Technology

Microsoft Shuts Down Skype

Microsoft will retire Skype, the video calling application, on May 5th. Acquired in 2011 for $8.5 billion, Skype had an estimated 300 million users in 2016, which dropped to 36 million in 2023 due to competition from Slack, Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams. Users have 10 weeks to migrate chats and contacts to a free version of Teams, or export their data. Microsoft will remove the ability to make domestic or international phone calls after May 5th.

Science

Shape of the Universe

The surface of a sphere and a plane are two possible 2D spaces. A doughnut, also called a torus, is a shape you can traverse in two directions, much like the Earth's surface. Mathematicians study all possible spaces in all dimensions. Physicists and astronomers try to determine the 3D space that people actually inhabit.

Software & Cloud Services

Koofr Cloud Storage

Koofr is offering a 1TB lifetime cloud storage subscription for $119.97 with code KOOFR through March 30. It emphasizes privacy with encryption and avoids tracking user activity. It integrates with services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, or OneDrive, and has a Duplicate Finder.

AdGuard Family Plan

AdGuard Family Plan provides ad-blocking, malware protection, and privacy for up to nine devices for a one-time fee of $15.97 with code GUARD20. It removes ads from platforms like YouTube, shields against trackers and phishing scams, and includes parental controls. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Hardware Deals

Refurbished Apple MacBook Air

A refurbished 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (1.8GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) is on sale for $229.97. It has an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD storage, Intel HD Graphics 6000, and up to 12 hours of battery life. It is backed by a 90-day warranty.

Artificial Intelligence

MistralAI Gains Traction as OpenAI Competitor

MistralAI, a French AI company founded in 2023 by former AI researchers from Google's DeepMind and Meta, is emerging as a potential rival to OpenAI. With a valuation of $6 billion, the company advocates for openness in AI and aims to provide frontier AI to everyone. Its chat assistant, LeChat, has seen rapid adoption, reaching 1 million downloads within two weeks of its mobile release. President Emmanuel Macron has endorsed the company, and MistralAI has launched multiple models including Mistral Large 2, PixtralLarge, Codestral, Les Ministraux, and Mistral Saba.

Business and Finance

General Catalyst Considers IPO

Venture capital firm General Catalyst (GC) is reportedly considering an IPO after 25 years. Founded in Cambridge, Mass., with $73 million in initial capital, GC has grown to over $30 billion in assets. The firm has expanded beyond traditional venture investing, launching financing products, a wealth management business, acquiring a healthcare system in Ohio, and purchasing smaller venture firms. This potential IPO raises questions about whether other firms like Andreessen Horowitz will expedite their plans to go public.

Software and Technology Deals

Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription

A lifetime subscription to Internxt 10TB cloud storage is available for £222.60 with code STORAGE20. This deal offers a one-time payment solution, eliminating monthly subscription fees. Users can store 2 million photos, 250 hours of 4K video, or 6.5 million documents, all secured with end-to-end encryption. 2TB and 5TB plans are also available.

PDF Converter Pro Lifetime License

For a limited time, a lifetime license to PDF Converter Pro is available for £19.07. This desktop software allows users to convert, edit, and protect PDFs without relying on the internet. It supports converting PDFs to various formats and includes built-in OCR technology. Designed for Windows and macOS, the software offers batch processing and editing features.

Home and Living

AirDoctor Air Purifier Discounts

AirDoctor is offering up to 25% off air purifiers with the promo code BESTMARCH (expires March 31). Savings of 15% are available on AirDoctor filter combo packs, without needing a promo code. The AirDoctor Smart 5500i was highlighted as a top purifier for PM2.5 and gases.

Smart Home Technology Updates

Enhancements in Smart Home Systems

The smart home sector continues to evolve, focusing on convenience, safety, and energy efficiency. Stay informed on the latest reviews, guides, news, and opinions from major players like Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Google, as well as updates on Matter, Thread, Sidewalk, and UWB technologies.

Recent Innovations and Products

Recent developments include Alexa Plus's improved chat capabilities, Eve's new Matter over Thread dimmer switch, and Ring's new security cameras with 2K video support. Other innovations covered are mmWave tech for motion sensing, POE smart shades with Matter support, and LG appliance control updates. Apple's potential smart home robot lamp and the hidden message in Amazon's event invites are also highlighted. The article also covers matter plan to fix home Wi-Fi and turn Zigbee light bulbs into motion sensors.

