TM has partnered with Nokia to enhance its international optical network. This collaboration is specifically designed to address the growing demand for high-speed connectivity, particularly from hyperscaler customers such as large cloud service providers – a crucial requirement for Malaysia’s next step as a digital hub in Southeast Asia.
The cornerstone of this upgrade lies in Nokia’s advanced Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology. DWDM essentially acts like a multi-lane highway for data transmission, allowing TM to transmit multiple data streams simultaneously over a single fibre optic cable. This translates to a significant increase in network capacity, enabling TM to handle the ever-growing volume of data traffic seamlessly.
Nokia’s contribution goes beyond just hardware. The new network will be powered by Nokia’s fifth-generation super-coherent Photonic Service Engine (PSE-Vs) technology. This advanced engine ensures superior transmission performance over long distances, resulting in improved scalability, interoperability, and lower energy consumption. This aligns perfectly with TM’s strategic direction of adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) for network management, as the energy efficiency of the PSE-Vs reduces operational costs.
Beyond enhanced capacity and performance, TM will leverage Nokia’s WaveSuite platform. This software suite provides TM with a comprehensive set of tools for optimizing network operations and unlocking new revenue streams. WaveSuite allows efficient network management, simplifies service creation, and facilitates automation, which is crucial for AI-powered network management.
This partnership between TM and Nokia has far-reaching implications beyond just network upgrades. The enhanced network will create a high-speed expressway for data traffic flowing between Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. This improved connectivity will solidify Malaysia’s position as a leading provider of high-speed and reliable optical network services in Southeast Asia, attracting more hyperscaler customers and fostering regional economic growth.
John Harrington, Senior Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific Sales for Network Infrastructure at Nokia, highlighted the significance of this collaboration. “We are delighted to collaborate with TM to help them meet the growing demand for high-speed connectivity,” he said. “Our advanced optical solutions, including the 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) family for access and metro aggregation, and the WaveSuite applications for network management and service creation, will enable TM to provide a world-class network experience to its customers.”
Apple’s App Store fee structure has long been a contentious issue for developers. In fact, the company’s App Store Fees have come under intense scrutiny in Europe as the EU Commission has ruled against Apple’s policies and reopened an investigation into the company for malicious compliance. These recent developments have emboldened more developers to voice out their grievances in public. Most recently, Patreon, Epic Games, and Spotify have taken to the internet and this intensified the scrutiny.
Let’s take a look back at how we got here. In a landmark decision, the EU Commission found Apple to be in breach of competition law due to its App Store practices. The Commission ruled that Apple’s requirement for developers to use its in-app purchase system and pay a commission on all digital goods and services sold within their apps was unfair and stifled competition.
This ruling has significant implications for Apple. It has forced the company to change its App Store policies and allow developers to offer alternative payment methods within their apps. Apple has been charging a 30% fee to developers for the use of its App Store platform. Since the landmark ruling, the company has “opened up” more options to developers. However, more recently, it has introduced a yearly 5% “Initial Acquisition Fee” and a 10% “Store Services Fee”.
Growing Push Back from Developers
The European Union’s ruling against Apple’s anti-competitive practices has emboldened developers to challenge the company’s new policies. Spotify, for instance, has been a vocal critic of the App Store’s in-app purchase system. The music streaming giant has devised strategies to direct users towards its website for subscription sign-ups, bypassing Apple’s fee structure.
Epic Games, known for its popular game Fortnite, has also been at odds with Apple over App Store policies. The company famously challenged Apple’s rules by offering in-app purchases outside the App Store, leading to Fortnite’s removal from the platform. While the case garnered significant attention, the outcome ultimately favoured Apple, underscoring the challenges developers face when challenging the company’s policies.
Both developers have been more vocal since Apple introduced these changes. Epic Games has been bolder than others and unphased by Apple’s initial removal of Fortnite from the App Store. However, we don’t see Apple budging from its stance with the new fee structure.
