Technology

PAKISTAN NEWS:

PTCL Partners With Cloudflare to Improve Internet Response Time:

In an effort to further optimize network performance, PTCL has added Cloudflare’s Content Delivery Network to its list of internationally renowned global CDNs, which include but are not limited to Google, Facebook and Netflix. Most of PTCL’s Pakistani domains are currently hosted outside the country. The major implication of this new agreement is that these domains are to, from this point onwards, be hosted locally, meaning greater accessibility from all three regions – North, South and Central – of Pakistan.

Facebook is Officially Bringing Ads to WhatsApp:

Facebook is bringing you a new year’s gift, a big update patch for WhatsApp – and most of us might not like the new version. The popular messaging app will soon be used by the social media giant to display adverts. WhatsApp has always been an ad-free application, and it even vowed to its users that it will never be used to show ads or to generate ad revenue.

Huawei Launches the Entry-level Y5 Lite in Pakistan:

Huawei’s Y Series has made its mark in the midrange and entry-level segment by providing true Huawei experience at affordable prices. This time around, the company is taking that experience even further to capture the entry-level segment with Huawei Y5 lite. The smartphone combines great camera features, powerful performance and an immersive display.

PTCL Revises Rates for All Packages Up to 250Mbps:

Although mobile data is surpassing WiFi connections in usage, you cannot download FHD movies or binge watch your favorite shows via mobile internet due to limited data. That is why broadband providers leverage the fact and offer a number of unlimited offers. This time, PTCL has come up with the revised rates on its different packages, which include ADSL/VDSL and GPON.

Popular Android Apps Are Still Illegally Sharing Private Data With Facebook:

Facebook is getting sensitive user data not just from its web-based partner apps, but also from some well-known Android applications which have been found sending data without the user’s consent. A Privacy International study says that around 20 out of 34 popular smartphone apps, that were chosen for the study, have been consistently sending data to Facebook without actually asking their users for permission.

Jazz’s CEO Congratulates Team on a Strong 2018:

In a personalized New Year’s message to employees across Pakistan, Jazz’s CEO, Aamir Ibrahim, has congratulated everyone for a strong showing during 2018. Reflecting on some of the key moments from last year, Aamir Ibrahim stated how it was heartening to hear Ursula Burns, VEON’s CEO, consider Jazz to be the Group’s ‘crown jewel’. This definitely is a strong message by VEON, one of the leading global digital communications company, given its business extends beyond Pakistan with operating companies present across Europe, Asia and Africa – reaching 10 percent of the world’s population.

Citizen Portal App Has Resolved 100,000 Complaints to Date:

Pakistan Citizen Portal App is being used extensively ever since its launch two months ago. Many people have sounded off about the initiative and are making their experiences heard regarding the various complaints made so far. According to a recent tweet by none other than the Prime Minister himself, the app has crossed the mark of 100,000 resolved complaints in a short span of 60 days. He termed it as the ‘highest & fastest grievance redressal’ in history.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

Tech’s biggest stories and what happened next:

When tech historians of the future look back at 2018, it may stand out as the year that the wheels came off Facebook or at least its original platform. Instagram, WhatsApp and Oculus all had their troubles but managed to escape the year without seeing their brands trashed in quite the same way as their parent. So, it’s no surprise to see articles related to Facebook’s various scandals secured it three of the spots in BBC Tech’s most-read stories list for 2018.Two other controversy magnets – Elon Musk and Huawei – however, narrowly missed out.

Entry Level Huawei Y7 Pro 2019 Comes With Waterdrop Notch & Huge Battery:

Huawei – one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world – has unveiled a new entry-level device called Huawei Y7 Pro (2019) in Vietnam. The phone, in terms of design, resembles the recently launched Huawei P Smart (2019) but has lower-end internals instead. It has a water drop notch design, featuring a bezel-less display and dual cameras on the rear, and is among the cheapest new-age design phones in the market.

Asimov’s 2019 predictions – fiction or fact?:

Back in 1983, science fiction writer Isaac Asimov was asked to predict how the world would look in 2019. His thoughts, written originally for the Toronto Star newspaper, can now be compared against reality. Many have proved surprisingly accurate. He foresaw the rise of computers, saying the complexity of society would make them “impossible to do without”, disrupting work and penetrating the home.

New York new year drone plan scuppered by rain:

Police plans to fly a camera-equipped drone over New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York City were ruined by rain. The NYPD had planned to use a surveillance drone to monitor the annual party in Times Square for the first time. But police chief Terence Monahan said the drone could not be safely deployed because of heavy rain and wind.

Tesla shares drop on disappointing quarterly performance:

Tesla shares have fallen after the electric carmaker revealed that it missed expectations for deliveries and will be cutting its vehicle prices by $2,000 in the US. The price cut, which will apply to Model S, Model X and Model 3 cars, is in response to a reduction in green tax credits.Tesla said it delivered 90,700 vehicles in the three months to December.Its shares fell by about 8% at the start of US trading.

Netflix removes Hasan Minhaj comedy episode after Saudi demand:

Netflix has removed from its streaming service in Saudi Arabia an episode of a comedy show critical of the kingdom. The second episode of Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj was removed following a legal demand, which reportedly said it violated a Saudi anti-cybercrime law. It features Minhaj mocking the actions of Saudi officials following the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and condemning the crown prince’s policies.

Australian police Google Maps blunder ‘missed location of body’:

A missing Australian’s body could have been found 18 months earlier if searchers had not relied on incorrect Google Maps data, a coroner has said. Darrell Simon, 46, was last seen in November 2014 at his partner’s house about 80km (50 miles) west of Brisbane.

Net’s founding father Dr Larry Roberts dies aged 81:

American scientist Larry Roberts who helped design and build the forerunner of the internet has died aged 81. In the late 1960s, he ran the part of the US Advanced Research Projects Agency (Arpa) given the job of creating a computer network called Arpanet. He also recruited engineers to build and test the hardware and software required to get the system running.

Severn Bridge shuts as drone flown from tower:

A main route between England and Wales was closed after a man climbed a bridge and flew a drone from the top. Traffic was stopped on the M48 – the older of two Severn crossings – because of “concern for welfare,” police said. The man, in his 20s, came down voluntarily from the 47m (154ft) bridge tower and was arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance. Highways England said it was deeply concerned and that “a person has put their life at serious risk”.