Google Threatens to Shut Down Search Engine in Australia

In a surprising move, Google has threatened to shut down its search engine in Australia if a proposed law is passed that would require tech platforms like Google and Facebook to pay news sites for linking to their stories. The proposal, which was drafted by an Australian government commission last year, aims to create a new revenue stream for local news outlets.

Google, one of the biggest tech companies in the world, has expressed its disapproval of the proposal, stating that it would have no real choice but to shut down its search engine if the law is passed. This move would not only affect Google's operations but also impact the lives of Australians who rely on the search engine for information.

Interestingly, Google recently reached an agreement with the French government that will see the tech giant pay French publishers to post small snippets of news stories in Google News. However, this proposal is different from the one proposed by Australia, which aims to require tech platforms like Google and Facebook to pay news sites for linking to their stories.

The idea of paying to simply link to a site is kind of contrary to the whole idea of an open web. The proposal, however, has sparked debate among experts and lawmakers alike, with some arguing that it would create a new revenue stream for local news outlets, while others believe that it could stifle innovation and limit access to information.

Apple Announces Experimental VR Headset

Meanwhile, Apple has announced its plans to release a virtual reality (VR) headset next year. The headset is expected to be an expensive niche product intended for early adopters and developers. According to reports, the device will have a fabric design and an internal fan, and will run on batteries.

The news has sparked excitement among tech enthusiasts, who are eagerly anticipating the release of Apple's VR headset. However, some critics have expressed skepticism about the move, with one observer quipping that it's like Apple is "releasing experimental hardware for early adopters?" The question remains whether team Apple is actually a CSGO headshot god or something.

Nvidia Denies Killing Max-Q Branding

In other news, Nvidia has denied rumors that it was killing off the Max-Q branding, which has been used to denote gaming laptops capable of cool and quiet operation. According to reports, the Max-Q brand is not going away, but rather will be stronger than ever.

The denial comes after rumors surfaced that Nvidia was abandoning the Max-Q initiative in favor of more powerful cooling systems. However, it appears that these rumors were incorrect, and that the Max-Q brand will continue to play an important role in the gaming laptop market.

Xbox Live Gold Subscription Prices Doubled

Microsoft has raised the prices of Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, with a six-month subscription now going for $60 or $120 per year. The move has sparked confusion among Xbox players, who are wondering why Microsoft would increase prices so drastically.

The new pricing structure is likely to impact gamers who rely on Xbox Live Gold for online multiplayer gaming and other features. However, some experts believe that the price increase may be a response to the growing demand for online gaming services and the increasing cost of maintaining these services.

Alphabet's Loon Moonshot Program Takes Shape

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has announced its latest moonshot program, which aims to use giant air balloons as mobile cell towers. The program, which was first proposed in 2018, uses advanced technology to create a network of helium-filled balloons that can provide wireless internet access to remote areas.

The project has sparked interest among tech enthusiasts and experts alike, who see it as an innovative solution to the growing problem of connectivity in underserved communities. However, some critics have expressed concerns about the cost and feasibility of the program, which could potentially be more expensive than traditional cell towers.

Beeper App Combines Chats from Multiple Apps

In a surprising move, a new app called Beeper has been launched that allows users to combine chats from multiple apps into a single inbox. The app, developed by a team including former Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky, uses Google Street View's API to enable the feature.

However, the app has also raised some eyebrows among Apple enthusiasts, who are warning that it could be used as a way to jailbreak an iPhone and access restricted content. According to reports, the app will ship a jailbroken iPhone to users who do not have an iMac with an always-online connection.

