Tech – Page 15

Reddit won’t interfere with users revolting against X with subreddit bans

culture, elon musk, facebook, Meta, reddit, Social Media, Tech / Rejus Almole / January 22, 2025

A Reddit spokesperson told Ars that decisions to ban or not ban X links are user-driven. Subreddit members are allowed to suggest and institute subreddit rules, they added.

“Notably, many Reddit communities also prohibit Reddit links,” the Reddit representative pointed out. They noted that Reddit as a company doesn’t currently have any ban on links to X.

A ban against links to an entire platform isn’t outside of the ordinary for Reddit. Numerous subreddits ban social media links, Reddit’s spokesperson said. r/EarthPorn, a subreddit for landscape photography, for example, doesn’t allow website links because all posts “must be static images,” per the subreddit’s official rules. r/AskReddit, meanwhile, only allows for questions asked in the title of a Reddit post and doesn’t allow for use of the text box, including for sharing links.

“Reddit has a longstanding commitment to freedom of speech and freedom of association,” Reddit’s spokesperson said. They added that any person is free to make or moderate their own community. Those unsatisfied with a forum about Seahawks football that doesn’t have X links could feel free to make their own subreddit. Although, some of the subreddits considering X bans, like r/MadeMeSmile, already have millions of followers.

Meta bans also under discussion

As 404 Media noted, some Redditors are also pushing to block content from Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta properties in response to new Donald Trump-friendly policies instituted by owner Mark Zuckerberg, like Meta killing diversity programs and axing third-party fact-checkers.

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Wine 10.0 brings Arm Windows apps to Linux, still is not an emulator

asahi linux, Linux, Tech, Windows, Wine / Mike M. / January 22, 2025

The open source Wine project—sometimes stylized WINE, for Wine Is Not an Emulator—has become an important tool for companies and individuals who want to make Windows apps and games run on operating systems like Linux or even macOS. The CrossOver software for Mac and Windows, Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit, and the Proton project that powers Valve’s SteamOS and the Steam Deck are all rooted in Wine, and the attention and resources put into the project in recent years have dramatically improved its compatibility and usefulness.

Yesterday, the Wine project announced the stable release of version 10.0, the next major version of the compatibility layer that is not an emulator. The headliner for this release is support for ARM64EC, the application binary interface (ABI) used for Arm apps in Windows 11, but the release notes say that the release contains “over 6,000 individual changes” produced over “a year of development effort.”

ARM64EC allows developers to mix Arm and x86-compatible code—if you’re making an Arm-native version of your app, you can still allow the use of more obscure x86-based plugins or add-ons without having to port everything over at once. Wine 10.0 also supports ARM64X, a different type of application binary file that allows ARM64EC code to be mixed with older, pre-Windows 11 ARM64 code.

Wine’s ARM64EC support does have one limitation that will keep it from working on some prominent Arm Linux distributions, at least by default: the release notes say it “requires the system page size to be 4K, since that is what the Windows ABI specifies.” Several prominent Linux-on-Arm distributions default to a 16K page size because it can improve performance—when page sizes are smaller, you need more of them, and managing a higher number of pages can introduce extra CPU overhead.

Asahi Linux, the Fedora-based distribution that is working to bring Linux to Apple Silicon Macs, uses 16K pages because that’s all Apple’s processors support. Some versions of the Raspberry Pi OS also default to a 16K page size, though it’s possible to switch to 4K for compatibility’s sake. Given that the Raspberry Pi and Asahi Linux are two of the biggest Linux-on-Arm projects going right now, that does at least somewhat limit the appeal of ARM64EC support in Wine. But as we’ve seen with Proton and other successful Wine-based compatibility layers, laying the groundwork now can deliver big benefits down the road.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S25 event was an AI presentation with occasional phone hardware

android, galaxy ai, Gemini 2.0, Google, Google Gemini, samsung, samsung galaxy, samsung galaxy s25, Tech / Mike M. / January 22, 2025

Samsung announced the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra at its Unpacked event today. What is different from last year’s models? With the phones themselves, not much, other than a new chipset and a wide camera. But pure AI optimism? Samsung managed to pack a whole lot more of that into its launch event and promotional materials.

