Several of Fitbit's community-driven features will be going offline on Android and iOS, starting on March 27, to make way for a new app powered by Google.
News of the upcoming change was dropped rather unceremoniously via mass email to its users. On that date, “Open Groups will no longer be available.” However, users will still be able to create closed groups with their friends or other users in the Fitbit community forums. “All Challenges and Adventures, including trophies” are getting the axe as well. Around that same time, Fitbit Studio, a browser tool allowing developers to create apps and watch faces for Fitbit OS, will be entering read-only mode. Then a month later on April 20, Fitbit Studio will shut down for good. The company is asking those same developers to switch over to the command-line SDK, which is available for download on Fitbit’s website.
Fitbit is urging people to download their user data from these features using the data export tool before March 27 or it will all be gone forever.
Unhappy users
Saying that people are disappointed in this new direction is a pretty big understatement. The official forums are being lit up by many angry users and with good reason. Some of the biggest draws for Fitbit were its community features that brought people together to push each other. Challenges allow users to compete over who could take the most steps in a day. Adventures encouraged people to see the world through virtual trails like the Valley Loop in Yosemite National Park.
It is entirely possible the features being removed will get new renditions or something better once the aforementioned Google tech is fully implemented. The announcement states users can also expect to see “faster load times” as part of the app's evolution. And in the company’s defense, Nicol Addison, head of communications at Fitbit, told The Verge via email that all the sunsetting features saw “limited use”. Apparently, the number of users actively engaging in the platform’s Challenges is smaller “compared to other offerings”. So it appears the logic is that since not many people were doing the challenges, then there's little harm in getting rid of them. No exact numbers were given, however.
Hopefully whatever Google cooks up for Fitbit makes up for what’s being lost, though skepticism is warranted. The company’s last two smartwatches, the Versa 4 and Sense 2, left us wanting more. They both lacked support for third-party apps and didn’t always deliver the most accurate readings (although their user interfaces were pretty nice). Perhaps under this new management, Fitbit can rise to the top.
Be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best fitness trackers for the year if you’re looking for a high-tech way to track your exercise and calories.
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Google on Friday submitted before the NCLAT that there was "unfair imposition" by the competition watchdog CCI over its mobile app distribution agreement with device makers as it does not restrict from installing other apps, including that of rivals. A two-member NCLAT bench headed by Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan on Friday said it will start day-to-day hearing of...
Almost half (46%) of telco network capacity will be entirely cloud-native in the next 3-5 years, hinting at huge investments to come, a new report has claimed.
To get to this stage, research from Capgemini has been suggested that telco companies are predicted to invest an average sum of $200 million each per year.
As if the incentives weren’t clear enough, Capgemini also reckons that early adopters will be able to make large proportions of their money back fairly quickly.
Telco cloud investments
Early adopters of cloud-based telco platforms are expected to make back as much as 47% of their investments within the 3-5 year period.
Part of this will come from the optimizations of the total cost of ownership for the networks, which is expected to get a 13% saving. Early-mover status is also attributable to the return on investment predictions.
The cloud transformation is said to be an enabler of next-generation technologies, such as smart factory automation; private 5G networks at distribution centres, ports, oil fields, mines, chemical storage, and processing units; remote surgeries; AR/VR or Metaverse-enabled remote operations, monitoring, and training.
Finally, with our growing need for data storage and communications, combined with the increasing pressure for greener solutions, telco companies hope their cloud investments will enable them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 5%.
According to Capgemini, many of our favorite Telco companies have already started their transitions. AT&T announced in 2021 that it would move its 5G mobile network to Azure, while O2 Telefonica said that it would be transitioning part of its 5G network in Germany to the cloud in partnership with Google Cloud and Ericsson.
Binance has pulled back on some potential investments in the United States, its CEO Changpeng Zhao said on Friday, following a Bloomberg report that the major crypto exchange was considering ending relationships with US business partners.
Hackers are using known ProxyShell vulnerabilities to install cryptocurrency miners on vulnerable Microsoft Exchange servers, researchers have claimed.
Cybersecurity experts from Morphisec observed unidentified attackers using ProxyShell (an umbrella term for multiple vulnerabilities that, when chained together, allow for remote code execution) to install XMRig on Microsoft Exchange servers.
XMRig is one of the most popular cryptocurrency mining malware variants, generating the Monero (XMR) cryptocurrency for attackers. Monero is a popular choice among cybercriminals because of its privacy features and the fact that it’s almost impossible to trace.
Hiding in plain sight
Morphisec says that the vulnerabilities used in this campaign are CVE-2021-34473 and CVE-2021-34523. Both of these were discovered, and patched, two years ago. Therefore, the best way to protect against these attacks is to apply the fix to vulnerable endpoints.
The attackers have also put in extra effort to make sure they remain hidden for as long as possible, the researchers said.
Once the miner is set up, it will create a firewall rule, applied to all Windows Firewall profiles, to block all outgoing traffic. That way, the researchers continued, the IT teams and other defenders won’t be notified of the breach in the system.
