United News of Bangladesh

Telecom operator Grameenphone has introduced the country’s first cross-platform app marketplace “AppCity”, aiming to transform the digital landscape. This platform connects app developers and publishers with both B2C and B2B customers, promoting innovation, smart solutions, and accessibility in Bangladesh's pursuit of a "Smart Bangladesh," according to a press release. Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, State Minister of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, graced the event as the Chief Guest, held at a hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday. Read: Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Review: A High-end Gaming Device  Also, present during the event were Petter-Børre Furberg, Chairman of Grameenphone Ltd. and Head of Telenor Asia, Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Grameenphone and other key management members of the organization, it said. App marketplace “AppCity”, a pivotal part of Grameenphone's telco-tech journey, is a unified platform offering a diverse range of applications and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. Functioning as both an App Store and API hub, this marketplace connects content providers and application developers with individual and corporate customers. One of the distinctive features of “AppCity” is its built-in Android, iOS, and telco API capabilities offered seamlessly to B2C and B2B platforms, making it the first cross-platform app marketplace in Bangladesh. This development opens new avenues for non-coders to engage in app development, aligning with the platform's guided UI for easy app creation—comparable to some existing renowned platforms, said the release. “AppCity” also claimed the title of being the first comprehensive B2B app marketplace in Bangladesh. Distinguishing itself from conventional app marketplaces, “AppCity” introduces curated expert ratings alongside conventional user ratings. Furthermore, to enhance accessibility, it integrates with Mobile Financial Services (MFS) in addition to telco billing and conventional payment methods. The platform also offers a broader range of payment channels compared to other market players, the release also said. Read: Walton NEXG N25 Review: A Budget-friendly Smartphone with Standard Features  “AppCity is a significant leap towards a smart future for the smart nation, reflecting our national aspirations. Integrating the innovations, the platform creates diverse opportunities for young entrepreneurs to actively contribute and thrive in shaping the ‘Smart Bangladesh,” said Palak. “AppCity is for the people of Bangladesh and will be built by the people of Bangladesh. I invite and encourage everyone, to participate in the hackathon that will be arranged to contribute to build AppCity, for a smarter nation," he added. “We are pleased to see Grameenphone stepping up and building AppCity, which not only empowers developers but ultimately enhances the digital experience for customers and businesses. In line with our commitment to a Smart Bangladesh, this industry-first initiative reflects our ongoing efforts to contribute to the country's technological advancement and digital transformation,” said Petter-Børre Furberg "With AppCity, we are laying the foundation for a more connected and accessible smart future. This platform encapsulates our vision of creating a smarter, inclusive, safer, and sustainable ecosystem. Fostering connectivity that empowers society and propelling the ‘Smart Bangladesh’, our dedication goes beyond conventional telecom services. Grameenphone is reshaping its portfolio to include state-of-the-art ICT and IoT solutions, ensuring we stay ahead in meeting the dynamic needs of an interconnected world,” said Yasir Azman.

A South Korean court on Monday acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong of financial crimes involving a contentious merger between Samsung affiliates in 2015 that tightened his grip over South Korea’s biggest company. The ruling by the Seoul Central District Court could ease the legal troubles surrounding the Samsung heir less than two years after he was pardoned of a separate conviction of bribery in a corruption scandal that toppled a previous South Korean government. Read: Wanbo Mozart 1 Projector Review: A Smart Home Theatre Experience  The court said the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove the merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries was unlawfully conducted with an aim to strengthen Lee’s control over Samsung Electronics. Prosecutors had sought a five-year jail term for Lee, who was accused of stock price manipulation and accounting fraud. It wasn’t immediately clear whether they would appeal. Lee had denied wrongdoing in the current case, describing the 2015 merger as “normal business activity.” Lee, 56, did not answer questions from reporters as left the court. You Jin Kim, Lee's lawyer, praised the court for confirming that the merger was legal. Lee, a third-generation corporate heir who was officially appointed as the chairman of Samsung Electronics in October 2022, has led the Samsung group of companies since 2014, when his late father, former chairman Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack. Lee Jae-yong served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2017 over separate bribery charges related to the 2015 deal. He was originally sentenced for five years in prison for offering 8.6 billion won ($6.4 million) worth of bribes to then-President Park Geun-hye and her close confidante to win government support for the 2015 merger, which was key to strengthening his control over the Samsung business empire and solidifying the father-to-son leadership succession. Lee was released on parole in 2021 and pardoned by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in August 2022, in moves that extended a history of leniency toward major white-collar crime in South Korea and preferential treatment for convicted tycoons. Some shareholders had opposed the 2015 merger, saying that it unfairly benefited the Lee family while hurting minority shareholders. There was also public anger over how the national pension fund’s stake in Samsung C&T, the merged entity, fell by an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars, after Park had pressured the National Pension Service to support the deal. Read: Walton NEXG N25 Review: A Budget-friendly Smartphone with Standard Features Park and her confidante were also convicted in the scandal and enraged South Koreans staged massive protests for months demanding an end to the shady ties between business and politics. The demonstrations eventually led to Park’s ouster from office. Lee has been navigating one of his toughest stretches as the leader of one of the world’s largest makers of computer chips and smartphones, with Russia’s war on Ukraine and other geopolitical turmoil hurting the world economy and deflating technology spending. The company last week reported an annual 34% decline in operating profit for October-December quarter as sluggish demands for its TVs and other consumer electronics products offset hard-won gains from a slowly revering memory chip market. 