Space Exploration

SpaceX Starship Test Flight

The FAA has approved SpaceX to conduct the eighth test flight of its Starship as early as Monday.

Entertainment & Media

Gundam Alternate Timeline

Gundam GQuuuuuuX explores an alternate version of Gundam’s “Universal Century” timeline where Zeon won against Earth, altering the timeline when Char Aznable steals the Gundam prototype.

Adult Swim's Yolo Season 3

The third season of Adult Swim series Yolo: Unicorn Trinity will arrive on March 9, continuing the friendship between Sarah and Rachel with dank-meme internet humor, fantasy, and sci-fi elements.

Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

Metaverses and DLT

Metaverses are digital universes built with Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) where users interact, work, play, and invest through avatars, enabling ownership of virtual assets via NFTs and secure transactions with cryptocurrencies. Decentralized metaverses offer advantages over centralized platforms by distributing ownership and governance among participants through smart contracts and DAOs.

Memhash Transition to DePIN Hub

Memhash, a Telegram-based application with nearly 1.2 million monthly active users, is transitioning into a DePIN hub with an AI agent launchpad and is now listed on leading exchanges.

Software Development

Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) in Swift

An article covers Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) in Swift, focusing on its fundamental understanding, threads, multithreading, tasks, and queues, explaining types of queues, queue priorities, serial and concurrent queues, and ways to execute tasks.

Mozilla Revises Firefox Terms of Use

Mozilla is revising its new Terms of Use for Firefox, removing language that gave the company broad ownership over user data. The updated terms state that users give Mozilla the rights necessary to operate Firefox and a nonexclusive license for content inputted by the user.

Cybersecurity

Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN Discount

Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN is offering an 83% discount with 4 free months on a 2-year plan, costing $2.03/month. PIA allows users to bypass geo-restrictions, stream in 4K with unlimited bandwidth, allows unlimited simultaneous connections, and ensures safety with a no-log policy and 256-bit encryption.

Artificial Intelligence

Google's AGI Push

Google co-founder Sergey Brin is pushing Google's DeepMind (GDM) employees to intensify their efforts in the Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) race. He emphasized longer work hours (60 hours a week), a full return to the office, prioritizing simpler solutions, and faster progress. Brin believes Google has the necessary elements to win but needs to "turbocharge" its efforts. He suggested returning to the office “at least every weekday” and views 60 hours a week as a productive "sweet spot". Brin reportedly returned to Google after being surprised by OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022 to help the company in the AI race.

AI-Powered Scientific Research Platform

SymbyAI, a SaaS platform, has raised a $2.1 million seed round. The platform streamlines scientific research by providing researchers with organized workspaces to access papers, code, data, and experiences. It includes an AI feature for peer review and replication assistance and utilizes a proprietary AI solution to protect users' confidential information. The capital will be used to further develop the company.

Autonomous AI Agent in Memecoin Ecosystem

Memeagent has launched Chad, an autonomous AI agent built on ElizaOS. Chad is designed to bring intelligence and automation to the memecoin ecosystem by monitoring trends, predicting market shifts, and engaging across social platforms 24/7. Memeagent combines AI-powered engagement, predictive analytics, and automated viral marketing into one platform.

The Importance of AI Literacy

AI literacy is now a legal requirement as of February 2025, highlighting the importance of practical learning and a comprehensive approach to AI training across all professional levels. AI literacy is defined by six core competencies: Recognition, Understanding, Application, Evaluation, Ethics, and Creation.

Security

Android Security Patch

Android users should install Google's February security patch immediately.

Zapier Data Breach

Zapier, an automation platform, experienced a security incident where an unauthorized user accessed certain code repositories. Customer data was inadvertently copied to these repositories for debugging purposes. The breach was discovered on Thursday, leading to the securing of the repositories and invalidation of the unauthorized user's access. The hacker gained access due to a two-factor authentication misconfiguration on an employee’s account. The incident did not affect Zapier's database, infrastructure, or production, authentication, or payment systems.

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI's Sora Integration with ChatGPT

OpenAI plans to integrate its AI video generation tool, Sora, directly into ChatGPT. Currently, Sora is only available through a dedicated web app launched in December, allowing users to generate cinematic clips. OpenAI aims to expand Sora's generation capabilities to images and is also considering a standalone mobile app.