Current Developments: Patreon Faces A Tough Decision
Patreon, a platform for creators to connect with their supporters, is currently facing a similar predicament. Apple has mandated that Patreon use its in-app purchase system, which would result in a substantial portion of its revenue going to Apple. Patreon is facing a difficult decision: comply with Apple’s terms and potentially reduce creator earnings, or risk being removed from the App Store, losing access to a significant portion of its user base.
These developments underscore the power struggle between platform owners like Apple and app developers. While the EU’s ruling marks a significant step towards challenging Apple’s dominance, the company still holds considerable sway over the App Store ecosystem. The coming months will be crucial in determining how this battle unfolds and what impact it will have on the future of app distribution. It’s also worth noting that while Apple’s App Store is in the crosshairs, these practices are used in many app distribution platforms even the Google Play Store.
As the situation evolves, more developers will likely join the chorus of dissent against Apple’s App Store policies. The ultimate outcome of these challenges could have far-reaching implications for the entire app economy.
ASUS has introduced its latest ProArt series laptops, designed to cater to the evolving needs of creators. These new models, powered by advanced AI capabilities, offer a blend of portability, power, and precision. To celebrate the launch, ASUS is hosting an AI PC experiential roadshow, providing consumers with an opportunity to experience these innovative devices firsthand.
Source: ASUS Malaysia
The ProArt P16 and ProArt PX13 are the highlights of this launch. Both laptops feature powerful AMD Ryzen AI processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, delivering exceptional performance for demanding creative tasks. These devices are equipped with ASUS’s AI-powered tools, StoryCube and MuseTree, which streamline creative workflows and enhance productivity.
The ProArt P16 is a 16-inch clamshell laptop designed for creators on the go. Its sleek and durable build houses powerful components, including a 50 TOPS NPU integrated into the AMD Ryzen AI processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. The ProArt PX13, on the other hand, is a versatile 13-inch convertible laptop that offers flexibility and portability without compromising performance.
To celebrate the launch, ASUS is hosting an AI PC experiential roadshow at Plaza Low Yat from August 12th to 18th, 2024. During this event, customers can explore the new ProArt lineup, enjoy exclusive deals, and participate in exciting activities. Visitors can stand a chance to win attractive prizes, including the ROG Ally X, by experiencing the capabilities of ASUS AI PCs.
The roadshow also features incredible deals on select laptops, with discounts of up to RM9,000 available. Additionally, customers can enjoy up to RM866 worth of reward bundles.
Pricing & Availability
The ProArt PX13 is priced at RM9,999, while the ProArt P16 is available for RM12,999. Both models are set to be available in Malaysia starting from August 2024.
U Mobile and Huawei Malaysia have entered into a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at bolstering the telco’s 5G network capabilities. The collaboration will see both companies work closely to enhance the overall 5G experience, accelerate the deployment of future Radio Access Network (RAN) technologies, and drive 5G adoption among both consumers and enterprises.
Building on their existing partnership, U Mobile will leverage Huawei Malaysia’s global expertise to deploy advanced hardware and software solutions for the nation’s second 5G network. This strategic move is expected to significantly improve network efficiency and performance. Furthermore, the telco will tap into Huawei’s technical prowess to prepare for the integration of future RAN technologies, ensuring that its network remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
To foster greater 5G adoption, U Mobile and Huawei Malaysia will intensify research and development efforts. The collaboration will focus on understanding and addressing the evolving needs of consumers and enterprises, particularly in sectors with high demands for low latency and massive bandwidth, such as those in the enterprise segment.
“U Mobile is delighted to receive Huawei Malaysia’s support for the deployment of the second 5G network. As long-term partners, we have benefitted from Huawei Malaysia’s technologies and global expertise and we believe they will continue to play a critical role in helping us improve the 5G experience and also in our preparations to deploy future RAN technologies,” said Woon Ooi Yuen, Chief Technology Officer at U Mobile. “This will help us ensure that our infrastructure is capable of supporting rapidly evolving and high-performance needs, particularly from enterprises.”
Zac Chow, Vice President of the Carrier Network Business Group at Huawei Malaysia, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “Huawei Malaysia looks forward to supporting U Mobile in their future developments. We want to set the stage for a better and more connected future. Our ultimate goal is to bridge the digital divide, and bring digital to every person, home and organisation.”