You’re in a crowded bar when a thief watches you unlock your iPhone with your passcode, then swipes it. That sinking feeling hits when you realize it’s gone, along with priceless photos, important files, passwords on banking apps and other vital parts of your digital life. Apple rolled out an update to its iOS operating system this week with a feature called Stolen Device Protection that makes it a lot harder for phone thieves to access key functions and settings. Users are being urged to turn it on immediately. Here’s how to activate the new security option and why it’s so important: The software update for iPhones and iPads includes the essential new feature designed to foil thieves from wiping phones for resale or accessing Apple ID or other important accounts. Stolen Device Protection is a new setting that’s included with the latest iOS release, version 17.3. Apple says the feature, buried in your iPhone’s settings, adds an extra layer of security for users. It addresses a vulnerability that thieves have discovered and exploited: allowing them to lock victims out of their Apple accounts, delete their photos and other files from their iCloud accounts and empty their bank accounts by accessing passwords kept in the Keychain password manager. Apple is introducing the feature as anecdotal evidence suggests phone thefts are surging. Stories of stolen phones abound on Reddit groups and in news articles in places from Los Angeles to London, where police say pickpocketing, “table surfing” and moped snatching are common tactics. The Wall Street Journal reported last year how criminals watched people use their passcodes to gain access to their personal information after stealing their phones. HOW DOES STOLEN DEVICE PROTECTION WORK? Stolen Device Protection keeps track of a user’s “familiar locations,” such as their home or workplace, and adds extra biometric security hoops to jump through if someone tries to use the device to do certain things when it’s away from those places. It also reduces the importance of passcodes, which thieves can steal by peering over someone’s shoulder or threatening and forcing victims to hand them over, in favor of “biometric” features such as faces or fingerprints that are a lot harder to duplicate. Let’s say the bar thief that snatched your iPhone tries to erase its contents and settings to sell it. With Stolen Device Protection turned on, the phone will now require a Face ID or Touch ID scan to verify that person is the rightful owner. And that’s the only way — the new feature doesn’t let someone use the passcode or any other backup method. Other actions that will trigger this feature if it’s not at a familiar place include using passwords saved in Keychain or payment methods saved in Safari, turning off Lost Mode, applying for a new Apple Card or using the iPhone to set up a new device. There’s also a second layer designed to slow down thieves trying to access critical security settings. If someone tries to, say, sign out of an Apple ID account, change the passcode or reset the phone while it’s in an unfamiliar location, they’ll have to authenticate using Face ID or Touch ID, wait an hour, then do a second facial or fingerprint scan. Changing an Apple ID password, updating Apple ID security settings, adding or removing Face or Touch ID, and turning off the Find My device feature or Stolen Device Protection also will trigger this feature. “The security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure,” the company said. “When your iPhone is in a familiar location, these additional steps will not be required and you can use your device passcode like normal.”  