Tech and Software

Skype Shutdown and Video Conferencing Alternatives

Microsoft is officially shutting down Skype, encouraging users to switch to Microsoft Teams. For those seeking alternatives, Google Meet is recommended for its ease of use and wide accessibility across devices, although it's better suited for business and has a 60-minute call limit for free users.

Study Applications

Several applications can be useful in studying, such as Anki, which can be downloaded and accessed across all kinds of devices, is my top pick for fora flashcard app. Also Xmind can be used to organize your notes and Flora is a focus app that helps minimize distractions.

UK Encryption Backdoors and Apple iCloud Data Access

The United Kingdom's pursuit of encryption backdoors has taken a controversial turn with Apple reportedly being ordered to provide access to iCloud data.

Business and Healthcare

Biograph Preventive Health Clinic

Biograph, a new preventive health and diagnostics clinic co-founded by longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia and cybersecurity entrepreneur John Hering, has emerged. With memberships costing between $7,500 and $15,000 per year, it aims to provide advanced health insights through extensive data collection.

Politics and Government

NOAA Staff Reductions

Hundreds of federal workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were laid off, marking the latest in a series of staff reductions by the Trump administration. These layoffs align with Project 2025, a plan to overhaul the U.S. government, which proposes abolishing NOAA.

Entertainment

Severance Season 2

Season two of "Severance" deepens the exploration of shifting perspectives, balancing the narratives of both "innies" and "outies." The episode "Chikai Bardo" focuses on Gemma (Ms. Casey), revealing her grim reality.

AI & Tech

OpenAI integrates Sora into ChatGPT

OpenAI is planning to integrate its AI video generation tool, Sora, directly into its popular consumer chatbot app, ChatGPT. Currently, Sora is only available through a dedicated web app launched in December, but the company plans to make it more accessible. The ChatGPT version may have limited control compared to the web app. OpenAI may also be developing an AI image generator powered by Sora.

Microsoft Edge's Resource Controls

Microsoft Edge has added a new Resource Controls feature, similar to Opera GX. This allows users to limit the amount of RAM the browser uses, especially during gaming. Users can set the limit as low as 1GB.

Google's Project Taara

Google's moonshot factory X has developed a silicon photonic chip for its Taara project, which aims to deliver high-speed internet via beams of light. This new chip can steer, track, and correct beams of light, transmitting data at speeds up to 20Gbps over distances of 12 miles.

Microsoft to shut down Skype

Microsoft is shutting down Skype on May 5th and encouraging users to transition to Teams.

Health

Measles Outbreak in Texas

Twenty people have been hospitalized with measles, most of whom are children.

Science

Mars' Interior and Polar Ice Cap

Data from the InSight lander is providing new insights into Mars' interior. The polar ice cap is slowly pushing its north pole inward.

Deals

Samsung QLED TV Deal

The 65-inch QLED Samsung TV Q60CB is available at a discounted price of $492.68.

Levoit Air Purifier Discount

The Levoit Vital 100S-P air purifier is on sale for $110 (21% off). It is beneficial for pet owners and features a HEPA filtration system.

iRobot Roomba Discount

The iRobot Roomba Q011 robot vacuum is on sale at Amazon for $150, a 40% discount.

Gaming

Ernie Gygax Jr. Passes Away

Ernie Gygax Jr., son of Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, has passed away. He contributed to D&D lore and was involved with TSR.

Wizards of the Coast Launches Sigil

Wizards of the Coast has launched Sigil, a 3D virtual tabletop (VTT) for Dungeons & Dragons. Hosting multiplayer games requires a D&D Beyond Master Tier subscription.

Business

Citigroup's $81 Trillion Error

Citigroup mistakenly initiated an $81 trillion fund transfer to a customer's account, which was halted by automated systems.

Elon Musk's DOGE and GSA Software Licenses

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claimed the General Services Administration (GSA) had unused software licenses. The GSA stated it had deleted 114,163 unused software licenses and underutilized software products, saving $9.6M annually.

Artificial Intelligence

Meta's AI Ambitions

Meta is planning to launch a standalone Meta AI app to compete with ChatGPT, aiming to attract over 1 billion users. CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions Meta AI as the leading AI assistant. Sam Altman of OpenAI has expressed skepticism regarding Meta's strategy, citing Meta's previous unsuccessful AI initiatives.

