Category: Technology

So far, origin trials where tech companies and publishers can experiment with alternative ad targeting tools to third-party cookies, such as the Topics API, have been conducted in beta versions of Google Chrome.

Per last week’s announcement, the use of third-party cookies will still be available to advertisers in Google Chrome until late 2024, a source of umbrage for privacy advocates and frustration for the media industry — as many just want to know what tools will be available to them in the coming future.

And now, as it prepares to begin testing of FLEDGE (First Locally-Executed Decision over Groups Experiment), Google hopes moving Privacy Sandbox experiments to a more popularly used version of the web browser, aka “Chrome Stable“, will mean trial participants will receive more actionable feedback.

Multiple sources from ad tech companies and publishers that participated in earlier versions of Privacy Sandbox experiments told Digiday they hope such updates will usher in some much needed momentum to progress.

“Beginning in early August, the Privacy Sandbox trials will expand to millions of users globally, and we’ll gradually increase the trial population throughout the rest of the year and into 2023,” said Anthony Chavez, vp Privacy Sandbox, Google.

Limited data sullies early efforts

Early participants in Privacy Sandbox experiments have complained that the limited user numbers for beta versions of Chrome, the internet’s most popular web browser, restricts the amount of data they receive from these trials.

As a result, those insights are limited with separate publisher-side sources claiming such small-scale feedback has thus far rendered participation in Privacy Sandbox trials moot. For instance, the current testing environment means the Google Topic API doesn’t assign the full targeting attributes to their web domains.

Additionally, the fact that the Privacy Sandbox’s Topics API includes randomly selected attributes — a feature to help ensure user privacy is maintained — has frustrated some. Publisher sources, who weren’t cleared to speak with press, maintain this limits the quality of data signals it can make available to advertisers to the detriment of how they monetize users visiting their website using Google Chrome.

The magnitude of the frustrations among Privacy Sandbox participants has been reflected in Google Chrome’s successive delays in deprecating third-party cookies, a move that will bring it in line with rival browsers such as Apple Safari or Mozilla’s Firefox. Initially, this involved the retirement of using ad targeting tools in Chrome this year, but now the Google-owned web browser won’t phase out third-party cookies until 2024.

Paul Bannister, an executive with direct knowledge of the experiments and chief strategy officer at Cafe Media, told Digiday, “The origin trials were only running in Chrome Beta which has very few users, and it wasn’t even running in 100% in Chrome Beta, so the actual scale of data we were getting access to was so minuscule.”

He later added, “That’s a huge blocker that they’re removing, we’ll get way more data which is going to help a ton… before, we were like, ‘Well we’ve turned it on but we’re getting such little data that we’re twiddling our thumbs.’”

Google Chrome is trying to ‘get’ advertising

A popular narrative is that engineering teams with Chrome and Google Ads do not confer, a safeguard set in place to ward-off potential tripwires that would leave it open to further anti-competitive practices. As a result, those within the Chrome engineering team just “lack expertise” around the needs of the advertising industry, many Digiday sources that have liaised with Google over its plans to drop support for third-party cookies.

In its latest feedback report to the Competition Markets Authority (one of several transparency commitments it made to the UK regulator), Google acknowledged areas where it had to improve. For instance, Rowan Merewood, a staff developer relations engineer at Chrome, acknowledged third-party feedback that his team had little experience when developing advertising products.

Although, a source with direct contact with Google Chrome told Digiday the web browser’s engineering team made recent personnel updates to address this perceived lack of understanding, particularly when it comes to recruiting the needs of publishers.

Time will tell whether Google will be able to surmount other blocks to the Privacy Sandbox’s evolution. That’s no mean feat given so much of that is predicated on whether the ad industry can accept that its success is entwined with that of the Chrome browser. It might be too close for comfort for many. The tests of the FLEDGE part of the Privacy Sandbox are a case in point.

