Hasta La Gadget!

Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov stated that the messaging app will now start handing over the IP addresses and phone numbers of users if prompted by legal requests. Bloomberg, which first reported the policy change, notes that Telegram has historically been “notoriously non-responsive to takedown requests” and “often ignored requests for information about suspected criminals.”

Accompanying this development is the implementation of some moderation. Telegram has started using AI, as well as a human moderation team, to remove “problematic” content from its search results, Durov said. Durov also asked users to report unsafe and illegal content to the team so they can remove it.

How much these changes will affect the popularity of Telegram with those engaged in illicit activities (or authorities’ ability to prosecute them) remains unknown. While IP addresses and phone numbers may be useful for triangulating users’ activities elsewhere, Telegram users can opt for several layers of anonymizing features, like disappearing messages, end-to-end encryption or the ability to use the service without a SIM card. The service’s FAQ continues to brag that “To this day, we have disclosed 0 bytes of user messages to third parties, including governments.”

Back in August, Durov was arrested in France for crimes committed on Telegram and ordered to remain there. He denies these charges.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/telegram-will-now-provide-ip-addresses-and-phone-numbers-in-response-to-legal-requests-170300911.html?src=rss

Amazon is hoping to get more people hooked on Music Unlimited with a pre-Prime Day offer. Those who haven’t tried the service before can get three months of access for free. The offer is even better for Prime members who haven’t checked out the music-streaming platform. They can use it for four months at no extra cost. Music Unlimited typically costs $11 per month without Prime and $10 per month for Prime members.

The company isn’t leaving existing subscribers entirely out in the cold. Those with an individual Amazon Music Unlimited plan can upgrade to the Family Plan at no extra cost for two months.

Amazon Music Unlimited includes more than 100 million songs, many of which are available in high definition and/or spatial audio. The service also includes ad-free versions of many popular podcasts.

While it may not be the first music streaming service that springs to mind for most folks, Amazon Music Unlimited may be worth checking out. The HD music selection is particularly notable, since Spotify has yet to offer that feature.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/prime-day-deals-include-three-free-months-of-amazon-music-unlimited-for-new-users-184228736.html?src=rss

Apple introduced some major repairability improvements with the iPhone 16 lineup, but nothing stands out as much as the new battery removal process for the base iPhone 16. Doing away with the usual pull tabs, Apple is using an adhesive that debonds in response to a low electrical current. It only takes about a minute and a half for it to come unstuck, per Apple’s repair guide. A teardown by iFixit shows the process in action, and it sure looks easier than ever. iFixit tech Shahram Mokhtari said, “I’m not sure we’ve ever had a battery removal process go so cleanly and smoothly.”

Only the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have the new adhesive, and they’ve earned a 7/10 on iFixit’s repairability scale. “Apple definitely seems to be leveling up on repairability,” Mokhtari, adding Apple has “landed another repairability win” with this year’s base iPhones thanks to the new battery removal procedure. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/see-the-iphone-16s-game-changing-battery-removal-process-in-new-ifixit-teardown-213911136.html?src=rss

SOVLIT-iSAR is an Intelligent Search And Rescue (= iSAR) support system designed to save the lives of individuals lost in areas without mobile communication coverage, commonly referred to as mobile communication shadow zones. These shadow zones often exist in remote or harsh environments like national parks, deserts, or wilderness backcountry areas.

SOVLIT-iSAR is engineered to drastically reduce the search area for missing persons, increasing the likelihood of their safe recovery and decreasing both the time and costs associated with SAR operations.

At its core, SOVLIT-iSAR leverages patented mobile communication forensic technology, including a mobile coverage analysis and shadow elimination algorithm and a time-series inference model (a time-based series of last known cellphone data points, like breadcrumbs).

The system uses these to estimate the movement and trajectory of missing individuals based on their last known mobile phone data before the signal was lost. Even in cases where no immediate cell signal is available, SOVLIT-iSAR can infer the most likely paths a person has taken based on their mobility patterns and environmental/terrain characteristics.

The process begins with accessing the last available mobile network information from the missing person’s phone. From there, the system runs a sophisticated algorithm to estimate potential routes the person might have traveled, considering both terrain and typical human mobility patterns in the given context. Within just 10 minutes, SOVLIT-iSAR can compute an optimal search area, which could be up to 25 times smaller than conventional methods.

