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hp acquires humane's ai pins hardware startup discontinues sales and support

Users can now click a new 'Get book' button to complete e-book and audiobook purchases directly from the Google Play website. Let’s dive deeper…

In today's ContentBuffer update:

  • hp acquires humane ai pins for 116 million dollars

  • Google Play Books allows direct purchases on iOS app

  • Duolingo's Duo the Owl 'Dies' in TikTok Video

  • EU App Store enforces trader status regulation

  • Insight Partners hit by cybersecurity incident

  • Riyadh-based Tabby secures $160M, valued at $3.3B

  • 5 new AI tools & 5 new AI jobs

  • More tech news

Latest Development

Tech News

Image source: TechCrunch

Summary: hp acquires humane's ai pins for $116m, humane discontinues sales and support, company will dissolve customer support team

Key Points:

  • humane's ai pins were a smartphone replacement that disappointed many early reviewers and customers.

  • the acquisition comes as hp looks to integrate humane's technology into its products and services.

  • humane's engineers and product managers will join hp's new AI innovation lab, HP IQ.

Why it matters: this acquisition marks the end of humane's short-lived hardware startup, but also signals hp's commitment to integrating AI into its products

Digital Content

Image source: TechCrunch

Summary: Users can now purchase e-books and audiobooks directly from the Google Play Books iOS app without being redirected to the App Store. This change allows Google to avoid paying Apple's typical 30% commission on in-app purchases.

Key Points:

  • The new 'Get book' button in the Google Play Books iOS app takes users directly to the Google Play website to complete their e-book or audiobook purchase.

  • Users will be able to share books with a family group from Google Play's Family Library, regardless of the device used to read or listen.

  • Google has applied for the External Link Account Entitlement, which was originally introduced as a result of Apple's settlement with a Japanese regulator in 2022.

Why it matters: This change allows Google to avoid paying Apple's typical commission on in-app purchases of digital content and provides users with a more seamless purchasing experience.

Tech News

Image source: TechCrunch

Summary: Duolingo's mascot, Duo the owl, pretends to die in a TikTok video, sparking a viral campaign that drives engagement and growth for the app. The stunt is likely meant to generate buzz and encourage users to continue learning on the platform.

Key Points:

  • The 'death' of Duo the owl was announced through a series of TikTok videos and posts.

  • Duolingo's CEO read a eulogy for the character, stating that every single character at Duolingo is dead.

  • The stunt appears to have been successful, with Duolingo's monthly active Android users jumping 25% year over year worldwide.

Why it matters: This marketing stunt highlights the importance of creative and attention-grabbing campaigns in driving engagement and growth for online platforms.

Digital Services Act

Image source: TechCrunch

Summary: Apple removes non-compliant EU apps; developers must disclose address, phone number, and email; EU App Store enforces Digital Services Act (DSA) regulation; nearly 135,000 apps go inactive over 30 hours.

Key Points:

  • EU app store requires trader status for new app submissions and updates

  • Developers must provide address, phone number, and email information to comply with DSA regulation

  • Apple removes non-compliant EU apps; reinstatement possible after trader status verification

Why it matters: The Digital Services Act (DSA) aims to increase transparency in the digital market by requiring app developers to disclose their identity and contact information.

Databreaches

Image source: TechCrunch

Summary: Insight Partners confirms cybersecurity incident; no additional disruption expected; company notifies stakeholders and encourages tightened security protocols

Key Points:

  • The incident was caused by a sophisticated social engineering attack that accessed certain Insight information systems on January 16.

  • As soon as the breach was detected, Insight Partners took immediate action to contain and remediate the issue within hours.

  • The company has notified stakeholders about the cybersecurity incident and is encouraging partners to employ tightened security protocols

  • Insight Partners has not confirmed whether any data was stolen from its systems

Why it matters: The incident highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in the venture capital industry, where sensitive information is often handled.

Fintech News

Image source: TechCrunch

Summary: Tabby secures $160M, valued at $3.3B; Coinbase re-enters India market; Crypto exchange Robinhood's Q4 crypto revenue soars 700% year-over-year.

Key Points:

  • Tabby has secured a $160 million investment, valuing the company at $3.3 billion.

  • Coinbase is re-entering the Indian market after officially ceasing operations in September 2023.

  • Robinhood's Q4 crypto revenue has soared 700% year-over-year.

Why it matters: The fintech industry is experiencing significant growth, with companies like Tabby and Coinbase making headlines. This matters because it highlights the potential for innovation and investment in the space.

New Tools & Job

QUICK HITS

  • πŸ“° fiverr announces launch of new efforts aimed at attracting gig workers to its platform and equipping them with generative ai tools.

  • πŸ’” Amazon has shut down Inspire, a short-form video and photo feed that allowed users to discover products and shop from content created by influencers, brands, and other customers.

  • πŸ‘₯ Elon Musk has spent decades building a network of companies, and now his latest effort, DOGE, is recruiting loyalists to boost staffing.

  • πŸ“Š Meta is hosting its first-ever developer conference dedicated to generative AI, called LlamaCon, on April 29.

  • πŸ’₯ The Trump administration has rehired some of the public power staff members after criticism from lawmakers and customers.

Read more news here β†’

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