“One of the bottlenecks we see with this part of the sandbox is that supply-side platforms have not yet delivered a solution that’s compatible with FLEDGE that would provide publishers with advertising inventory they can serve to demand-side platforms,” said Lukasz Wlodarczyk, vp of programmatic ecosystem growth and innovation at ad tech vendor RTB House. “This could be one of the major blockers against any major developments with the tests.”

Rip it up and start again

The souped-up tests are a welcome shot in the arm for Google’s protracted attempt to overhaul online advertising. That said, the problems with this transition remain the same, only the timeline changes. Perhaps, that’s why this recent delay was expected by many and was slightly anticlimactic.

“We just have to continue to build towards a privacy safe standard and vigorously test to ensure business continuity. It’s imperative that we not lose sight of the primary objective, to reinvent how we transact to improve consumer privacy,” said Matt Barash, svp of the Americas at Index Exchange. “The industry needs more time to totally overhaul a set of standards and processes which have been in place since its inception.”

And there lies the kicker. Ramped-up testing or not, Google’s struggles to replace third-party cookies have made a mockery of anyone who thought such a complicated, nuanced manner would be resolved with relative ease. Not least by one company. If anything, the delay may give other parts of the industry reason to think more deeply about the leverage they give to Google in waiting for it to resolve the problems with third-party addressability instead of trying to figure out the problem for themselves.

“We know or at least have inklings of knowing that a lot of these tests across the Privacy Sandbox haven’t worked out really well,” said Joseph Lospalluto, country manager for the US at ad tech vendor ShowHereos Group. “It’s not too far a stretch to say why I would continue to pump a tonne of capital into engineering or sales resources to support something that’s not working out. The industry isn’t buying into the utopia that Google was trying to sell.”

https://digiday.com/?p=459428

It’s not often we see savings on Apple products directly from Apple themselves, but luckily other retailers regularly slash the prices of the popular wearable. That’s why we’re pretty excited to see this deal from Adorama where the Apple Watch Series 7 is now down from $399 to just $334.99. (opens in new tab)

The Apple Watch Series 7 is the latest installment in the wearable line. It has a 20% larger screen size than its predecessors, the Apple Watch 6 and the SE. Track your fitness, have easy access to notifications and even regulate your sleep schedule; this smartwatch does it all. You can also use the Apple Wallet app to pay for your purchases on the go with the flick of your wrist. Check out the best Apple watch apps for more ideas of how versatile this watch can be when it comes to apps.

This particular sale offers buyers the watch in a funky green aluminum casing with a clover band. It’s important to mention this sale only applies to the GPS version of the watch, meaning you can only use the internet when you’re on Wifi or close to your iPhone. However if you’re wanting a cellular option, Adorama currently has a Series 7 Watch with cellular compatibility that is now under $500. (opens in new tab) If you want regular updates you on all the lowest Apple Watch Series 7 prices, we’ve also got just the page for you.

Amazon Luna is now available on Samsung Gaming Hub. The games streaming service joins others already available through Samsung’s platform such as Xbox’s TV app, Nvidia GeForce Now and Google Stadia.

Samsung Gaming Hub only launched at the end of June. The platform is available on Samsung’s 2022 smart TVs and monitors, and allows gamers to get their gaming fix without a console. Its big coup was being the exclusive home to the Xbox TV app, letting Xbox fans play without the need for an Xbox Series X/S (though they will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription).

According to multiple recent rumors, Apple is expected to introduce a more expensive Apple Watch “Pro” this year in addition to the regular new Series 8 models. And as we’re only a month away from Apple’s new product announcements, the current Apple Watch Series 7 Edition is now sold out in the US and a few other countries.

Based on Apple’s website, most models of the Apple Watch Series 7 Edition are now sold out. As noted by MacRumorsthe product is unavailable in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries – although you can still find the 45mm version in some configurations.

In most cases, the Apple Watch Series 7 Edition is listed as “Currently Unavailable” in Apple’s online store. It’s also hard to find one of these models available by choosing the in-store pickup option, which suggests that the current generation Apple Watch Edition is indeed out of stock. This comes ahead of the announcement of the new Apple Watch Series 8 and the first Apple Watch Pro.

