Twitter’s Ad Revenue Plummets Under Elon Musk

Since Elon Musk’s $44 billion takeover last October, Twitter has seen its advertising income nosedive. Musk himself recently confirmed the platform’s dire financial straits.

In a tweet, the billionaire stated that Twitter’s ad revenue has dropped approximately 50% since his acquisition. This has kept the company stuck in negative cash flow despite Musk’s efforts to revitalize the platform.

“We are still in a deep negative cash flow situation due to an approximately 50% drop in advertising revenue and massive debt load,” Musk tweeted on Saturday.

What’s Causing the Ad Exodus?

Musk has made several controversial changes since assuming ownership that likely triggered the ad decline.

He laid off over half of Twitter’s staff, upsetting advertisers who want workforce stability. Musk also introduced a $7.99 verification system that undermined Twitter’s previous ID confirmation standards.

These updates diminished advertiser trust in the platform. Many companies paused campaigns over content moderation concerns or unwillingness to be associated with Musk’s vision.

Without detailing specifics, Musk stated Twitter needs to reach positive cash flow before pursuing other plans. But winning back advertisers presents a formidable challenge.

Rival App Threads Emerges as Threat

Twitter also faces its first major competitor in Threads, a new app from Meta.

Threads mimics Twitter’s interface and has already attracted over 100 million users since launching on July 5. While still dwarfed by Twitter’s user base, Threads benefits from integration with Meta’s popular Instagram app.

In response, Musk accused Meta of stealing Twitter’s intellectual property and recruiting former employees. However, Meta denies these allegations of IP theft.

Key Takeaways

  • Twitter’s ad revenue has dropped ~50% under Elon Musk, causing ongoing negative cash flow.
  • Controversial changes like mass layoffs likely triggered the ad decline.
  • Twitter now competes with the fast-growing Threads app launched by Meta.
  • Musk claims Meta infringed Twitter IP and poached employees.

With ad dollars drying up, Twitter faces deep uncertainty in its finances and competitive standing. Musk continues seeking new ways to revive usage and trust in the beleaguered platform. But his polarizing tenure has so far repelled advertisers rather than attracting them.

/0 Comments/by

iMessage Comes to Windows 11 PCs

For years, Apple has kept iMessage exclusive to its own devices. But now, Windows 11 PCs can finally tap into Apple’s popular messaging platform.

Microsoft’s Phone Link app, which mirrors phone content onto Windows PCs, now works with iPhones. After months of preview testing, the iMessage for Windows 11 rollout is now live.

Bringing iPhone and Windows Together

With Phone Link enabled, you can directly receive and send iMessages right from your Windows 11 laptop or desktop. The app also lets you view iPhone notifications, contacts, and make/receive calls.

This brings a much needed bridge between the iOS and Windows ecosystems. As Microsoft’s Ali Akgun says:

With the ability to now make this iOS/PC connection, we hope our Windows 11 customers will never have to worry about missing an important phone call or text while focused on their Windows PC.

For Windows users, that means not having to grab your iPhone just to reply to a text. You can now manage communication from one device.

How to Set Up Phone Link for iMessage

Enabling iMessage syncing takes just a few steps:

  • On your Windows 11 PC, search for “Phone Link” and launch the app.
  • Choose to connect with an iPhone.
  • A QR code will appear. Use your iPhone’s camera to scan the code.
  • Allow all the permissions prompts on your iPhone.
  • Finish pairing via Bluetooth on both devices.

The Phone Link app should now mirror your iPhone’s messages, notifications, and calling functions onto your PC.

Limitations to Know

While handy, the Windows 11 integration does come with some limits compared to using Phone Link with Android:

  • You can’t transfer photos or videos through the app.
  • Group messaging isn’t supported.
  • Phone Link doesn’t work with iPads.

Additionally, you’ll need devices running iOS 14 or later and Bluetooth-enabled Windows 11 PCs.

Despite the restrictions, being able to access iMessage on Windows is still a big step forward in improving cross-platform connectivity. For both Apple fans and Windows devotees, it’s exciting to see these walls between ecosystems slowly come down.

Key Takeaways

  • Phone Link now lets you use iMessage on Windows 11 PCs.
  • You can send/receive iMessages, view notifications, and sync contacts.
  • Some limitations exist compared to Android syncing.
  • Windows 11 and iOS 14 or newer are required.
  • It’s a major step in bridging the divide between Apple and Microsoft.

With Phone Link’s iMessage support, your devices now have fewer reasons to be strangers. Windows and iPhone can finally connect for smarter, seamless communication.

