AllYouCanTech

HBO Max Aims to Enforce Stringent Policies to Limit Password Sharing

The era of sharing passwords for streaming services appears to be coming to a rapid close. HBO Max has indicated that it’s preparing to initiate an “aggressive” campaign aimed at eradicating password sharing among its users. Here’s what that entails.

### HBO Max Set to Stop Password Sharing Soon

Last autumn, HBO Max—which was then known simply as Max—unveiled plans to inform those sharing passwords that they would have to incur additional charges for that privilege. However, it appears that effort didn’t have a significant impact.

JB Perrette, the streaming head for HBO Max, shared during the recent quarterly earnings call that the company intends to adopt a “much more aggressive” stance toward stopping password sharing.

As reported by Dade Hayes at Deadline, several months of testing have allowed Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to identify “who’s a legitimate user who may not be a legitimate user.” After this identification, the next phase is to “activate the more aggressive language regarding necessary actions.” By the fourth quarter, the implementation will be carried out “in a much more aggressive manner.”

Perrette mentioned that the existing messaging has been rather gentle and cancelable. It will soon shift to a more rigid approach, compelling users to take action instead of depending on a voluntary method.

HBO Max provides subscribers with an option to pay extra for additional viewers outside their household. However, this isn’t necessarily a fantastic offer for users, considering HBO Max is frequently available at discounted prices or bundled with other streaming services for less.

Consequently, if you are currently sharing an HBO Max account with someone who isn’t in the same household, it seems you will soon need to either pay up or seek another streaming service.

How to Observe OpenAI’s Extended GPT-5 Announcement Suggested by a Death Star Graphic

**OpenAI Hints at GPT-5 with Mysterious Death Star Teaser**

In a recent post on social media, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman ignited enthusiasm with a mysterious mention of the Death Star from *Star Wars*, suggesting notable advancements are on the way. This speculation is largely thought to pertain to the imminent release of GPT-5, the newest version of OpenAI’s language model aimed at boosting ChatGPT’s functions.

Altman subsequently made a clearer announcement on X, stating that the forthcoming OpenAI livestream will be “longer than typical,” with an expected duration of around one hour. He shared his excitement about the material to be presented during the event, urging viewers to tune in.

For those keen on viewing the livestream, it is set for today at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. Audiences can save the OpenAI YouTube channel at

The Economic Influence of iOS 26 on Political Fundraising: Demystifying Misunderstandings

**Political Fundraisers and iOS 26: A Misinterpretation of Message Filtering**

Political fundraisers have recently voiced worries regarding a new feature in iOS 26, apprehensive that it would greatly hinder their capacity to raise funds through text communications. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) forecasted potential losses surpassing $500 million owing to alterations in the management of text messages from unknown contacts. However, Apple has clarified that the feature, which filters messages from unidentified senders, remains unchanged by default and is not as harmful as initially feared.

### The $500 Million Dilemma

The alert was sounded in July when the NRSC commenced planning on how to mitigate the effects of iOS 26. They asserted that the update would have “significant consequences for our ability to fundraise, engage voters, and execute digital campaigns.” The NRSC anticipated that they could encounter a revenue shortfall of over $25 million, and with 70% of small-dollar contributions being sent via text, the overall effect on GOP funding could surpass $500 million.

### …Isn’t Actually a Concern

In spite of the early alarm, the truth is that iOS 26 does not fundamentally change the processing of text messages from unidentified senders. Apple has highlighted that the feature to filter these messages has always been an option but was disabled by default. Users are required to activate this filtering to access a distinct inbox for unknown senders.

The update in iOS 26 does enhance accessibility by repositioning the unknown sender inbox to a more noticeable area within the messaging application. Users can now find messages from unknown senders via a filter button located at the top right corner of the main message list, instead of having to shift away from the primary view.

### It May Assist, Not Hinder, Fundraisers

Moreover, iOS 26 distinguishes between spam messages and those from unknown senders. This modification could turn out to be advantageous for political fundraisers, as users who choose to engage in message filtering will be able to view genuine messages without being inundated by spam.

The essential point is that the message filtering feature is only automatically activated for users upgrading from iOS 18 who had previously employed message filtering. For the majority of users, the feature remains disabled by default, implying that the worries expressed by political fundraisers may be misplaced. In fact, individuals who elect to enable the feature are more inclined to receive crucial messages from fundraisers, as unrelated spam will be filtered out separately.

For additional information on how iOS 26 governs message filtering, you can read further

Six People Detained for Trying to Steal Trade Secrets Pertaining to iPhone 18 Chip Production Process

**Six Individuals Detained for Attempted Theft of TSMC Trade Secrets**

Six persons have been detained following claims that they endeavored to misappropriate trade secrets from TSMC, a prominent chip producer for Apple. The firm indicated that numerous former staff members participated in attempts to acquire confidential details related to its sophisticated 2-nanometer chip technology. TSMC has since dismissed these employees and is undertaking legal proceedings against them.

**The 2-Nanometer Chip Technology and Its Significance**

TSMC is acknowledged worldwide for its innovative chip fabrication techniques. The 2nm technology is expected to be employed in the forthcoming A20 chips for Apple’s iPhone 18 series. Analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, have noted that this new chip will be incorporated in all iPhone 18 versions, not solely the Pro models.

**Details of the Claims**

As per reports from Nikkei Asia, TSMC charged the former employees with trying to gain access to proprietary data related to the development and manufacturing of its 2nm chips. The company identified “unauthorized activities” via routine surveillance, which uncovered unusual access patterns by one of the implicated employees.

In response to these revelations, TSMC has enforced stringent disciplinary actions and commenced legal actions. The Taiwanese government is also engaged, as safeguarding advanced technology poses a crucial national security issue. Prosecutors are actively examining the situation, and TSMC has indicated its commitment to pursue prosecution to the fullest extent permitted by law.

**Possible Motive Behind the Theft**

Initially, the rationale for the attempted theft was ambiguous. However, a later report by Bloomberg indicated that the individuals might have aimed to sell the purloined information to a Japanese company associated with TSMC. Tokyo Electron, a Japanese chip equipment producer, confirmed that it had terminated an employee at its Taipei branch in relation to the investigation.

**Conclusion**

This incident emphasizes the vital need to protect intellectual property in the technology sector, especially in the fiercely competitive arena of semiconductor manufacturing. As TSMC maintains its leadership in advanced chip technology, the repercussions of this attempted theft could have extensive implications for both the company and the overall industry environment.