DeepSeek's Rise in the AI Landscape

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab, has gained prominence with its chatbot topping app store charts. The company's compute-efficient AI models have sparked discussions about U.S. competitiveness and the sustainability of AI chip demand. Despite facing challenges from U.S. export bans, DeepSeek's DeepSeek-V2 family of models has garnered attention for its performance and cost-effectiveness, leading domestic competitors to reduce usage prices.

Social Media

Flashes: An Instagram Alternative on Bluesky

A new app called Flashes, built on Bluesky, offers an alternative to Instagram, focusing on photos and videos. Users can log in with a Bluesky account, and posts on Flashes appear in the user's Bluesky feed. Bluesky had reached 30 million users by January 2025.

Entertainment

Dragon Ball Daima's Conclusion

Dragon Ball Daima has concluded its 20-episode run, delivering fanservice with new and returning transformations. The show expands on demon realm and Majin lore, set after the Buu saga in Dragon Ball Z and before the events of Dragon Ball Super. The finale is a fitting conclusion to Akira Toriyama’s 40-year legacy with the series.

Gaming

Itch.io Charity Bundle for Wildfire Relief

Necrosoft Games has launched a charity bundle on Itch.io to support wildfire relief efforts in Southern California. The bundle includes over 400 games, including Tunic, Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2!!, SkateBird, and Octodad: Dadliest Catch, with a minimum donation of $10. All proceeds will go to CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), aiming to raise $100,000 to support fire survivors and fire resilience projects.

Audio Equipment

Waiting For Ideas Unveils Minimalist Turntable

Waiting For Ideas, a Paris-based creative studio, has announced the PP-1, a minimalist turntable featuring a streamlined design. Crafted from a solid block of anodized aluminum, the PP-1 is priced at €5,800 (around $6,012). Matching speakers are available for preorder at €3,200 (around $3,320), requiring a separate amplifier.

AI & Tech Industry

AI Development and Applications

Google is upgrading Sheets with Gemini, an AI-powered feature that helps users analyze data faster and create charts from spreadsheets. It allows users to generate insights from their data, such as correlations, trends, and outliers, and advanced visualizations like heatmaps. Gemini is available to all Workspace business users and can be accessed by clicking the Gemini icon.

Social Media Platform Updates

Instagram alternative Flashes, a Bluesky-based photo-sharing app, has launched publicly on the App Store. The app offers a classic Instagram-like experience and has access to a built-in audience via Bluesky. Posts made on Flashes are compatible with Bluesky, broadening their reach.

Mobile Security and Vulnerabilities

Amnesty International reported that Google fixed previously unknown flaws in Android that allowed authorities to unlock phones using forensic tools. The flaws were in the core Linux USB kernel, impacting over a billion Android devices. Amnesty shared its findings with Google’s Threat Analysis Group, leading to the identification and fixing of three separate flaws.

Electric Vehicle Industry

Tesla's Supercharger Expansion

Tesla is planning to install dozens of Supercharger sites at Steak ‘n Shake locations across the country, with an agreement for over six sites already signed and more than 20 additional sites in design review. Steak ‘n Shake hopes to see Supercharger installations at potentially 100 of its restaurants. This partnership follows Tesla's previous collaborations with restaurant and convenience store chains like Ruby Tuesday and Sheetz.

Consumer Products

Gadget Failure

The Humane AI Pin, launched less than a year ago, is effectively dead after its acquisition by HP. Humane shut down core features and deleted user data, rendering the $700 device useless, with no refunds offered, sparking outrage. Consumer advocate Lucas Gutterman urges affected users to file a complaint with the FTC, citing "unfair and deceptive" practices.

Home Entertainment

The Sonos Arc is on sale for $649, $250 off its usual $899 price, making it a new low price. The soundbar offers Dolby Atmos, providing immersive three-dimensional sound. It can be seamlessly connected to other Sonos speakers through the Sonos app.

Lego New Releases

Lego is releasing new sets in March 2025, including new Architecture sets, the launch of a new era of Lego F1 in Speed Champions, and even a little Marvel and Star Wars. The biggest Jurassic set yet, Lego’s latest dino fossil is a scale replica of the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton seen in the original Jurassic Park. Lego begins a new Disney subline this month with sets inspired by dress shop displays for iconic Disney princesses and villains.

