April 26, 2024
Tech News
Amazon’s top executives, including Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy, are accused by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of destroying text messages that could have been relevant to an antitrust investigation. These messages were exchanged over the encrypted platform Signal, with a feature enabled that prevented the retention of messages. The FTC’s filing highlights concerns about potential interference with the investigation into Amazon’s business practices. Amazon, however, contends that it disclosed the use of Signal to the FTC and has cooperated with the investigation.
Sony’s PlayStation Portal, a handheld device for streaming PS5 games via Remote Play, is back in stock at Best Buy and PlayStation Direct for $199.99. The device, which features an eight-inch 1080p display and the functionality of a DualSense controller, had been hard to find since its release. Despite some limitations, such as the requirement for a stable Wi-Fi connection and compatibility only with specific Sony earbuds, the PlayStation Portal offers a unique solution for playing PS5 games remotely.
Google announced that reminders created in Google Keep will soon be integrated into Google Tasks, making Tasks the central hub for managing reminders across Google’s ecosystem, including Calendar and Assistant. This move aims to streamline task management and has been a long-requested feature by users. The integration is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance the functionality of Tasks, following previous updates that incorporated reminders from Assistant and Calendar.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted to ban most noncompete agreements, a decision that could significantly impact startups by potentially opening up the hiring pool and encouraging a focus on company culture over contractual obligations to retain employees. While some startup CEOs express concerns about protecting intellectual property, alternatives such as non-disclosure agreements and patents are suggested. The ruling has been met with lawsuits, and its future enforcement is uncertain, leading some to advise startups to maintain the status quo for now.
Tech Explained
Signal – Signal is an encrypted messaging platform that allows users to send secure messages and make encrypted voice and video calls.
Remote Play – Remote Play is a feature that allows users to stream games from their PlayStation console to another device, such as a handheld device or a computer.
Google Tasks – Google Tasks is a task management tool that allows users to create to-do lists, set reminders, and organize tasks across various Google services.
Noncompete Agreements – Noncompete agreements are contracts in which an employee agrees not to enter into competition with their employer for a certain period of time after leaving the company.