The latest MoU builds upon a previous agreement signed earlier this year, which focused on 5G innovation and business adoption. This ongoing collaboration underscores the commitment of both companies to driving Malaysia’s digital transformation and enhancing the overall telecommunications landscape in the country.
Small and medium businesses are different from their larger competitors because the chief strategist in many SMBs is often still the owner or the founder.
The challenge for SMB owners is therefore often to understand the technological trends that might apply to their business. This can be complicated, in part because the rate of change in technology is high.
Yet many of these technology areas, such as access to mobile devices and the growth of cloud services, have special relevance to SMBs. Integrating technology should therefore be a central part of any SMB strategy, rather than an option, even for very small companies. The technology is needed to meet customer demands for better experiences, to ensure that businesses and customers can transact quickly, and because being online makes it easier and faster for SMBs to open up new global markets.
Employees of SMBs have similar expectations and the same driven goals of the business owners. They believe that having the right technology improves their productivity, helps drive business growth and increases flexibility in a hybrid working world.
At the center of how SMBs can leverage technology are four trends around mobility, AI-enabled services, and cloud automation, all under a security umbrella.
Taking teams to the next level of productivity, flexibility and customer satisfaction will require businesses to find a balance between implementing emerging technology and training employees to use this technology to provide personalized experiences for customers.
How do each of these technologies support and influence SMBs?
Connectivity
Slow and unstable connectivity is a major obstacle for a distributed workforce that relies on device technology to collaborate and to provide value to customers. Even as 5G continues to be rolled out around the world, WiFi 6E is already offering advanced connectivity in many countries. SMBs can make their investments in WiFi 6E and 5G today, to take advantage of higher-bandwidth, ultra-low-latency connectivity, and high-speed connectivity to the cloud. It’s worth noting that 5G deployments are accelerating around the world, and WiFi 7 is already on the horizon. SMBs should at least understand where these might fit into their existing and future strategies.
Device speed and functionality will continue to match this high-speed connectivity, and users will continue to seek out ever more productive designs that match lifestyle, work style, and mobility. An example of a device that is made for such high-speed connectivity is the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 operating on Windows 11 Pro. Simplify your workday and improve productivity with Windows 11 Pro With AI-powered experiences, intelligent workflows, and unmatched personalization, you can do it all on your Windows 11 Pro device. From features to get organized in a snap to fast performance and smart videoconferencing, Windows 11 Pro devices help you improve productivity anywhere. It has a built-in secondary screen offering alternative and distinct functions. Such an innovative device requires high-speed connectivity so that employees will be “always available” and “often on”, working flexibly to accommodate their personal lives.
Cloud automation
Cloud automation, and cloud applications, are an easy entry point for many SMBs that are looking to speed up or otherwise improve their business processes. As data, apps and workloads continue to expand into the cloud, SMBs will be able to automate simpler tasks, programs and customer services. Efficient automation of data analytics, customer feedback and trends or smarter scheduling can free up more time for teams to focus on creative growth engines.
The cloud also allows more SMBs to consider Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) options. While often being more cost-effective, hybrid cloud solutions will be more future-proof and allow for greater scalability through flexibility. IDC has predicted that the growth of cloud services among APAC SMBs, for example, will continue through to 2025.
AI services and products
AI services are increasingly playing a role in helping businesses address common challenges such as staffing, security monitoring, financial management, and tailoring services to customer needs.
Some SMBs are now incorporating AI chatbots to provide round-the-clock resources for employees, adding convenience for those seeking answers to common questions about employee benefits, scheduling, insurance, vacation availability and sick time.
Companies that adapt smartly to incorporate AI-enabled services and products have a competitive advantage. AI and machine learning can provide real-time targeted data analysis, allowing employees to do creative and social media tasks that AI simply cannot credibly do. This, in turn, frees up time for innovation, and product and service development – investments that can be made without sacrificing current revenue and cash flow.
