Technology

Microsoft Rumored to Cut 11,000 Jobs in Forthcoming Days

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Microsoft Rumored to Cut 11,000 Jobs in Forthcoming Days

Microsoft will begin 2023 with massive layoffs. According to CBS News, the tech giant will shed talent due to the impact of the economy.

The news, originally reported by Sky News, states the software company will announce the layoffs in the forthcoming days, and nearly 5% or 11,000 positions will be cut worldwide. Engineering divisions appear to be the target for talent removal.

Microsoft declined to comment, citing the news is a “rumor.” Microsoft currently employs over 200,000 people across the globe.

Microsoft said earlier this month that it would provide all U.S.-based employees unlimited time off under a new “Discretionary Time off” policy.

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Wu Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah Releases All-Access LP Via Stem Player

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Hip Hop legend  Ghostface Killah is bringing fans an entirely  new way to enjoy his music..

In Partnership with the Stem Player Creator and Founder, Alex Klien, the Wu Tang Clan founding member will be releasing a special album for purchase on his own custom device and exclusive video content.

After three decades in the game, Ghostface Killah is changing up how fans experience his art with an all access package.

Ghostface Stem will release two exclusive devices, in Black and Cream colors, with new songs and audio effects. Ghostface  Killah will be the first artist to run a direct subscription on Stem, at his price, direct to his audience. Subscribers and device purchasers will get not only never
before heard songs, but video documentaries, direct meetings with the crew and access to an exclusive “Stem Fest Concert”.

The stem system gives artists more control over their work. Stem is a venture of Kano Computing, which pioneered Stem Technology with its customizable computers and audio devices.

Stem’s new medium, which let’s anyone customize any song,
revolutionizes  artist control. It brings fans and artists closer together through state of the art electronic  and artificial intelligence technology.

The Ghostface Killah Cream Stemplayer will Include 5 New Tracks
For $240.

A 360 UNITS LIMITED EDITION Of The Ghostface Killah Black Stem Player
Will Include 10 New Tracks For $240.

Explore The New Ghostface Killah and Stem Partnership Now On Stem.Tech

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Spotify Gives Megan Thee Stallion, Flo Milli Their Own Anime Characters

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Spotify and leading Livestream shopping platform NTWRK are collaborating to celebrate the streaming service’s “Feelin’ Myself” playlist with an exclusive trading card pack featuring anime caricatures of iconic female rappers Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice, GloRilla and Flo Milli. 

The NTWRK x Spotify hype-worthy trading card pack will feature the up-and-coming and established rappers as a modern-day super heroines celebrating women in hip-hop. Fans will have the chance to win the exclusive trading card pack only on the NTWRK app today (Dec. 20) at 1 pm PST / 4 pm EST.  

The back of the cards will include the individual initials of each rapper and a barcode that leads users to the Feelin’ Myself playlist, encouraging collectors to dance along as they unveil their new pack of cards.  

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Remember When They Wanted to Ban TikTok? It’s Already Starting To Happen

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black content creators

U.S. lawmakers and politicians have been increasingly waging war on TikTok, the hugely popular social media app owned by Chinese company Bytedance.  

TikTok’s critics have accused the app of being a direct channel to the Chinese government and, thus, a privacy and cybersecurity risk. In particular, they have raised concerns that TikTok collects massive amounts of data from U.S. citizens. It may be shared with the Chinese government and could be used to interfere with U.S. elections by spreading misinformation.

The app is already banned from all devices issued by the U.S. military. This past Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bill banning the app from all devices issued by federal agencies. The bill contains exceptions for law enforcement, national security, and security research.

Earlier this past week, the governors of Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Utah ordered their agencies to prohibit the app on all state-issued devices. These states join Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, and Nebraska, which already have similar bans.   These bans also include, for example, blocking the use of the app on campus and dorm WiFi at state universities. 

Sen. Marco Rubio (R. Fla.) is leading a bipartisan effort to pass a law banning TikTok altogether in the U.S. The proposed legislation would ban social media companies belonging to “countries of concern,” i.e., China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. 

In a statement on its website, TikTok states that it stores U.S. user data in the United States and that none of its data is subject to Chinese law. It says further that it has never been asked to remove content by the Chinese government and would not do so if asked.   However, in July 2022, TikTok confirmed in a letter to U.S. Senators that employees outside the U.S., including China-based employees, could access data on U.S. users. 

