We just reported yesterday that Meta would release a web based version for your desktop this week, and here it is…it dropped this morning. Techcrunch.com reports that the rollout is in progress, and you will be able topmost, view your feed, and interact with posts form the desktop..but won’t be able to edit your profile or send a thread over to Instagram Direct Messages yet. A lot of tech watchers think the web app will be a game changer for the upstart Twitter replacement wannabe. 

Google has a little-touted feature in their new Pixel phones that ought to be picked up by all other Android makers and Apple as well. According to bgr.com, it is called Binary Transparency. The feature was originally announced back in 2021, and is exclusive to Pixels right now.  It is a complement to the existing Android Verified Boot feature, that ensures that software on your device comes from a genuine source. The Pixel Binary Transparency tool is a public cryptographic log that will record all metadata about Pixel factor images, Google explains. Pixel users can then use this to mathematically prove that their software is genuine. The idea of the feature is to make it incredibly difficult to insert malicious code and not get caught. A little peace of mind for you from ‘The Google.’

A new rumor says that Samsung’s base Galaxy S24 will be getting a bigger battery. while it will still be smaller can the S24+ or even the S23 Ultra, bigger batteries and longer battery life are always a big selling point for smartphones. 9to5google.com says the next base model will rock a 4,000 mAh battery. Samsung has actually cut battery size as recently as the S22 and 23…after making some tweaks to the phones to make them more efficient. Expect the S24 series to be rolled out in late January or early February of next year. 

Elon Musk’s name change from Twitter to ‘X’ has apparently caused a huge drop in downloads of the app from Apple’s App Store. Mashable.com notes that Seufert looked at the rankings and between July 27th…right before the change on the 31st, to August 15th, the app dropped from 35th to 54th in rankings. WhatsApp and TikTok showed little change, and Meta’s new Threads got into the top 10.

A non-tech note: I am wearing a SAG-AFTRA ON STRIKE hat in solidarity with members who are picketing today down at Netflix in Los Gatos. Since a) I’m working, and b) I’m not on strike because the broadcast contract is still in force, I wanted to support my brothers and sisters. Some independent producers have already agreed to the SAG-AFTRA interim agreement and are back to work. Here’s hoping the big studios will take the hint, and agree to a reasonable deal.

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