Notices by Ars Technica (arstechnica@mastodon.social), page 19

Google launches “Gemini Business” AI, adds $20 to the $6 Workspace bill

Google's AI features add a 3x increase over the usual Workspace bill.

https://arstechnica.com/google/2024/02/google-launches-gemini-business-ai-adds-20-to-the-6-workspace-bill/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Twitter employees stopped Musk from violating privacy settlement, FTC says

Lina Khan: Musk demanded "actions that would have violated the FTC's Order."

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/twitter-employees-stopped-musk-from-violating-privacy-settlement-ftc-says/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Measles erupts in Florida school where 11% of kids are unvaccinated

Over 100 children at the school are susceptible to virus.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/02/measles-erupts-in-florida-school-where-11-of-kids-are-unvaccinated/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Multiple reports suggest early 2025 launch for “Switch 2”

Nintendo's publishing partners were reportedly told of new plans last week.

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/02/multiple-reports-suggest-early-2025-launch-for-switch-2/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Report: Apple is about to be fined €500 million by the EU over music streaming

EC accuses Apple of abusing its market position after complaint by Spotify.

https://arstechnica.com/apple/2024/02/report-apple-is-about-to-be-fined-e500-million-by-the-eu-over-music-streaming/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Twitter front-end Nitter dies as Musk wins war against third-party services

Musk's changes kill service that let you view tweets without going to Twitter.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/twitter-front-end-nitter-dies-as-musk-wins-war-against-third-party-services/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

SpaceX takes a proactive step toward responsible behavior in orbit

"We commend this commitment as a first step."

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/02/spacex-takes-a-proactive-step-toward-responsible-behavior-in-orbit/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Amazon’s algorithm “deliberately” hides the best deals, lawsuit claims

Hundreds of millions of Amazon's US customers have overpaid, class action says.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/amazons-algorithm-deliberately-hides-the-best-deals-lawsuit-claims/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Human rights court takes stand against weakening of end-to-end encryption

Cops have alternative means to access encrypted messages, court says.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/human-rights-court-takes-stand-against-weakening-of-end-to-end-encryption/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Musk’s X sold checkmarks to Hezbollah and other terrorist groups, report says

X (aka Twitter) accused of violating sanctions by taking payment from terrorists.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/musks-x-sold-checkmarks-to-hezbollah-and-other-terrorist-groups-report-says/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Broadcom-owned VMware kills the free version of ESXi virtualization software

Software's free version was a good fit for tinkerers and hobbyists.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/02/broadcom-owned-vmware-kills-the-free-version-of-esxi-virtualization-software/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Can you manage your house with a local, no-cloud voice assistant? Mostly, yes.

If you're tired of Alexa and Google listening, local voice is a real thing now.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/02/can-you-manage-your-house-with-a-local-no-cloud-voice-assistant-mostly-yes/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Judge sides with OpenAI, dismisses bulk of book authors’ copyright claims

OpenAI plans to defeat authors' remaining claim at a "later stage" of the case.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/judge-sides-with-openai-dismisses-bulk-of-book-authors-copyright-claims/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier—and didn’t tell subs

To get them back, you must pay an extra $2.99/month for the ad-free tier.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/02/prime-video-cuts-dolby-vision-atmos-support-from-ad-tier-and-didnt-tell-subs/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Vandals set fire to Waymo car during Lunar New Year celebration

An autonomous Waymo met an untimely end thanks to an unruly mob.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/02/vandals-set-fire-to-waymo-car-during-lunar-new-year-celebration/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

These states are basically begging you to get a heat pump

Nine states are teaming up to accelerate adoption of this climate-friendly device.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/these-states-are-basically-begging-you-to-get-a-heat-pump/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

AI cannot be used to deny health care coverage, feds clarify to insurers

CMS worries AI could wrongfully deny care for those on Medicare Advantage plans.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/02/ai-cannot-be-used-to-deny-health-care-coverage-feds-clarify-to-insurers/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Viral news story of botnet with 3 million toothbrushes was too good to be true

Journalists reported on hypothetical toothbrush botnet as if it were real.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/viral-news-story-of-botnet-with-3-million-toothbrushes-was-too-good-to-be-true/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Texas firm allegedly behind fake Biden robocall that told people not to vote

Tech and telecom firms helped New Hampshire AG trace call to "Life Corporation."

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/texas-firm-allegedly-behind-fake-biden-robocall-that-told-people-not-to-vote/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Ford rethinks EV strategy, is working on a smaller, cheaper EV platform

Ford now says mass-adoption needs EVs that cost the same as combustion cars.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/02/ford-rethinks-ev-strategy-is-working-on-a-smaller-cheaper-ev-platform/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social