Securing the IT ecosystem
Across all these technologies sits security, from the devices all the way through to cloud access. Remote and hybrid work styles have already changed the nature of security risks, with many organizations, including SMBs, now allowing employees to have flexibility in where they work and use their own devices. As more services move to the cloud, access security risks also increase, and while cloud service providers can provide secure access inside their data centres, access between a business’s devices and the cloud can still attract cyber security risks. Threats are very real and lack of adequate protection can have devastating effects, but best practices and solutions exist to mitigate those threats.
SMBs must strategically implement the appropriate infrastructure, cloud automation and AI tools that will help their business scale. Businesses of all sizes demand client and data centre infrastructure that enables growth rather than restricts it. As technology rapidly evolves, businesses need the ability to integrate new technologies and workloads efficiently and seamlessly, often within resource, budget and capital boundaries.
For SMBs, this sometimes represents new challenges, but they can leverage the experience and investment made by larger companies, peers, partners and competitors, and with the right business and technology strategies in place, they will have the advantage of being more dynamic and responsive to growth opportunities.
Grab’s humble roots as a Malaysian-born start-up are often ignored as the company has moved its headquarters over to Singapore, a country that was, at a time, more receptive to disruptors and unicorns. However, Malaysia’s talent still plays a vital role in the organisation as the company continues to host some of its core talent in Malaysia like its technical team – one which the company is currently expanding.
Source: Tech in Asia
That said, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Suthen Thomas Paradatheth, continues to lead the expanding technical and programming teams. Suthen is a Malaysian, born and bred. He hails from Kuala Lumpur – Petaling Jaya more specifically – and has had most of his education locally in institutions like Sekolah Menengah Seaport (now known as Sekolah Menengah Sri Permata). Suthen earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering with First Class Honours from Multimedia University in 2005. Programming seems to be innate with Suthen having worked as a freelancer since his high school days.
After university, a series of fortunate events and good networking found him working on Grab’s codebase. He’s been with the company since its early days in 2011; Back then, it was still MyTeksi. Since then, Suthen has earned his Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and continues to be the man behind (most) of the code and features that make their way into the Grab app.
But – we’re not here to talk just about his achievements, we’re here to talk about the tech he’s worked on and some of the methods of his madness. It’s worth noting though, that even with his impressive resume and experience – particularly with Grab – Suthen remains extremely humble and approachable.
Passion Driven, Curiosity Fuelled
Heading Grab’s Technology and Programming is no small task. From its early days, the task of building the Grab Superapp has been monumental. It involved significant changes to the codebase, deciding which language to use and even creating new approaches. The task – which at one point was outsourced to programmers in India – is now handled by a team of about 2000 employees and headed by Suthen.
Source: Grab
“Software engineering is, like, the closest thing to magic in the real world. Like, you put a certain set of words on a screen in a certain way and something happens…it’s the closest thing to a spell in reality.”
Suthen’s take on building a capable team is a rather unique one. In fact, his approach to working as the CTO is unique in itself. His approach is a very altruistic one mired in the belief that Grab as a platform is impacting lives significantly. This belief paired with an insatiable curiosity and passion for coding has led to his growth over the years and his ability to manage a large, growing team. This same passion and drive is what he looks for in his team members.
The ethos even rings true when the team deploys new features and services into the app. Key tenets like “How will users benefit from it?” and “Will it make a significant difference?” are big drivers to why we continue to willingly accept the big changes we see in the Grab app.
Empowering Independence and Diversity at Every Level
The technical team at Grab isn’t a small one and – like the super app – it’s not monolithic either. The 2,000-strong team is siloed into “Tech Families” a concept built on the similar “Tribes” or “Squads” model. Each of these families is focused on one of the more technical aspects of the app’s many services and functions. But more importantly, the teams are made of diverse talents that complement their functions and reduce dependence on other teams. These teams aren’t just made up of software engineers, they could have people skilled in data and analytics, designers and even communicators if the team’s functions need it. They’re cross-functional and allow teams to work independently and innovate freely.