Gaming Industry

Square Enix announced a new sub-brand called Dragon Quest Golf, dedicated to making golf merchandise and accessories based on the Dragon Quest franchise. One of the initial offerings is a golf ball based on the iconic blue Slime. The company will showcase more merch at the 59th Japan Golf Fair on March 7, citing shifting demographics as the reason.

Steam Next Fest Highlights

Steam Next Fest is ongoing until March 3rd, featuring numerous game demos. The Talos Principle: Reawakened is highlighted as a standout, tasking players with solving puzzles using lasers, signal jammers, and sentience.

Legal & Regulatory Issues

Semiconductor Export Restrictions

Three people in Singapore have been charged with fraud for allegedly lying about delivering items to a server supplier, suspected to be high-end Nvidia chips rerouted to Chinese AI firm DeepSeek. Authorities arrested nine people and raided 22 locations, seizing documents and electronic records. These Nvidia chips are restricted from being shipped to China due to sanctions. The US Department of Commerce is investigating.

CFPB Potential Layoffs

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is planning to fire the “vast majority” of employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The union is seeking to halt the dismantling of the financial services watchdog, which fields thousands of consumer complaints each week about financial products. The court has temporarily barred the CFPB from making further cuts.

Other

Roblox Platform Growth

Roblox, with over 65 million daily active users as of September 2023, is becoming an increasingly interesting platform amid growing competition from social and metaverse platforms. Roblox has traditionally been associated as a platform for kids, but the company has done a lot of work to make it more appealing to older audiences.

The Verge Staffing

Tina Nguyen is joining The Verge as a senior reporter to cover the Trump administration, Elon Musk's takeover of the federal government, and the tech industry's embrace of the MAGA movement.

Movie Review

Cold Wallet, a dark comedy home invasion thriller, follows a group of excitable retail investors who make unhinged choices that make them feel more like cartoons. The movie tells the tale of Billy, a down-on-his-luck father, who bets everything he has on a new crypto coin called Tulip.

Technology & Business

AI and Big Tech

Google's co-founder Sergey Brin has urged engineers to return to the office five days a week and work 60-hour weeks to accelerate AI model development, aiming to compete with rivals like OpenAI and Microsoft. However, Google later clarified that it has no immediate plans to change work-from-home policies.

Tech Layoffs

The tech industry continued to experience layoffs in 2024, with over 150,000 job cuts across 542 companies. Large companies like Tesla, Amazon, Google, TikTok, Snap, and Microsoft conducted significant workforce reductions. Autodesk announced plans to lay off 1,350 employees, affecting 9% of its total workforce.

Acquisitions and Investments

Alkami Technology is acquiring Mantl, described as “the Shopify of account opening,” for $400 million. The deal is expected to close by the end of March. Quantum Machines secured a $170 million Series C. ShopCircle raised a $60 million Series B and acquired Aiden. Nomagic raised a $44 million Series B for robotic arms. Taktile closed a $54 million Series B for fintech automation.

Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

DeFi and Real World Assets (RWAs)

The DeFi market has struggled to recover since the 2022 collapse. Real-world assets (RWAs) offer new potential, with major institutional players like BlackRock and JPMorgan experimenting with them. The tokenized Treasury market has seen growth, with its market cap tripling to $3 billion between March and December of last year.

Web3 Challenges and Ethereum

Web3 is at the tipping point of mass adoption but faces challenges in scalability, user experience, and decentralization. Ethereum, as the backbone of Web3, is navigating these complexities. Viktor Trón, Ethereum’s first employee and a key architect, shares insights on the past, present, and future of Ethereum.

DePIN and Emerging Technologies

Institutional investors are shifting their focus away from Litecoin ETFs toward emerging blockchain technologies like Coldware (COLD), a leader in the DePIN ecosystem.

Memecoins Volatility

Memecoins have gained traction, driven by internet culture and social media trends. Their value is highly volatile and influenced by online trends rather than fundamental utility. High-profile figures like Elon Musk can fuel memecoin rallies with single tweets.

Blockchain Writing Contests

HackerNoon is hosting writing contests to encourage writers, tech enthusiasts, and industry experts to share their knowledge on topics like decentralized-ai, decentralized-cloud, and dePIN.

