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Casio, the Japanese electronics giant best known for calculators and watches, is venturing into plushier territory with Moflin, a fluffy AI-powered pet robot that's designed to form an emotional bond with its owner. Resembling a guinea pig or maybe an earless rabbit, a Moflin reacts to being spoken to and cuddled, and can recognize a specific person's voice and touch. After about a month, it becomes more vocal and active, learning to respond to its owner with wriggles and meow-like sounds. According to Casio, artificial intelligence enables it to pull from 4 million potential combinations of audio and movement to develop and display its personality. The creature's mood is boosted by affectionate interaction, and drops when neglected or startled; users can get a closer read on their Moflin's emotional states through an accompanying app.Originally developed by Vanguard Industries Inc. and launched on Kickstarter in 2020, Moflin's initial production was stymied by pandemic-era supply chain issues. Now manufactured and distributed by Casio, the device is available for pre-order in Japan, with shipping planned for November 2024, though it's currently listed as sold out. Available in grey and brown, Moflins sell for JPY 59,400 (USD 395/EUR 365), plus an optional annual membership for discounts on hospitalization (aka repairs), fur care and fur replacements. So, is this all fluff? Probably not. Speculations about the future of human-bot interactions have gone into overdrive since ChatGPT was introduced, and chatbots have proven to be exceptionally engaging for those seeking emotional or intimate connections. Casio offers a simpler, more innocent form of companionship that provides moments of delight and helps soothe people when they're stressed or anxious. Take the growing popularity of Jellycats and other stuffed animals among adults, throw in responsive, AI-powered interaction plus an ever-expanding market for self-care tools, and Moflin seems like the natural evolution of multiple trends. Cats: it's time to start worrying about an animatronic furball taking your job...
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Marketing and Advertising
Google has formally filed a motion [PDF] asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to put a pause on the order that forces the company to open the Play store to competitors. If you'll recall, Google lost an antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games after a federal jury found that the company held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing services for Android devices. Earlier this month, US District Judge James Donato ordered Google to allow third-party app stores access to the Google Play app catalog and to make those stores downloadable from its storefront. Now, Google is asking the court for a stay on that order while it's appealing the Epic antitrust lawsuit decision, saying that it will expose 100 million Android users in the US to "substantial new security risks." The company called the order "harmful and unwarranted" and said that if it's allowed to stand, it will threaten Google's ability to "provide a safe and trusted used experience." It argued that if it makes third-party app stores available for download from Google Play, people might think that the company is vouching for them, which could raise "real risks for [its] users." Those app stores could have "less rigorous protections," Google explained, that could expose users to harmful and malicious apps. It also said that giving third-party stores access to the Play catalog could harm businesses that don't want their products available alongside inappropriate or malicious content. Giving third-party stores access to its entire library could give "bad-intentioned" stores a "veneer of legitimacy." Moreover, it argued that allowing developers to link out from their apps "creates significant risk of deceptive links," since bad actors could use the feature for phishing attacks to compromise users' devices and steal their data. One of court's main proposed changes is to allow developers to remove Google Play billing as an option, allowing them to offer their apps to Android users without having to pay the company a commission. However, Google said that by allowing developers to remove its billing system, it could "force an option that may not have the safeguards and features that users expect." In its filing, Google emphasized that the three weeks the court gave it to make these sweeping changes is too short for a "Herculean task." It creates an "unacceptable risk of safety" that could lead to major issues affecting the functionality of users' Android devices, it said. The company also questioned why the court sided with Epic in its antitrust lawsuit, whereas it sided with Apple in a similar case also filed by the video game company. "It is pause-inducing that Apple, which requires all apps go through its proprietary App Store, is not a monopolist, but Google which built choice into the Android operating system so device makers can preinstall and users can download competing app stores was condemned for monopolization."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-wants-to-put-the-consequences-of-its-epic-antitrust-ruling-on-pause-during-appeal-020354621.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
Apple introduced some new tools to its Apple Business Connect program that could be useful for the everyday consumer. The most notable update is the introduction of Business Caller ID. When this feature rolls out next year, companies of any size can register to have their name, logo and department appear when they contact customers. In practice, that can help people distinguish between a phone call from a legitimate business and spam. Apple Business Connect allows companies to have more control over how they appear within different apps across the Apple ecosystem. In 2023, Apple offered businesses customization for their listings in Maps, Messages, Siri and Wallet. Today's updates make Business Connect branding tools available to any company, including those without a brick-and-mortar location. In addition to the eventual rollout of Business Caller ID, the program is also adding brand info within the Mail and Phone apps. Participating companies can also add their logo to the Tap to Pay feature for contactless payments. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-will-launch-a-business-caller-id-service-next-year-223913262.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
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