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February 20, 2025, 7:25 AM
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| Tom Warren / The Verge: |
Microsoft unveils the Majorana 1, its first quantum processor that uses Majorana particles instead of electrons, with the potential to fit a million qubits — Microsoft has spent 17 years researching a new material and architecture for quantum computing.
More: Microsoft Azure, Microsoft on YouTube, Nature, Silicon Republic, Livemint, Tech Monitor, Microsoft, The Guardian, Microsoft on YouTube, Proactive, Trak.in, eeNews Europe, Business Today, New York Times, Verdict, Hindustan Times, The National, EE Times, CNBC, Business Standard, Decrypt, Digital Trends, BetaNews, The Post-Quantum World on YouTube, Defense One, WebProNews, Semafor, YourStory.com, SC Media, SiliconANGLE, Wall Street Journal, Quartz, Maginative, The Hill, Forbes, Microsoft, and Constellation Research
Bluesky: @quinnypig.com and @graemesmith
Mastodon: @mathewi@journa.host, @Jason_W_Karpf@mastodon.social, @jschauma@mstdn.social, and @johncarlosbaez@mathstodon.xyz
X: @satyanadella, @tomwarren, @iancutress, @0xlac, @basedbeffjezos, @gillverd, @iohk_charles, @peteratmsr, @satyanadella, @jezcorden, @yusuf_i_mehdi, @basedbeffjezos, @preskill, @thomasgwong, @6a6763, @bradsmi, @elonmusk, @bdsams, @tomwarren, @konstanthacker, @morningbrew, @fxshaw, @ijustine, @aubreystrobel, @fxshaw, @ccatalini, @konstanthacker, @dr_chetan_nayak, @stockmktnewz, @jaguaranalytics, @konstanthacker, @aureliensacaze, @microsoft, @elliotthetrainr, and @satyanadella
LinkedIn: Hadi Partovi, Bruno Couillard, Rick Barnes, Mikael Ekman, Ramon Aguado, Ben Blaiszik, Maciej Malinowski, Dr. Renata Jovanovic, Bela Bauer, John Preskill, Christian Dickel, Chetan Nayak, Krysta Svore, and Zulfi Alam
Forums: r/technology, r/hardware, r/Futurology, r/technology, r/Physics, and r/accelerate
| Dwarkesh Patel / Dwarkesh Podcast: |
| Ben Schoon / 9to5Google: |
Google is removing Gemini support from the main Google app on iOS, pushing users to download the standalone Gemini app that launched in November 2024 — Google is informing iOS users that it will be removing Gemini support from the main Google app as it pushes users over to the full Gemini app.| Adamya Sharma / Android Authority: |
Google is bringing Circle to Search-like visual searches to its Chrome and Google iOS apps, without the Circle to Search branding, as a Google Lens feature — The feature will work within the Chrome and Google iOS apps via Lens. — • — • — • — TL;DR
More: The Keyword, Tech Advisor, 9to5Google, The Indian Express, Digit, GSMArena.com, Trusted Reviews, Android Central, Android Headlines, Engadget, How-To Geek, MakeUseOf, The Irish Sun, Pocket-lint, Tom's Guide, Android Central, BGR, Cult of Mac, CNET, TechRadar, PCMag, Search Engine Journal, Android Police, PhoneArena, iPhone in Canada Blog, MacRumors, TechCrunch, and The Verge
Mastodon: @glenngabe@mas.to. X: @googlechrome, @richontech, @google, and @newsfromgoogle. LinkedIn: Max Christoff
| Lizette Chapman / Bloomberg: |
Palantir's stock fell 10% on February 19 after the WaPo reported US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to cut military spending; PLTR is up 50%+ in 2025 — - Spending shift would affect 8% of US defense spending — AI-focused Palantir has become major government contractor| Andy Chalk / PC Gamer: |
Valve releases a Team Fortress 2 SDK with the game's client and server code, letting users build new Team Fortress 2-based games licensed for non-commercial use — Valve has also released major updates to all Source-engine multiplayer games adding 64-bit support, scalable HUDS, “and a lot of other improvements.”
