Tech News Roundup for February 15, 2022
Here are a few of the stories I’ve found interesting over the past several days.
Canadian Government Says Bill C-11 Will Not Target User Generated Content
In 2021 the Canadian government tabled a bill that aimed to expand the country’s rules around Canadian content to online streaming platforms. Unfortunately, that bill was worded in such a way that anyone posting any content online could have been subject to Canadian content laws, and the approach was very draconian and heavy handed.
The new bill C-11 aims to make clear that user generated content is not part of the CRTC’s Canadian content mandate. The line of when someone uplading videos to youtube for fun turns into something that does need to meet the CRTC requirements is a bit unclear, but this is at least a step in the right direction.
Intel Buys Semiconductor Fabricator for $5.4 Billion USD
Intel is leaning into its plans to expand it’s ability to make semiconductor chips not just for itself but other companies as well. As part of that, the company is buying Tower Semiconductor to add foundry capacity. This won’t solve the chip shortage in the near future, but shows the commitment to take steps to do so.
Sony Linkbuds Bring Radical Design to Earbuds
Sony has new wireless earbuds, and they are… something. The Linkbuds are designed to be open ear earbuds, meaning they let outside noise in. Some people much prefer that to the sealed off headphones or headphones with active noise cancelling, so options are good. The design of these earbuds is wild, and worth checking out at the link below.
https://www.engadget.com/sony-linkbuds-review-170020552.html
Microsoft Pushes First Big Windows 11 Update
When Microsoft announced Windows 11 last year, one of the big changes from Windows 10 was to change from two major updates per year to one, which was scheduled for the second half of the year. Unfortunately, Microsoft shipped Windows 11 in what felt like an unfinished state, so to make up ground, the February update for Windows 11 includes new features and apps that were missing from Windows 11 at launch. Key among them are some taskbar improvements to bring back missing functionality, as well as a redesigned notepad app. Windows 11 isn’t bad, but it definitely needs the work, so any functional updates are appreciated.
https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-11/262827/new-windows-11-experiences-are-now-available
Google Launches Chrome OS Flex to bring Chrome OS to any PC
In 2019 Google bought CloudReady, a company that was offering open source versions of Chromium OS that could be installed on any computer. Now Google is relaunching the product as Chrome OS Flex, which gives an official, Google sanctioned way of installing Chrome OS onto any computer. This could breathe life into older computers, or give easier ways for someone to switch to the Chrome OS platform. I’m intrigued.
https://9to5google.com/2022/02/15/chrome-os-flex-cloudready/
Nintendo Announces Plans to Wind Down Digital Storefronts for 3DS and Wii U
The Nintendo 3DS launched in 2011, while the Wii U launched in 2012. These systems are now over a decade old and with that, comes the planned closure of the online stores for both systems. Starting in May 2022 people will not be able to buy digital games using credit cards, and at the end of August you won’t be able to add funds using a gift card either, essentially rendering the stores dead. Any game download codes will continue to work until April of 2023, after which there will be no way to buy or acquire new digital games on those platforms. Nintendo says it will continue to provide services to re-download existing puchases and DLC “for the foreseeable future” but new purchases will soon come to an end.