Emma Roth

News Writer

Apple Pay Later is rolling out to all users in the US

Emma RothOct 24, 2023

Apple plans ‘Scary Fast’ product event just before Halloween

Emma RothOct 24, 2023

YouTube Music now lets you make your own playlist art with AI

Emma RothOct 24, 2023

Is Netflix courting unsubscribers with fewer ads?

This report from AdExchanger lays out some evidence supporting this, with reporter Alyssa Boyle noticing fewer commercials on Netflix’s ad-supported tier after canceling her subscription and then subscribing again.

The ads didn’t stay light the entire time though, as Boyle noticed the ads gradually increasing as she watched more shows. We still don’t know whether or not Netflix actually does this, but we’ve reached out to them to find out.

Netflix’s Answer To Subscriber Churn? Fewer Ads | AdExchanger

[AdExchanger]

Emma RothOct 24, 2023

T-Mobile says its ultra capacity 5G network now covers 300 million people.

The “ultra capacity” label is just a fancy name for T-Mobile’s mid-band and mmWave 5G networks. In addition to reaching this coverage goal “months ahead of schedule,” T-Mobile also announced that it has expanded its overall 5G coverage to over 330 million people.

An image showing T-Mobile’s coverage in the US

Image: T-Mobile

Emma RothOct 23, 2023

The FTC will hire child psychologists to help inform its social media regulation.

In an interview with The Record, FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya says the agency plans on hiring in-house child psychologists to help it evaluate the mental effects of social media, look into the impact of dark patterns, and monitor trends.

If I have an economic question I’ve got 80 Ph.D. economists I can ask. If someone is making an allegation about mental health harms, I have no full-time staff who are experts in the psychology of it... I just think that we can send a strong signal to other law enforcement agencies in the U.S. by saying we need to have these folks in-house such that it’s a standing capacity.

Bedoya says the FTC plans to hire child psychologists by the fall of 2024 “if not significantly sooner.”

Behind the FTC’s plan to hire child psychologists to help regulate social media firms

[The Record]

Emma RothOct 23, 2023

The FCC could soon look into AI’s effects on robocalls.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a proposed inquiry that would evaluate “how artificial intelligence impacts illegal and unwanted robocalls and texts.” That not only includes ways to better protect customers from robocallers using AI, but also ways for the FCC to use AI to combat junk callers.

Rosenworcel Launches Effort on AI's Impact on Robocalls and Robotexts

[www.fcc.gov]

Samsung TVs had Steam Link, but now the game streaming app is going away

Emma RothOct 23, 2023

SpaceX reportedly signed a satellite-launching deal with the European Space Agency.

The Elon Musk-owned company could launch up to four of the ESA’s Galileo navigation satellites into space next year, according to The Wall Street Journal. The deal reportedly involves two US-based launches, each with two Galileo satellites aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets.

This comes as Europe’s Ariane rocket program faces its own setbacks. The European Commission and EU member states will still need to approve the deal with SpaceX, the WSJ notes, which could happen by the end of this year.

WSJ News Exclusive | SpaceX Signs Deal to Launch Key European Satellites

[WSJ]