The biggest component to the success of Grab’s approach isn’t just the diversity of talent and skills in each team – it’s trust. Suthen has an approach where he trusts the teams and their team leads. He communicates with the leads and trusts them to solve and address the concerns of their own team members. In his own words, “…my job is actually to create coherence, connectivity between the layers.”
Using the Right Technology to Go Places
The same approach to creating coherence also trickles down to tech adoption as well. Grab isn’t behind the curve when it comes to new technologies. In fact, they’ve recently announced a partnership with Open AI to adopt some of the many Generative AI technologies that come with Open AI’s ChatGPT. However, Grab isn’t just about adopting the newest, hottest thing on the market. The decision to adopt new technologies is driven by how the new technology addresses the needs of the organization. In fact, if there isn’t a solution on the market, the teams at Grab will create their own.
Not many people know this, but Grab has actually developed its own mapping system and doesn’t use third-party map providers like Google Maps. This change was driven by the fact that a lot of third-party mapping, didn’t serve the needs of Grab’s ride partners and users. This was particularly true in markets where GrabBike is more prevalent. To address the needs of ride partners and users, Grab actually looked to their ride partners to map lesser-known roads and pathways. Using AI and a simple action camera, Grab has created its own mapping platform that allows it to be more accurate and serve ride partners better.
However, being a technology company, the teams at Grab are continually innovating. In fact, the teams are continually trying to stay ahead of the curve by identifying and addressing new needs or existing ones that new technologies can address. Leadership, like Suthen, continually push for this innovation and also hire for it. More importantly, leadership should invest in its own people to drive innovation.
Creating Efficiency & Reliability from the Ground Up
Innovation isn’t about throwing something to the wall and seeing what sticks. It’s about creating answers to problems that arise or creating better ones to existing problems. Similarly, at Grab, the approach that Suthen and the tech teams adopt is one that creates efficiency. This efficiency doesn’t just mean it’s efficient in code – whatever they do has to create efficiency when it comes to the day-to-day of Grab’s operations and this includes the efficiency of ride partners.
Source: Grab Holdings
“Running a good marketplace is also running an environmentally friendly sustainable marketplace.”
We’ve seen GrabShare come and go and return to the platform. This is due to Grab testing out more efficient and functional ways to implement it. Let’s be honest, having a single passenger in the ride can be a tad wasteful when it comes to resources, so with GrabShare, where available, the driver earns more while being more efficient with the petrol the cars utilise. With ESG goals playing an increasingly important role in companies, this approach literally builds these goals into the code.
Even when it comes to the adoption of AI and new technologies, Suthen and his team are looking at how it impacts day-to-day functions. One of the pain points they hope to resolve is the waiting time for riders when it comes to food deliveries. Minimising this would not only mean that delivery partners are more efficient with their time, it would also mean that they are able to earn more. This would also help drive more efficiency with the fuel that is being used.
Of course, when it comes to ride-hailing, Grab is looking into EVs and hybrids that allow them to be more environmentally friendly. In fact, they’ve already started offering GrabGreen in other markets.
Creating a Sustainable, Passionate Team Starts with the Top
The one thing that rang true in our sit down with Suthen is this: the culture and workspace environment start very much with the top. The right approach, empowering your teams, creating independence, and prioritising your innovations will drive your teams to increase productivity and even retain your customers.
Overall, key takeaways for disruptors and even CTOs looking to create a team that is innovation-driven is this:
Trust is key when you build your team.
Create teams that are self-sufficient and reduce dependencies to keep them agile.
Innovate efficiently and keep your company’s values as a driving force.
Micron Technology has taken a significant leap forward in data storage technology with the introduction of its ninth-generation (G9) TLC NAND flash memory. This innovation positions Micron as a leader in the industry, offering unparalleled performance and efficiency for data-intensive applications.
Unmatched Speed & Density
The G9 NAND boasts a staggering transfer speed of 3.6 GB/s, a substantial leap compared to previous generations. This groundbreaking technology is poised to revolutionize the performance of Solid State Drives (SSDs) and other storage devices, particularly in sectors requiring high-speed data processing, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.
