Tag Archives: coronavirus

California partners with Apple and Google for COVID

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said the state has partnered with Apple and Google on an app to let people use their phones to track potential exposure to COVID-19. The digital system uses Bluetooth signals from phones …

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Facebook pledges to remove false claims about COVID

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. As the UK is on the brink of starting to administer COVID-19 vaccinations, Facebook has updated its misinformation policy to reflect that it will remove false claims about vaccines. The tech giant updated its Coronavirus Newsroom post on Thursday with its commitment to …

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5G’s rollout speeds along faster than expected, even with the coronavirus pandemic raging

The world may be grappling with a widespread pandemic, but that’s sure not slowing down 5G’s rollout. The super-fast technology reached more customers this year than expected and will cover about 60% of the global population by 2026, according to a new report from Ericsson. That makes 5G the fastest deployed mobile network ever, the Swedish networking giant said. By …

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Samsung sold almost twice as many phones as Apple in Q3, Gartner says

Apple dropped into the fourth position for global smartphone sales during the third quarter of 2020, according to an analyst firm. In a report Monday, Gartner reported that total sales of smartphones during the quarter worldwide reached 366 million — down almost 6% since last year as fewer people buy phones during the coronavirus pandemic. Samsung sold 80.8 million phones …

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Zoom drops 40

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. Zoom has been a major social outlet for much of the planet as we physically distance during the coronavirus pandemic, but the video chat app cuts off meetings after 40 minutes. The company is lifting the limit for Thanksgiving, it said earlier this …

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Black Friday sales are here. 4 things you should know

Black Friday is just two days away — Nov. 27. However, Black Friday deals have been going on since mid-October, making the day itself less important this year. Actually, many stores won’t even be open on Thanksgiving night leading up to the big day. Instead, retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, Target and Walmart have opted for early Black Friday deals, putting some of …

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Amid COVID, Zoom is helping build communities for those displaced from shelters

This story is part of Tech for a Better World, stories about the diverse teams creating products, apps and services to improve our lives and society. Like most of us, Elizabeth Softky needs her phone and computer. They are her lifeline to stay connected to friends, family and health care providers during the coronavirus pandemic. But for Softky, connection is …

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YouTube suspends One America News for COVID

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. YouTube on Tuesday said it suspended One America News, a far-right news organization, for spreading misinformation related to COVID-19. The Google-owned platform said it took action against OAN, one of President Donald Trump’s favorite outlets, after it posted a video that violated a …

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Facebook’s AI is flagging more hate speech before you report it

Facebook said Thursday that it’s catching more hate speech before users report it, because of improvements to its artificial intelligence technology.  From July to September, Facebook’s AI tools proactively detected 94.7% of the hate speech removed by the company, up from 80.5% in the same period last year, Facebook said. The social network attributed the uptick to improvement in its …

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iPhone 12 Pro Max, Mini launch today: Don’t let it be a COVID

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. Every fall, Apple fans dependably line up at marquee stores like Manhattan’s famed Apple Fifth Avenue Cube, spending days in folding chairs for a chance to be one of the first to get their hands on a new iPhone. But with the launch …

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