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February 20, 2025, 6:20 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, Business Today, eeNews Europe, Microsoft on YouTube, Proactive, Trak.in, Hindustan Times, New York Times, Verdict, Business Standard, The National, EE Times, CNBC, Decrypt, WebProNews, Digital Trends, SC Media, Defense One, BetaNews, The Post-Quantum World on YouTube, YourStory.com, 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, @bdsams, @gillverd, @iohk_charles, @fxshaw, @peteratmsr, @satyanadella, @tomwarren, @jezcorden, @yusuf_i_mehdi, @basedbeffjezos, @preskill, @thomasgwong, @morningbrew, @6a6763, @bradsmi, @konstanthacker, @elonmusk, @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
| Financial Times: |
Microsoft says it has harnessed a new state of matter using particles called Majorana fermions, a significant breakthrough to create workable topological qubits — US tech giant says it has harnessed a new state of matter to create the basic building blocks of a quantum machine
More: MIT Technology Review, The New Stack, Nature, arXiv.org, ITPro, Hindustan Times, Microsoft, Business Standard, Business News Australia, and RetailWire. Bluesky: @chicagomike
| 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.
More: TechCrunch, Android Central, Benzinga, BitcoinWorld, MacTrast, Lawyer Monthly, Android Police, Business Today, MakeUseOf, Cryptopolitan, HotHardware, Digital Trends, MobileSyrup, BGR, TechRadar, Digital Trends, and MacRumors. Mastodon: @glenngabe@mas.to
| 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, Android Central, Digit, GSMArena.com, Trusted Reviews, Engadget, Android Headlines, How-To Geek, 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
| 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 on YouTube, Apple, MacRumors, Moneycontrol, The Verge, MacRumors, Engadget, Ars Technica, Silicon UK, TechSpot, CNBC, KnowTechie, Android Headlines, Stuff, MacTrast, designboom, The Verge, TechRadar, Forbes, ANI News, TrendForce News, Brian Tong on YouTube, Digital Trends, Gulf Business, Business Today, IGN, zollotech on YouTube, Techsponential, Brandon Butch on YouTube, Bloomberg, PhoneArena, Redmond Pie, mjtsai.com, Six Colors, OS X Daily, 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, @varunkrish, @munster_gene, @aaronp613, @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
Forums: r/iPhone13Mini, r/business, r/apple, r/iPhone16ProMax, r/iPhone16Pro, r/iPhoneXR, r/hardware, r/LinusTechTips, r/gadgets, r/apple, r/apple, r/hackernews, r/iPhoneSE, r/technology, r/apple, and r/iphone
| Zac Hall / 9to5Mac: |
More: Wall Street Journal, TrendForce News, Telecoms Tech News, MacRumors, The Verge, Radio Free Mobile, TechRadar, The Information, The Overspill, 9to5Mac, PhoneArena, and Cult of Mac
Bluesky: @stevekovach. X: @maxwinebach, @tailosivetech, @vadimyuryev, @benbajarin, @markgurman, @dylanmcd8, @basicappleguy, @wongmjane, and @benbajarin
| 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
| 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, Ars Technica, WinBuzzer, Reuters, The Register, VentureBeat, Microsoft, Beebom, TechSpot, TweakTown, Android Headlines, PC Gamer, Neowin, and Engadget
Bluesky: @tomwarren.co.uk. Mastodon: @mads@fedi.mvpgame.dev. X: @xboxwire, @satyanadella, @mustafasuleyman, @tomwarren, @alacremeox, @protosphinx, @coreybrickley, @yacinemtb, @tomwarren, @reach_vb, @natureportfolio, @lukasschaefer96, @katjahofmann, @teknium1, @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
| 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| 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. 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, and r/perplexity_ai
| 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
| 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
| 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 …
More: Nansen Research Portal, CoinDesk, Bloomberg, Benzinga, Bitcoin Insider, crypto.news, and Cryptopolitan
| 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, @chronotope.aramzs.xyz, @whetmoser.com, @pppgrifter, @mediaevan, and @baymama
| 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| 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
| 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
| David Jeans / Forbes: |
Clearview AI co-founder and President Hoan Ton-That resigns, after stepping back as CEO in December 2024, and says he will continue serving as a board member — Hoan Ton-That left Clearview after the company struggled to secure big federal government contracts.| 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
| Axios: |
Sources: NIST plans to cut 497 people, including 74 postdocs and most staff at its Chips for America program; the AI Safety Institute faces an uncertain future — Exit Content Preview … - The cuts come at a time when the U.S. is looking to lead in AI development and stave off competition from China.
More: Bloomberg and The Register
Bluesky: @osetinstitute.org, @heatherashleyboyer, and @eguango
X: @ericgeller, @ashleyrgold, @hamandcheese, @alecstapp, @jakewilkns, @stuartbuck1, @deanwball, and @ericgeller
Forums: r/technology and r/fednews
| Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai / TechCrunch: |
Filings: US Army soldier Cameron John Wagenius pleads guilty to hacking AT&T and Verizon and stealing a massive trove of phone records from the telcos in 2024 — Cameron John Wagenius pleaded guilty to hacking AT&T and Verizon and stealing a massive trove of phone records from the companies … | Romain Dillet / TechCrunch: |
Paris-based Spore.Bio, which has developed a pre-trained deep learning algorithm to speed up microbiology testing, raised a $23M Series A led by Singular — Recalls in the food and beverage industry due to contamination incidents can have catastrophic effects.| Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch: |
Uber ditches commissions in favor of daily fees for auto-rickshaw drivers in India in response to increased competition from local rivals Rapido and Namma Yatri — Uber is moving away from its commission-based model for three-wheeled motorized rickshaw drivers in India in response …
More: NDTV, TechIssuesToday.com, Times of India, PC-Tablet India, CNBC-TV18, Moneycontrol, India Today, Reuters, and The Indian Express
X: @indiantechguide, @nikhilkumarks, @vivekmadani, @refsrc, and @tim_clif
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