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elon musk

Elon Musk changes plans, to not cut 75% of Twitter Jobs

Elon Musk informed Twitter employees that he does not intend to fire 75% of the workforce after taking over the organization. According to reports, Musk informed potential investors that he would fire 75% of Twitter’s staff, leaving the company with only 2,000 employees.

Elon Musk
Image Source: outlookindia.com

Elon Musk, the tech magnate and incoming boss of Twitter, reportedly informed staff members on Wednesday that he does not intend to lay off 75% of the company’s workforce. Musk, whose $44 billion Twitter acquisition appears to be on pace to close by Friday, refuted the previously reported lay-off estimate in a speech to staff members at Twitter’s San Francisco office.

Twitter employees who may have been anxious following a story in The Washington Post last week suggesting that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO had planned to fire 75% of Twitter’s workforce once he acquired control of the company would likely be relieved by Musk’s comments.

However, Twitter Inc. warned staff to expect loads of public rumors and speculation as the acquisition by Musk approaches and stated that there haven’t been any plans for company-wide layoffs since it inked the deal.

Nevertheless, there has been a noticeable air of sadness in the Twitter offices since Musk revealed his intentions to purchase the microblogging platform. Many high-level executives have already left the company since the acquisition was first revealed in April, citing Musk’s actions and public statements as the reason for their resignation.

As per the Washington Post report, regardless of who operates the company, workforce layoffs are anticipated in the near future, The report states that Twitter’s present management intended to reduce the corporation’s payroll by around $800 million by the end of 2023, which would result in the departure of close to a quarter of the employees.

Layoffs are still anticipated after the Tesla CEO’s takeover even if he does not lay off the company’s staff by 75%, sources have told Bloomberg. It was also reported that despite assurances from Twitter’s human resources department that mass layoffs were not in the works, substantial measures to fire employees and reduce infrastructure expenses were in place even before Musk made an acquisition offer.

Elon Musk released a video earlier on Thursday showing him entering the offices while holding a kitchen sink with the caption “Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!” He updated the description of his Twitter profile to “Chief Twit.” Musk recently posted to Twitter, “A beautiful thing about Twitter is how it empowers citizen journalism – people are able to disseminate news without an establishment bias.”

As per the Wall Street Journal, banks have begun transferring $13 billion in cash to support Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, indicating that the transaction will complete by the end of this week.

The cash will be made accessible for Musk to complete the purchase by the Friday time limit once all closing requirements have been satisfied.

After making an initial $44 billion offer to purchase Twitter, Musk withdrew his offer, claiming that Twitter had overstated the number of bogus “spam bot” accounts it had on its platform.

Twitter sued to hold Musk to the stipulations of the acquisition agreement, but a US court recently put a halt on the case after Musk changed his opinion, and gave the parties time till October 28 to complete the acquisition.

Youtube

Youtube to introduce new feature to zoom in and out while watching videos

Youtube has revealed a number of visual adjustments and user interface (UI) modifications to make the application feel “cleaner, more lively,” and simpler to use for multiple purposes. The most significant update is the pinch-to-zoom feature, which lets users enlarge the playing screen to focus on particular details or components.

youtube
Image Source: hindustantimes.com

Google is updating the YouTube app with a fresh appearance and a number of new features that will make watching videos more engaging and modern. Youtube announced in a recent blog post that, in light of YouTube’s recent 17th birthday, it was thinking about giving it a little makeover While YouTube has made a lot of improvements and changes, the “pinch to zoom” feature and “video navigation” are the most significant ones.

The pinch-to-zoom feature will let viewers zoom in and out of Youtube videos on both mobile and desktop devices. Earlier YouTube users had to keep their fingertips on the screen for the video to remain zoomed in. Users may now watch the rest of the Youtube video in greater detail since the video will remain zoomed in unless prompted.

Youtube noted in a blog post, “You may now simply zoom in and out of a movie on your iOS or Android phone using pinch to zoom. When you let go, the video remains zoomed in so you may see the rest of it in more detail. Allow your fingers to rest!”

