Google dropped new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones along with the Pixel Watch overnight. Main difference over the Pixel 6 is a new Google Tensor G2 SoC that enables a range of fancy AI/ML based features like background noise reduction for incoming phone calls, unblur older and existing photos to improve quality and vastly improved low-light photo quality. RRP for the Pixel 7 starts at $999 and $1299 for the Pixel 7 Pro. Google also announced the Pixel Watch. Costs $549, comes in a single 41mm size, features a circular front, supports NFC/Google Wallet, has an always-on display, LTE available for an extra $100, runs Wear OS 3.5 and deep FitBit integration. The Pixel tablet got mentioned again, but not much details others than the same Tensor G2 SoC as the phones and that it'll ship in 2023.
Besides forcing Elon Musk to buy it, Twitter has been busy releasing new features. The main one is the ability for Twitter Blue subscribers to edit their tweets (finally). You've got 30 min to make the edit and once the edit is done "there will be a pencil icon next to the date, along with text that lets readers know the last time the tweet was edited. Clicking on the icon shows you a page with the edited tweet, as well as a history of the edits". There's new features for non-Twitter Blue subscribers too. You can post GIFs, images and videos in the same tweet (cool) or add a status tag like "Hot take", "Unpopular opinion" or "Don't @ me" to each tweet (cringe).
We know by now that everything stored in the cloud isn't floating in the sky but is actually on a hard drive in a datacentre somewhere. Unfortunately when the time comes to upgrade those drives, instead of selling them to wholesalers so they get a second life and more time being useful, they are shredded. Companies like Microsoft and government departments are so paranoid and scared of people being able to recover data off those drives despite wiping software (DBAN, Blancco, etc) working well, sensitive data encrypted and no reported cases of data leaking from properly wiped drives, they still prefer to destroy perfectly good drives.
Here's five interesting discussions over on The Sizzle's paid subscriber forum for you to enjoy over the weekend. If you are not a paid subscriber but want to get involved, visit https://thesizzle.com.au/payme to get onboard.
📻 All The Good Girls Go To Hell - In Hearts Wake, WAAX
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