Top Tech News Today: Microsoft 365 Services Back After Outage, WhatsApp's New Protect IP Address Feature Here, More
A significant number of users encountered difficulties with Xbox Live gaming services alongside the Microsoft 365 services outage.
Microsoft 365 Services Back After Outage
On Friday, Microsoft addressed and resolved the issues causing an outage in Microsoft 365 services for users in the UK and Germany. More than 1,500 users in the UK experienced problems with Microsoft Teams, as reported by outage detection site Downdetector. A significant number of users encountered difficulties with Xbox Live gaming services alongside the Microsoft 365 services outage. The tech giant also analysed diagnostic data to pinpoint the root cause of the outage.
WhatsApp's New 'Protect IP Address' To Enhance Privacy
Meta-owned WhatsApp has revealed that its calling feature utilises peer-to-peer connections for swift data transfers and superior audio quality. However, a drawback of this approach is that users are required to share their IP addresses, leading to the exposure of information such as their data provider and geographical location to the other participant. In order to address the issue, WhatsApp has introduced a new privacy feature called 'Protect IP Address in Calls'. By enabling this setting, users calls shift away from P2P connections and instead pass through a server, ensuring the their IP address is hidden from other participants.
Epic Games Vs Google Case: Sundar Pichai May Testify Next Week
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet and Google, is likely to testify in the coming week in Epic Games' legal battle against Google in a US court. Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, aims to present Pichai as a witness on Tuesday, asserting its case that Google Play constitutes an unlawful monopoly, according to a report by The Verge. The lawsuit was filed after Google pulled Fortnite from the Play store. Epic contends that Google's monopolistic grip over the Google Play Store for Android smartphones breaches both state and federal antitrust laws.
Meta, To Let Users Shop On Facebook, Instagram From Amazon
Meta has joined hands with Amazon.com to streamline the process of shopping for Amazon products directly through Facebook and Instagram. The social networking giant has introduced a new feature enabling users to connect their Facebook and Instagram accounts to Amazon, thus, facilitating product purchases through a click on promotions within their feeds, says a report by TechCrunch.
Humane AI Pin A Smartphone Replacement?
Humane, a start-up created by former Apple designers Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, unveiled its maiden product late on Thursday: a $699 lapel pin. Humane AI's cutting-edge device is intended to be attached to a shirt or blouse -- a form factor that the firm aims to popularize among non-law enforcement individuals, much like the widespread use of wireless earbuds or smartwatches. According to the start-up, " it is the first wearable device and software platform built to harness the full power of artificial intelligence (AI)"