For those unfamiliar, Apple Watch Edition is a more expensive version of the Apple Watch made of titanium. In previous years, Apple Watch Edition was also available in gold and ceramic. However, despite the more premium materials, the Apple Watch Edition has exactly the same hardware as regular Apple Watch models.

Apple WatchPro

This year, it seems that Apple will take a different approach with the Apple Watch lineup. While Apple Watch Series 8 should be a minor upgrade compared to the Series 7, the company has also been working on a new model called “Apple Watch Pro” made for extreme sports. This Pro model will have a more rugged design and a different form factor than the current Apple Watch.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple Watch Pro will have a 7% larger display that will also allow Apple to put a larger battery inside it. More than that, this watch should be made of titanium, just like the Apple Watch Edition, so that it will be more durable than Apple Watches made of aluminum and stainless steel.

Gurman also reported that the Apple Watch Pro is expected to cost from $900 due to the larger display and premium material, which puts it close to the price of the Apple Watch Edition, which starts at $799. With that in mind, it won’t be a surprise if Apple discontinues the Edition models in favor of the new Pro model.

Considering that the Apple Watch Series 7 Edition is now sold out in multiple countries, this sounds even more likely.

Of course, Apple Watch Pro will also have the new body temperature sensor expected to be introduced with Apple Watch Series 8. However, none of this year’s models will have a faster chip compared to the Apple Watch Series 7, which has the same CPU as the Apple Watch Series 6.

Apple will likely introduce the new Apple Watch family in September along with the new iPhones. And if you’re looking to get a new Apple Watch for a great price, be sure to take a look at Amazon’s special deals.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Oppo launched its latest phone Oppo A77 in India silently. The phone has been launched at a price of Rs. 15,499.

This is an offline-centric phone, which means you will not find the best chipset available on the budget phone. And this phone from Oppo will not be competing with the likes of Realme or Redmi in the market. The result of it is that the phone looks outdated, even though it is a brand new model on the market.

Oppo A77: pricing and availability

porsche has unveiled the latest generation of the 911 GT3 R which is Porsche’s bet on the GT3 series and is based on the current 992 generation, ready to race at the beginning of the 2023 season. It is Porsche’s aim to tap larger performance reserves for different Balance of Performance (BoP) classifications. In addition to this, the goal was also to streamline the handling of the race car for the teams and reduce the running costs. The new 911 GT3 R comes after Porsche recently unveiled the limited-run 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 which is truly a collector’s item.

As for the 911 GT3 R, Porsche seems to have hit it out of the park when it comes to making a thoroughbred racecar that is not only ready to race but looks set to win.

Porsche 911 GT3 R: Performance

Powering the car is the near-standard engine based on the 992-generation 911 unit. Similar to the previous model, it gets a water-cooled flat-six engine with four-valve technology and direct fuel injection. The major change is the displacement: like the 911 RSR, the engine capacity of the new 911 GT3 R has increased by a good five percent from 4.0-liter to 4.2-liter. Porsche says that this has increased the engine’s peak output to around 565 horsepower.

The high-revving six-cylinder motor makes do without a turbocharger and sits at the back of the car which enhances traction and braking. However, it has been tilted forwards by 5.5 degrees in order to create more leeway for the underbody diffuser. Additional elements like the alternator and the air conditioning compressor were moved a bit over 3 feet forward and further down into a space in front of the engine and the gearbox, which has a positive effect on the weight balance of the 911 GT3 R.

As for the transmission, the car gets a sequential six-speed contest-mesh gearbox that is derived from the current 911 GT3 Cup where the shift paddles control an electronic shift drum actuator that results in rapid and precise gear changes.