/0 Comments/by

Apple’s Latest Innovations: Breaking Down the Key Highlights

Apple’s highly anticipated September keynote unveiled several new additions across their product lineup. From iPhones to watches, let’s explore the key announcements.

iPhone 15 Arrives With Fresh Design and Improved Camera

This year’s iPhone 15 and 15 Pro continue Apple’s smartphone legacy with some notable changes.

The standard iPhone 15 ditches the infamous front notch for a new pill-shaped cutout called the Dynamic Island. This houses the front camera and Face ID while enabling seamless multitasking.

All iPhone 15 models now feature USB-C charging, meeting upcoming EU regulations. However, Apple touted the switch as an advancement rather than a requirement.

But the biggest iPhone 15 upgrades focus on the camera. The rear sensor increases to 48MP, enabling sharper detail and low-light enhancements through pixel binning. Apple also emphasized advanced computational photography and improved optical image stabilization.

The higher-end iPhone 15 Pro adds an optical 5x telephoto zoom, macro photography capabilities, and “Action mode” for smooth video capture.

Pricing sees a slight reduction versus last year’s iPhone 14, starting at €969 for iPhone 15 and €1,229 for iPhone 15 Pro.

Fresh Apple Watches Offer New Health Tracking

Alongside the iPhone, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 9 and rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Key additions across both models include temperature sensing for deeper health insights, car crash detection, and an S9 chip promising up to 20% faster performance.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 specifically targets outdoor athletes with a larger, brighter display and marathon-ready 36-hour battery life.

Pricing starts at €449 for the Series 9 and €899 for the flagship Ultra 2. Leather has also been removed from all watch bands in favor of recycled or bio-based materials.

Takeaways From Apple’s Latest Launch Event

  • iPhone 15 adopts an all-screen Dynamic Island cutout and shifts to USB-C.
  • Major camera upgrades like 48MP main sensor and 5x optical zoom arrive on iPhone 15 Pro.
  • Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 add new health tracking like temperature sensing.
  • Apple watches will no longer feature leather bands.
  • Pricing decreases slightly on standard iPhone 15 models versus iPhone 14.

With revamped iPhones and watches on the horizon, Apple continues pushing their devices into the future both aesthetically and technologically. Their latest keynote highlights a commitment to high-end experiences paired with environmental responsibility.

/0 Comments/by

Cannabis vaporizers – when vaping is not just smoking!

If you have ever smoked weed, you should be aware that the effects of the smoke produced during combustion are devastating: cancer, stroke, impotence, bad breath. It’s written on every cigarette packs these days.

Fortunately, technology is here to make smoking a thing of the past.

With the weed industry doing a massive push lately in some countries, both for medical and recreational use, “canna” businesses are now selling cannabis verdampfer.

What is a cannabis vape?

They do not produce smoke but rather vapor. What is the difference here? Vaporization converts the taste and psychoactive substances of the cannabis plant from solid to gaseous state (a process called sublimation) without burning the plant material. We tested several makes and models from the famous leading European suppliers Vaposhop and Namaste Vapes and were amazed with the results.

More than an a simple E-cigarette?

mighty storz and bickel

mighty storz and bickel

Vaporizers look like electronic cigarettes, although they are usually a little larger. They fit in the pocket and are powered by a rechargeable battery, most often by USB. The weed, which must be finely chopped using a grinder, is poured into a small bowl usually made of ceramic and exposed to a stream of hot air that vaporizes the cannabis molecules. Its temperature varies from 150 to 200 degrees (adjustable with buttons or via a smartphone application on some models equipped with Bluetooth), never beyond that because cellulose, the main component of plants, burns at around 230 degrees. Most models have an LCD screen and buttons to select the temperature which is highly convenient.

From 180 to 200 degrees, the cannabinoids are vaporized in the chamber, this actives the psychoactive THC substances of the plant. The aromas are then more discreet, and the vapor is denser, which generally pleases smokers. Vaporizers such as Storz & Bickel’s Mighty or Arizer’s Air produce thick, vaporous clouds that will be appreciated by joint smokers. You can feel the relaxing effect of cannabidiol (CBD) after a few seconds of inhalation.

In use, these two top-of-the-range devices have proven to be effective. Their battery allows about ten or more uses and recharges in less than two hours, special mention for the Arizer Air, whose battery is replaceable. Another popular device, the Pax 3, somewhat disappointed us. It heats too much and burns the lips after a few minutes because of its small size. Too bad, because it was undoubtedly the most discreet device in our panel.