Think of a world where art co-exists with generative art. The music that we listen to, the art that we gaze and the sculptures that we admire could one day be a creation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) rather than solely being a human product. The thought sparks ideas of opportunity as well as concerns for the future. Will generative AI replace what makes art human? Let’s try to find some answers.  AI in Art: A Rising Threat?  The history of humans creating art predates civilization itself. In fact, the oldest recorded art dates back 45,500 years! Compared to that, AI integration, or more commonly generative art is barely a year or two old.  The use of tech in art has, however, been prevalent for a few decades now. For all of this time, tech and human creativity co-existed to bring art to different verticals. But with AI, there’s a new dimension, a new advancement that simplifies the process. The democratization of art, as many call it, is also a means of exploitation that undermines what separates human art, the use of creativity in its true sense.  Read more: How to Make Money with AI for Beginners and Professionals Let’s look at how AI impacts different art verticals to get a better understanding. 

State Minister for Post, Telecom, and ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Tuesday said that new opportunities of cooperation will open up  with the USA over the next five years of the government. He said this following a meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Tuesday. Mentioned that there is a heightened interest in Bangladesh from other nations he said, “Based on discussions with Ambassador Haas, I think  trade relations between the countries will increase in the coming years.” Read: Chattogram to be built as IT business hub: Palak  In reference to the meeting's agenda, Palak talked about their focus on strategising how the United States can collaborate with Bangladesh based on the vision of creating a smart Bangladesh by 2041, as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Palak said there were three primary objectives of their discussion. The first objective was about strategies to further enhance software exports and expand Bangladesh’s presence in the US. “The United States stands out as the primary outsourcing hub for our software and freelancers. Among the 60 countries receiving our exported software, America takes the lead with the highest volume. We engaged in discussions on strategies to further enhance this collaboration and expand our presence,” he said. Additionally, they discussed about establishing resource innovation centres in 10 universities, he said. “We discussed how to explore ways in which U.S. could contribute to and support this initiatives,” he said. Read: Software solution to reduce costs for patients: Palak Another crucial aspect of the conversation centered on fostering government-to-government (G2G) cooperation between the United States and the Bangladesh Post Office, Palak said. “The objective is to attract investments, particularly from major American companies like Amazon, Starling, SpaceX, Google, and Facebook, encouraging their increased involvement in specific sectors,” he said. "In essence, our talks centered around determining the nature of cooperation the United States can offer in building a smart Bangladesh collaboratively. This involves enhancing exports, attracting investments, and fostering job creation,” he added.  

The year 2023 has been monumental in the realm of health and medical science. As we continually strive to overcome health challenges, the relentless pursuit of medical advancements has yielded significant breakthroughs. These innovations not only promise enhanced healthcare but also showcase the power of science in improving lives globally. In this article, we delve into the top eight medical breakthroughs of 2023, each a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of the scientific community. The Biggest Medical Breakthroughs of 2023 A Leap Forward in Alzheimer’s Disease Management In a ground-breaking development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Leqembi, a monoclonal antibody, in July 2023. This medical breakthrough targets the core cause of Alzheimer's disease – the build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques, formed by abnormally proliferating proteins, disrupt neural synapses and cause memory loss. Leqembi intervenes by inhibiting plaque formation, thus preserving cognitive function. A pivotal study revealed that administering Leqembi early could delay severe Alzheimer’s progression by up to 30 years, marking a significant stride in medical science. Read more: Daily Strategies for Neuroplasticity: Enhancing Focus and Alleviating Anxiety Advancing Brain Science with Comprehensive Mapping In a collaborative effort, an international team of over 20 scientists achieved a significant medical breakthrough by mapping the brain of a fruit fly, a process that spanned five years. This achievement surpasses previous efforts which were limited to simpler organisms with fewer synapses. The complexity of the fruit fly’s brain, comprising around 3000 neurons and half a million synapses, parallels aspects of machine learning mapping, hinting at broader applications in understanding complex brains and advancing AI technologies.

