Google has renamed its AI chatbot from Bard to Gemini and has unleashed its Gemini Ultra AI model on the world with Gemini Advanced - essentially Google's own version of ChatGPT. If you wanna use the "best" AI/LLM model Google has, you'll need to subscribe to the Google One AI Premium Plan for $32.99/m - more than double the regular Google One Premium Plan ($12.49/m or $125/yr) - which gives you Google One's Premium Plan (2TB storage, Google Photos features, 10% Google Store discount, Google Meet features, etc.) plus access to the Gemini Advanced (formerly known as Bard and now with the Gemini Ultra model) chatbot. They've also released a new Gemini app for Android and slapped Gemini into the Google iOS app that'll get updated in a few weeks. I haven't tried it out yet, but there seems to be a mixed reaction on Hacker News and Reddit as to the quality of output versus GPT-4. Some say it's better, some say it's worse.
If you're in the unfortunate situation of having to use Apple software on Windows there's a bunch of new apps. Instead of everything taking place via iTunes, there's now separate apps for Apple Music, Apple TV and "Apple Devices" to "manually update, back up, restore, and manage your iPhone or iPad". iTunes still exists however and is how you access podcasts and audiobooks, but you can't listen to any music via it, that's all in the Apple Music app which mashes up the streaming and local libraries in what I find to be a very confusing way. The iCloud app for Windows got a decent update too, but password sync is still only via a Chrome/Edge extension, too bad if you use a different browser! The only way to get these apps is via the Microsoft Store, but at least they work in Windows 10.
Choice has taken Toyota to task about its "Toyota Connected Services" feature. Not only is it collecting "data such as fuel levels, odometer reading, vehicle location and driving data, as well as personal information like phone numbers and email addresses", but they also "share collected data with third parties with your consent, such as finance and insurance companies, promotions and market research organisations, debt collection agencies and information technology service providers". They include a story of a guy in QLD buying a Hilux who wasn't told about TCS prior to taking delivery of the car until emails starting appearing asking him to register and when he looked at the privacy policy, no longer wanted the car and had a shitfight with the dealer over a refund on his deposit. This car tracking stuff that's happening with all brands, not just Toyota, should really be optional and be able to be permanently and physically disabled.
Here's five interesting discussions over on The Sizzle's paid subscriber forum for you to enjoy over the weekend. If you are not a paid subscriber but want to get involved, visit https://thesizzle.com.au/payme to get onboard.
BBC Micro Information Sheet (Software & Computer Museum / Internet Archive)
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