Author: sparta

Discovery of a Novel Species Exclusive to One US River

largest fish ever captured, it is distinct in its own manner. It is exclusively found within the Savannah River system and does not exist anywhere else. Previously, little was known about it, until now.

The scientific designation of the fish is Micropterus pucpuggy, though it is currently commonly called Bartram’s bass. This significant discovery broadens the comprehension of the Savannah River’s ecosystem. Recognizing and studying this fish is crucial to ascertain what conservation measures should be implemented to safeguard Bartram’s bass.

How the identification of Bartram’s bass was accomplished

Cutting-Edge App Providing Compensation for Sharing Voice Calls Climbs to #2 in App Store Social Applications

### The Emergence of Neon Mobile: A Disputed App Capitalizing on Your Conversations

In a time when data is frequently viewed as the new oil, a distinct application has surfaced, grabbing the attention of users and privacy advocates alike. Neon Mobile, a social application that enables users to record and distribute their audio calls, has swiftly risen to become the second most downloaded social app on the Apple App Store. The app’s distinctive offer? Users can sell their audio conversations to artificial intelligence (AI) companies, potentially earning hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year.

#### Cashing in on Privacy

Neon Mobile’s business model is clear-cut: users agree to have their audio calls recorded, which the company subsequently anonymizes and sells to AI companies for training objectives. The app asserts that since telecom providers profit from user data, individuals should also be compensated for their contributions. According to Neon, users can receive $0.15 per minute of recorded audio, which increases to $0.30 when both participants on a call are using the app. This could result in earnings of up to $30 daily for engaged users.

#### Swift Rise in App Store Rankings

The app’s popularity surged remarkably, advancing from a rank of No. 476 in the Social Networking category to No. 10 within a week, and ultimately achieving No. 6. This rapid ascent has been observed by various tech outlets, including TechCrunch, which emphasized the app’s unique appeal.

#### Functionality

When users make calls using the Neon app, it records the audio. If only one participant is a Neon user, only that individual’s portion of the conversation is recorded. However, if both participants are on the app, the recording captures both sides, provided at least one initiates the call through Neon. The company reassures users that personal details, such as names and phone numbers, are filtered out during the recording process.

#### Privacy Issues

Despite its alluring proposal, Neon Mobile raises considerable privacy concerns. A notable part of its privacy policy indicates that if a user uninstalls the app without terminating their account, their calls can still be recorded when other Neon users contact them. This provision has raised skepticism among privacy professionals, who warn that the app’s phrasing around “one-sided transcripts” may suggest that it records entire conversations but only excludes the other party’s contributions from the final recording.

Cybersecurity and privacy attorney Peter Jackson voiced concerns regarding the ambiguity of the app’s recording methods, implying that users might not be fully aware of the extent to which their discussions are being captured and utilized.

#### Terms and Conditions

Neon Mobile’s terms and conditions seem to provide the company extensive rights over the data collected. This lack of transparency around data usage has raised red flags among privacy advocates, who argue that users might unknowingly forfeit control over their personal data.

#### Final Thoughts

As Neon Mobile continues to gain momentum, it serves as a reminder of the intricacies surrounding data privacy in the modern era. While the allure of monetizing personal conversations may attract some, the potential dangers and ethical implications deserve thorough scrutiny. Users must balance the financial incentives against the possible erosion of privacy and the enduring consequences of sharing their audio data with external parties.

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Apple Asserts EU Regulations Are Heightening Resemblances Between iOS and Android

In an unexpected development, Apple issued a statement concerning the European Digital Markets Act. This law, which was implemented last year, compelled the company to make the iOS platform accessible to external marketplaces and payment methods, as well as to share certain exclusive technologies with different vendors.

While several of these modifications bring significant enhancements for general user experience, Apple maintains that the DMA is causing delays in introducing new features within the EU, suggesting that some of them may never be launched due to concerns over privacy. To date, the company claims that iPhone Mirroring and the Visited Places and Preferred Routes features in Apple Maps are challenging to deploy without risking users’ data. Conversely, Live Translation is projected to launch without the involvement of other companies or developers in the translation process.

In the statement, Apple remarked, “We’ve proposed modifications to these features that would safeguard our users’ data, but thus far, according to the European Commission, the DMA prevents us from sharing these features with Apple users until we offer them in other company products.”

Apple highlights a more precarious, less user-friendly app experience in Europe

Research Indicates Notable Rise in Fraudulent Applications Driven by AI

### Escalation in Deceptive Mobile Applications: AI’s Contribution

A recent report has revealed an astonishing growth in deceptive mobile applications across both iOS and Android platforms. Findings from DV Fraud Lab indicate a 300% increase in fraudulent apps on iOS and a shocking 600% surge on Android in 2025 alone. This upsurge presents considerable dangers to users and advertisers.