The platform also made modifications to the way videos are navigated. The “precise seeking” function displays a row of thumbnails anytime you move to a specific point in the video. If you’re viewing a tutorial or a lecture and want to jump to a specific section of the video, this is quite helpful.

Youtube mentioned in the blog post, “Precise seeking builds on our recent improvements to video navigation that help you quickly find the parts you’re most interested in. We launched the ability to long press anywhere on the player to seek and double tap with two fingers to skip chapters. We also added a graph that shows frequently replayed moments in a video.”

Links to YouTube in video descriptions will now become buttons. In order to reduce distractions, actions like “like,” “share,” and “download” have also been moved to the lower side. The corporation has given the subscription button more weight by highlighting it more, which is good news for creators.

The subscription button is now visible to users in a white oval box right next to the creator’s name. The update also includes an ambient mode, which adds a soft effect just beneath a video. This feature will be available on both mobile and desktops in the dark theme.

To make the colors on the screen stand out more, Youtube has also updated and slightly darkened the dark theme. The color of hashtags on YouTube has also changed from blue to white, but their functionality and placement have not altered.

Although Pinch-to-Zoom in particular is a useful and major upgrade to the platform’s overall UI, all the other changes are relatively minor. It will be fascinating to observe how the other updates affect in-app engagement and clip finding actions even though they are expected to have less effect on the apps functionality.

Recently, YouTube debuted its brand-new “Unique Handles” feature, which gives users and creators a distinct handle ID that can be utilized to identify them.

usb-c

Apple iPhone 15 Series To Have USB-C Charging Port

Apple has confirmed that the USB-C charging port will be used in place of the conventional Lightning port on the next iPhone 15 series when it launches. 

USB-C
Image Source: bloomberg.com

Apple’s iPhone 15 lineup suggests that it is prepared for the significant shift to type C. On September 6, 2022, Apple unveiled its latest lineup of iPhone 14, but speculations about the upcoming series have already begun. According to the latest reports, Apple will finally transition to Type C charging ports with the new iPhone 15 series.

With its upcoming iPhone 15 lineup in Europe, Apple is most likely to substitute a type C charging port for its lighting port, which has been in use for over ten years now. Recently, a regulation was established in the European Union requiring all smartphone manufacturers to switch to USB Type C ports by the year 2024.

Apple is now the only significant brand in the smartphone industry that does not adhere to this USB standard.

Apple’s Joswiak revealed at a WSJ tech event that Apple will have to embrace the USB-C connection for its upcoming iPhones. The confirmation follows the EU’s decision in favor of a universal charging connector for all devices.

Reports suggest that the iPhone 15 lineup from Apple will feature four new models with two distinct processors to distinguish between entry-level and premium models. All four models will come with USB-C charging port.

According to speculations, the iPhone 15 Pro models could have enhanced 8GB RAM. The upgraded RAM is added to complement Apple’s new processor. A periscope lens is anticipated for the new iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Although Apple is developing its own 5G modem, the new iPhone 15 range won’t use it yet. This may be used for later models that debut in 2024. The iPhone 15 series will continue with the use of the existing Qualcomm modem. 

It is also speculated that the 6.1-inch basic iPhone model is expected to be discontinued when the iPhone 15 series debuts in 2023. A rumor from Gizmochina claims that Apple would probably release an ‘Ultra’ iPhone model boasting a few distinctive features in 2023.

Many people voiced their displeasure with the new iPhone 15 Ultra model on Twitter in response to the rumor. According to LeaksApplePro, the upcoming iPhone 15 Ultra, would have a premium titanium body.

Before the announcement of the iPhone 14 series, it was speculated that hat the Pro versions in this line-up would also have titanium bodies, however, this did not materialize. Titanium-built phones are incredibly rare and will contribute to the product’s improved appearance. 

