Xatolos

AI summary:

• Transparency International released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking the United States 28th out of 180 countries for anti-corruption efforts.
• The U.S. received its lowest-ever score of 65 out of 100, indicating concerns about public sector corruption, including bribery and misuse of public office.
• Denmark, Finland, and Singapore were the top-ranked countries, while South Sudan ranked the lowest.
• Recent changes to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by the Trump administration, which paused enforcement to aid U.S. companies in international business, did not affect the latest index as it only covers data through 2024.
• Transparency International emphasizes the importance of tackling corruption to combat authoritarianism and protect human rights.
• The report highlights that only 32 countries have improved their anti-corruption efforts since 2012, with 148 countries either remaining the same or worsening.

AI Summary:

The article discusses the issues with Google's Pixel 4a battery update. The update has caused drastically reduced battery life for many users, with some experiencing only two hours of charge. Google has offered three options for affected users: a battery replacement, $50, or $100 in Google Store credit. However, the update has been criticized for its lack of transparency and the inconvenience it has caused. Additionally, the update was built on a personal machine, not the proper build system, and has led to confusion and frustration among users.

AI Summary:

Apple's first-quarter earnings report revealed a mixed performance. While overall sales increased by 4%, iPhone sales showed weakness, particularly in China, where they declined by over 11%. CEO Tim Cook attributed this partly to the lack of Apple Intelligence in China and inventory changes. However, the Mac, iPad, and Services categories saw significant growth, with Services up 14% and both the Mac and iPad up 15%. The company reported $36.33 billion in net revenue, a 7.1% increase from the previous year.

AI summary:

The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) has launched a digital library, offering free online access to over 30,000 files and 1,500 video game magazine issues. This collection includes high-quality artwork, promotional material, and never-before-seen game development files, such as raw production footage from the Myst series and Sonic the Hedgehog concept art. The library is accessible to everyone without needing special credentials. The VGHF aims to continue digitizing its physical archives to make them available online. The launch has been well-received, despite some server issues due to high demand.

AI summary:

The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) has launched a digital library, offering free online access to over 30,000 files and 1,500 video game magazine issues. This collection includes high-quality artwork, promotional material, and never-before-seen game development files, such as raw production footage from the Myst series and Sonic the Hedgehog concept art. The library is accessible to everyone without needing special credentials. The VGHF aims to continue digitizing its physical archives to make them available online. The launch has been well-received, despite some server issues due to high demand.

AI Summary:

Tesla's 2024 financial results were disappointing, with several key points highlighted:

• Automotive Revenues: Fell by 8% in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023, totaling $19.8 billion.
• Energy and Storage Revenues: More than doubled, growing by 113% to $3 billion in Q4 2024.
• Services: Grew by 31% in Q4 2024, contributing $2.8 billion.
• Total Revenue: Increased by 2% in Q4 2024, but income fell by 23%, with an operating margin of 6.2%.
• Net Profits: Dropped by 71% to $2.3 billion in Q4 2024.
• Annual Performance: Automotive revenues decreased by 6% to $77 billion in 2024. Energy generation and storage increased by 67% to $10 billion. Services grew by 27%, bringing in $10.5 billion.
• Gross Profits: Fell by 1%, with net profits dropping by 53% to $7.1 billion for the year.
• Free Cash Flow: Decreased by 18% to $3.6 billion.
• Regulatory Credits: $2.8 billion of profit came from selling regulatory credits, not from core business activities.
• Future Predictions: Tesla expects energy storage revenues to grow by at least 50% year-over-year and aims to grow automotive sales by more than 60% in 2025.

Despite the poor financial results, Tesla's share price increased by 103% over the same period.

AI summary:

The article discusses two new side-channel speculative execution attacks targeting Apple silicon, named SLAP and FLOP. These attacks were presented by security researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Ruhr University Bochum.

• SLAP (Data Speculation Attacks via Load Address Prediction): Exploits Apple Silicon's Load Address Predictor, potentially leaking information like emails and browsing history.
• FLOP (False Load Output Predictions): Exploits Apple Silicon's Load Value Predictor, potentially leaking sensitive data like credit card information and location history.

Apple has acknowledged these vulnerabilities but stated they do not pose an immediate risk to users. The researchers have not observed these attacks in the wild yet. Users can mitigate risks by disabling JavaScript in Safari, though this may cause compatibility issues with websites