#### Targeting Consumers and Marketers

Deceptive apps frequently imitate well-known applications, like Facebook, to deceive users into logging in and disclosing sensitive details such as usernames and passwords. The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) has been crucial in the development of these misleading apps, allowing them to create persuasive descriptions that facilitate their acceptance during app review processes.

In addition to targeting consumers, these deceptive apps seek to take advantage of marketers. By gaining entry into app stores, they can fabricate fake traffic, consequently generating ad revenue through misleading tactics.

#### The AI Component

One of the main factors driving this escalation is the application of AI technologies. Fraud schemes are exploiting AI not just to fabricate traffic, but also to design more realistic-looking applications. This advancement makes it progressively more difficult for app store reviewers to accurately identify and reject these fraudulent submissions. Additionally, these apps can imitate authentic user behavior, complicating conventional fraud detection techniques.

Automated systems are also used to create fake reviews, typically devoid of any genuine quality. For example, a gaming app might claim to offer an exhilarating experience in its description, yet the reviews could contain repeated and nonsensical terms that do not align with the app’s real functionality.

#### The Necessity for Improved Screening Protocols

DV Fraud Lab has observed the rise of specific AI-driven tools and platforms that ease the creation of fraudulent apps, making it feasible even for individuals without programming abilities. This situation presents a vital opportunity for companies like Apple and Google to reevaluate and strengthen their app screening protocols to protect users and advertisers alike.

In summary, the growth of deceptive mobile applications, propelled by AI, highlights the pressing need for enhanced scrutiny in app store submissions. As technology advances, so must the tactics to tackle these fraudulent practices, ensuring a more secure digital landscape for all users.

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WhatsApp Unveils Translation Capability to Enhance Multilingual Interaction in Conversations

WhatsApp is launching a new update that brings translation capabilities for private conversations, improving communication across various languages. This update is being implemented for users on both Android and iPhone. With this feature, users can long-press a message in a different language and choose the “Translate” option to switch it into their chosen language. Android users will have the option to activate automatic translations for entire conversations, supporting six languages: English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. iPhone users will be able to access translations in more than 19 languages. The translation occurs on the user’s device, ensuring that WhatsApp cannot reach the translated information, thus protecting privacy. This feature applies to one-on-one chats, group discussions, and Channel updates. This update forms part of WhatsApp’s continuous efforts to improve user experience, following previous enhancements like message summaries and safety tools to fight against scams.

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Google Search Unveils Crucial New Live Function

Live Search offers immediate, hands-free access to Gemini’s diverse features.

(Image credit: Nandika Ravi/ Android Central)

Essential Information

  • Google’s Live Search merges real-time AI dialogues for improved user experience
  • Users can now transmit camera views for prompt responses and insights
  • Accessible on Android and iOS since September 24, providing flexible assistance to users

Google revealed that it is incorporating Project Astra’s features into Google Search, enabling users to obtain real-time answers through Live Search in AI Mode. Consider it an enhancement to the existing Google Lens, and Google’s method of extending Gemini’s multimodal functionalities across more platforms.

With “Live Search,” users can engage in real-time, interactive discussions with Google Search in AI Mode, akin to conversing with the AI chatbot on Gemini Live. This capability allows users to share their device’s camera view, enabling them to respond to your inquiries live. Since this function is integrated with AI Mode, it will also supply links for more thorough research.

Search Live: Matcha – YouTube

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Apple Cautions That EU Legislation Could Postpone Feature Launches and Possible New Devices

The European Union is presently engaged in a consultation process examining the repercussions of its Digital Markets Act (DMA), a crucial piece of antitrust legislation focused on managing major tech corporations. This act requires firms like Apple to permit third-party app stores, a stipulation that Apple states has impeded its capability to launch certain software features for users in the EU.

In its feedback regarding the DMA, Apple has revealed that it has yet to roll out features like iPhone Mirroring and AirPods Live Translation in EU regions due to concerns surrounding privacy. The firm foresees potential delays for additional features in Europe, with even a minimal chance that some hardware launches might be affected.

### A Brief Overview of Apple and the DMA

The DMA identifies particular tech companies as “gatekeepers,” meaning they wield sufficient market influence to possibly suppress competition. Apple received this classification mainly because of its dominance in iPhone app sales. As a result, it was obliged to permit app transactions outside of its App Store, fostering the rise of multiple alternative app stores.

