Is Thread for you? Computers waste time. Data updates. Apple toys.
Keep up to date on curated AI, security, tips, tricks and more with The Digital Life!
Welcome back to the curated goodness we call The Digital Life. This month, we’re starting with news on Thread, Apple, and how computers waste your time. Then, get your updates about data security on the government and vehicle fronts. We’ve also included two gadgets for you to check out and tips on how to spot AI-generated content. Speaking of, is AI better than a real-life professional translator? We’ve got a video for that!
And if you’re in the mood for relaxation, check out a game of Google Feud or check out one of the top Gratitude apps of the year.
Thanks for your continued support of Lökwest!
In the news
You’ve read the news - Twitter troubles, Elon’s tweets, a cage match!? 🤔 BlueSky, backed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and Mastodon have been filling up with Twitter abandoners. Now, the Zuck wants in the game with Meta’s new Threads app. On the surface, it looks like Twitter. However, it attaches tightly to your Instagram account and allows for longer tweets, additional media, etc.
Before you jump on board though, check out the surveillance terms you’re agreeing to. The EU sure doesn’t like what the app can monitor about you. Maybe think twice before hooking up another data-extracting fire hose to Meta for your scrolling pleasure?
I have to admit, for the first time in a long time, I tuned into the entire keynote for this year’s Apple conference just to see the headset. At first glance - amazing technology. As a technologist for 30 years running, it’s hard to fathom where this computing paradigm and power will take us. On the other hand, I don’t expect it to replace your TV set anytime soon. For developers and music producers on the other hand - the prospect of unlimited monitor real estate without taking up desk space is enticing. Ask me again once the price drops below 1K…
Dear clients - you’re NOT ALONE. This new study shows that even with the best intentions, the best of us still waste up to 20% of our time due to COMPUTER PROBLEMS. Read on to see what the industry is doing to make computing more reliable. Here’s to less wasting time on failed devices!
All about your data….again
It’s an open secret that the surveillance economy takes your data, chops it up, repackages it, and sells it to a wide variety of advertisers and other interested parties. Now, the lid is off on another interested party - the government. And why wouldn’t they be interested? Instead of the cumbersome process of court orders and warrants, purchasing customer data in many cases is the path of least resistance. The full report is an interesting read, but even the summary is worth checking out.
You’ve been carrying the tracker, er….smartphone for a decade now. Your car was the safe haven. Not anymore, now that cars are nothing more than computers with wheels. You’d be amazed how much data your “connected” vehicle is phoning back to manufacturers, advertisers, and big data. Welcome to the interconnected age!
A smarter home, a safer bike
It’s been some time since we’ve shared a smart home gadget worth checking out. This one caught our eye though. Check out this smart switch that works with existing switches - no wiring, no jiggering - just pop it on a switch.
Or, as some point out, you could “go green” and get up to turn on the switch. (vs. sending a signal from your new switch to your router to your modem through the internet to a cloud server who knows where to receive a signal in reverse to get sent to your light bulb to get turned on whilst being logged at every step. Oh and that’s if you used the app - Alexa adds a few more processing loops.) 😂
We like this one. It looks cool, it’s a great idea and could save lives. Why didn’t someone think about projecting lines like this from handlebars before?
Learn to spot a fake
AI is getting more powerful by the month. Fakes are becoming increasingly hard to spot. Thankfully, there are still some telltale signs of AI-generated content. Until we have better watermarking or attribution standards, these handy tips are the best we can do.
That’s Interesting
I’ve been following machine translation for some time, and have to admit I’m a closet polyglot myself. Professional translators in high-pressure settings have always fascinated me. To be able to decipher nuance in real-time in another tongue has been, until now, a uniquely human skill. So is real-time AI translation as good as the pros? Watch this clip and find out.
It’s summertime, so hopefully you have some downtime! Take a couple of minutes to play the Google Feud. It’s a family feud-styled game where you try to autocomplete Google search terms. It’s fun and simple. As of the time of writing, here was the question of the day 🙂
In Closing
We’re halfway through the year, and grateful to all those who support us. Take a minute to be grateful using one of these apps!