A great feature which I use constantly is Apple’s Continuity…it allows you to start a task on for example your phone, then pick right up on your Mac laptop or iPad. Now, according to znet.com, Google is working on a similar feature that will include call switching from one device to another, internet sharing that will let you set up a personal hot spot and have all devices connect, and likely but not announced…easy file transfer…which is not only an Apple thing but also like the Nearby Share feature for Windows. An all-device clipboard feature is apparently also part of the Google feature set for Android. Google may go Apple one better, too. They may allow transfer from one phone to another…Apple won’t let you transfer a call to another iPhone. No timeline is out, but it looks like it will be soon, as some screenshots are already floating around. 

Most car makers have brought out driver assist features that are quite good…not ‘full-self driving,’ as Tesla calls their system…which is a huge exaggeration…but quite good, especially for highway driving. Now, Ford has announced that it is opening up availability of its BlueCruise hands-free driving tech…for a price. Engadget.com reports that previously a customer had to order the option at purchase. Now, the service will be included as standard in supported vehicles. The catch? Oh, of course there is one. BlueCruise at purchase is $2100 for the first 3 years, and annual subscriptions are $800 a year or else $75 a month! Ford does offer a 90 day free trial. They expect to install BlueCruise on 500,000 vehicles in the 2024 model year. 

A number of the world’s largest media organizations have assembled to call for greater transparency in regard to the training of generative AI models. In an open letter to policymakers published yesterday, they ask to be involved in creating standards for the use of artificial intelligence, especially as it relates to intellectual property rights. Thenextweb.com notes that among the organizations behind the letter is the European Publishers’ Council (EPC), European Pressphoto Agency, Gannett | USA TODAY Network, Getty Images, National Press Photographers Association, National Writers Union, News Media Alliance, The Associated Press, and the Authors Guild.

Amazon’s Senior VP of devices and services…that’s the Alexa gadgets…Dave Limp…is retiring in the next few months after 13 years at the company. Theverge.com reports that a successor will be announced in the next few weeks. Although Amazon has sold lots of Echo devices, those sales have tapered off, and Amazon announced last fall that that division would have some layoffs. Limp just said he is leaving because “it’s time.” He added “I have been doing a version of this job (building and shipping consumer electronics) on and off for 30+ years. I love it, but I also want look into the future through a different lens. I am not sure what that future is right now, with the notable exception that it won’t be in the consumer electronics space.” Amazon hosts its fall devices and services event September 20th, and he will be there.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.