According to a report, Apple has been continually assessing the popularity of the iPhone 14 Plus. Some iPhone manufacturing partners have been asked by the company to stop producing the iPhone 14 Plus right away.

Apple has also contacted two component suppliers to reduce manufacturing by up to 90%. The iPhone 14 Plus is reportedly not as well-liked by users as Apple had anticipated.

The popularity of the iPhone 14 has reportedly decreased. Apple appears to be concentrating on bringing a variety of modifications to the new iPhone 15 series right now. 

Along the lines of the EU, India is also considering imposing a rule that would require tech firms to have a common standard charger, including USB-C, by 2024. 

whatsapp

Whatsapp is back online, After Global Outage

The number of reported cases by Indian users on Downdetector, a website that monitors real-time problems and outages, has dropped to less than 3,000. According to user reports, WhatsApp has been experiencing issues since 3:17 AM Eastern time i.e. 12:47 pm.

whatsapp
Image Source: dailypakistan.com.pk

After being unavailable for a few hours around the world, WhatsApp has now resumed normal operations. WABetaInfo said in a tweet that the service should have been restored completely. WhatsApp Business API is also back up and running, and keep in mind that some users may still encounter a few minor issues in the coming minutes.

The number of reported cases for Indian users on Downdetector, a website that monitors real-time problems and outages, has dropped to less than 3,000.

The popular instant messaging platform WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, was reported to be down in many parts of the world, including India. Several users have reported being unable to send, receive, or even log in to their WhatsApp accounts.

“We’re aware that some people are currently having trouble sending messages and we’re working to restore WhatsApp for everyone as quickly as possible,” a Meta spokesperson said.

Source: cnbc.com

According to Downdetector, user reports indicate that WhatsApp has been experiencing issues since 3:17 AM Eastern time. Based on the report, around 28,413 users in India reported the problem on their website around 12:30 p.m. 69% of those who reported the problem said it was a problem sending messages, 7% said it was a problem with the app, and 24% said it was a problem with the server connection.

As per Reuters, WhatsApp users in Asia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Europe reported problems sending and receiving texts and videos.

At about 0750 GMT, the outage investigating site Downdetector reported that over 68,000 users in the United Kingdom had reported problems with the app. 19,000 people in Singapore and about 15,000 in South Africa reported issues.

WhatsApp features affected by the outage

WABetaInfo, a portal that tracks WhatsApp news and updates, reports that the following features have been impacted.

Messages could no longer be sent to a group or one-on-one chats because they were no longer transmitted to the server. It was also impossible to send a new status update to contacts, and sending a message to a broadcast list was unsuccessful.

It was not possible to change the privacy settings for last seen, about, profile photos, who can be added to groups, and read receipts.

There was no way to create a new WhatsApp account, nor could an existing account be used to log in.

Users could not change their information, including their profile photo and about section. Changing phone numbers were no longer possible during the outage.

Users’ chat history may not have been backed up on Google Drive or iCloud.

“We know people had trouble sending messages on WhatsApp today. We’ve fixed the issue and apologise for any inconvenience,” a Meta spokesperson told CNBC.

Source: cnbc.com
Pillars of Creation

NASA’s Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Image of Pillars of Creation

NASA’s most conscientious observatory has done it once more. The James Webb Space Telescope has turned back an infrared image of the famous Pillars of Creation, which is the sharpest and the most detailed portrait of the spectacular star-forming region ever seen.

Pillars of Creation
Image Source: mashable.com

Translucent columns of cool interstellar gas and dust are punctuated by piercing, bright points of light in the ethereal scene. According to NASA, the majority of these are stars, and the reddish balls of fire near the edges of the pillars are newly created stars.

The three-dimensional pillars look like majestic rock formations, but are far more permeable,” NASA wrote. “These columns are made up of cool interstellar gas and dust that appear – at times – semi-transparent in near-infrared light.”

