WebProNews

Tag: U.S. News & World Report

  • TSMC Has Begun Construction on Arizona Factory

    TSMC Has Begun Construction on Arizona Factory

    TSMC has begun construction on its $12 billion Arizona factory, an important part of efforts to revitalize the US semiconductor industry.

    The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the danger of US industries being so reliant on oversees manufacturing for critical components, like semiconductors. As the pandemic forced factories to shut down, and slowed international trade, US companies were severely impacted. Multiple industries continue to suffer through one of the worst semiconductor shortages in history.

    The Trump administration made an effort to lure chip manufacturers to the US, talking with both Intel and TSMC about opening new factories in the country. Intel has committed to building two foundries in Arizona, to the tune of $20 billion. Meanwhile, TSMC has committed to a $12 billion factory, also in Arizona.

    According to U.S. News & World Report, TSMC has begun contraction on its factory, and is on track to begin volume production of its 5nm chips in 2024.

  • Jaguar Land Rover Halting Production Because of Chip Shortage

    Jaguar Land Rover Halting Production Because of Chip Shortage

    Jaguar Land Rover is halting production at two of its UK factories as a result of the global semiconductor shortage.

    The pandemic has helped fuel an unprecedented demand for semiconductors. As individuals were under lockdown and quarantine, tablets and computers surged in popularity, thanks to remote work, gaming and entertainment. In combination with supply chains already strained by the pandemic, these factors have helped create a massive shortage.

    The semiconductor shortage has already created problems for Ford and GM, but it appears the Jaguar Land Rover is the latest automaker to halt production as a result. The automaker will be halting production at two of its UK facilities as a result.

    “Like other automotive manufacturers, we are currently experiencing some COVID-19 supply chain disruption, including the global availability of semiconductors,” the company said in a statement, according to U.S. News & World Report. The shortage “is having an impact on our production schedules and our ability to meet global demand for some of our vehicles.”

  • Microsoft Bringing Australian-Style Paid News to the EU

    Microsoft Bringing Australian-Style Paid News to the EU

    Microsoft is working to help EU publishers get paid for their news, similar to an Australian law that would enforce the same thing.

    The Australian government began a showdown with Google and Facebook with proposed legislation that would force tech companies to pay for the news they quote and link to. Google has traditionally been opposed to such measures, claiming news publishers benefit far more than it does from its use of their news. Similarly, Facebook has also bitterly opposed the new legislation. While Google ultimately began working out paid deals, Facebook escalated the showdown by blocking Australians from posting or linking to news.

    In the meantime, Microsoft has set itself apart by being willing to cooperate with Australia from the outset. The company even worked with the government to assure legislators it could pick up any additional search volume, should Google be unwilling to play ball.

    The Redmond company is now taking things a step further, working with EU publishers to ensure tech companies pay for the news they use, according to U.S. News & World Report.

    Microsoft is working with lobbying groups, such as the European Publishers Council and News Media Europe, in addition to groups representing magazine and newspaper publishers. While the EU has been working on ways to help publishers better negotiate with tech companies, it’s hardly a level playing field, with the tech companies holding the upper hand.

    Microsoft joining forces with publishers provides a considerable boost to their negotiating position, while also setting Microsoft up to benefit should Google or Facebook be unwilling to come to an agreement.

  • Swedish Court Strikes Dashes Huawei’s Hopes, Upholds Ban

    Swedish Court Strikes Dashes Huawei’s Hopes, Upholds Ban

    A Swedish court has dismissed Huawei’s appeal of a ban preventing it from participating in the country’s 5G network.

    Huawei has been under pressure around the globe, as a result of its perceived ties to the Chinese government and intelligence community. The US, in particular, has been vocal in accusing the company of being a security risk. A number of countries have banned Huawei from participation in their 5G networks, including Sweden.

    Huawei appealed the ban, but a Swedish court has struck down the appeal, according to U.S. News & World Report, despite Huawei reportedly being willing to meet any demand the Swedish government might have.

    “A ruling by the Administrative Court of Appeal in a case relating to the law on electronic communication is final and therefore cannot be appealed,” the Supreme Administrative Court said. “The appeal should thus be dismissed.”

    This is just the latest in a string of defeats for the Chinese company that has seen it cut off from its primary chipmakers and forced to sell its smartphone business.

  • WhatsApp Delays Privacy Changes Amid Backlash

    WhatsApp Delays Privacy Changes Amid Backlash

    Facebook’s WhatsApp has announced it will delay its privacy policy changes, amid one of the biggest waves of backlash the company has faced.

    WhatsApp starting pushing a notification last week, informing users of changes to its privacy policy. Among the changes was data-sharing between WhatsApp and other Facebook owned companies. Users were not given the option to opt out, being given until February 8 to either accept the new terms or stop using the app.

    The reaction was swift and severe. People began closing their WhatsApp accounts and moving to competitors, especially Signal and Telegram. Soon after, Telegram announced it passed 500 million users, while Signal saw a 62-fold increase in downloads over the last week. Meanwhile, WhatsApp downloads experienced a 17% decline during the same period, according to U.S. News & World Report.

    The backlash appears to have gotten WhatApp’s attention, even if it’s not fundamentally changing the company’s plans. In a blog post entitled “Giving More Time For Our Recent Update,” the company says this:

    We’re now moving back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8. We’re also going to do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp. We’ll then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15.

    In other words, WhatsApp is essentially saying: ‘We’ve heard you. Trust us, it’s not what you think, and we’re going to give you more time to get accustomed to us doing what we’re going to do regardless of whether you like it or not.”

    The problem with that approach? Trusting what Facebook says about privacy is like trusting the fox to guard the henhouse. The company has used up most people’s trust and goodwill after repeated and blatant privacy violations.