The corners on the S25 Ultra are a bit more rounded, the edges are flatter, and the bezels seem to be slightly thinner. The S25 and S25+ models have the same screen size as the S24 models, at 6.2 and 6.7 inches, respectively, while the Ultra notches up slightly from 6.8 to 6.9 inches.

Samsung’s S25 Ultra, in titanium builds colored silver blue, black, gray, and white silver. Credit: Samsung

The S25 Ultra, starting at $1,300, touts a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a new 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and what Samsung claims is improved detail in software-derived zoom images. It comes with the S Pen, a vestige of the departed Note line, but as The Verge notes, there is no Bluetooth included, so you can’t pull off hand gestures with the pen off the screen or use it as a quirky remote camera trigger.

Samsung’s S25 Plus phones, in silver blue, navy, and icy blue. Credit: Samsung

It’s much the same with the S25 and S25 Plus, starting at $800. The base models got an upgrade to a default of 12GB of RAM. The displays, cameras, and general shape and build are the same. All the Galaxy devices released in 2025 have Qi2 wireless charging support—but not by default. You’ll need a “Qi2 Ready” magnetic case to get a sturdy attachment and the 15 W top charging speed.

One thing that hasn’t changed, for the better, is Samsung’s recent bump up in longevity. Each Galaxy S25 model gets seven years of security updates and seven of OS upgrades, which matches Google’s Pixel line in number of years.

Side view of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which is looking rather thin. Samsung

At the very end of Samsung’s event, for less than 30 seconds, a “Galaxy S25 Edge” was teased. In a mostly black field with some shiny metal components, Samsung seemed to be teasing the notably slimmer variant of the S25 that had been rumored. The same kinds of leaks about an “iPhone Air” have been circulating. No details were provided beyond its name, and a brief video suggesting its svelte nature.

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Bambu Lab pushes a “control system” for 3D printers, and boy, did it not go well

3D printing, APIs, bambu lab, big tree technology, jeff geerling, mqtt, panda touch, Tech / Mike M. / January 21, 2025

Bambu Lab, a major maker of 3D printers for home users and commercial “farms,” is pushing an update to its devices that it claims will improve security while still offering third-party tools “authorized” access. Some in the user community—and 3D printing advocates broadly—are pushing back, suggesting the firm has other, more controlling motives.

As is perhaps appropriate for 3D printing, this matter has many layers, some long-standing arguments about freedom and rights baked in, and a good deal of heat.

Bambu Lab’s image marketing Bambu Handy, its cloud service that allows you to “Control your printer anytime anywhere, also we support SD card and local network to print the projects.” Credit: Bambu Lab

Printing more, tweaking less

Bambu Lab, launched in 2022, has stood out in the burgeoning consumer 3D printing market because of its printers’ capacity for printing at high speeds without excessive tinkering or maintenance. The product page for the X1 series, the printer first targeted for new security, starts with the credo, “We hated 3D printing as much as we loved it.” Bambu’s faster, less fussy multicolor printers garnered attention—including an ongoing patent lawsuit from established commercial printer Stratasys.

Part of Bambu’s “just works” nature relies on a relatively more closed system than its often open-minded counterparts. Sending a print to most Bambu printers typically requires either Bambu’s cloud service, or, in “LAN mode,” a manual “sneakernet” transfer through SD cards. Cloud connections also grant perks like remote monitoring, and many customers have accepted the trade-off.

However, other customers, eager to tinker with third-party software and accessories, along with those fearing a subscription-based future for 3D printing, see Bambu Lab’s purported security concerns as something else. And Bambu acknowledges that its messaging on its upcoming change came out in rough shape.