Vapor extracted in balloons

The most demanding users will turn to indoor or desktop vaporizers. We tested the famous Volcano by Storz & Bickel. Initially designed for medical use and recognised as a medical device in countries like Israel, the truncated volcano shaped device extracts the steam into a plastic bag equipped with a valve. This system helps users vaporizing and smoking using funny little balloons. Surprisingly, the method may leave you skeptical at first, but the steam quality of this best-seller sold for almost twenty years is exceptional!

After a few weeks spent with these devices, combustion becomes a thing of the past. It is easy to prefer a vaporizer, which offers an incomparable taste and whose vapor dissipates in a few minutes indoors without leaving a trace.

Finally, there is the question of the effect of vapor and the type of components used on health. Science has not given a clear answer to this question yet, but this method is one of the best alternatives available today, according to many scientists and doctors. At a time when cannabis is consumption is on the rise, and health issues are a concern for consumers, vaporizers are part of a risk reduction approach and are an exciting option for nerds who like to vape their plants in a trendy and cool way.

/0 Comments/by

5G modems for iPhone should not be available before 2025

Apple would not be ahead of the curve with its 5G modems, and there would still be a lot of work to do before they equip its iPhone. It means that Tim Cook’s firm will be dependent on Qualcomm in the meantime.

Apple’s 5G modems will take time to get up and running

Qualcomm can plan for the medium term with Apple without too much hassle. Indeed, the American firm is not yet ready to design its 5G chips. And it will take a lot of patience since Apple’s 5G modems will not be available until 2025. Until then, Qualcomm will still be Apple’s leading supplier.

How can such a delay be explained? The American site The Information, which made a lengthy investigation, articulates it by the divorce between Intel and Apple, and a calendar that has evolved following this event.

The Information site states: “In interviews with potential team members, Apple told engineers that they expected to have their modem ready by 2025. It will, therefore, be necessary to wait to see the arrival on the market of iPhone fully equipped by Apple.

An alternative to Qualcomm that is slow to come

In the meantime, the first iPhone with 5G integration should be available next year. It is made possible by the agreement signed between Apple and Qualcomm after years of a legal battle. It should be noted that this arrangement is planned for 5 years, the period necessary for Apple to produce its own 5G chips.

It should be recalled that the dispute between the two parties lasted two years: Apple blaming Qualcomm for abusing its dominant position to gain greater financial margins, and Qualcomm considering that Apple was not meeting some of its contractual commitments.

The fact that the two companies have found an arrangement is therefore rather a surprise, even if Apple had planned a plan B with Intel to become its modem supplier. The negotiations had finally not been successful, and Intel preferred to redirect its strategy towards its historical activity, namely processor design.

/0 Comments/by

The United States is suing Huawei and two of its subsidiaries.

U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker at a press conference on Monday, January 28, 2019.

13 charges were unveiled on Monday, January 28, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Washington accused the Chinese telephone giant, in particular, of having tried to circumvent the sanctions against Iran.

According to the indictment, Huawei deceived an international bank into making millions of dollars in transactions with Iran. The Chinese telecom giant is also accused of trade secret theft, electronic fraud, and obstruction of justice.

U.S. authorities accuse Huawei and its subsidiaries of offering bonuses to workers who steal confidential information from companies around the world. The American justice system mentions as proof an email sent to Huawei employees, offering them bonuses in exchange for stolen data.

Type of formal notice

Behind Huawei, the Acting Secretary of Justice is sending a warning to the Chinese authorities. “China must be responsible for ensuring that its citizens and businesses comply with the law,” said Matthew Whitaker. A kind of formal notice, issued on the eve of the arrival of the Chinese Vice-Premier in Washington, who will meet Donald Trump on Wednesday.

Optimistic, the Treasury Secretary said he expects “significant progress” in the trade negotiations between the two countries.

Huawei claimed to be “disappointed.”

For his part, Huawei dismissed on Tuesday, January 29, the charges announced by the U.S. Department of Justice against the company, denying that he had committed any theft of technology or violation of sanctions against Iran.

“Huawei is disappointed to learn of the charges brought against the company today,” the company told Agence France-Presse. “The company denies that it, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, committed the alleged violations of U.S. law set out in each of the indictments. We are not aware of any wrongdoing on the part of Ms. Meng and are confident that the U.S. courts will reach the same conclusion,” she said with reference to her CFO, currently being held in Canada and facing extradition to the US.

The trade war has just started between these two.

/0 Comments/by