Posts Tagged: calls

X CEO calls article that led to latest brand exodus ‘misleading and manipulated’

X CEO Linda Yaccarino called a report from a watchdog group that led to a large-scale advertiser pullout “misleading and manipulated” in a note she sent to X employees on Sunday night.

“While some advertisers may have temporarily paused investments because of a misleading article, the data will tell the real story,” Yaccarino wrote in the note, which was first published by The Hollywood Reporter, and which Engadget has seen a copy of. “Because for all of us who work at X, we’ve been extremely clear about our efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination, as there’s no place for it anywhere in the world.” Yaccarino’s note was titled “Our Work is Meaningful”.

She also framed the situation as a free speech issue, writing that “no critic will ever deter us from our mission to protect free speech.” In doing so, she aligned herself with X owner Elon Musk’s repeated claims that free speech on the platform is paramount. Musk has repeatedly dismissed concerns of hate speech increasing on X ever since he bought the service last year.

Major advertisers including IBM, Apple, Disney, Lionsgate, Warner Brothers Discovery, Paramount Global, and NBCUniversal, whose advertising division Yaccarino previously headed, pulled their ads from X last week after a report from watchdog group Media Matters for America found that ads from some of these brands ran next to pro-Nazi content on the website. The move also came days after Musk publicly endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory as a response to a far-right X user. Musk’s comment drew widespread criticism, including a statement from the White House, which called his post an “abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate” that “runs against our core values as Americans.”

On Friday, Musk said that the company would file “a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and ALL those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company[.]" The company filed the lawsuit on Monday. 

Yaccarino was already under pressure to resign as X CEO from advertisers who are questioning her decision to risk her reputation to protect Musk, Forbes reported. In a post on X on Monday morning, Yaccarino doubled down on her criticism of Media Matters. “When you’re this consequential, there will be detractors and fabricated distractions, but we’re unwavering in our mission,” she wrote. “Thank you for standing with us!”

An X spokesperson sent a link to Yaccarino’s X post in response to Engadget’s request for comment.

Update, November 20, 2023, 7:41PM ET: This story was updated to state that X filed a lawsuit against Media Matters on Monday. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-ceo-calls-article-that-led-to-latest-brand-exodus-misleading-and-manipulated-204025411.html?src=rss

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Sony Bravia TV owners can soon take Zoom calls from the couch

Sony Bravia TVs will be the first hardware to support the upcoming Zoom for TV app on Google Play. Although remote work has dwindled as corporations beckon their underlings back to the office, those still enjoying work-from-home or hybrid arrangements could soon attend virtual meetings from their living room couches. It follows Apple’s WWDC 2023 announcement that FaceTime is coming to Apple TV (via mounted iPhones) later this year.

Bravia TVs don’t have built-in webcams, so you’ll need to buy a Bravia Cam to make the setup work. In addition to enabling Zoom calls, the $ 200 accessory can adjust sound and picture settings based on your location and distance from the television. It also allows you to control your TV with hand gestures without picking up the remote, enables a proximity alert that detects when kids sit too close (as they’re wont to do) and adds a power-saving mode that dims the screen if nobody is watching.

Split-panel image. On the left, a rendered figure sitting on a living-room couch with his TV's brightness set to max. On the right, the same figure sitting on an ottoman closer to the TV with the brightness tuned to around 70 percent.
Sony

Sony says the Zoom for TV app will be available for Bravia TVs “by early summer.” The company’s head of Bravia product design, Shusuke Tomonaga, said, “This partnership will make it possible for our customers to enjoy more realistic video communication on a large TV screen in the living room, enabling them to be more connected with the people they care about, whether they are working from home, learning remotely, or just catching up with friends and family.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-bravia-tv-owners-can-soon-take-zoom-calls-from-the-couch-213024871.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

iPhone’s Crash Detection is still firing off false calls

The Crash Detection feature on the iPhone 14 and newer Apple Watches is continuing to cause issues for first responders based in ski resorts and elsewhere.
Digital Trends

Google Voice now flags suspected spam calls

Google Voice has made it easier to filter out spammers trying to call your number. The tech giant has announced that the service will now flag suspected spam calls and will clearly label them as such, complete with a big red exclamation mark. Spam calls and texts have been a huge issue for a years, and they aren't going away anytime soon — according to the FCC, consumers in the US receive approximately 4 billion robocalls per month and that Americans had lost nearly $ 30 billion to scam calls in 2021. Google says the feature was designed to help protect you "from unwanted calls and potentially harmful scams."