Authorized access and operations

“Firmware Update Introducing New Authorization Control System,” posted by Bambu Lab on January 16 (and since updated twice), states that Bambu’s printers—starting with its popular X series, then the P and A lines—will receive a “significant security enhancement to ensure only authorized access and operations are permitted.” This would, Bambu suggested, mitigate risks of “remote hacks or printer exposure issues” and lower the risk of “abnormal traffic or attacks.”

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New year, same streaming headaches: Netflix raises prices by up to 16 percent

netflix, streaming, Tech / Mike M. / January 21, 2025

Today Netflix, the biggest streaming service based on subscriber count, announced that it will increase subscription prices by up to $2.50 per month.

In a letter to investors [PDF], Netflix announced price changes starting today in the US, Canada, Argentina, and Portugal.

People who subscribe to Netflix’s cheapest ad-free plan (Standard) will see the biggest increase in monthly costs. The subscription will go from $15.49/month to $17.99/month, representing a 16.14 percent bump. The subscription tier allows commercial-free streaming for up to two devices and maxes out at 1080p resolution. It’s Netflix’s most popular subscription in the US, Bloomberg noted.

Netflix’s Premium ad-free tier has cost $22.99/month but is going up 8.7 percent to $24.99/month. The priciest Netflix subscription supports simultaneous streaming for up to four devices, downloads on up to six devices, 4K resolution, HDR, and spatial audio.

Finally, Netflix’s Standard With Ads tier will go up by $1, or 14.3 percent, to $7.99/month. This tier supports streaming from up to two devices and up to 1080p resolution. In Q4 2024, this subscription represented “over 55 percent of sign-ups” in countries where it’s available and generally grew “nearly 30 percent quarter over quarter,” Netflix said in its quarterly letter to investors.

“As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix,” Netflix’s letter reads.

New year, same streaming headaches: Netflix raises prices by up to 16 percent Read More »

Apple Intelligence, previously opt-in by default, enabled automatically in iOS 18.3

AI, Apple, apple intelligence, ios 18.3, macos 15.3, Tech / Kris Guyer / January 21, 2025

Apple has sent out release candidate builds of the upcoming iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3 updates to developers today. But they come with one tweak that hasn’t been reported on, per MacRumors: They enable all of the AI-powered Apple Intelligence features by default during setup. When Apple Intelligence was initially released in iOS 18.1, the features were off by default, unless users chose to opt-in and enable them.

Those who still wish to opt out of Apple Intelligence features will now have to do it after their devices are set up by navigating to the Apple Intelligence & Siri section in the Settings app.

Apple Intelligence will only be enabled by default for hardware that supports it. For the iPhone, that’s just the iPhone 15 Pro series, iPhone 16 series, and iPhone 16 Pro series. It goes further back on the iPad and Mac—Apple Intelligence works on any model with an M1 processor or newer.

Apple is following in the footsteps of Microsoft and Google here, rolling out new generative AI features to its user base as quickly as possible and enabling some or all of them by default while still labeling everything as a “beta” and pointing to that label when things go wrong. Case in point: The iOS 18.3 update also temporarily disables all notification summaries for apps in the App Store’s “news and entertainment” category, because some of those summaries contained major factual inaccuracies.

Apple Intelligence, previously opt-in by default, enabled automatically in iOS 18.3 Read More »

Report: Apple Mail is getting automatic categories on iPadOS and macOS

AI, Apple, apple intelligence, Apple Mail, email, email client, email clients, Gmail, Tech / Mike M. / January 20, 2025

Unlike numerous other new and recent OS-level features from Apple, mail sorting does not require a device capable of supporting its Apple Intelligence (generally M-series Macs or iPads), and happens entirely on the device. It’s an optional feature and available only for English-language emails.

Apple released a third beta of MacOS 15.3 just days ago, indicating that early, developer-oriented builds of macOS 15.4 with the sorting feature should be weeks away. While Gurman’s newsletter suggests mail sorting will also arrive in the Mail app for iPadOS, he did not specify which version, though the timing would suggest the roughly simultaneous release of iPadOS 18.4.