Cybersecurity & Privacy

Encryption Backdoors

Governments worldwide are increasing demands for encryption backdoors, citing national security needs. Experts warn these policies create cybersecurity risks for billions.

Online Reputation Management

Online Reputation Management (ORM) companies specialize in reshaping online narratives, focusing on content suppression using SEO strategies, digital PR, data removal, cybersecurity, and legal approaches.

Firefox Terms of Use Controversy

Mozilla introduced its first Terms of Use for Firefox, but faced criticism over language that seemed to grant overly broad ownership of user data. Mozilla clarified that the terms are meant to enable basic functionality and do not grant ownership or the right to use data beyond what is described in the Privacy Notice.

Consumer Tech

Tech Deals

A four-pack of Apple AirTags is at its lowest price yet ($65 at Amazon). Amazon is offering a free $200 gift card with the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Apple 2024 MacBook Air M3 is $899 at B&H Photo. The Apple Pencil Pro is $99 at Amazon. The Apple Watch Series 10 is $329 at Amazon. Amazon is offering a Sonos Arc soundbar for $649, Bose QuietComfort headphones for $249, a DJI Power 1000 portable power station for $419, and a Bose SoundLink Revolve+ speaker for $229.

Smartphone and Laptop Deals

The Moto G Stylus 5G is available for $250 at Amazon (down from $400). Dell is offering the Inspiron 14 (Intel Core 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) laptop for $599.99, a 43% discount.

Nintendo Switch Controllers

The best Nintendo Switch controllers aren’t the ones that come with it. The removable Joy-Cons can be uncomfortable for long gaming sessions, but Nintendo has taken steps to address the dreaded Joy-Con drift and earlier quality control problems.

EV Charging Restrictions

EVgo updated its terms of service to explicitly prohibit the use of high-speed DC extension cables and breakaway adapters at its charging stations, effective March 8th.

Entertainment

FuboTV's Performance

FuboTV increased its subscriber count and revenue in Q4 2024, but still experienced a net loss of $41 million for the quarter and nearly $178 million for the year. Disney is set to buy a 70% stake in Fubo and merge it with Hulu+Live TV.

Razzie Awards

The Razzie Awards, which celebrate the worst in film, have named Madame Web as Worst Picture of 2024, with Dakota Johnson also receiving the award for Worst Actress.

Bitzee Hamster Ball

Spin Master is releasing the Bitzee Hamster Ball, an electronic hamster that never leaves its ball.

Severance Directing

The latest episode of Severance, directed by Jessica Lee Gagné, explores the relationship between Mark and Gemma.

Science & Environment

Space Probes Communication Issues

Two newly launched space probes, NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer and Astroforge’s Odin, have encountered communication issues shortly after their launch on February 26.

Tropical Cyclones

NASA satellite imagery has captured multiple tropical cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere across the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Virtual Flavors

Researchers have developed a new human-machine interface called e-Taste that allows users to taste virtual flavors.

Politics & Society

Elon Musk Protests

A grassroots protest movement, 50501, has launched a website to organize demonstrations against Elon Musk, focusing on his alleged destruction of the U.S. federal government.

Energy

Renewable Energy Transition

The transition to renewable energy is hindered not by technology, but by economic factors. Decentralized solutions like peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, powered by blockchain, could align incentives and dismantle the outdated energy model.

Manufacturing

Intel's Ohio Chip Fabrication Facility Delay

Intel has further delayed the opening of its two chip fabrication facilities in Ohio, pushing the completion dates to 2030 and 2031.

Transportation

Tesla's Robotaxi Ambitions

Tesla has applied for a transportation charter-party carrier permit in California, signaling its intent to potentially launch a robotaxi service. Unlike ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, Tesla plans to own the vehicles and employ drivers. CEO Elon Musk announced plans to launch a paid robotaxi service in Austin in June, utilizing Tesla-owned vehicles and an unsupervised version of its Full Self-Driving software. Tesla also unveiled a Cybercab prototype without a steering wheel or pedals last October.

Space Exploration

Longshot Space's Space Cannon

Longshot Space, an Oakland-based company, is developing a giant space cannon with the goal of shooting objects into space, potentially offering a cheaper and more efficient alternative to rockets. CEO Mike Graces aims to help colonize the solar system, stating that building a giant space cannon is much easier than a fancy rocket. The company plans to use pressurized gas to propel objects down a gun barrel in stages, aiming for speeds of Mach 25. Initial tests have shown success, with apple-sized objects reaching speeds of Mach 4.6. OpenAI’s Sam Altman is an investor in Longshot Space.

