Big Tech
Tracking the heavyweights of innovation. Insightful reporting on how legacy tech giants wield global influence, scale infrastructure, and compete for market dominance.
189 articles
Microsoft Faces Backlash Over Unauthorized Beta Photos App Install on Enterprise Devices
Microsoft responded to outcry after quietly installing a beta version of the Photos app on enterprise systems, raising concerns over software management and user consent.
YouTube Raises Monetization Threshold for Creators
YouTube doubled the watch hours needed to join its Partner Program to 8,000. Shorts creators now need 20 million views in 90 days. The change targets higher engagement before revenue sharing kicks in.
Windows 11 Weather App Consumes Over 1GB of RAM While Serving Ads
Windows 11's built-in MSN Weather app uses up to 1.2GB of RAM, far more than macOS's weather app, due to its web wrapper design and ad integration. This bloat highlights ongoing issues with Microsoft's software optimization.
Zoox Nears Robotaxi Launch as Uber Expands Autonomous Vehicle Empire
Amazon-owned Zoox prepares to launch its purpose-built robotaxi in 2025, while Uber expands autonomous vehicle partnerships. The moves signal a new phase in commercial self-driving services.
Google Pushes Gemini Into Gmail and Docs, Users Seek Control
Google is adding Gemini AI to Gmail and Google Docs by default. Users are looking for ways to turn it off.
Meta CTO Tells Staff to Use AI Gains for More Work, Not Time Off
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth told staff to use AI productivity gains to do more work, not take time off. His comments reject calls for extra days off and raise questions about how tech companies will distribute AI benefits.
WhatsApp Widens Group Chat Tools With @all, Polls and Private Subchats
WhatsApp adds an @all mention feature for group chats, anonymous polls and quick private subchat creation. The updates aim to improve large group communication.
X Ends Revenue Sharing Program, Launches Original Content Rewards
X is replacing its Revenue Sharing program with Original Content Rewards, citing misalignment with creator priorities. The new system emphasizes exclusive, original posts over reposted content.
Netflix Finally Adds 4K Streaming to Chrome With Heavy Restrictions
Netflix now supports 4K on Chrome, but access requires a Premium subscription and specific hardware. Most users will still be locked out.
Elon Musk’s Terafab Project Pushes Semiconductor Manufacturing to Unprecedented Scale
SpaceX and Tesla unveil Terafab, a $16.8B chip campus in Grimes County, Texas, with 100M sq ft of manufacturing space, aiming to produce AI chips for Musk’s ventures.
AI Demand Locks Up 2027 Memory Capacity
Memory makers reportedly sold out 2027 production capacity as AI demand for HBM surges. The move reshapes supply planning and pricing across the industry.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell Details Starlink Mobile Plan to Rival Major Carriers
SpaceX plans to build a terrestrial mobile network using EchoStar spectrum, directly competing with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. President Gwynne Shotwell confirmed the strategy on an earnings call.
SpaceX Rocket Crash Highlights Growing Space Debris Threat
An abandoned SpaceX rocket stage has impacted the lunar surface. The event underscores mounting risks from unmanaged orbital debris in cislunar space.
VMware's Platform Shift Forces Enterprise Rethinking on Virtualization Strategy
As vSphere 7 nears end of support, enterprises face a strategic decision on virtualization. The choice extends beyond version upgrades to business alignment.
WhatsApp Account Lockouts Traced to Mistaken Flag, Meta Pushes Fix
Thousands of WhatsApp users were locked out after an automated flagging error. Meta is restoring access and rolling out a fix.
Google News Quality Declines as Algorithmic Flood Overtakes Editorial Curation
Google News increasingly features low-quality AI-generated content. Critics compare its randomness to Forrest Gump's shrimp boat. Reliability concerns grow.
Lumentum CEO Warns of Indium Phosphide Crunch as AI Laser Demand Skyrockets
Lumentum CEO Michael Hurlston warns indium phosphide laser supply is over 30% below AI data center demand, with Nvidia investing $2 billion to secure capacity as co-packaged optics demand skyrockets.
WhatsApp Tests New Folder to Separate Business Messages From Chats
WhatsApp is testing a folder that automatically moves messages from large businesses hours after receipt, aiming to reduce inbox clutter. The feature could reshape how users interact with commercial senders.
Speed as a Doctrine: Why the Tech Industry Is Rethinking Its Obsession With Velocity
A recent Hacker News discussion known as the Speed Comments thread has reignited debate over the tech industry's relentless drive for speed. Critics argue this culture, often called The Religion of Speed, leads to burnout and flawed products.