Meta Layoffs Take Center Stage in This Week’s Review

Welcome back to Week in Review. This time, we’re focusing on the significant layoffs at Meta and their impact across various teams. We’ll also cover the WordPress vs. WP Engine conflict and the debate over whether Cybertrucks are too large for European roads. Let’s dive in.

Meta Layoffs Affect Key Teams

This week, Meta announced layoffs that affected multiple departments. In a statement to Techfullnews, the company confirmed the layoffs, citing the need to reallocate resources. Though Meta didn’t specify how many employees were impacted, reports suggest that teams from Reality Labs, Instagram, and WhatsApp were involved. Meta declined to comment further on which specific areas within these teams were most affected.

As Meta continues to invest in new technologies like augmented reality, while still striving for profitability, these layoffs are part of the company’s efforts to adjust its focus and spending. Reality Labs, responsible for many of Meta’s forward-looking projects, has been particularly resource-intensive, raising questions about how the layoffs will affect its ongoing projects.

Amazon’s Firm Stand on Office Work

In other news, AWS CEO Matt Garman made a strong statement about remote work, telling employees who oppose the company’s new five-day in-office policy that they can seek employment elsewhere. This follows a similar message from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who announced that the company would enforce a full return to office by 2025, increasing from the current three-day hybrid model.

Waymo’s Unexpected Customer Situation

Meanwhile, Waymo found itself dealing with an unusual customer issue. Software engineer Sophia Tung received promo codes for free rides after she complained about late-night honking by one of Waymo’s self-driving cars. Realizing there was no spending cap on the codes, she tried to take a 24-hour ride in a Waymo vehicle but managed only 6.5 hours before her trip was cut short.

Tiktok Owner Fires Intern Over Incident Linked to AI Project

How to Use Your iPhone 16 Camera Control as a Second Action Button

Best Time to Eat Dinner: Expert Insights

Amazon Employees Air Frustrations About Company Culture on LinkedIn

News

Extensive Reports of iPhone 15 Overheating, Recorded Temperatures Reaching 116F

by George Mensah 2023-09-30

People are talking a lot about the iPhone 15 getting too hot. Many users say their phones, including different models, are overheating, and measurements with a special camera show temperatures as high as 116F.

All four iPhone 15 models seem to have this problem. Some users even say their phones are so hot that they can’t hold them without a case. Some noticed the issue while charging with a wire.

One person shared that their iPhone 15 Pro Max is almost too hot to touch while fast charging. The left side and part of the back are the hottest, especially around the logic board. After the battery reaches 70%, it cools down a bit, but between 25% and 60%, it’s the hottest.

Others have the same problem even when not charging, like when using the phone for simple tasks like browsing social media.

Normally, iPhones can get a bit hot in the first 24 hours after setting up. This is because there’s a lot happening in the background, like reinstalling apps and organizing things. However, the reports we’re seeing now go beyond this initial setup time.

Some people tested the temperatures with a special camera, and it showed high temperatures. Even with simple tasks, some iPhones are getting too hot, as reported by various users.

It’s worth noting that many reports focus on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but this might be because more people who ordered quickly chose this flagship model.

News

Microsoft’s Attempt to Convince Apple to Acquire Bing Goes Unsuccessful

by George Mensah 2023-09-30

In 2020, executives from Microsoft and Apple engaged in discussions regarding the potential sale of Bing, as revealed by a recent Bloomberg report. However, these talks remained in the exploratory phase and did not progress further, suggesting that Apple’s top leadership, including Eddy Cue, who participated in the discussions, did not seriously consider the idea.

Testimonies presented during the ongoing FTC antitrust suit against Google indicate that Apple has not actively considered replacing Google as the default search engine on iPhones. Instead, Microsoft contends that Apple has raised this possibility primarily to negotiate a higher payment from Google to maintain its position. Microsoft’s Mikhail Parakhin stated in the US District Court that “It is no secret that Apple is making more money on Bing existing than Bing does.”

Bloomberg’s report affirms that the lucrative arrangement between Apple and Google played a crucial role in maintaining the status quo. However, Apple reportedly expressed concerns about Bing’s ability to compete with Google in terms of quality and capabilities. This aligns with Eddy Cue’s testimony, emphasizing that there wasn’t a valid alternative to Google at the inception of the deal and that none has emerged in the subsequent years.

The arrangement between Apple and Google is estimated to generate over $20 billion annually for Apple. Despite some claims, such as those from DuckDuckGo’s CEO, that switching the iPhone’s default search engine is cumbersome, it can be achieved with a few taps in the settings menu. However, consumer behavior indicates a reluctance to deviate from default settings.

While Bing had opportunities, serving as the default for Siri and Spotlight searches for several years, Apple never fully embraced a larger shift. Even meetings between CEOs Tim Cook and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella in 2016 did not lead to a significant change. Apple and Google extended their deal in 2021, suggesting that Microsoft’s pitch in the previous year aimed to disrupt these renewal plans.

Load More Posts