Moreover, the DMA requires that when Apple rolls out new features compatible with its hardware, like AirPods, these features must also be made available to third-party hardware makers. Apple has raised concerns that this condition presents notable privacy risks, which is why it has postponed the launch of some features in the EU.

### iPhone Mirroring and AirPods Live Translation

Two particular features that have faced delays include iPhone Mirroring and AirPods Live Translation.

– **AirPods Live Translation** employs Apple Intelligence to enhance communication across different languages. Apple has crafted this feature to safeguard the privacy of user conversations, ensuring processing occurs on-device without access from Apple or external parties. The difficulty lies in modifying this feature for non-Apple devices, necessitating further engineering to uphold privacy.

– **iPhone Mirroring** permits users to view and engage with their iPhone through a Mac, allowing effortless notification checks and file transfers. Apple has yet to devise a secure way to broaden this feature to non-Apple devices without jeopardizing user data security.

Additionally, functionalities like Visited Places and Preferred Routes on Maps, which depend on on-device location data to protect user privacy, have also been postponed due to the challenges of sharing these features with third-party developers.

### Software Delays

Apple has indicated that maintaining privacy safeguards demands extensive work for its hardware and poses even more significant obstacles for third-party hardware. While the company does not object to the idea of feature sharing, it cannot grant immediate access to competitor hardware until it addresses the relevant privacy concerns. At present, the sole means for Apple to avert fines is to delay specific feature releases in the EU until it can guarantee compatibility with third-party products.

### New Hardware Launches

Currently, Apple has not postponed any new hardware launches in EU territories and does not foresee this changing. Nonetheless, the company has recognized that it cannot entirely discount the possibility of future delays, considering the fluid nature of the legislation.

### Apple Argues the DMA Isn’t Working

Apple asserts that the DMA, designed to foster competition and improve consumer options, is achieving the contrary result. The company contends that delays in feature availability lead to EU users missing out on the latest innovations, causing a lack of product differentiation. Additionally, Apple claims that the DMA unfairly singles it out while permitting competitors like Samsung and rising Chinese firms to operate without similar constraints.

In summary, Apple is pushing for the repeal or significant alteration of the DMA, arguing that it undermines innovation and consumer choice within the tech industry.

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Sebastian Stan’s A24 crime thriller emerges as a streaming sensation on Apple TV+ two years post-release.

The Netflix miniseries “Adolescence” clinching 8 Emmys, or merely a widespread interest in its content. That’s exactly what’s unfolding with Sebastian Stan’s A24-produced crime drama from 2023. “Sharper,” boasting a notable ensemble cast, has now emerged as a top ten streaming sensation on Apple TV+ two years post-release — currently ranking fifth out of ten.

Featuring Julianne Moore, John Lithgow, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, and Briana Middleton, the film is a psychological thriller that tracks a con artist and some of their con-mentees through a neo-noir narrative as they endeavor to deceive a billionaire.

Given the narrative context, it’s easy to see why this film might be climbing the charts — particularly during an era when nearly everyone seeks to vie for wealth and authority in a high-stakes scenario. Additionally, “Sharper” holds a rating of 6.7/10 on IMDb, 68% on the Tomatometer, and 73% on the Popcornmeter from audiences. These are respectable scores that suggest it could offer a captivating way to spend its nearly two-hour duration.

‘Sharper’ enters the top five films on Apple TV+

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Apple Scientists Unveil SimpleFold: An Easy-to-Use AI Instrument for Anticipating Protein Folding

Google DeepMind’s efforts with AlphaFold have been remarkable, yet they come with significant computational costs. Considering this, Apple researchers embarked on creating an alternative approach to utilize AI for predicting protein 3D structures, and the results are encouraging. Here are the specifics.

If you’re unfamiliar with AlphaFold, it’s Google DeepMind’s revolutionary AI model that predicts the 3D shape of proteins based on their amino acid sequences. This has proven particularly beneficial for the development of more effective medications, along with entirely new materials.

Until recently, this was a highly challenging issue. Estimating the three-dimensional atomic formation of a single protein could span months or even years.

However, with the advent of AlphaFold, now AlphaFold2, as well as other advanced models such as RoseTTAFold and ESMFold, this prediction time can be reduced to mere hours or even minutes, contingent on the hardware available.

Each model employs distinct techniques and frameworks to achieve such impressive accuracy; however, they generally entail extremely expensive computations, and their frameworks follow a rigid structure.