More: TF2 Official Blog, Ars Technica, TheGamer, Eurogamer.net, Game Rant, Neowin, GameSpot, OC3D, ReadWrite, Engadget, Digital Trends, Destructoid, Rock, Paper, Shotgun, GamesRadar, and TechSpot
Bluesky: @steinmakesgames. X: @jonsyishere, @ultr4nima, @heyitscookie, @ultr4nima, @xradicald, @phisnom, @4g_b4nny, @teamfortress, @ultr4nima, @micahtischler, @skyminslash, @steamdb, @shoun1c, and @interneth0f
Forums: r/Chivalry2, r/gaming, r/pcmasterrace, r/Steam, r/Games, r/pcgaming, r/TwoBestFriendsPlay, r/tf2, and Slashdot
| Chance Miller / 9to5Mac: |
Apple unveils the $599+ iPhone 16e with a 6.1" display, A18, 48MP camera, Apple Intelligence, the C1 cellular modem, USB-C, and no MagSafe, shipping February 28 — Apple has officially taken the wraps off of the all-new iPhone 16e. The device features an all-new design paired with the A18 chip inside …
More: Apple, Apple on YouTube, MacRumors, Moneycontrol, The Standard, MacRumors, The Verge, MacRumors, Engadget, Ghacks, International Business Times, Tom's Guide, Ars Technica, BGR, Android Headlines, Digital Trends, Silicon UK, TechSpot, CNBC, KnowTechie, Stuff, MacTrast, designboom, The Verge, Forbes, TechRadar, TrendForce News, Brian Tong on YouTube, Gulf Business, Business Today, IGN, zollotech on YouTube, Techsponential, Brandon Butch on YouTube, Bloomberg, ANI News, PhoneArena, mjtsai.com, Six Colors, OS X Daily, Press Start, Philip Elmer‑DeWitt, Washington Post, 9to5Mac, MacStories, MacRumors, TechCrunch, TechRadar, 9to5Toys, 9to5Mac, and MacRumors
Bluesky: @dompreston.com. Mastodon: @corbin@toot.community. Threads: @davidimel, @joannastern, and @davidimel
X: @markgurman, @munster_gene, @aaronp613, @varunkrish, @tim_cook, @film_girl, @aaronp613, @deedydas, @shishirshelke1, @aaronp613, @film_girl, @aaronp613, @gregorymcfadden, @microsoftvapple, @maxwinebach, @willguyatt, @dylanmcd8, @caro_milanesi, @parkerortolani, @mgsiegler, @joannastern, @film_girl, @joannastern, @film_girl, @parkerortolani, @firstadopter, @markgurman, @dylanmcd8, @zollotech, @maxwinebach, @markgurman, @mkbhd, @aaronp613, @zollotech, and @maxwinebach. LinkedIn: Raffaele Cetrulo
| Zac Hall / 9to5Mac: |
More: Wall Street Journal, TrendForce News, MacRumors, The Verge, Telecoms Tech News, Radio Free Mobile, The Information, The Overspill, TechRadar, Redmond Pie, 9to5Mac, PhoneArena, and Cult of Mac
Bluesky: @stevekovach. X: @maxwinebach, @tailosivetech, @vadimyuryev, @benbajarin, @markgurman, @dylanmcd8, @basicappleguy, @wongmjane, and @benbajarin
Forums: r/IndiaTech, r/apple, and r/gadgets
| Sergiu Gatlan / BleepingComputer: |
CISA and the FBI: attackers deploying Ghost ransomware breached victims from multiple industry sectors across 70+ countries, including critical infrastructure — CISA and the FBI said attackers deploying Ghost ransomware have breached victims from multiple industry sectors across over 70 countries … | Tom Warren / The Verge: |
Microsoft announces Muse AI, a first-of-its-kind generative AI model that can generate a game environment based on visuals, players' controller actions, or both — Microsoft Research and Xbox game studio Ninja Theory have partnered to create a new AI model for gaming.