Implanting a U.S.-wide TikTok ban would present a formidable challenge. Over a billion users visit the TikTok site each month, and substantial commercial interests use TikTok as a platform and rely on its services.   A TikTok ban would likely be politically unpopular. It would raise the question of why foreign social media companies are being singled out when there are domestic social media companies, such as Facebook, that are equally capable of disrupting U.S. elections through the spread of propaganda and misinformation.

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Selena Gomez Recreates Her Iconic ‘Crazy Hat’ Song From ‘Wizards Of Waverly Place’ In A Adorable TikTok Video

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Nostalgia alert! In a clip shared to TikTok, Selena Gomez recreated her iconic “Crazy, Funky, Junky Hat” song from Disney’s Wizards Of Waverly Place.

Gomez and her friend, IG model, and influencer Lauren Wolfe, gave fans a special treat in a clip posted to Wolfe’s TikTok account. The actress and Wolfe showed off their adorable dance moves while lip-singing to the classic track.

@laurenwolfe

@Selena Gomez

♬ funky junky hat song – wizardsofwaverlyplace

“What’s that? A hat? Crazy, funky, junky hat,” Gomez and Wolfe lip-synched. “Overslept, hair unsightly. Trying to look like Keira Knightley. We’ve been there, we’ve done that. We see right through your funky hat.”

The song was initially performed by Gomez’s character on Wizards Of Waverly Place, Alex Russo, alongside her best friend, Harper Finkle, on the fourth episode of the show’s first season, back in 2007. The show followed the Russo family, who were restauranteurs by day, and wizards by night, complete with a lair behind their kitchen.

The Disney channel series was one of the longest-running programs, in the network’s history, with nearly 106 episodes, before going off the air in 20212. Joining them is That’s So Raven, with 100 episodes, and Hannah Montana, with 98.

This past October, the show celebrated its 15th anniversary.

These days you can find Gomez portraying Mabel Mora on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, where she plays a young artist turned amateur sleuth alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short.

Florida Police Use Lil Wayne’s ‘A Milli’ In A Cringeworthy TikTok Video For A $1.1 Million Drug Bust

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Lil Wayne
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Who knew that police officer could double as influencers? Apparently, they can. In a recent video shared to TikTok, a Florida Police department used Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” to soundtrack a recent drug seizure.

In the video, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced its narcotics detectives were able to seize nearly $1.1 million “in illegal drug money off the street” before dancing and singing along to the 2008 smash hit.

“Christmas is canceled for these two drug dealers, and the streets are cleared of drugs, guns, and a milli,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno. The video then cuts to a cringy montage where authorities count all the dirty money they had collected from the raid.

The critically acclaimed track won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2009 and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Wayne has become a commercial juggernaut throughout his almost three-decade career. This past September, along with celebrating his 4oth birthday, the New Orleans rapper earned 22 new RIAA certifications, including one for “A Milli,” “6 Foot 7 Foot,” “Love Me,” featuring Drake and Future, and more.

His protégé, Drake, has also earned some new RIAA certifications. Most recently, the Canadian rapper became the highest-selling singles artist in RIAA history, surpassing Eminem.

Lizzo Has Been Dubbed TikTok’s Top Artist For 2022

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With the help of over 26 million followers and one of the top songs on the social media platform this year, Lizzo has become the undisputed “Queen of TikTok.” Lizzo has been named the No. 1 music artist on TikTok this year, based on total video views, Variety reports. Her hit single, “About Damn Time,” was the app’s fourth-highest trending song this year.

The pop singer’s instructional dance video for the hit song was the seventh-highest trending video in 2022. Lizzo has also been named the app’s fifth-highest-viewed artist globally.

@lizzo

I would’ve given my left coochie lip to be at the spring awakening reunion show 😭

♬ About Damn Time – Lizzo

Joining Lizzo is other commercial juggernauts such as Bella Poarch, who came in second, Bad Bunny (No. 3), Charlie Puth (No. 4), and Doja Cat, who rounded out the top five. Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish, and Meghan Trainor were also included in the top 10 trending artists of 2022.

Here are the Top 10 TikTok Top Artists 2022 in the US:

  1. Lizzo
  2. Bella Poarch
  3. Bad Bunny
  4. Charlie Puth
  5. Doja Cat
  6. Selena Gomez
  7. Nessa Barrett
  8. Yung Gravy
  9. Bille Eilish
  10. Meghan Trainor

“We’re honored to celebrate our global community who shaped this year’s trends, shared new ideas, learned from one another, and turned their passions into careers and livelihoods throughout 2022,” TikTok chief operating officer Vanessa Pappas said in a recent statement, per Variety.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Apple Unveils New Tech in Annual Product Launch