Furthermore, the malware will wait at least 30 seconds between starting the mining process and creating the firewall rule, to evade triggering alarms from security tools that monitor process runtime behavior.
Cryptocurrency miners won’t destroy a computer, but as they take up almost all of the computing power, will render the device practically useless. What’s more, they could rake up enormous electricity bills for the computers’ owners.
Morphisec also said that vulnerable Microsoft Exchange server owners shouldn’t take the attack lightly, as after making their way into the network, there’s nothing stopping the attackers from deploying any other form of malware.
Update: It appears Marvel is already planning to announce multiple changes to its TV show release schedule.
Per The Hollywood Reporter's sources, only two Disney Plus series – Loki season 2 and Secret Invasion – are definitely airing in 2023. Animated TV series X-Men 97 is also expected to release this year, though, according to Disney's Q1 2023 earnings presentation.
If those reports are true, Echo, Ironheart, and What If...? season 2 will all be pushed into 2024. Agatha: Coven of Chaos, which is currently filming, will likely be shunted into 2025, too. It's unclear how other shows, such as the much anticipated Daredevil: Born Again, will be impacted.
Disney didn't respond to TechRadar's request for comment on the rumored release schedule changes.
Original story follows.
How will Daredevil's MCU TV show be impacted by these changes?(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)
Marvel President Kevin Feige has admitted that the studio's approach to its TV show release schedule will change.
In a wide-ranging interview with Entertainment Weekly (EW), Feige revealed that Marvel's forthcoming lineup of Disney Plus shows was overstuffed and unwieldy. Subsequently, the studio plans to make sweeping changes around its launch schedule, giving future TV series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) room to breathe and shine.
Initially, Feige was asked what Marvel had learned about creating and releasing TV shows since WandaVision – the MCU's first TV series – debuted in January 2021. In his response, Feige briefly mentioned a recent Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit, which poked fun at how many shows Marvel was pumping out, before acknowledging that Marvel was re-evaluating its approach to TV.
"I do think one of the powerful aspects of being at Marvel Studios is having these films and shows hit the zeitgeist," Feige said. "It's harder to hit the zeitgeist when there's so much product out there – and so much 'content', as they say, which is a word that I hate. [Laughs] But we want Marvel Studios and the MCU projects to really stand out and stand above. So, people will see that as we get further into Phase 5 and 6. The pace at which we're putting out the Disney Plus shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine."
Asked whether Marvel intended to space out its Disney Plus offerings, or develop fewer TV shows than before, Feige replied: "Both, I think."
Analysis: trimming the MCU fat
Ant-Man 3 has potentially kickstarted a more refined MCU Phase 5(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Feige's comments will likely be music to people's ears.
Ever since WandaVision kicked off Marvel Phase 4, fans and critics have regularly commented on Marvel's increasingly packed lineup of movies and TV shows. Phase 4 comprised 17 projects – seven movies, eight series, and two TV specials – and, given the mixed reception many of those productions met with, MCU fans believe Marvel has begun favoring quantity over quality.
With at least 13 Marvel Phase 5 films and shows set to debut between February 2023 and September 2024, and four movies already announced for Marvel Phase 6, some industry analysts and fans think it won't be long before superhero fatigue sets in (if it hasn't already for some).
How many Disney Plus shows are coming this year, Nick?(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Based on Feige's suggestions, we should expect more movies and shows to be pushed back – and that would be welcomed by many. Three Marvel movies and two (or three) Disney Plus shows is more than enough MCU content to consume over a 12-month period. If Guardians of the Galaxy 3, The Marvels, Loki season 2, and Secret Invasion are the only other projects released this year, we'd be more than happy. The likes of Ironheart, Echo, and What If...? season 2, which are also expected in 2023, can wait – and that will also give their cast and crews more time to make them as good as they can be.
The problem Feige has, though, is Disney's – or rather returning CEO Bog Iger's – desire to expand its money-spinning franchise. In a recent CNBC interview, Iger claimed Disney will "lean even harder" into its most profitable IPs, including the MCU, Avatar, and Star Wars.
Feige and Iger have a strong working relationship – it was Iger who stepped in to stop Feige from reportedly (and shockingly) being fired in 2015. However, with Feige suggesting that Marvel will trim the fat from its movie and TV lineup, and Iger pushing to release more projects instead, the pair will need to find common ground if the MCU is to continue thriving and get back on track after a middling – critically, at least – few years.
Twitter on Wednesday became the first social media platform to allow cannabis companies to market their brands and products in the United States. The company had earlier only allowed advertising for hemp-derived CBD topical products, while other social media platforms follow a "no cannabis advertising policy" as pot remains illegal at the federal level.
As someone raised by engineers – my mom’s an engineer, my dad’s an engineer, and my aunts and uncles from both sides are engineers – I grew up tinkering with things. While kids in my class hung out at the mall, I spent Saturdays helping my uncle fix appliances for practice, experimenting with a 35mm film camera, or busting open a VHS player (remember those?) because my favorite movie got stuck inside.