More: Xbox Wire, Nature, Xbox on YouTube, Microsoft Research, Wired, Aftermath, Bloomberg, Ghacks, Ars Technica, Reuters, WinBuzzer, The Register, VentureBeat, Beebom, TechSpot, Microsoft, TweakTown, Android Headlines, PC Gamer, Neowin, Stevivor, and Engadget
Bluesky: @tomwarren.co.uk. Mastodon: @mads@fedi.mvpgame.dev. X: @xboxwire, @satyanadella, @mustafasuleyman, @alacremeox, @protosphinx, @coreybrickley, @yacinemtb, @reach_vb, @natureportfolio, @lukasschaefer96, @katjahofmann, @teknium1, @tomwarren, @tomwarren, @peteratmsr, @rowancheung, @theturingpost, @msftresearch, @wario64, @rowancheung, @azed_ai, @peteratmsr, @howfxr, @knoebelbroet, @rowancheung, and @rowancheung
Forums: r/technews, r/singularity, r/gaming, r/xbox, r/Games, and r/xbox
| Natasha Lomas / TechCrunch: |
Global Witness: ahead of German elections, TikTok's and X's For You feeds showed a substantial far-right bias; 78% of TikTok's recommendations supported the AfD — Recommendation algorithms operated by social media giants TikTok and X have shown evidence of substantial far-right political bias …
LinkedIn: Global Witness
| Jon Keegan / Sherwood News: |
Perplexity open sources R1 1776, a version of the DeepSeek R1 model that Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas says was “post-trained to remove the China censorship” — But shortly after its release, attention turned to how compliant the model was with Chinese censorship laws.
More: Perplexity and WinBuzzer
Bluesky: @edzitron.com. X: @bill_drexel, @perplexity_ai, @localghost, @nathanbenaich, @aravsrinivas, @perplexity_ai, @perplexity_ai, and @aravsrinivas. LinkedIn: Ipek Ceylan
Forums: Hacker News, r/LocalLLM, r/perplexity_ai, and r/LocalLLaMA
| RT Watson / The Block: |
Nansen: 86% of traders lost $251M in total on the Solana memecoin Libra that Argentine President Milei promoted, while the remaining traders profited $180M — - Citing onchain data, Nansen Research said that through Tuesday, 86% of traders lost a total of $251 million on the LIBRA token … | Lawrence Bonk / Engadget: |
Twitch rolls out changes to its violation enforcement system, including letting minor infractions expire after 90 days and serious ones in one or two years — Depending on severity, this will take 90 days to two years. — Twitch has rolled out a number of changes to its violation enforcement system.
More: Twitch Safety Center, The Verge, Game Rant, Tech Times, Dexerto, and Dexerto
| Angus Whitley / Bloomberg: |
Australia eSafety Commissioner study: social media platforms likely have ~1.3M under-13 Australian users, suggesting a lack of preparation for the under-16 ban — - Study indicates over 1 million underage social media users — Findings show lack of preparation for Australia's under-16 ban| Suzanne Vranica / Wall Street Journal: |
Sources: top X executives hinted to Interpublic and other ad firms that not spending on X could lead to legal woes, due to X's lawsuit against some advertisers — Interpublic recently signed an advertising agreement with the platform; other agencies are also in negotiations
Bluesky: @wikisteff, @whetmoser.com, @chronotope.aramzs.xyz, @pppgrifter, @mediaevan, and @baymama
| Kim Zetter / Wired: |
Source: 19-year-old Edward Coristine and Kyle Schutt, both DOGE engineers, are now on staff at the CISA; Coristine was briefly an intern for Neuralink — DOGE technologists Edward Coristine—the 19-year-old known online as “Big Balls”—and Kyle Schutt are now listed as staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
More: Nextgov/FCW. Bluesky: @kimzetter, @kimzetter, and @couts
X: @watermanreports and @erratarob
Forums: r/espionage, r/craftofintelligence, and r/politics
| Wes Davis / The Verge: |
Rabbit R1 maker Rabbit demos its “generalist Android agent”, showing it controlling apps on a tablet, building on its LAM Playground, a “generalist web agent” — Watch Rabbit's AI agent, but not the Rabbit R1, do things in Android apps.
