.

These batteries have the potential to support significantly faster charging speeds. Their unique structure and advanced materials allow for improved ion conductivity, reducing charging times compared to lithium-ion batteries. Rapid charging capabilities are crucial for the widespread adoption of EVs by addressing one of the primary concerns of consumers—long charging times.

They exhibit improved cycle life, meaning they can withstand a greater number of charge and discharge cycles before experiencing degradation. This extended lifespan translates into longer-lasting EV batteries that require less frequent replacement, reducing costs and environmental impact.

Solid-state batteries perform better across a wide range of temperatures, including extremely cold or hot conditions. They are less affected by temperature fluctuations, allowing EVs equipped with solid-state batteries to maintain their performance and range in challenging weather conditions.

They offer greater design flexibility due to their solid and flexible nature. They can be made thinner, lighter, and molded into various shapes, allowing for more creative integration into different vehicle designs.

This flexibility could lead to improved space utilization, increased cargo capacity, or even the integration of batteries into structural components, optimizing the overall vehicle design.

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Solid-state battery cells for EVs have been manufactured in prototype form by automakers and technology companies, but mass production has not yet been scaled up. It is challenging to create a solid electrolyte that is chemically inert, stable, and nevertheless an effective ion conductor between the electrodes.

In addition, they are hard to make and expensive to crack. As a result, liquid lithium-ion batteries are much less expensive than solid-state batteries.

Toyota withheld projected expenses for its new solid-state battery electric vehicle (EV) or the additional investment required to increase manufacturing.

Robinhood

Why did Robinhood Markets remove three crypto tokens?

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Days after the U.S. securities regulator launched a crackdown against the major exchanges in the sector, Robinhood Markets said on Friday that it is withdrawing three cryptocurrency tokens from its platform.

On June 27, the online brokerage said that customers will no longer be able to trade Solana, Cardano, or Polygon using Robinhood.

Robinhood
Image Source: reuters.com

The move by Robinhood was made in response to the SEC classifying these tokens as securities in its lawsuit against Binance and another complaint it filed the next day against Coinbase. It is clear that the SEC’s legal action is already having an impact on the cryptocurrency market.

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The operation of Binance.US and CEO Changpeng Zhao are the targets of the SEC’s lawsuit, which was filed on Monday. It makes 13 allegations against Binance, including that it engaged in a “web of deception,” fraudulently inflated trading volumes, misappropriated user cash, and claimed fake independence of the US corporation while actually being in control of it.

Meanwhile, the US branch of Binance has chosen to stop accepting deposits in dollars. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is stepping up its campaign of repression against the bitcoin industry as these actions are being taken.

Binance.US, regarded as Binance’s independent partner, announced on Twitter on Thursday that its partner banks were getting ready to stop providing access to dollar withdrawal routes by June 13. After the SEC requested an asset freeze via a court order, the decision was made. Customers can withdraw their money till Tuesday.

Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to provide fast and scalable solutions for decentralized applications. It utilizes a unique combination of technologies, including a proof-of-history (PoH) consensus mechanism and a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus algorithm.

Solana aims to address the scalability limitations faced by other blockchain platforms, offering high throughput and low transaction fees. It has gained attention for its potential in supporting various applications, including decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Cardano is a blockchain platform that emphasizes security, scalability, and sustainability. It uses a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism called Ouroboros, which aims to provide a secure and energy-efficient network.

Cardano is developed with a strong focus on academic research and aims to offer a robust infrastructure for decentralized applications and smart contracts. The platform aims to provide scalability through its layered architecture, with plans to introduce additional layers for governance and sidechains.

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Polygon is a layer 2 scaling solution for the Ethereum blockchain. It aims to address the scalability issues of Ethereum by providing a framework for building and connecting scalable and interoperable blockchain networks.

Polygon utilizes various technologies, including sidechains, Plasma, and a PoS consensus mechanism, to enable faster and cheaper transactions while leveraging Ethereum’s security.

It offers developers the flexibility to create dApps with Ethereum compatibility while benefiting from the scalability and low fees provided by the Polygon network.