So, when Corsair offered me one of their new PC build kits to test, I jumped at the chance. There was a tinge of hesitation there, admittedly, as I haven’t really built my own computer since college, which was a long time and many technological advancements ago.
But, I’ve recently gotten into giving old furniture a lease of life – partly because it feels like meditation and partly because I rediscovered my love of building things with my own hands – so taking Corsair up on its offer seemed like the perfect chance to do more of it. And, also, Corsair assured me that I was the “right consumer target” for it.
If you’re asking yourself right now, “What the heck is she talking about? Corsair doesn’t have PC build kits!”, I'm pleased to tell you you’re wrong.
The big-name peripherals and components manufacturer just launched its first PC Build Kits that “are designed to take away or lower all barriers and make the entire process start to finish easy and enjoyable.” In other words, they’re supposed to make PC building more accessible to people who aren’t all that well-versed in the craft. To start, Corsair has rolled out three different build kits of varying performance levels. Prices start at $1,199.99 (not cheap, I know) for the Novice configuration, which is what they had sent me to build.
How’s that experience, you ask? It was a fun, albeit, at times, frustrating, endeavor that ultimately made me want to really get into the hobby.
A matter of convenience
According to Corsair, it wants to “provide everything a customer would need to build a PC in one convenient package,” so they could enjoy “an easy and seamless experience” by relieving them of “the pressure of researching what hardware is compatible.” Its build kits are, therefore, great for, as Corsair says, “parents purchasing for their kids.” This makes them the perfect quality-time activity you can do with your kids, as well as “returning PC builders looking to build a secondary system and introduce others to PC DIY."
The Novice kit is particularly perfect for beginner builders – meaning me, the sad supporter of pre-builds. I know, boo! And, as a beginner, I can attest to the fact that Corsair really does make the craft simpler than normal, cutting down the amount of research needed by more than half.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Building your own PC, after all, is much more than just a matter of figuring out what graphics card and processor you want and how much memory and storage you’ll need. There are compatibilities to consider, the right amount of cooling, the right PSU, and even the right PC case. I bet many PC users can’t even tell you what in the mother-freaking-board a PSU is.
Even someone like me who is knowledgeable about components would still have to do a bit of digital legwork so that my PC-building journey doesn’t turn into Dante’s Inferno.
With its PC Build Kits, Corsair has essentially picked and laid everything out for me. The kits come with easy-to-follow, and mostly clear, step-by-step instructions and a video tutorial. All I needed to do was... build.
Almost there
Corsair also makes the stuff that's trickier for people easier. Someone from our team, for example, said that installing the CPU is one of the things that scares them, especially as it involves using thermal paste. These kits make that part less daunting by already applying thermal paste to the CPU, so installing it was a breeze. I just needed to make sure I put it the right way in and secure it.
Corsair also lays out more of the ports for you and shows which cables go where. A motherboard can be a thoroughly confusing component for the uninitiated because, I mean, just look at one. But Corsair's PC building 'manual' makes it less daunting and understandable for beginners.
Corsair hasn't got everything fully fleshed out yet. There are missing bits in the instructions – for example, nowhere does it tell you where to port the Wi-Fi card. In fact, the instructions don't mention it at all, and there’s just a bit in the FAQ that tells you to contact support if your Wi-Fi isn’t working.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
The video tutorial and the written instructions also don't match perfectly. The instructions don't tell you to remember to pop in the IO shield or plate before you screw the motherboard in place (another big miss if you’re trying to guide a beginner with zero experience), while the video just gives it a quick mention. Granted, Corsair is currently using an older video, so it might roll out a newer one that's specific to these build kits.
Speaking of the video, not only is there just the one for all three build kits, but the tutorial is better suited for experienced or knowledgeable PC builders rather than regular folks with little to no experience. You're given just a quick overview of the steps, and it feels like it would be very hard to follow if you’re the latter.
So, yes, my Corsair PC Build Kit still forced me to do some fast Googling, either to figure out things that were left out of the instructions or confirm that I wasn’t doing some of the steps wrong. On the bright side, with this being the first post-production iteration of the instructions, I’m sure Corsair will implement some changes and make them more user-friendly and easier to follow. Hopefully, by the time you get your kit, you won’t have to deal with those.
So, what now
Despite the fact that things got a little gnarly a couple of times during my building process, there’s zero question that these new PC Build Kits from Corsair make PC building a lot more accessible and easier to do.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Building a PC, it turns out, is easier than people think, and much more fun than it seems. While I would have preferred not to have those small hair-pulling moments, I truly did enjoy doing it and am also half amazed that it hasn’t burst into flames (yet?). It was a proud moment for me, as stale as that sounds to expert builders, so much so that I’m now obsessing about opening that baby back up and fitting it with RGB-lit components, of which Corsair has many.
This is going to be one expensive hobby, but I got plans!
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