The new label that says "suspected spam caller" will show up not just on the incoming call screen, but also in call history for future reference. If you confirm that the call is spam, any future call from that number will head straight to voicemail, and all its call history entries will be sent to the spam folder. But if you confirm that the number is legitimate and isn't a spam caller, the warning will never be displayed for it again. Here's what the label would look like on the call screen:

Google
Google

Google uses the same artificial intelligence that's in charge of identifying spam calls across its ecosystem to pinpoint spam callers for this feature. Apparently, that AI has been filtering out billions of spam calls a month for the tech giant. To note, the new label will only appear if your spam filter setting under Security is turned off. If it's on, all calls Google suspects to be spam are sent to voicemail from the start.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Senator Markey calls for an end to ‘failed Big Tech self-regulation’ following Musk letter snub

Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is calling on Congress to pass new legislation to rein in Big Tech companies after Elon Musk ignored an information request. “Elon Musk could respond to my tweets but failed to respond to my letter by yesterday’s deadline and answer basic questions about Twitter verification,” Markey tweeted Saturday. “Congress must end the era of failed Big Tech self-regulation and pass laws that put user safety over the whims of billionaires.”

Musk had until November 25th to answer a letter the senator sent on November 11th about Twitter’s paid account verification feature. The initial rollout of the new Twitter Blue saw trolls use the service to impersonate celebrities, politicians and brands. Markey sent Musk a list of questions about the launch after The Washington Post created a “verified” account impersonating him. One day after Markey shared a copy of the letter on Twitter, Musk attacked the senator.

“Perhaps it is because your real account sounds like a parody,” Musk tweeted. “And why does your pp have a mask!?” he added a few hours later, referring to Markey’s profile picture, which shows the policymaker wearing a face covering. The exchange prompted Markey to chastise the billionaire. “One of your companies is under an FTC consent decree. Auto safety watchdog NHTSA is investigating another for killing people. And you’re spending your time picking fights online,” the senator said. “Fix your companies. Or Congress will.”

As of the writing of this article, Musk has yet to respond to Markey’s latest tweet. It’s hard to say whether the senator’s call will translate to legislative action, particularly with a split between the House of Representatives and Senate. Musk did appear to answer at least one of Markey’s questions when he announced Twitter’s new verification system on Friday. The latest iteration of the program will feature manual authentication and different colored check marks for different types of users. “Gold check for companies, grey check for government, blue for individuals (celebrity or not) and all verified accounts will be manually authenticated before check activates,” he said.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

What we bought: This LED desk lamp gave me the best lighting for video calls

Over the past two years, my work-from-home situation morphed from temporary to permanent, and I’ve had to reconfigure my home office as a result. I purchased a standing desk, a monitor, and spent countless hours rearranging my furniture. One of my primary concerns is that I have a relatively small space, and therefore prefer things that can pull double duty. So when I decided to update my desk lamp, I knew I needed a multi-tasker that wouldn’t take up a lot of real estate. For me, the Edge Light from Lume Cube ended up being the perfect solution.

Prior to purchasing the Edge Light, I relied mostly on a lamp that I bought from CB2 nearly twenty years ago. It’s good looking but it has a large six-inch base that takes up quite a bit of space. It also doesn’t provide the right lighting environment for video calls. While it’s serviceable enough as a desk lamp, the light is just too warm and subdued for Zoom sessions. Plus, it’s not flexible enough for me to angle the light to illuminate my face properly. That’s a problem when, like most everyone else, I was suddenly having multiple video meetings a week. I really noticed it when I was a guest on a podcast; watching the video back made me realize how poor the lighting was.

Lume Cube
Lume Cube
Engadget

That prompted me to purchase a cheap ring light from Amazon, but I soon realized that was a mistake. Suddenly I had not one but two lamps taking up residence on my small desk. I knew I needed to rethink my entire lighting situation.

That’s why I was glad when I saw that Lume Cube, which is known for its portable photo/video lighting rigs, had come out with the Edge Light late last year. It’s essentially an LED desk lamp that also doubles as a video conferencing light. On top of that, it’s a clamp-on model, which means it wouldn’t take up a lot of space. It is fairly pricey at $ 120, but since it appeared to solve so many of my pain points, I decided it would be worth it.