The efficiency of SOVLIT-iSAR lies in its ability to reduce search areas by up to 25 times, a critical factor in situations where time is of the essence. This drastic reduction in search zones not only improves the chances of survival for lost individuals but also optimizes resource deployment for rescue teams. This “golden time” is essential in many rescue operations, where time-sensitive responses can mean the difference between life and death.

In addition to saving lives, SOVLIT-iSAR minimizes operational costs by reducing the number of personnel and resources needed to cover vast areas. Its ability to analyze mobile coverage and estimate potential paths in shadow zones eliminates the blind spots that traditionally challenge rescue efforts. Furthermore, the system’s capability to support up to 1,000 users per search event makes it scalable for large-scale operations, whether involving professional SAR teams or volunteer participants.

SOVLIT-iSAR is set to make its official debut at CES 2025, where Solvit System aims to showcase its groundbreaking technology to local government rescue agencies and international markets. By introducing the iSAR system at this globally recognized tech event, Solvit System seeks to initiate export negotiations and foster partnerships with relevant agencies worldwide. While the current version of the system operates on a local server at search sites, the company is exploring cloud-based options to facilitate faster deployment and support even larger rescue operations.

SOVLIT-iSAR represents a significant advantage in SAR technology, making it a promising tool for governments and agencies tasked with search and rescue missions in challenging terrains.

SOVLIT-iSAR: Cutting-Edge Technology Shrinks Search Zones and Saves Lives in Remote Areas

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

During the pandemic, spraying a mist was one of the common solutions opted by local governments, especially in Southeast Asia. “What” is being sprayed can vary. Among the list of chemicals frequently sprayed are Bleach, Hydrogen peroxide, Alcohol, Peracetic Acid, or Chlorine Dioxide, for example. While they can achieve the goal of eliminating the contaminants, they can also cause some level of toxicity and environmental impact. Even the procurement and storage of these products can be problematic.

PALSOO (all caps) is a Korean company proposing a clever, non-toxic, and sustainable way to achieve the same result using only water. The company uses Plasma Sterilization, which only uses energy and water to generate sterilizing plasma-activated water. No chemical products are involved. 

The Plasma reacts with water coming from the reservoir, creating a combination of Oxygen and Nitrogen ions, neutrals, and radicals (OH-, O3, H2O2, NO2-, NO3—and ONOOH) that will cause contaminants like viruses and chemical pollutants to degrade at the molecular level. Ultimately, this reaction destroys the contaminants.

The physical manifestation of this technology is the new FRIRUS sprayer (first image, photo credit: Aving News), which can generate and spray Plasma-activated water using electricity and water as an input. Created with the obvious environmental benefits above, the device remains eco-friendly even after its lifecycle is over: most of it is made from bio-degradable materials. PALSOO is aiming for RE100.

While decontamination by spraying has been highlighted during the pandemic, it is used routinely in many countries. This plasma solution could even be used more frequently, especially in locations where particularly vulnerable people (infants, elderly, injured) could be exposed to diseases. 

By activating a myst of water with Plasma, PALSOO creates an efficient way to decontaminate without introducing harmful chemical products. The plasma sterilization effect will decay over time, but an interesting side-effect of this process is that the nitrogen-based elements left have a fertilizer effect.

How long does the Plasma effect last? PALSOO’s CEO says, “it varies depending on the temperature and type of plasma. If in a gaseous state, the lifespan is longer but shortens when converted to activated water. It lengthens at lower temperatures and shortens at higher temperatures. Typically, plasma-activated water has a lifespan of about 15 minutes at 25 degrees Celsius, sufficient to kill bacteria and is better as it disappears quickly, posing no harm to humans.”

This is not even taking into account that during times of crisis, some of the chemicals mentioned above, decontaminant, may not even be available, as it sometimes happened during the pandemic. Obviously, using water will also eliminate the cost of buying and storing such chemical products. 

In a disaster situation, the FRIRUS_24 could be deployed quickly, without having to reply on the availability of any chemicals. Electricity generators are usually present and water is easier to find. PALSOO will present its sprayer, technology and vision at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.

PALSOO Plasma Sterilization: A Chemical-Free Solution for Safe Decontamination

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.