Source: huffpost.com

These are not to be confused with the deep red, magma-like areas that run along the inside perimeter of a few of the pillars. This is caused by the turbulence caused by stars that are still forming and shooting supersonic jets of material into space where they collide with other materials. In a nutshell, this is how cosmic chaos appears.

Fortunately, these epic explosions and cosmological collisions are thousands (approximately 6,500 light-years) of light-years away from Earth.

NASA’S Hubble Space Telescope photographed this region of the universe for the first time in 1995. The Hubble successfully conducted a follow-up mission in 2014, and numerous other observatories have focused their telescopes on the Eagle Nebula.

When knots with sufficient mass form within the pillars of gas and dust, they begin to collapse under their own gravity, slowly heat up, and eventually form new stars,” NASA said. “Young stars periodically shoot out supersonic jets that collide with clouds of material, like these thick pillars … The crimson glow comes from the energetic hydrogen molecules that result from jets and shocks. This is evident in the second and third pillars from the top – the NIRCam image is practically pulsing with their activity.”

Source: huffpost.com

A side-by-side comparison of the new photo and Hubble’s view of the cosmic phenomenon reveals how Webb’s infrared instrument can see through the dust and gas curtains that shroud the scene.

NASA shared an image of the cosmic bubble wrap known as the Bubble Nebula. NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured the image. The cosmic bubble wrap is situated in the constellation Cassiopeia which is about 7,100 light-years away from Earth and you may know, one of the highly known star bubbles is the Bubble Nebula.

Images like Pillars of Creation, as well as additional data from Webb, will be used by NASA and astronomers around the world to gain a better understanding of the process of star formation.

Google Meet calls

Google Meet calls can now be transcribed into text

Google has revealed that Google Meet calls can now also be converted into text and saved by users in Google Doc format.

Google Meet calls
Image Source: theliveahmedabad.com

Google is constantly updating the functionality and user experience on its video-calling platform, Google Meet. In keeping with its recent trends, Google has released an update that will soon provide users access to a number of new features, such as speech transcription. Google has launched a brand-new transcribe feature for Google Meet calls.

Users will now be able to utilize this tool to convert the whole meeting’s audio file into text format and save it as a Google Doc. The saved file may be retrieved using Google Drive. The tech behemoth recently released this new feature in the Cloud Next 2022 event.

Users will find the Google Meet transcribe tool useful for recording meetings and saving important remarks.

On October 24, the company will begin to introduce the new transcribe tool for Google Meet globally. Although the transcribe option is intriguing, not everyone would have access to it. Android Central reported that Google will only make the new tool available to PC and laptop users.

Attendees will be informed that the call is being recorded before they join the Google Meet call. The purpose of these transcripts is to document the discussion from the meeting, serve as a record, and be useful to attendees or the host if they wish to refer back to a specific section or idea from the entire discussion.

Similar to the recording option, if the transcription is activated for the Google Meet call, all participants will receive a notification. According to Google, the Google Meet transcription file may also be kept in the Google Drive storage system in the “Meeting Recordings” folder.

Following the meeting, a link to the transcript will be sent to every participant’s email address, including the hosts and the person who started the transcript. Google will also include a link to the transcription with the “associated calendar invite for the meeting” in addition to that.

Regarding accessibility, Google has said that in all meetings with 200 or fewer participants, the meeting host, co-hosts, or the person who initiated the transcription will only have access to the link to the transcription file by email after the meeting concludes.

Only the meeting organizers, hosts, and co-hosts will have access to the transcription for meetings with 200 or more invitees.

Notably, the transcribe option “can be configured at the group, domain, or OU level” and will be enabled by default. Only users of Google Workspace Business Standard, Enterprise Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade will have access to the feature.

Google users with personal accounts will not be able to access the new feature. It’s also important to note that only English-speaking people can use the transcribe tool. So, the feature cannot convert audio into text when users talk in any other language.

Google Meet( formerly Google Hangouts) is a video-communication service by Google. Google Meet is amongst the most used meeting apps especially when it took the place of Google Duo on Android and iOS smartphones.