I’ve now had it for a few months, and I absolutely love it. It has freed up so much real estate on my desk. It’s tall enough to position behind my webcam when I need it for video calls, and thanks to its five pivot points, I can easily swing it around so that I can use it to illuminate my desk. The lighting is fantastic, too – I can adjust both the brightness and the warmth so that it’s bright but not too harsh. According to the company, it provides multi-level diffusion for soft light and has a color adjustability between 3200 and 5600K.

Lume Cube
Lume Cube
Engadget

The controls are pretty intuitive – simply tap the circular button to switch between brightness and warmth, and then tap the plus and minus signs to adjust the levels to your liking. The buttons are all “soft touch,” meaning they don’t need any pressure. On top of that, the lamp actually comes with two charging ports – one USB-A and one USB-C – which I am always using to charge up all of my various devices and accessories.

Perhaps my one complaint is that the light does produce a tiny bit of glare on my glasses when it’s positioned directly in front of me. The company suggests getting two Edge Light lamps to reduce this effect, but that’s a little too rich for my blood. I’ve since managed to angle the light so that the glare isn’t as bad, which is good enough for me.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Meta adds a new ‘Calls’ tab to Messenger

Meta’s Messenger app has become an incredibly popular way to make free voice and video calls. Now, a new design tweak will make the call button (slightly) easier to find. Meta is adding a dedicated tab for audio and video calls to the function bar at the bottom of the app. The new tab will appear alongside “Chats”, “Stories” and “People”, and open up to a list of the user’s contacts, along with separate buttons for voice and video calls. It’s a subtle change, but likely a move to make Messenger seem more like a messaging and calling app in the style of Whatsapp. Prior to the change, users had to open up a separate chat thread with a friend in order to call them. The new feature allows users to dial friends directly,and may also serve as an introduction to those less familiar with Messenger’s calling features.

According to Meta, audio and video calling on Messenger has increased by 40 percent since early 2020. The company expanded the features available to its encrypted messaging earlier this year, adding reactions, stickers, message-specific replies and forwarding. Meta’s plan is to eventually make end-to-end encryption the default for Facebook and Instagram in 2023. It’s added a number of AR effects to its video calls, letting users experiment with filters, masks and animations.

As far as free messaging apps go, Messenger has a long list of competitors, including Google Voice, Viber, Signal and WhatsApp, which Meta bought in 2014. While emphasizing the audio and video functions doesn't do much to make Messenger stand out from the pack, it remains one of the few major apps in this crowded field, other than FaceTime, that doesn't require a phone number to use.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

WhatsApp is working on a new interface for voice calls

WhatsApp is working on several developments at the end of the year, including changes to the interface for placing voice calls.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Zoom announces unlimited free video calls to celebrate the festive period

Christmas Day is fast approaching and as our minds turn to gifts and turkey have you decided how you are going to contact friends and family in this pandemic world we are living in? Instead of having huge family gatherings most countries are encouraging smaller groupings, which places a greater emphasis on video calling. Zoom […]

Come comment on this article: Zoom announces unlimited free video calls to celebrate the festive period

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Google Meet’s 60-minute limit on free calls won’t kick in until 2021

Google expanded Meet’s availability earlier this year to give more people access to the video chat service in the midst of coronavirus-related lockdowns. The tech giant didn’t just make it available to everyone with a Gmail account, though, it also m…
Engadget RSS Feed

Google is bringing Android TV support for Duo video calls on the big screen

If you’ve been thinking that it would be nice to use the big screen in your room for your video calls, Google has heard you. The search giant has announced that its Android TV platform will soon support the Duo video calling app by way of a beta. Google hasn’t revealed much in the way […]

Come comment on this article: Google is bringing Android TV support for Duo video calls on the big screen

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

WhatsApp rolling out eight-way video calls

After years of capping video calls at only four participants, Facebook has finally deemed this socially-isolating time as a sign to upgrade video call sizes. A fact I found extremely limiting when I recently began using Facebook-owned WhatsApp to stay in touch with family while (briefly) overseas was the limit to only three other people […]

Come comment on this article: WhatsApp rolling out eight-way video calls

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Grab a Tiger King Zoom background and make your conference calls a little more exotic

Conference calls are boring, but they don’t have to be. Now you can be “that guy” at your office thanks to Remote Team adding a Tiger King background for the Zoom video conferencing app, so you can make your calls a bit more exotic. No? Too much? This new background is available on Remote Team’s […]