Also slated to arrive in the same update for Apple-Intelligence-ready devices is the version of Siri that understands more context about questions, from what’s on your screen and in your apps. “Add this address to Rick’s contact information,” “When is my mom’s flight landing,” and “What time do I have dinner with her” are the sorts of examples Apple highlighted in its June unveiling of iOS 18.

Since then, Apple has divvied up certain aspects of Intelligence into different OS point updates. General ChatGPT access and image generation have arrived in iOS 18.2 (and related Mac and iPad updates), while notification summaries, which can be pretty rough, are being rethought and better labeled and will be removed from certain news notifications in iOS 18.3.

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“Project Mini Rack” wants to make your non-closet-sized rack server a reality

homelab, jeff geerling, minilab, rackmount, server rack, Tech / Kris Guyer / January 20, 2025

Geerling’s guide aims to save everybody a whole lot of Reddit reading, question-asking, and blind-faith-buying as they get started or seek to expand their rack. Most 10-inch, or “half-width” racks (despite the “standard” rack being 19 inches wide) have only a few major manufacturers, and their availability varies by country. Each type of device that fits into the mini rack—power distribution units (PDUs), uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), HDD-sized shelves—gets linked by Geerling, along with important specs. There are also links to 3D-printable rack systems, cable management ideas (harder on a half-size setup than full), and showcases of mini racks of note.

Geerling’s page acknowledges the collective efforts of communities like Reddit’s /r/minilab have put into the burgeoning half-size market, long before his project. But seeking a central compendium, Geerling compiles gear, tips, and compatibility advice for mini-builds, along with ongoing discussions about the merits of individual components and broader build-out strategies.

“The community feedback around Project Mini Rack has been great so far,” Geerling wrote in an email to Ars. The 3D-printed links and suggestions have been showing up steadily since he started committing to the page in earnest in mid-January. He’s particularly excited to see that a “LACK rack,” or using IKEA shelving for budget rack mounting, can be downscaled to mini-rack size with an Edet cabinet. “It’s like someone at IKEA is a Homelab enthusiast,” says Geerling.

This post was updated to better define homelabs and minilabs.

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TikTok is mostly restored after Trump pledges an order and half US ownership

bytedance, Donald Trump, Policy, President Donald Trump, Tech, tiktok / Paul Patrick / January 20, 2025

At a rally Sunday, he did not clarify if this meant a US-based business or the government itself. “So they’ll have a partner, the United States, and they’ll have a lot of bidders … And there’s no risk, we’re not putting up any money. All we’re doing is giving them the approval without which they don’t have anything,” Trump said Sunday.

Legal limbo

Trump’s order, and TikTok’s return to service, both seem at odds with the law—and leadership in the Republican party. Speaker Mike Johnson said on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday that Congress would “enforce the law.” Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) issued a joint statement Sunday, commending Apple, Microsoft, and Google for “following the law,” and noting that other companies “face ruinous bankruptcy” for violating it.

“Now that the law has taken effect, there’s no legal basis for any kind of ‘extension’ of its effective date,” the statement read. The law states that “A path to executing a qualified divestiture” has to be determined before a one-time extension of 90 days can be granted.

TikTok’s best chance at avoiding a shutdown vanished in last week’s unanimous Supreme Court decision upholding the divest-or-sell law. Aimed at protecting national security interests from TikTok’s Chinese owners having access to the habits and data of 170 million American users, the law was ruled to be “content-neutral,” and that the US “had good reason to single out TikTok for special treatment.”

Reports at Forbes, Bloomberg, and elsewhere have suggested that ByteDance and its Chinese owners could be seeking to use TikTok as a bargaining chip, with maneuvers including a sale to Trump ally Elon Musk as a means of counteracting Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese imports.

