Microsoft Pushes out Windows 11 23H2 Update
On October 31st, Microsoft announced the rollout of Windows 11 Update 2023 (or 23H2), which includes all of the new features that Microsoft previously introduced in the Moment 4 update, as well as replacing the built-in chat app with a free version of Microsoft Teams.
Google Opens .ing Top-Level Domain Registration
On October 31st, Google announced via an official blog post that it is opening up registration of .ing top-level domains, and that users can register them now for an additional fee (the rate decreases over time), with an Early Access Program (EAP) ending on December 5th. Google says that with this domain name, businesses can register some very interesting domain names, such as design.ing and draw.ing for online design and drawing platform Canva, edit.ing and signing for Adobe Acrobat, and so on.
Meta Launches Ad-free Subscription Program in Europe
On October 30th, Meta announced via an official blog post that, in order to comply with local regulations, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram will launch an ad-free subscription plan for users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland priced at €12.99/month for iOS and Android customers, and €9.99/month for subscribers on the web. The new subscription will be effective from November 2023 and will apply to all associated users under the User Account Center until March 1, 2024, with an additional fee of €8 (mobile) or €6/month (web) per additional user from March 1, 2024 onwards.
WD Plans to Split Flash Memory and Hard Disk Drive Businesses
WD announced on Oct. 30 that it will split the company into two companies with separate flash memory and hard disk drive (HDD) businesses. WD said it has established separate flash and HDD product business units and separated operational capabilities over the past few years, but the flash and HDD divestiture is still subject to board approval and a number of additional conditions, and if it goes well, the divestiture could be completed in the second half of 2024. This follows merger talks between WD and Japan’s Kioxia, which stalled over SK Hynix’s objections.
Apple Hosts Special Event for New Mac Products
On October 31 at 8 a.m., Apple hosted an event to introduce new MacBook Pro and iMac products powered by the M3 Series processors, which include the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips and are built on a 3-nanometer process. The GPUs in the M3 Series feature Dynamic Cache, which dynamically allocates local memory in real time across the hardware to increase average GPU utilization. The M3 series GPUs support hardware-accelerated mesh shading, which is the first time that the M series chips have realized hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and the M3 series is equipped with a 16-core neural engine and a media processing engine that supports AV1.
The M3 features an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and up to 24 GB of unified memory; the M3 Pro features up to a 12-core CPU, up to 18-core GPU, and up to 36 GB of unified memory; and the M3 Max features up to a 16-core CPU, up to 40-core GPU, and up to 128 GB of unified memory.
New Version of ChatGPT Allows Users to Access All GPT-4 Tools
On October 29, ChatGPT Plus users received OpenAI’s GPT-4 update announcement, which added the “All Tools” feature to the default mode, allowing users to use all GPT-4 tools without having to manually switch between them, as well as increasing the number of supported file formats for analysis.
Microsoft Xbox will Disable Unauthorized Accessories
Starting November 17, Microsoft Xbox will implement a new policy that will prohibit users from using unauthorized accessories such as grips, headsets, and converters. Some users who are currently using unauthorized accessories are already receiving the error message 0x82d60002 on their Xboxes, prompting them to “Use of an unauthorized accessory will affect your gaming experience, and the accessory will be blocked on November 12, 2023,” and directing them to the official Xbox website to check for authorized accessories. Officially licensed third-party accessories are not affected by this policy, though it’s unclear if it will affect XIM accessories that emulate mouse and keyboard input.
Samsung Announces Limited Edition Galaxy Z Flip 5 Retro Phone
Samsung officially announced the Galaxy Z Flip 5 Retro handset on October 30, and the new model will be available in limited quantities in South Korea, the U.K., Germany, Spain, and Australia on November 1. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 Retro is a tribute to Samsung’s SGH-E700 flip phone from 20 years ago, and as such, it includes a few elements of the SGH-E700 on the body, such as Indigo and Silver color schemes, and some nostalgic pixel graphics, UI and cityscape animations on its Flex Window exterior. The Z Flip5 and E700 logos are also emblazoned on the machine’s box, which includes a Flipsuit case with stickers featuring logos from different eras of Samsung’s history and a Samsung E700 collector’s card engraved with a unique serial number. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro can only be purchased through Samsung’s official website, and no official information on pricing has been provided.
Samsung Semiconductor has reportedly picked up an order for the Tensor processor used in future Pixel phones. Codenamed Zuma Pro, the Tensor G4 to be used in the Pixel 9 series will utilize Samsung’s 4LPP+ process, in line with the Exynos 2400.