Advertising & AI

AI-Driven Ad Targeting

Modern advertising platforms process billions of daily ad impressions, using massive data and AI-driven solutions like vector databases and real-time model adaptation to optimize ad spend and maintain compliance. Key engineering challenges include managing petabyte-scale data with hybrid pipelines and integrating multiple storage layers to reduce query latency. One e-commerce platform improved engagement by 8% and reduced latency using hybrid temporal embeddings and Graph Attention Networks for ad targeting, emphasizing the need for serving relevant ads in under 100ms.

Tech Industry News

HackerNoon Newsletter Highlights

The HackerNoon Newsletter for February 28, 2025, features top tech stories, including writing contests with prizes up to $300,000, Viktor Trón's predictions for Web3's future, and the cybersecurity risks of government encryption backdoors. It also covers why natural language coding isn't yet for everyone and the potential fallout from Michael Saylor's Bitcoin debt. The newsletter encourages readers to contribute to emerging community standards through writing.

Command & Conquer Source Release

With the right folks involved, EA can capably preserve and update its classics.

Firefox Data Privacy

Mozilla says it deleted promise because "sale of data" is defined broadly.

Microsoft Retires Skype

Microsoft is officially retiring Skype on May 5th, replacing it with Microsoft Teams. Users can migrate Skype chats and contacts to Teams and export their data. Skype and Teams will be interoperable until the shutdown. Existing Skype credits and subscriptions will be honored, but paid features won't be supported beyond that. The Skype dial pad will remain available in the web portal and within Teams after the shutdown. Microsoft previously phased out new Skype Credit sales and the Skype Number feature in December.

Technology and Software

Firefox Terms of Use Clarification

Mozilla addressed concerns regarding the new Firefox Terms of Use, clarifying they do not grant excessive rights to user data. The company emphasized the terms formalize the user relationship, not to change data usage, and reiterated that user data is not provided to AI companies or advertisers, with shared data being de-identified.

OpenAI's GPT-4.5 Performance

GPT-4.5, despite costing 30 times more, offers marginal capability gains and poor coding performance.

Security and Privacy

Data Breach Concerns

2025 is shaping up to be a year of unprecedented data breaches. A significant breach at ed-tech giant PowerSchool potentially affected over 62 million students and 9.5 million teachers, with sensitive personal information compromised. Additionally, a breach involving Musk's DOGE access represents a substantial compromise of U.S. federal government data.

Europol's AI Image Crackdown

Europol is targeting individuals creating or sharing AI-generated sex images depicting minors. So far, 25 arrests have been made in the largest EU crackdown.

Mobile World Congress

MWC 2025 Preview

Mobile World Congress 2025 is approaching, with press conferences scheduled for March 2nd from Xiaomi, HMD, and Honor. While Samsung and Sony may not launch flagship phones, Xiaomi is expected to unveil its 15 series for the European market, including the photography-focused 15 Ultra. Nothing, HMD, and Realme are also planning new phone launches. The event will be held in Barcelona, Spain.

Automotive

Mansory's Tesla Cybertruck Modification

Mansory, known for modifying cars, has turned its attention to the Tesla Cybertruck, with results that some may consider aesthetically questionable.

Health and Wellness

Aquasonic Toothbrush Deal

The Aquasonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush, an ADA-approved electric toothbrush, is on sale for $30 on Amazon, delivering 40,000 vibrations per minute.

Ozempic and Suicide Risk Study

A new study from McGill University found no evidence linking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic to an increased risk of suicidality, aligning with other reports from the U.S. and European Union.

Consumer Electronics and Deals

Anker SOLIX C300 Power Station

The Anker SOLIX C300 portable power station is on sale for $150 on Amazon, delivering 300 watts and 90,000mAh of power.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 Laptop Deal

The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is on sale for $379.99 at Best Buy, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 5 Series 1 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD, suitable for everyday tasks.

Science and History

Paleoindian Transportation Methods

A new study suggests that early inhabitants of the Americas, Paleoindians, used transportation vehicles 23,000 years ago. Human footprints and drag marks in New Mexico’s White Sands National Park indicate they were pulling simple vehicles made of wooden poles.

