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US states file amended antitrust lawsuit against Alphabet’s Google
The latest in a series of legal issues with Google regarding its business processes is an amended version of a case of dishonesty by U.S. states accusing it of undermining competition in the online advertising industry.
The Texas-led lawsuit alleges the company used “coercive tactics” and violated dishonest laws to illegally grow its advertising business. It has brought competition to the market through independent behavior with advertisers.
According to a Reuters report, the amended case also deals with a secret program called “Project Bernanke”. Google used this program in 2013 to make its ad purchases profitable through bidding data.
As expected, Google also denies any wrongdoing. A spokesman for the company said the case negatively describes the progress made by making good “advertisers’ bids. Because (Texas) Attorney General (Ken) Paxton says something is not true. This case is full of misconceptions, “Google said in a statement.
No end to Google’s legal issues!
Google’s business processes have attracted fraudulent investigations in several parts of the world. The investigation revolves around its advertising business, where it is alleged to have misused market power to block competitors. Other Google products such as Search, Chrome, Android, and Assistant have also been topics in this search.
Earlier this month, the European Union (EU) Supreme Court rejected the company’s appeal against a 2017 European Commission (EC) ruling finding that it was improperly promoting its comparative buy service with its competitors through a search engine. EC has imposed a fine of 2.4 billion euros ($2.8 billion) on Google.
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Earlier, reports emerged in September that the EU was investigating a technology giant in Mountain View for allegedly forcing Android device manufacturers to use Google Assistant as the default visual aid. A U.S. federal group has also sued Google for illegally maintaining its Play Store on Android devices.
Now, another group of U.S. states has come up with an amended version of their joint case against its business processes in the advertising industry. It will be interesting to see if the company ever finds a way out of all these legal issues.
Samsung Galaxy Ring will launch in Australia next month. The company announced the first market expansion of its groundbreaking wearable wellness device. The Ring was initially unveiled in July alongside new foldables and Watch 7/Ultra.
The Galaxy Ring will be available for purchase in Australia in mid-October 2024. Australia is the first country in the Southeast Asia and Oceania region to release the Korean tech giant’s latest wearable product.
The latest Galaxy Ring is the optimal form factor to offer Samsung’s best-in-class sleep analysis and powerful sleep AI algorithm, based on all-new sleep metrics for a more detailed analysis and understanding of sleep.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is lightweight and comfortable with a stylish and distinct concave design. All data and insights are integrated into Samsung Health for seamless access within one cohesive platform without a subscription.
The Ring offers personalized wellness experiences by combining holistic insights and data with Galaxy AI on Samsung Health. It will be available in nine size options, from five to 13, and three Titanium colors: Black, Silver, and Gold.
To help ensure a perfect fit, customers will be offered the Galaxy Ring sizing kit as part of the checkout process.
- Pick a size, try it on. Check the position of the three sensors on the bottom and the indicator on the outer surface. Wear the sample ring so that the sensors are facing up. Make sure the indicator is also on the palm side.
- When you find one that feels right, move your fingers around. Finger sizes can change from day to night, so it’s recommended to keep the ring on for at least 24 hours. Go about your day and sleep through the night.
- If your finger feels comfortable after 24 hours, that’s your Galaxy Ring size.
To counter Apple’s iOS 18 launch, Samsung will roll out One UI 6.1.1 update in the US and EU today. Last week, the company pushed initial deployment, starting with South Korea. The new firmware is scheduled to be distributed starting today.
Last week, Samsung confirmed the One UI 6.1.1’s expansion to older models. The rollout will cover various flagships including the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series.
Apple is set to unveil its new iPhone 16 series today. The new iPhones boot iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence features. We are excited to see what the Cupertino-based firm has left in its bags to debut with the latest iPhone models.
With the One UI 6.1.1, Samsung significantly upgraded Galaxy AI’s capabilities. Several features got major usability improvements. However, the new additions are just mind-blowing, taking the Galaxy experience to another level.
Samsung says the One UI 6.1.1-based Galaxy AI features elevate user experience to deliver greater intelligence and convenience. While Samsung’s approach is expansive, Apple is keeping AI features limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone 16 will launch pre-loaded with artificial intelligence capabilities. The last year’s iPhone range isn’t entirely eligible. On the flip side, Samsung dropped most of the S24 features on the Galaxy S22 series launched in 2022.
New Galaxy AI features:
Sketch to Image is the most wonderful feature of the One UI 6.1.1. It helps enhance photos by generating a selection of image options, which perfectly complement the original image based on simple sketches.
Portrait Studio now allows you to instantly create portraits in many styles such as 3D cartoon or watercolor. Instant Slow-mo is also getting enhanced to maintain smooth image quality before quickly saving and sharing without saving separately.
The upgraded Note Assist’s new transcript feature can quickly create notes based on voice recordings. Besides, its PDF Overlay Translation translates and overlays text in PDF files or even translates text in images and graphs.
Galaxy AI’s fan favorite Circle to Search is also being upgraded with new skills. It can now deliver step-by-step instructions for solving complex math problems. The newly added Sound Search feature recognizes and searches audio on-screen or nearby.
Samsung could shift its investment from the EV battery business in the US. The company plans to adjust its investment in ESS from EVs due to a sluggish market. The move comes after low demand for EVs, particularly bikes, and growing demand for ESS.
TheElec reports that Samsung eyeing the growing demand for ESS (energy storage systems) in the US. North America’s largest power company NextEra Energy could be awarding Samsung with a potential 1 trillion won ESS order.
Samsung is investing in converting its EV battery pack production line in Michigan, US. The electric bike battery pack line will be dismantled and converted for ESS use. The investment is expected to begin as early as the fourth quarter.
- The ESS battery pack line will be located in Factory 1, where a battery pack line for Harley-Davidson is currently in operation.
- Factory 2 primarily produces battery packs for Stellantis PHEVs, such as the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe.
The Korean tech giant is pursuing a 1 trillion won order for ESS batteries from NextEra Energy. The order is estimated to be around 5GWh. The company has started accelerating its penetration into the ESS market since last year with its Battery Box.