The app's creator, Nick Sawhney, has capitalized on the opportunity to create an app that uses Google Street View's API to let users put Bernie dressed in his adorable jacket and mittens anywhere in the world. However, this move has also led to controversy, as Google sent Sawhney a bill for taking up Google Maps resources.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these are just a few of the many developments in the tech world that have caught our attention recently. From Google's threat to shut down its search engine in Australia to Apple's announcement of an experimental VR headset, there is no shortage of excitement and innovation in the world of technology. Whether it's about payment structures for news outlets or the development of new apps and services, there's always something new and interesting happening in the tech world.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Oh, you actually didyou clicked the video.Okay, well he wants some tech news.Fair enough (chuckles).Google, one of the biggesttech companies in the worldhas just threatened Australia.- Good day.- So everyone's meetingbehind the gym after schooland I've got threeTootsie Pops riding on it.No, this is serious.See, last year an Australiangovernment commissiondrafted a proposal thatwould, if passed into law,require tech platformslike Google and Facebookto pay Ozzie news sitesfor the privilege oflinking to their stories.Google isn't a fan of this, obviously,and it told the countrySenate this morningthat if such a law were passed,Google would have no real choicebut to shut down itssearch engine in Australia.(vocalizing)- Goodbye.- Interestingly, Google just reachedan agreement with the French governmentthat will see the techgiant pay French publishersto post small snippets ofnews stories in Google Newsafter failing its many attemptsto avoid such an agreement.But Australia's proposal,isn't about snippets,it's about links.Learn the difference.And even though I wouldtend to side with the peopleover Google in this type of situation,the idea of paying tosimply link to a siteis kind of contrary to thewhole idea of an open web.So, Australia, I love ya, butthis is not faired income.I know I didn't use that right.I know I didn't use that right.Don't, stop writing that comment.We've heard so many rumors and leaksabout Apples in-development VR/AR headsetsI feel like I've already used them.They smelled like elitism.But trouble isn't that far offas new leaks indicate Apple plansto release a VR headset next yearthat will be an expensive niche productintended for earlyadopters and developers.It'll have a fabric design,an internal fan andit'll run on batteries.(scoffs) Imagine that.Sometime later Applelaunched the real fancy boy.That's the official name.A pair of augmented realityglasses sometime after 2023.Apple, I'd like to knowwhat's going on with you.You're taking the touch baroff of the next MacBooks,putting MagSafe back in andbringing back the SD card slotand who knows how manyother ports in the MacBook.Now you're gonna releaseexperimental hardwarefor early adopters?What's next? A gaming MacBook?Is team Apple actually a CSGOheadshot god or something?Let me know.And Nvidia is acting likeyour most annoying friend right now.Multiple reports have stirred speculationthat team green waskilling the Max-Q brandingit has used to denote gaming laptopsthat were capable ofcool and quiet operation.But in Nvidia came outto deny those rumorstelling PC Gamer that the Max-Qbranding is not going away.In fact, it's stronger than ever.- Max Q Q.- It's stronger than everbecause third-generation Max-Qis a holistic set of platform technologiesand design approaches to buildingpowerful and thin laptops.Okay.Nvidia did confirm that it will beup to laptop manufacturersto choose what partsof the Max-Q spec they implementand whether the machine willbe labeled a Max-Q model,which is where the idea thatNvidia was killing the brandcame from in the first place.So the brand will live on,but you might not see it muchand it will be up to you to make sure thatthe laptop you're buying is the good oneand not that other sucky way.- Selling the usefulness.- (laughs) Yeah, yeah.They're killing the spirit of the brand.Also max-P in case you were wonderingit's not an official brand,so Nvidia can't kill it ifthey never gave birth to it.I think that's how most things work.- That's my nickname actually.- Now, it's time for quick bitsbrought to you by the DropPanda wireless headphones.They're THX certified,and they claim to be the world's mostdistortion-free wireless headphoneswith a closed designed tokeep your sound containedand THX AAA amplifier technologyyou can get closer to yourmusic than ever before.You get 30 hours of wireless life,a detachable gamingmicrophone, Bluetooth supportand compatibility withpopular home assistance.Check them out at thelink below, quick bits.Don't say I didn't warn ya.After some of Intel'searnings information leakedthe company went andofficially made it public.Turns out Intel isn't doing so bad.Team blue reported recordfull year of revenuecausing company shares to rise.I feel like we've transitionedfrom cheering on AMD destroyingIntel in the processor gameto kinda feeling bad for them.- They're the underdogs now.- But yeah, now I get, wellno, no they're doing fine.AMD please hunt them downbecause they can take it.'Cause they're not our hero.They're the silent guardian.Cut me out, you should havecut me off by now already. Cut.Microsoft has raised theprices of Xbox Live Goldwith a six month subscriptionnow going for 60 bucksor 120 bucks per year,except a ton of Xbox playersbuy Xbox live codes online,which have been going for60 bucks for 12 months.Did you do the math, James?- That's top off.- No, it's more. It's twice as expensive.- What?- The price is now doubled.Moving on.It's a weird move, especiallysince Xbox had built upso much goodwill with his franklyawesome Xbox game pass program,but I guess they just wantyou to buy that instead.Honestly, I'm kinda confused by the story.Are you an angry Xbox gamer?Let me know in the comments.Alphabet has metaphorically poppedits loon moonshot program,which use giant air balloonsas mobile cell towers.Apparently cell towers got less expensiveas demand for connectivitysurge in the past decademaking the whole idea a little outlandish,I mean, balloons Google?- The first ballonis going way up after this pandemic.- There're so many partieshappening, you know, jeez.A team including formerPebble CEO, Eric Migicovskyannounced an app called Beeper this weekwhich can combine chatsfrom 15 different appsincluding iMessage,WhatsApp, Signal and Telegraminto a single inbox.The iMessage support apparently requiresan always online iMac to function.Like you have to have that.And if you don't have one ofthose Beeper will ship youa jailbroken iPhone to use as a bridge,that you have to keep connected.It's $10 a month.- Just don't talk to Apple people.- And sure importantthings happen this week,but probably the bestthing was the Bernie memes.Well in the spirit of socialismdeveloper Nick Sawhneycapitalized on the opportunityto create an app that usedGoogle Street View's APIto let you put Bernie dressedin his adorable jacketand mittens anywhere in the world,but then Google sends Sawhney a billfor taking up Google Maps resources,which is exactly why weneed a political revolutionin this country.- That's good.- That was okay.We need to end this episode,come back on Monday for more tech news.It'll be good.\n"