Books

March Book Releases

March features new releases from authors like Stephen Graham Jones, Gregory Maguire, and John Scalzi, including 64 titles across sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres.

Manufacturing

Intel Ohio Chip Plant Delay

Intel is delaying the opening of its $28 billion Ohio chip plants again, with operations now expected between 2030 and 2031, years later than the initially planned 2025 start date.

AI & Tech Industry News

AI Development and Events

TechCrunch Sessions: AI Event

TechCrunch Sessions: AI will be held on June 5 at Zellerbach Hall in UC Berkeley. The event aims to gather 1,200 AI founders, investors, and industry pioneers to discuss and drive innovation. Speakers can lead dynamic 50-minute sessions. Speakers include Kanu Gulati from Khosla Ventures, Oliver Cameron, co-founder and CEO of Odyssey, and Jill Chase, Partner, CapitalG.

Amazon's Alexa+ Subscription

Amazon's new Alexa+ subscription, priced at $20 per month, is being questioned due to its cost relative to Amazon Prime. The high price may be designed to drive users towards Prime and Echo hardware.

Taara Technology

Alphabet's X is launching a new generation of its Taara technology, a chip designed to deliver high-bandwidth internet via laser beams.

Semiconductor Industry

AMD's GPU Advancements

AMD is locking some upscaling advancements to its newest GPUs. New GPUs are launching March 6, targeting upper-midrange 1440p and 4K gaming PCs.

Intel's Ohio Chip Factory Delay

Intel's first chip fabrication plant in Ohio may not open until 2030 or 2031, due to financial challenges.

Cryptocurrency Market

Bitcoin's Decline Post-Trump Election

Since Donald Trump's election in 2024, Bitcoin has lost nearly 20% of its value. The failure of Trump-affiliated memecoins contributed to billions of dollars leaving the crypto market.

SEC on Memecoins

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stated that memecoins are not securities, comparing them to collectibles.

Justin Sun's Legal Stay

Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, previously charged by the SEC, has been granted a stay in the investigation.

Software and Apps

Microsoft Discontinues Skype

Microsoft will discontinue Skype on May 5, urging users to transition to Teams.

Drinkable App

Drinkable is a free iOS and Android app that suggests cocktails based on the ingredients you have on hand.

TechCrunch Events

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will take place in San Francisco on October 27-29.

TechCrunch All Stage 2025

TechCrunch is hosting All Stage 2025 in Boston on July 15.

Gadgets and Hardware Deals

Storage Devices

Samsung 990 Pro 1TB SSD

The Samsung 990 Pro 1TB SSD is on sale for $100.

Wearable Technology

Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Smartwatch

The Garmin Fenix 7X Pro rugged outdoor smartwatch is on sale at Amazon for $750.

Google Pixel Watch

The Google Pixel Watch is on sale for $109.99 at Walmart.

Apple Watch

The National Hockey League (NHL) is equipping on-ice officials with Apple Watches.

Audio

Sonos Arc Soundbar

The Sonos Arc soundbar is on sale for $649 at Walmart and the Sonos website.

Smart Trackers

Apple AirTag (4-Pack)

The Apple AirTag (4-Pack) is on sale for $64.49 at Amazon.

Gaming Monitors

Asus ROG Strix 27-inch QHD Gaming Monitor

The Asus ROG Strix 27-inch QHD gaming monitor is on sale for $199 at Amazon.

Science and Environment

Glioblastoma Treatment Research

Researchers in Los Angeles have developed a potential new therapy for glioblastoma, combining radiation therapy with forskolin.

Polar Bear Cub Emergence

Biologists have captured rare footage of polar bear cubs emerging from their dens in Norway.

Entertainment

Movie News and Trailers

New trailers have been released for several films, including Death of a Unicorn and Screamboat. The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is pushed back to December 2027.

Severance Season 2

The seventh episode of Severance Season 2, explores themes of identity, memory, and the struggle to reconcile fragmented selves.

Legal and Social Issues

Epstein Documents Release

The release of internal government documents related to Jeffrey Epstein resulted in backlash from MAGA supporters.

Apple Carbon Neutral Lawsuit

Apple is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging it falsely advertised certain Apple Watch models as carbon neutral.