One largely unforeseen side effect of Congress’ TikTok-centered actions is that Marvel Snap, a mobile collectible card and deck-building game, disappeared in similar fashion over the weekend. The game, developed by a California-based team, is published by ByteDance’s Nuverse mobile game division. With no web version available, Snap remained unavailable on app stores Monday morning. A message to players with the game installed noted that “This outage is a surprise to us and wasn’t planned,” though it pledged to restore the game.

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Camera owner asks Canon, skies: Why is it $5/month for webcam software?

canon, DSLR, Tech / Tim Belzer / January 17, 2025

Comparison of webcam software features available to Canon’s “PRO” and “Free” users. Credit: Roman Zipp/Canon

“Software development isn’t free, and I’m happy to pay for software I use regularly,” Zipp writes. “However, Canon is a hardware company, not a software company, and they should—due to the lack of standards—provide software that allows you to use their cameras as intended. Aside from development costs, there’s no justification for a subscription model, particularly from a company earning nearly $3 billion in profit.”

Zipp’s pointed complaint made the front page of Hacker News, where commenters immediately got sidetracked into a discussion of UK tariff laws on video equipment, sneakers, cookies, and ethanol. But further in, recommendations appear for the open source Magic Lantern camera add-on software, or possibly CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) firmware. Whether or not Zipp can better use his camera as a webcam is somewhat beside the point, or at least the point he’s making.

Many higher-end (or at least better-than-smartphone) cameras output video in formats that computers and web conferencing software cannot natively accept. HDMI output is an option, but using that typically requires a capture device and specialty software to mix and use it and that the camera provide “clean” HDMI out, with no overlays. The G5 X Mark II does seem to offer that and has a USB-C port. It also seems to work fine once the software is paid for. It’s an open question whether Canon should provide this as part of the cost of the camera, one for which Zipp and many commenters have an answer.

Ars has reached out to Canon for comment and will update this post if the company responds.

Camera owner asks Canon, skies: Why is it $5/month for webcam software? Read More »

iOS 18.3 beta disables news notification summaries after high-stakes errors

Apple, apple intelligence, ios 18, ios 18.3, Tech / Rejus Almole / January 17, 2025

In our own extensive testing with Apple Intelligence notification summaries in iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, we observed many instances of summaries that were inaccurate or just plain weird. When you’re just getting updates from your Discords or group text threads, errors tend to be pretty low-stakes, at least. But when you’re getting notifications about war, murder, and politics, these kinds of errors have the potential to mislead and misinform.

The iOS 18.1 and 18.2 updates (along with iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2) enabled most of Apple’s promised Intelligence features across all the hardware that supports them. For the iPhone, that’s still only 2023’s iPhone 15 Pro and 2024’s iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.

The iOS 18.3 update is currently in its third beta release. The iOS 17.3, 16.3, and 15.3 updates have all been released in late January, so it’s likely that we’ll see the 18.3 update (and corresponding updates for iPadOS, macOS, and other Apple software) released at some point in the next few weeks.

iOS 18.3 beta disables news notification summaries after high-stakes errors Read More »

Google is about to make Gemini a core part of Workspaces—with price changes

AI, Enterprise, Gemini, Google, Google Workspace, Tech / Kris Guyer / January 16, 2025

Google has added AI features to its regular Workspace accounts for business while slightly raising the baseline prices of Workspace plans.

Previously, AI tools in the Gemini Business plan were a $20 per seat add-on to existing Workspace accounts, which had a base cost of $12 per seat without. Now, the AI tools are included for all Workspace users, but the per-seat base price is increasing from $12 to $14.

That means that those who were already paying extra for Gemini are going to pay less than half of what they were—effectively $14 per seat instead of $32. But those who never used or wanted Gemini or any other newer features under the AI umbrella from Workspace are going to pay a little bit more than before.

Features covered here include access to Gemini Advanced, the NotebookLM research assistant, email and document summaries in Gmail and Docs, adaptive audio and additional transcription languages for Meet, and “help me write” and Gemini in the side panel across a variety of applications.

Google says that it plans “to roll out even more AI features previously available in Gemini add-ons only.”

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