More: rabbit and rabbit on YouTube
| Emily Birnbaum / Bloomberg: |
Meta says Mark Zuckerberg went to the US Capitol on February 19 to lobby Senators on AI and talk about issues like US tech leadership and ending DEI programs — Zuckerberg met with senators one day after his personal charity announced it was ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
More: Cryptopolitan, The Verge, Business Today, and Tech in Asia
| Aditya Kalra / Reuters: |
Sources: Google is close to deciding on locations in India for its first physical retail stores outside the US; the company currently has five stores — Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google is close to deciding on locations in its key market of India where it will open its first physical retail stores outside … | Reuters: |
Russian search and ad giant Yandex reports 2024 revenue up 37% YoY to a record ~$12.3B and expects 2025 revenue up 30%+, after splitting from Nebius Group — Russian internet firm Yandex reported annual revenues above 1 trillion roubles ($11.22 billion) for the first time on Thursday …
More: The Moscow Times and Tech in Asia
| The Block: |
Ethereum transaction fees' seven-day moving average fell to $0.77 on February 15, a 70% week-over-week drop from $2.57 and the lowest since July 2020 — - The record-low Ethereum fees signal weak demand amid onchain volume decline. — The following is an excerpt from The Block's Data and Insights newsletter.
Forums: r/ethtrader
| Sherry Qin / Wall Street Journal: |
Chinese game giant NetEase reports Q4 net profit up 33% YoY to ~$1.2B, above ~$1.05B est., and revenue down 1.4%, a sign its gaming business is turning around — The company's revenue fell 1.4% but was slightly better than analysts' expectations — Chinese videogame giant NetEase returned …
More: Video Games Chronicle, Game World Observer, and NetEase, Inc.
| Bloomberg: |
Alibaba reports Q3 revenue up 8% YoY to ~$38.6B, the fastest growth in over a year and above ~$38B est., and a ~$6.7B net income, as AI boosts its business — - Revenue beats estimates thanks to strong growth in cloud arm — Alibaba is staging a comeback as AI initiatives bear fruitSponsor Posts
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Zoho:
Connecting, collaborating, and growing: Zoho Mail 2025 wrap-up — Your inbox has been home to a lot this year—quick updates, long threads, approvals, reminders, and the occasional late-night draft you weren't sure about.
Connecting, collaborating, and growing: Zoho Mail 2025 wrap-up — Your inbox has been home to a lot this year—quick updates, long threads, approvals, reminders, and the occasional late-night draft you weren't sure about.
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Protecting your Cloud Applications Data — Backing up Office 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox & Box data is critical to preventing data loss or corruption, complying with laws and avoiding critical downtime in case of a disaster.
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| Courtney Albon / Defense News: |
More: TechCrunch, Saronic, Naval Today, DroneXL.co, Axios, Defense One, Pulse 2.0, Austin Business Journal, Washington Technology, The Robot Report, and Reuters. Bluesky: @defensenews
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Bluesky: @osetinstitute.org, @heatherashleyboyer, and @eguango
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X: @stephentotilo, @zhugeex, @marvelrivals, @gigawattconduit, @lordbalvin, @slashlp89, @hh_varuna, @1exi, @alecrobbins, @coopercooperco, @neferpitoup, @ianrile42523693, @directfeedgames, @lordbalvin, @jakesucky, @wario64, @rivalsassembled, @knoebelbroet, and @bellulargaming
LinkedIn: Thaddeus Sasser and Jack Burrows
Forums: r/TwoBestFriendsPlay and r/gamingnews