Pressing a button will be one way to summon an artificial intelligence agent as Microsoft wields its computer industry influence to reshape the next generation of keyboards. Starting this month, some new personal computers that run Microsoft’s Windows operating system will have a special “Copilot key” that launches the software giant’s AI chatbot. Also read: 13-year-old American believed to be first person ever to beat Tetris Getting third-party computer manufacturers to add an AI button to laptops is the latest move by Microsoft to capitalize on its close partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and make itself a gateway for applications of generative AI technology. Although most people now connect to the internet — and AI applications — by phone rather than computer, it’s a symbolic kickoff to what’s expected to be an intensively competitive year as tech companies race to outdo each other in AI applications even as they haven’t yet resolved all the ethical and legal ramifications. The New York Times last month sued both OpenAI and Microsoft alleging that tools like ChatGPT and Copilot — formerly known as Bing Chat — were built by infringing on copyrighted news articles. Also read: Honor Watch 4 Review: Is it worth buying? The keyboard redesign will be Microsoft’s biggest change to PC keyboards since it introduced a special Windows key in the 1990s. Microsoft’s four-squared logo design has evolved, but the key has been a fixture on Windows-oriented keyboards for nearly three decades. The newest AI button will be marked by the ribbon-like Copilot logo and be located near the space bar. On some computers it will replace the right “CTRL” key, while on others it will replace a menu key. Microsoft is not the only company with customized keys. Apple pioneered the concept in the 1980s with its “Command” key marked by a looped square design (it also sported an Apple logo for a time). Google has a search button on its Chromebooks and was first to experiment with an AI-specific key to launch its voice assistant on its now-discontinued Pixelbook. Also read: Google settles $5 billion privacy lawsuit over tracking people using 'incognito mode' But Microsoft has a much stronger hold on the PC market through its licensing agreements with third-party manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell and HP. About 82% of all desktop computers, laptops and workstations run Windows, compared to 9% for Apple’s in-house operating system and just over 6% for Google’s, according to market research firm IDC. Microsoft hasn’t yet said which computer-makers are installing the Copilot button beyond Microsoft’s own in-house line of premium Surface devices. It said some of the companies are expected to unveil their new models at next week’s CES gadget show in Las Vegas.

Google has agreed to settle a $5 billion privacy lawsuit alleging that it spied on people who used the "incognito" mode in its Chrome browser — along with similar "private" modes in other browsers — to track their internet use. Social media companies made over $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors: Harvard study The class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 said Google misled users into believing that it wouldn't track their internet activities while using incognito mode. It argued that Google's advertising technologies and other techniques continued to catalog details of users' site visits and activities despite their use of supposedly "private" browsing. Navigating the Deepfake Dilemma: Understanding and Detecting Digital Deceptions Plaintiffs also charged that Google's activities yielded an "unaccountable trove of information" about users who thought they'd taken steps to protect their privacy. The settlement, reached Thursday, must still be approved by a federal judge. Terms weren't disclosed, but the suit originally sought $5 billion on behalf of users; lawyers for the plaintiffs said they expect to present the court with a final settlement agreement by Feb. 24. Find Bus Routes in Dhaka with 6 Android Apps Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the settlement.

Social media companies collectively made over $11 billion in U.S. advertising revenue from minors last year, according to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published on Wednesday. The researchers say the findings show a need for government regulation of social media since the companies that stand to make money from children who use their platforms have failed to meaningfully self-regulate. They note such regulations, as well as greater transparency from tech companies, could help alleviate harms to youth mental health and curtail potentially harmful advertising practices that target children and adolescents. To come up with the revenue figure, the researchers estimated the number of users under 18 on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube in 2022 based on population data from the U.S. Census and survey data from Common Sense Media and Pew Research. They then used data from research firm eMarketer, now called Insider Intelligence, and Qustodio, a parental control app, to estimate each platform's U.S. ad revenue in 2022 and the time children spent per day on each platform. After that, the researchers said they built a simulation model using the data to estimate how much ad revenue the platforms earned from minors in the U.S. Researchers and lawmakers have long focused on the negative effects stemming from social media platforms, whose personally-tailored algorithms can drive children towards excessive use. This year, lawmakers in states like New York and Utah introduced or passed legislation that would curb social media use among kids, citing harms to youth mental health and other concerns. Read: Benco V91 Review: Android experience at BDT 10000  Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, is also being sued by dozens of states for allegedly contributing to the mental health crisis. “Although social media platforms may claim that they can self-regulate their practices to reduce the harms to young people, they have yet to do so, and our study suggests they have overwhelming financial incentives to continue to delay taking meaningful steps to protect children," said Bryn Austin, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard and a senior author on the study. The platforms themselves don't make public how much money they earn from minors. Social media platforms are not the first to advertise to children, and parents and experts have long expressed concerns about marketing to kids online, on television and even in schools. But online ads can be especially insidious because they can be targeted to children and because the line between ads and the content kids seek out is often blurry. In a 2020 policy paper, the American Academy of Pediatrics said children are “uniquely vulnerable to the persuasive effects of advertising because of immature critical thinking skills and impulse inhibition.” Read: New York Times suing ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Microsoft for copyright infringement “School-aged children and teenagers may be able to recognize advertising but often are not able to resist it when it is embedded within trusted social networks, encouraged by celebrity influencers, or delivered next to personalized content,” the paper noted. As concerns about social media and children's mental health grow, the Federal Trade Commission earlier this month proposed sweeping changes to a decades-old law that regulates how online companies can track and advertise to children. The proposed changes include turning off targeted ads to kids under 13 by default and limiting push notifications. According to the Harvard study, YouTube derived the greatest ad revenue from users 12 and under ($959.1 million), followed by Instagram ($801.1 million) and Facebook ($137.2 million). Instagram, meanwhile, derived the greatest ad revenue from users aged 13-17 ($4 billion), followed by TikTok ($2 billion) and YouTube ($1.2 billion). The researchers also estimate that Snapchat derived the greatest share of its overall 2022 ad revenue from users under 18 (41%), followed by TikTok (35%), YouTube (27%), and Instagram (16%). 

