Professional social network LinkedIn is giving nearly all of its 15,900 full-time workers next week off as it seeks to avoid burnout and allow its employees to recharge, the company told AFP Friday.The Microsoft-owned firm said that the "RestUp!" week starting Monday is meant to give employees time for their own well-being."There is something magical about the entire company taking a break at the same time," LinkedIn said in reply to an AFP inquiry."And the best part? Not coming back to an avalanche of unanswered internal emails."During the week, LinkedIn will provide employees who may feel isolated the option of taking part in daily activities such as volunteering for worthy causes through "random acts of kindness," according to the
CEO of Google’s Self-Driving Cars Unit Waymo John Krafcik Steps Down
The executive who steered the transformation of Google's self-driving car project into a separate company worth billions of dollars is stepping down after more than five years on the job.John Krafcik announced his departure as CEO of Waymo, a company spun out from Google, in a Friday blog post that cited his desire to enjoy life as the world emerges from the pandemic."I'm looking forward to a refresh period, reconnecting with old friends and family, and discovering new parts of the world," Krafcik, 59, wrote.Two of Krafcik's top lieutenants will replace him as co-CEOs. Dmitri Dolgov, who has been working on self-driving cars since Waymo began within Google in 2009, will focus on the technology for the autonomous vehicles.
Tesla Sales More Than Double in Q1 2021 Over Last Year
Tesla posted record deliveries for the January to March quarter, beating Wall Street estimates, as solid demand for less expensive models offset the impact of a global shortage of parts."We are encouraged by the strong reception of the Model Y in China and are quickly progressing to full production capacity," Tesla said in a statement."The new Model S and Model X have also been exceptionally well received ... and we are in the early stages of ramping production," it added.Tesla's Shanghai factory started production of the Model Y late last year in the key market where it already produces Model 3 sedans. In February, Tesla's China sales jumped from the previous month even as demand usually falls during China's
Myanmar Junta Cuts Wireless Internet to Stifle Coup Protests
Myanmar's wireless broadband internet services were shut down on Friday by order of the military, local providers said, as protesters continued to defy the threat of lethal violence to oppose the junta's takeover.A directive from the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Thursday instructed that "all wireless broadband data services be temporarily suspended until further notice," according to a statement posted online by local provider Ooredoo.After weeks of overnight cutoffs of internet access, the military on Friday shut all links apart from those using fiberoptic cable, which was working at drastically reduced speeds. Access to mobile networks and all wireless — the less costly options used by most people in the developing country — was blocked.The Norwegian telecoms company
Sony Could Launch New Xperia Phone on April 14
The Japanese multinational conglomerate company, Sony Corporation is planning to launch its latest model of Xperia phone on April 14, this year.According to The Verge, Sony has, in a very low-key way, just announced that its upcoming Xperia event will be on April 14 (via Droid-Life). The news has been obtained from the Xperia YouTube channel''s banner, where it lays out that there will be a new product announcement happening at 4:30pm Japan Standard Time that''s 3:30am EST, or 12:30am PT (or 1pm IST).The standard gives no genuine clues with regards to what will be declared, yet there have been a couple of bits of gossip gliding around one about another model, the Xperia 1 III, and one about the arrival of
Twitter Fined for Not Taking Down Posts About Joining Protests in Russia
A court in Moscow on Friday fined Twitter for not taking down calls encouraging minors to take part in unauthorized rallies, the latest in a series of moves against the social media giant that has been used to amplify dissent in Russia.The court found Twitter guilty on three counts of violating regulations on restricting unlawful content, ordering the company to pay three fines adding up to RUB 8.9 million (about $117,000).The ruling comes two weeks after Russia's state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor threatened to block Twitter within 30 days if it doesn't take steps to remove banned content.Roskomnadzor last month accused Twitter of failing to remove content encouraging suicide among children, as well as information about drugs and child pornography.
What Is the Best Phone to Buy With Rs. 15,000 in India?
Looking for the best phone to buy under Rs. 15,000? There are several options to choose from. You'll get brands such as Realme, Xiaomi, and Poco with their multiple contenders under the Rs. 15,000 price bracket. While some models in the price segment have promising camera experiences, you'll also have options with higher RAM capacity, and newer processors. With so much variety, picking the most appropriate option isn't that easy. On this episode of Orbital, host Akhil Arora brings in Gadgets 360 reviewer Aditya Shenoy and deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo to discuss the best phones under Rs. 15,000.We spoke about what people's expectations should be when looking at phones under the Rs. 15,000 bracket. Finding an all-rounder in
Flipkart to Launch Nokia Audio Products in India, Could Be TWS Earbuds
Nokia will launch a new audio product in India on April 5 on Flipkart. As per the Nokia Audio Store on the e-commerce platform, the audio device will have a technology that is “designed to give pure sound.” It also hints that the product can be used “in rain,” “at crowded spots,” “during working out,” and “gaming”. These teasers are accompanied by videos which suggest that the Finnish company may launch true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones. Interestingly, this launch is three days prior to another event that Nokia licensee HMD Global confirmed recently.As per the Nokia Audio Store microsite on Flipkart, Nokia may launch a pair of TWS earphones. The teasers, that include some photographs and videos, hint at
Twitter Spaces May Come to Desktop Web Browsers
Twitter Spaces is reportedly rolling out for desktop Web browsers. Twitter Spaces is an audio-only chat room feature that rivals Clubhouse. It was earlier tested for iOS and was subsequently tested for Android smartphones. Twitter hasn't mentioned any specific information on when the desktop version will be rolled out to users. Multiple platforms are releasing their own Clubhouse rival where Discord and Telegram have released their versions. Facebook, LinkedIn, Mark Cuban's Fireside, Slack, and Spotify are also developing their own iterations.A tweet by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong showcased how Twitter Spaces for desktop Web browsers will look like. Another couple of tweets by tipster noah (@magusnn) on March 26 show how the desktop version of Twitter's new
What’s Causing the Global Chip Shortage and How Does It Affect You
As the US economy rebounds from its pandemic slump, a vital cog is in short supply: the computer chips that power a wide range of products that connect, transport, and entertain us in a world increasingly dependent on technology.The shortage has already been rippling through various markets since last summer. It has made it difficult for schools to buy enough laptops for students forced to learn from home, delayed the release of popular products such as the iPhone 12, and created mad scrambles to find the latest video game consoles such as the PlayStation 5.But things have been getting even worse in recent weeks, particularly in the auto industry, where factories are shutting down because there aren't enough chips