If you're looking to catch up on the week's biggest tech news, then you're in the right place. We've got a helpful update for you that will break down the biggest events of the past week into easy-to-digest bites.
The featured story came from AT&T after it suffered a massive cell service outage in the US that lasted 12 hours and was so bad that some affected people were unable to call 911. They say there's no such thing as bad publicity, but this It's one time. AT&T probably wishes it didn't make the headlines.
There was also an AI tool crash, Apple launched a new sports app, the first Borderlands movie trailer was released, and there's a lot more you need to know. So, in case you missed it, here are the seven biggest tech news stories from this week.
7. AT&T had a huge cell phone outage in the US.
This week, AT&T inadvertently took its customers back to the early 1990s when a major outage paralyzed its cell phone service in several major U.S. cities. The problems began in the early hours of Thursday morning, when thousands of people discovered they had no mobile signal, and the outage ultimately affected more than 1.7 million customers.
So what caused it? Was it a solar flare, a cyberattack, or an elaborate Netflix promotion for Leave the world behind? In reality, it was simple user error, according to AT&T. The network said the outage was caused by the “application and execution of an incorrect process” while expanding its network. So if you're feeling bad about an IT-related mistake at work, at least that should make you feel better.
6. ChatGPT had a crash and Google Gemini had problems with precise art
ChatGPT had another problem with its behavior this week, and it might have been the strangest one yet. Users reported that the AI chatbot got stuck in meaningless loops, speaking in incomprehensible Spanish and even at one point claiming to be “in the room” with the user.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, issued a statement telling users not to worry and that the issue has been identified and rectified, but did not explain the bot's strange behavior. Speculation is rife among users, with some suspecting that a glitch in the chatbot's creativity “temperature” resulted in overly imaginative responses to common queries. ChatGPT (including the paid GPT-4 model) now appears to be back on track, so whatever behind-the-scenes fixes implemented by OpenAI appear to have worked.
Google Gemini also had some issues this week when users found it had difficulty creating accurate images of historical figures, particularly white men. The problem appears to have arisen from well-intentioned equality measures that Google implemented to ensure that Gemini produces a diverse range of people in its AI art in an attempt to counteract biases in its training data. For now, Gemini's ability to generate images of people has been disabled while it attempts to fix the bug.
5. Apple launched its sports app
Apple is no newcomer to sports. He's been doing deals with major league baseball and soccer (soccer for our European friends) for years, but this is the first time he's developed something just for sports or, more specifically, sports fans.
Apple's Sports app is a haven of real-time game statistics and results that makes the wide world of sports visible. What may be even more interesting than the customizable card-based system is how Apple created its new iOS-only app. Apple's head of services, Eddy Cue, told us, among other things, that the leagues didn't have on hand the real-time data that Apple needed to create the app, but they helped them find it and then Apple did the massive job of process that data. and make it work and look good on Apple Sports.
4. The first trailer for the Borderlands movie gave us déjà vu
It seems like you can't keep Marvel out of the news. After a successful week full of exciting announcements, the comics giant has been in the news again in recent days, although through no fault of its own.
First of all, it is reported that the Disney subsidiary will change its name Avengers: The Kang Dynasty as it continues to review its Marvel Phase 5 and Phase 6 plans following a turbulent 12-month period. However, as interesting as it is, the studio found itself at the center of another kind of discourse after movie fans compared the upcoming borderlands Guardians of the Galaxy movie: that online chatter arose after borderlandsThe first trailer was released on Wednesday.
Still, as the saying goes, there's no such thing as bad publicity, and the MCU can use all the good word of mouth, direct or otherwise, it can get.
3. The Apple Vision Pros were returned, but maybe that's a good thing?
The return window for the first batch of Apple Vision Pros has officially closed after two weeks, leading to some interesting discussions about why many people return the headphones. While there has been talk on social media about an increase in returns, inside sources are painting a different picture and offering some interesting insights into who is returning their headphones and why.
In our Vision Pro review, we dive into the good and not-so-good aspects of this groundbreaking adventure in mixed reality. It looks like the high price of $3,499 / £2,788, AU$6,349 might be giving some people a case of buyer's remorse. In addition to that, influencers and YouTubers, always attentive to the latest technological trends, have been using the return policy to create content for their channels without a large financial commitment.
But here's the bright side: each return comes with a detailed survey, giving users the opportunity to share their experiences and suggestions. This feedback could help shape future versions of the Vision Pro. Mark Gurman, a trusted Apple expert, also weighed in, noting that discomfort, dizziness, and high price are common reasons for returns.
2. Garmin launches a more advanced Forerunner watch
Garmin is known as a manufacturer of some of the best running watches around, but many of their best models like the Garmin Forerunner 265 and 965 are premium purchases. So it was great to see Garmin release a cheaper model this week, the Garmin Forerunner 165. In our early testing, we found it shaping up to be a great GPS fitness watch and a cheaper, well-designed version of the Forerunner 265.
However, it's missing a couple of features that really elevate the line, like Garmin's workout readiness score, and it's made of much lighter plastic and not heavy polymer or stainless steel. However, with Samsung also launching the Galaxy Fit 3 fitness tracker, it's a good time to want a high-quality, affordable fitness tracker.
It's only February, but Fujifilm may have already released the hottest camera of 2024. This week, our hands-on review of the Fujifilm X100VI called it the “best premium compact camera for most people” and Fujifilm says the retro star has already reached its “highest pre-order numbers in history.”
Considering how good smartphone cameras have become, that's impressive and also a little surprising, especially considering the X100VI has a 23mm f/2 fixed lens. On the other hand, it's also a beautiful little camera that combines modern conveniences like built-in image stabilization and powerful autofocus with a classic film camera design and fun film simulations. See you in line.