  • Signal Growing So Fast It Experienced Technical Issues

    Signal Growing So Fast It Experienced Technical Issues

    Signal has been adding so many new users that it experienced technical issues today.

    Signal is a messaging app that is widely considered one of the most secure communication platforms in existence. While the app has been popular among privacy-conscious users for some time, it has received a major boost since WhatsApp announced it would start sharing user data with other Facebook-owned companies.

    In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, “Signal was downloaded by 17.8 million users over the past seven days, a 62-fold rise from the prior week, according to data from Sensor Tower. WhatsApp was downloaded by 10.6 million users during the same period, a 17% decline.”

    That growth hasn’t come without issues, however. For much of the day today, Signal has been experiencing technical difficulties, which the company has said is a reflection of its growth.

    The company later tweeted that it is making progress toward a resolution.

    Signal’s growth is good news for privacy advocates, and signals (pun intended) a bright future for the messaging app.

  • Sweden’s Largest Insurer Leaked Private Data to Tech Firms

    Sweden’s Largest Insurer Leaked Private Data to Tech Firms

    Sweden’s largest insurer, Folksam, has admitted to accidentally leaking the private data of one million of its customers to tech firms.

    According to U.S. News & World Report, Folksam insures every second home in Sweden, giving the company access to vast troves of personal and private data on its customers. Unfortunately, the company accidentally shared that data with Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Microsoft.

    Unlike the US, the EU has strict data privacy laws in the form of the GDPR. As a result, data breaches such as this one can result in hefty fines and penalties if not handled correctly. Folksam has assured customers that it does not appear any of the data was used improperly by third-parties, and vowed to do better.

    “We take what has happened seriously. We have immediately stopped sharing this personal information and requested that it be deleted,” said Jens Wikstrom, Folksam’s head of marketing.

    This data breach is just the latest example demonstrating the risks that come with the current state of the tech industry, and specifically cross-industry interdependencies that have become commonplace.

  • Alibaba Will Invest $1.4 Billion in Smart Speaker AI

    Alibaba Will Invest $1.4 Billion in Smart Speaker AI

    Chinese tech giant Alibaba has announced its plans to invest $1.4 billion in smart speaker AI systems.

    Alibaba gained famed as an e-commerce giant, but has been working to branch into other markets. One of its endeavors is the Tmall Genie smart speaker, similar to the Amazon Echo, which is not available in China.

    According to U.S. News & World Report, “the money will be used to add more content to Tmall Genie, as well as develop proprietary technology, Alibaba said.”

    AI has become the new tech battleground, as companies across multiple industries race to harness the power and promise of the technology. It seems Alibaba is willing to spend big to make sure it’s not left behind.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDkOcp0h3Mw

  • Not So Fast: Amazon Likely to Win Defense Contract Lawsuit

    Not So Fast: Amazon Likely to Win Defense Contract Lawsuit

    U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith says Amazon is likely to win its lawsuit challenging Microsoft’s win of a coveted Pentagon contract.

    Last year Microsoft surprised Amazon, and industry insiders alike, by securing the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure Cloud (JEDI) contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), worth some $10 billion. Many believed Amazon was all but guaranteed to win the contract, given its long history of working on sensitive projects for the government. In addition, at the time the contract was awarded, Amazon was the only company to have the coveted Impact Level 6 security clearance, although Microsoft was awarded it shortly thereafter.

    Amazon almost immediately launched a lawsuit to overturn the contract award, claiming improper interference by President Trump, who allegedly told then-Defense Secretary James Mattis to “screw Amazon.” Amazon was successful in getting a temporary injunction, preventing Microsoft from beginning work on the contract, which was slated to begin February 13.

    According to U.S. News & World Report, although she did not address Trump’s comments, “Campbell-Smith wrote Amazon ‘is likely to succeed on the merits of its argument that the DOD improperly evaluated’ a Microsoft price scenario. She added Amazon is likely to show that Microsoft’s scenario was not ‘technically feasible’ as the Pentagon assessed.”

    Given that Microsoft is already counting on a halo effect from winning the contract, having the Pentagon’s decision overturned would be a big loss for the company.

  • Panasonic Ending Involvement In Tesla’s New York Solar Factory

    Panasonic Ending Involvement In Tesla’s New York Solar Factory

    Panasonic has announced it is winding down its involvement in Tesla’s solar factory in Buffalo, NY as there are increasing signs of a detonating partnership.

    “Panasonic Corporation will begin to wind down U.S. production of photovoltaic cells and modules at Gigafactory New York in Buffalo, NY, in line with the global solar strategy led by its Life Solutions Company,” the company said in a statement. “By the end of May 2020, Panasonic will cease U.S. solar manufacturing operations and is scheduled to exit the facility by the end of September 2020.

    “Panasonic is supporting Tesla in its efforts to identify and hire qualified applicants from Panasonic’s impacted workforce. Tesla plans to hire qualified applicants to new positions needed to support its solar and energy manufacturing operations in Buffalo.”

    The move comes as Panasonic is working to divest itself of some of its less profitable businesses and streamline its operations. There seems to be indication the two companies’ partnership is fraying, as U.S. News & World Report points out that Tesla is looking to diversify its battery supplies to include batteries from South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd and China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd.

    In its own statement, Panasonic downplayed any issues with its partnership with Tesla, pointing out that the two companies are continuing to work together at Tesla’s Nevada facilities.

    “This decision will have no impact on Panasonic and Tesla’s strong partnership in Nevada. The two companies will continue their industry-leading electric vehicle battery work taking place at Tesla’s Gigafactory outside of Reno, NV.”