In today’s digital era, the term “deepfake” has emerged as a critical concept in the discourse around online misinformation and digital security. Deepfakes, a blend of “deep learning” and “fake”, refer to hyper-realistic digital forgeries created using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. These sophisticated simulations have the potential to disrupt the fabric of truth in our digital world. The Rise of Deepfakes: A Digital Deception Deepfakes leverage AI algorithms to superimpose existing images and videos onto other images or videos, creating a composite that can be startlingly authentic. This technology, initially a product of benign research, has rapidly evolved, raising alarms globally due to its potential misuse. The ability to fabricate convincing videos of public figures, celebrities, or ordinary individuals speaking or acting in ways they never did poses significant threats – from personal defamation to political misinformation. The Dangers Lurking Behind the Screen: Assessing the Threats The threats posed by deepfakes are multifaceted. On a personal level, they can be used to create non-consensual pornographic content or impersonate individuals, leading to serious reputational harm. In the political arena, deepfakes can distort democratic processes, as fabricated videos of leaders making false statements could easily sway public opinion. This digital manipulation also extends to the corporate world, where deepfakes can be used for fraud or to damage the reputation of companies. Read more: How to Prevent Facebook Hacking: Security measures from Mobile, Desktop Unmasking the False: How to Detect a Deepfake Detecting deepfakes remains a challenge, yet it is crucial to mitigate their potential harm. Here are some methods: 1. Scrutinizing Visual Inconsistencies: Often, deepfakes exhibit subtle flaws, such as unnatural blinking patterns, facial asymmetry, or poor lip-syncing. Observing these discrepancies can be a tell-tale sign of a deepfake. 2. Analyzing Audio Patterns: Inconsistent or unnatural speech patterns, such as unusual intonations or pauses, can indicate manipulation. 3. Digital Footprint Examination: Advanced tools can analyze the digital footprint of a video, looking for alterations in pixel patterns that are not visible to the naked eye. 4. AI-Based Detection Tools: As deepfakes become more sophisticated, AI-powered tools are being developed to detect them. These tools use machine learning algorithms to analyze videos for signs of manipulation that humans might miss. 5. Blockchain Verification: Some platforms are adopting blockchain technology to authenticate the origin and integrity of videos, helping to differentiate genuine content from deepfakes. A Call to Action: The Need for Vigilance The emergence of deepfakes calls for a heightened sense of digital literacy and skepticism. While technology evolves to combat this phenomenon, the responsibility also lies with individuals to critically assess the content they encounter. It’s essential to verify sources and be wary of videos that seem suspicious or too sensational to be true. As deepfakes continue to challenge our perception of reality, staying informed and cautious is our best defense in this ongoing battle against digital deception. Read more: UK cybersecurity center says 'deepfakes' and other AI tools pose a threat to the next election