Related: Gotham Garage Transforms A Beaten-Up Elite Laser 917 Into A $50,000 Racecar

Porsche 911 GT3 R: Suspension and Brakes

Porsche claims that the new suspension setup allows more precise steering and ensures less wear on the rear tires as well as reduces the time spent on set-up changes.

At the front axle, the car gets a double wishbone layout. At the rear, the car gets a multi-link design. Porsche has improved the KW shock absorbers to offer five adjustment settings. Set-up modifications are done with what Porsche calls shims. These shims are aimed at enabling precision adjustments without the need for the time-consuming re-alignment of the suspension afterward.

Porsche has pushed the rear wheels a little further back, which extends the wheelbase from 96.8 inches to 98.7 inches. This doubles up to reduce the load on the rear tires and improves the consistency of the tires’ performance over longer stints.

In terms of the braking apparatus, the cars comes with aluminum monobloc racing brake calipers which are now also supplied by the specialist company AP. The brakes are 15.3 inches in size, internally vented, and activated by six pistons. At the back, there are four-piston calipers and discs measuring 14.5 inches. The company has incorporated a software application for the fifth-generation racing ABS which too, you guessed it, reduces wear on the tires and brakes. This is in addition to the new traction control system that has also received further development.

Under the skin, the car gets an aluminum-steel composite that draws on the production model, albeit with major modifications for use in the 911 GT3 R.

A vehicle like the new 911 GT3 R is highly optimized in terms of aerodynamics. The key highlight is an elevated underbody at the fore of the front axle, for the first time in conjunction with a smooth undertray, and a rear diffuser. Wizards at Porsche found out that this combination improves downforce without a significant increase in drag.

Related: A Detailed Look At Singer Vehicle Design’s Turbo Study

Porsche 911 GT3 R: Safety

In terms of safety, Porsche says that the new 911 GT3 R comes with a seat that’s closer to the center of the car. Like in the previous version, the steering wheel and pedals can be adjusted longitudinally to suit the driver. The steering wheel design also received further upgrades on the previous model. It incorporates elements that have proven themselves in the latest generation 911 GT3 Cup and 911 RSR race cars. The 10.3-inch display, for example, comes from the successful one-make cup racer, with the multi-switch concept adopted from the Le Man’s class winner.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R shows what happens when a company decides to push the envelope of innovation and performance. The fact that it looks so good while doing so is just an added bonus for us gearheads as it gives us another car to drool over.

Source: Porsche Newsroom, Porsche 911

What you need to know

• Google continues its Duo-Meet merge today as Duo switches icons and names.
• On Android and iOS, Google Duo will become Meet, and the combined app will share features from both video calling apps.
• While the rollout begins on August 3, all users should have the updated Meet app in September.
• The original Google Meet app is now called Meet (Original).

While Google Meet is most commonly used by businesses and Duo is used for enjoyable casual talk, the company is now merging both applications. With the migration slowly underway, Google has announced an update to bring it to its next phase.

Google will begin rolling out an update to Android and iOS users that will change the current blue Duo app logo to Meet’s multi-colored camera logo. According to Google, users will receive a notification letting them know that “Duo has been upgraded to Meet as their one app for video calling and meetings.”

(Pocket-lint) – Amazon’s streaming service Luna has become the latest addition to Samsung’s relatively new Gaming Hub on its 2022 TVs, letting players stream games without any additional hardware bar a controller.

The service launched with support for Xbox Game Pass streaming and Nvidia GeForce Now, but clearly will expand to welcome other streaming services if they’re relevant, including Luna.

Samsung is pointing out that with the library offered by Luna you can now access over 1,000 games through a 2022 Samsung TV without needing to buy a console of any sort, which is impressive given how recently it launched.

Obviously, you would need quite a few price monthly memberships running at once to get access to that entire library at the same time, but the point still stands.

Luna has been a quieter part of the streaming market since Amazon launched it in late 2020 but works just as smoothly as the likes of Xbox’s streaming efforts which is to Amazon’s credit.

Free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) title pokemon unite is celebrating its first anniversary with a suite of new updates.