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Apple 2022 Product Launch

A little over fifteen years ago, Steve Jobs stood on stage and revealed the first iPhone in a reveal that would change the world as we know it (for nostalgia, the full video can be found here). On Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook continued the tradition of launch announcements to share some new features and updates to the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

The launch event was pre-recorded and delivered from Apple Park, the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Cook started sharing a montage of users who had used their Apple Watches in life-threatening situations and then shared some new features of the upcoming Apple Watch 7. The watch’s biggest change (in addition to a slightly new design and bigger screen) is that it is reportedly more durable and able to withstand more extreme conditions than previous models. The watch targets outdoor athletes with increased water resistance, increased durability, a compass, and a depth metric for scuba divers. The 7 series t also has a new “action” button for quick use while working out or wearing gloves. The 7 series has more health tracking capabilities and car crash detection technology, which can detect if the wearer was in a severe car crash and automatically call emergency services. The watch will also reportedly get up to 60 hours of battery life thanks to a new software rollout.

Cook unveiled the iPhone 14, which comes in two models: the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The Plus will replace the “iPhone 13 mini” model with a bigger model with a 6.7-inch screen. One of the biggest changes is that digital eSIM technology will replace a physical SIM card. However, the 14’s biggest reveal was the phone’s capability to connect to satellites for emergency services in remote areas thanks to a partnership with Globalstar. 

The third product reveal was a new generation of AirPods. An Apple H2 chip reportedly provides better sound quality and clarity. Other new features include an improved volume touch control button, longer battery life, a smaller XS ear tip, and an in-case speaker.

The new Apple Watch will cost at least $799 and will be available in stores on about Sept. 23. Preorders will be available next Wednesday. The iPhone 14 will start at $799 and the Plus will start at $899. Preorders start on Sept 9, but the Plus won’t ship until October. The new AirPods Pro cost $249 and will go on sale on Sept 23.

The full launch video can be seen here.

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SOURCE SPORTS: UFC Announces IRL as Official Group Messaging and Fan Chart Platform

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UFC Announces IRL as Official Group Messaging and Fan Chart Platform

The world’s top mixed martial arts organization, UFC, and IRL (“in real life”), the leading group messaging social network app that connects users through genuinely shared online and offline experiences, have announced a first-of-its-kind, international partnership that will bring together athletes and fans through live group messaging before and during UFC’s most significant events.

The “Join The Conversation” promotion and the use of the UFC’s “Social Tagboard” are just a couple of the elements that will make IRL the official group messaging and fan chat platform for the UFC. Through the “Join the Conversation” promotion, UFC fighters and fans can have live, genuine conversations about UFC Pay-Per-View events thanks to the dynamic platform of IRL. On September 10, Brandon “The Assassin Baby” Moreno, who made history in 2020 by becoming the first Mexican-born UFC Flyweight Champion, will begin the first live athlete chat. To facilitate meaningful conversations on shared interests in just a few seconds, the project will promote the entertaining features that IRL is known for, such as allowing users to generate custom prompts, surveys, and even customizable memes using an auto-generator called MeMix. Additionally, IRL will use UFC’s “Social Tagboard,” emphasizing live polling and real-time discussion from fans on IRL during particular events.

Several integrations with important UFC assets, including live events, broadcast features, and unique material made for UFC’s well-liked digital and social channels, will also be made available to IRL by UFC. In addition to becoming the Presenting Partner of UFC Live on TikTok, which offers live conversations with UFC talent, athletes, personalities, and other special guests during events, IRL will have a branded presence inside the world-famous Octagon® at certain Pay-Per-View events.

The 900 million TV homes in 170+ countries that have access to the UFC’s broadcast, as well as the over 690 million worldwide UFC fans and over 185 million social media followers, will provide IRL considerable exposure from the broadcast’s opening billboard to the Octagon.

“We’re thrilled to partner with IRL to create greater fan engagement and strengthen the in-person and online UFC community,” said Paul Asencio, Senior Vice President, UFC Global Partnerships. “We’re looking forward to working with IRL to leverage the global power of the UFC brand and IRL’s innovative social messaging platform to connect like-minded individuals through their passion for UFC.” 

“This is a massive turning point for IRL as we work alongside one of the world’s largest sporting communities to continue building relationships,” said Abraham Shafi, CEO and Founder of IRL. “The partnership marks an exciting pathway for IRL to tap into the devoted and passionate global UFC fan base, and we’re looking forward to continuing our growth alongside such a renowned organization.”

With content centered around UFC 279: CHIMAEV vs. DIAZ, which will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 10, UFC and IRL will formally launch their partnership this week.

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