Come comment on this article: Grab a Tiger King Zoom background and make your conference calls a little more exotic

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

AT&T will automatically block fraud calls for new customers

AT&T is making quick use of FCC rules explicitly allowing carriers to block robocalls by default. The network will start automatically blocking fraud calls (and issuing suspected spam call alerts) for new phone customers as a matter course, at n…
Engadget RSS Feed

Buy a Local Number with Viber and get inbound texts and calls from anyone for $5

The popularity of instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp means that it’s easier and cheaper than ever before to stay in contact with friends and loved ones the world over. Making it even easier is Viber with its new Local Number service where users can sign up for an American, British, or Canadian number to […]

Come comment on this article: Buy a Local Number with Viber and get inbound texts and calls from anyone for $ 5

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Google brings Duo audio calls to Google Home speakers

When Google released the Home Hub last year it (sort of) introduced the ability for Google Home type devices to make Duo calls without the video component, since the Home Hub lacks a camera. The screen can make a call and deliver audio to someone else, they just won’t be able to see you on […]

Come comment on this article: Google brings Duo audio calls to Google Home speakers

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

iOS 12 uses third-party apps to report spam calls and messages

Right now, there isn't much you can do to fight spam calls and text messages directly from your iPhone. You can report iMessages, but not much more. That's all set to change with iOS 12, however. Hidden amidst the many other feature updates is suppor…
Engadget RSS Feed

iPhone X owners report trouble answering phone calls

The iPhone X's early teething troubles have largely gone away, but there's a lingering problem for some owners… and it's a fairly serious one. Users have reported that the iPhone X's touchscreen won't turn on for several seconds when there's an in…
Engadget RSS Feed

How to record calls on your Android phone

Sometimes you need to record a phone call, whether it be for legal reasons or simply for future reference. Thankfully, there are a few ways to go about doing so on your Android phone, including Google Voice.

The post How to record calls on your Android phone appeared first on Digital Trends.

Android Army–Digital Trends

How to block phone calls on your Android phone

Telemarketer or persistent won’t leave you alone? Here’s how to block calls on an Android smartphone, whether you want to do so with native features or mobile apps such as Mr. Number and Extreme Call Blocker.

The post How to block phone calls on your Android phone appeared first on Digital Trends.

Android Army–Digital Trends

Facebook is testing group voice calls on desktop

It looks like Facebook is considering the possibility of making group voice calling available on desktop. According to TechCrunch, the social network has given a small number of users access to the feature to test it out — if you want to know if you…
Engadget RSS Feed

Truecaller and Huawei reach deal to pre-install app as use eclipses half a billion calls

Showing that even the most basic of smartphone functions can continue to benefit from innovation, Truecaller announced today that after just four months their users have reached a major milestone. On a monthly basis, Truecaller users are now making half a billion calls per month with the app. In recognition of the explosive growth for […]

Come comment on this article: Truecaller and Huawei reach deal to pre-install app as use eclipses half a billion calls

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Voice Bridge now lets you make calls with your landline from any Wi-Fi network

Invoxia’s Voice Bridge will soon be receiving an update that lets users make calls with their landline number on any Wi-Fi network. Previously it was restricted to making calls on your home Wi-Fi.

The post Voice Bridge now lets you make calls with your landline from any Wi-Fi network appeared first on Digital Trends.

Cool Tech–Digital Trends

Now you can make calls, text, and control your Android Wear Watch with gestures

Your smartwatch just got smarter. Android Wear 1.4 Marshmallow introduces big new features, including support for phone calls on select devices, support for third-party messaging app dictation, and a bevy of new gestures.

The post Now you can make calls, text, and control your Android Wear Watch with gestures appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends

Skype’s ‘Mojis’ insert Muppets into your boring video calls

Skype announced a new feature for its chat and messaging services on Tuesday that will allow users to incorporate short, Gif-like video clips into their conversations. The company is calling these new visual hybrids "Mojis" (le sigh). Just as Gmail…
Engadget RSS Feed

Chaplain services make virtual house calls, offer spiritual guidance via Skype

With the rise of telemedicine and other remote medical services, it was only a matter of time before someone decided that counseling would need to go digital. Now, patients can seek spiritual guidance by way of Skype,

The post Chaplain services make virtual house calls, offer spiritual guidance via Skype appeared first on Digital Trends.

Cool Tech»Digital Trends