News
The biggest layoff in Google history. The company will lay off 12,000 people
Pichai Sundar, CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet, has announced the biggest layoff in the company’s history. In his letter to workers, he said that Google was hiring for “an economic reality different from the one we face today” and that the layoffs are an attempt to meet “Google’s highest priorities as a company.”
Google’s parent company Alphabet increased the number of employees by 24% in 2021 and 2022, and now the company will cut 12 thousand people – about 6% of the workforce. Pichai Sundar expressed his regret about this in his letter and stated that it was a “difficult decision”.
However, the company will sweeten the pills for those affected by the layoffs. Thus, Google employees in the US will receive a salary during the entire “notification period” (60 days). They are also promised a severance pay of 16 weeks’ salary plus two weeks’ pay for each year of employment with the company, bonuses for 2022, compensation for unused vacation time, and six months of post-employment medical care. In other countries, Google will lay off workers according to “local practice.”
Software
Microsoft has released a major Windows 11 update for all users – installation optional
Microsoft has made a major update to the Windows 11 operating system, also known as Moment 5, available to all users as an optional update KB5035942.
Users can optionally install KB5035942 through Windows Update. Previously, the company allowed enthusiasts to manually activate new features from an update. Moment 5 is now available to everyone directly from Windows Update.
Windows 11 Moment 5 brings quite a lot of innovations. Among them are an improved Copilot AI assistant function with new plugins and skills, improved “Photos” with a smart “eraser”, an improved Clipchamp video editor (possibly removing “awkward pauses”), closer integration with Android smartphones (can now be used in as a webcam), and much more.
News
Space meteorologists predicted a new geomagnetic storm: the Sun is approaching maximum activity
Space meteorologists have issued a forecast for this week warning of a possible geomagnetic storm caused by the release of plasma from a solar flare. This could affect radio transmissions on Earth and contribute to the observation of the “northern lights.”
According to an alert issued March 23 by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, the public has no reason to be concerned.
Mainly, solar storms can disrupt high-frequency radio transmissions, such as communications between aircraft and remote towers. Jonathan Lash, a forecaster at the center, noted that many commercial aircraft can use satellite communications as a backup option.
Satellite operators may also have problems tracking their spacecraft, and the power grid may detect induced current in its lines.
“For the general public in high latitudes, with clear skies, this will be a great opportunity to see the ‘northern lights,'” Lash said.
Every 11 years, the Sun’s magnetic field changes and its north and south poles switch places. During this cycle, solar activity also changes and is now approaching its peak, which is called solar maximum.
During solar maximum, geomagnetic storms like the one observed last Sunday can occur on Earth several times a year, according to Lash. During periods of solar minimum, several years may pass between storms.
Last December, the largest solar flare in recent years disrupted radio communications.
Car News
BYD cuts prices on 100 models to beat Toyota and Volkswagen
BYD is going to beat Toyota and Volkswagen by offering modern cars at very low prices. According to Bloomberg, the Chinese automaker has reduced prices on more than 100 of its electric and hybrid models.
For example, BYD’s new generation-changing Seagull hatchback now costs less than $10,000, while the manufacturer’s best-selling electric sedan, the Qin Plus, costs less than $11,000.
BYD announced the beginning of an era called “electricity is cheaper than oil”, when hybrid and pure electric models become as affordable as traditional models with internal combustion engines, or even cheaper.
In total, BYD has already relaunched more than 70 models with lower prices. According to Bloomberg, only the newest Yangwang supercar worth 233 thousand dollars has not fallen in price so far.
By lowering prices, BYD wants to convince drivers to ditch gasoline cars and switch to electric vehicles and hybrids. This aggressive pricing policy poses a real threat to Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan and other manufacturers.
Previously, BYD Auto officially announced the production of its 7 millionth new energy vehicle, which turned out to be the Denza N7.
-
Car News3 days ago
Toyota Corolla lost the title of best-selling car in the world for the first time in 20 years. Tesla Model Y is the new king
-
Components7 days ago
While Intel is abandoning Hyper-Threading, AMD is creating mobile monsters. The company has confirmed the main parameters of the new Ryzen Strix Point APUs
-
News4 days ago
Scientists have created a quantum tornado in superfluid helium: a new step towards understanding the physics of black hole accretion
-
Car News7 days ago
At the intersection of avant-garde and futurism. Kia surprised with the design of the new generation Kia K4 (Cerato) sedan