According to Apple’s researchers:

“Long-established models for protein folding such as AlphaFold2 and RoseTTAFold have garnered exceptional accuracy through meticulously designed architectures that incorporate computation-heavy, domain-specific functionalities for tasks like multiple sequence alignments (MSAs) of amino acid sequences, pair representations, and triangle updates. These design selections (MSA, pair representations, triangular updates, etc.) aim to embed our current comprehension of the fundamental structure generation processes into these models, rather than allowing the models to learn this directly from data, which could be advantageous for numerous reasons.”

### Introducing Apple’s SimpleFold

In their model proposal, instead of depending on “MSA, pairwise interaction maps, triangular updates, or any other equivariant geometric modules,” Apple utilizes what are known as flow matching models, introduced in 2023 that have gained significant traction for text-to-image and text-to-3D applications.

Essentially, flow matching models represent an advancement from the diffusion models discussed in a prior article. Rather than merely iteratively minimizing noise from an initial image, they learn a smoother trajectory that transforms random noise directly into a completed image in one step.

Moreover, as this method bypasses many denoising processes, it proves to be less computationally intensive, yielding results more quickly.

Apple researchers trained SimpleFold at various sizes, specifically 100M, 360M, 700M, 1.1B, 1.6B, and 3B parameters, and evaluated them based on “two widely recognized protein structure prediction benchmarks: CAMEO22 and CASP14, which are stringent tests for generalization, robustness, and atomic-level precision in folding models.”

The outcomes were quite promising:

“Despite its straightforwardness, SimpleFold delivers competitive performance relative to these baselines. In both benchmarks, SimpleFold consistently surpasses ESMFlow, another flow-matching model designed with ESM embeddings. On CAMEO22, SimpleFold yields results comparable to the top folding models (e.g., ESMFold, RoseTTAFold2, and AlphaFold2). Notably, SimpleFold attains over 95% of the performance of RoseTTAFold2/AlphaFold2 across most metrics without utilizing costly and heuristic triangle attention and MSA.”

And

“To ensure thoroughness, we present the results of SimpleFold across various model sizes. The smallest model, SimpleFold-100M, demonstrates competitive performance while maintaining efficiency in both training and inference. Specifically, SimpleFold obtains over 90% of the ESMFold performance on CAMEO22, illustrating the effectiveness of constructing a folding model utilizing general-purpose architectural components.”

They also observed performance enhancements correlated with scaling, indicating that larger models with extensive training data consistently yield superior folding performance, particularly on the most demanding benchmarks.

Ultimately, they indicate that SimpleFold is merely an initial effort, expressing their hope that it “serves as a catalyst for the community to develop efficient and powerful protein generative models.”

You can access the complete study on arXiv.

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Google Aims to Tackle Gemini’s Significant Challenge on Wear OS

Recent thorough investigations into the code for Google’s Gemini application on Wear OS indicate that the company might be aiming to resolve one of its most frustrating limitations. As Google gradually extends Gemini’s availability to additional products and platforms—having recently made its way to Google TV—it seems reasonable for the tech company to smooth out the rough edges during the process.

Google introduced Gemini to Wear OS a few months back, delivering the capabilities of its AI assistant right to your wrist. There are intentions to expand its reach even further, including Android Auto. However, as the company deploys the AI features, it also needs to address persistent problems and bugs diligently. One specific challenge that has been affecting Gemini on Wear OS is the requirement to engage the microphone button to communicate with it hands-free. Fortunately, this may soon change, as an APK teardown by Android Authority indicates that Google is planning to enable true hands-free operation for Gemini on Android smartwatches.

True hands-free operation should be genuinely hands-free

This isn’t the first instance of users expressing dissatisfaction with the need for user interaction to engage Gemini hands-free. Feedback from the community hints that Gemini has yet to serve as a complete substitute for Google Assistant, as many had anticipated. Nevertheless, each new update nudges the AI assistant closer to being a true replacement for Google Assistant. This appears to align with the expectations from the latest code discovery in the Gemini application for Wear OS.

A specific code snippet located in the newest app version—1.26.6.804623660—suggests that Gemini may soon accommodate “open mic” capabilities. This enhancement would mean users wouldn’t have to press the microphone button to pose a follow-up question to Gemini after their initial inquiry. Regrettably, the individuals who uncovered the code were unable to activate this feature, so details on its potential operation within Wear OS devices remain scarce.

Additionally, Google has yet to provide any confirmation regarding the timely arrival of this feature or its existence at all. As with any APK teardown of this nature, the code strings merely indicate that Google is exploring solutions for existing issues or lacking features. It does not ensure that the functionality will actually be implemented. However, it is hoped that the company will follow through with this modification.

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