Micron’s G9 NAND excels in density as well. It occupies 28% less space than competing technologies while maintaining high storage capacity. This efficiency translates to smaller, more compact devices without compromising performance, as detailed in the Micron G9 NAND product page.
The performance benefits of G9 NAND extend beyond raw speed. It offers up to 99% higher write bandwidth and 88% better read bandwidth per die compared to previous generations, significantly enhancing the overall performance of SSDs (as referenced in the 2650 NVMe SSD product brief).
Micron 2650 NVMe SSD: A Showcase for G9 NAND’s Potential
The Micron 2650 NVMe SSD serves as a prime example of the G9 NAND’s capabilities. According to Micron, this SSD delivers exceptional performance in real-world applications, outperforming competitors by up to 38% in PCMark 10 benchmarks. This should translate to faster boot times, smoother multitasking, and quicker application launches for users.
Micron’s commitment to innovation extends beyond performance. The company is also focused on energy efficiency. The G9 NAND contributes to reducing power consumption in SSDs, making it an environmentally friendly choice for data centres and consumers alike.
As the demand for high-performance storage solutions continues to grow, Micron’s G9 NAND technology is poised to play a pivotal role in meeting the evolving needs of various industries, from data centres to consumer electronics.
Pricing & Availability
Specific pricing and availability details for the G9 NAND and Micron 2650 SSD have not been officially released. However, considering the target market and the focus on cutting-edge technology, the pricing is expected to reflect its premium positioning.
Micron Technology has introduced the Micron 9550 NVMe SSD, a groundbreaking storage solution designed to excel in demanding data centre environments. This SSD is particularly well-suited for AI workloads, offering exceptional performance and efficiency.
At the core of the 9550 SSD’s capabilities are its impressive speed metrics. Delivering sequential read and write speeds of 14.0 GB/s and 10.0 GB/s respectively, the drive significantly outperforms its predecessors. These figures, coupled with industry-leading random read and write speeds, position the 9550 SSD as a top choice for handling the intensive data processing demands of AI applications.
Micron’s vertical integration strategy, encompassing controller, NAND, DRAM, and firmware development, has been instrumental in achieving the 9550 SSD’s exceptional performance. This approach allows for fine-tuned optimization and the integration of advanced features such as self-encrypting drive capabilities and compliance with security standards like SPDM 1.2.
Power efficiency is another key strength of the 9550 SSD. Consuming up to 43% less power than comparable SSDs in AI workloads, the drive contributes to reduced energy consumption and lower operating costs in data centres. This efficiency is particularly crucial in the context of growing environmental concerns and rising energy costs.
The 9550 SSD is designed to integrate into existing data centre infrastructure seamlessly. It is compatible with leading industry platforms, including NVIDIA’s Magnum IO GPUDirect Storage and AMD EPYC-based servers. Intel has also expressed support for the drive, highlighting its alignment with Intel’s Xeon processor platforms.
Available in capacities ranging from 3.2TB to 30.72TB and across multiple form factors, the Micron 9550 SSD offers flexibility to meet the diverse needs of data centre operators. Its focus on performance, efficiency, and security makes it a compelling choice for organizations seeking to optimize their data centre operations for demanding workloads such as AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing.
While specific pricing and availability details have not been disclosed, Micron has confirmed that the 9550 SSD is currently sampling globally. This suggests that the product is likely to be commercially available in the near future.
Adobe has unveiled a wave of groundbreaking new features for its flagship applications, Illustrator and Photoshop. These advancements leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to empower designers and photographers with innovative tools that streamline workflows and unlock new creative possibilities.
The latest updates prioritize AI integration, aiming to enhance efficiency and productivity for users. A key highlight is the introduction of Generative Shape Fill (beta) in Illustrator. This innovative tool utilizes the power of Adobe Firefly, a machine-learning framework, to generate intricate and detailed vector shapes based on user input. Users simply describe the desired shape with text prompts, and Generative Shape Fill automatically delivers a range of options. This eliminates the need for manual creation, saving designers valuable time and effort.
AI-Powered Image Editing
Photoshop also benefits from the inclusion of AI features. The Generate Image tool, powered by Adobe Firefly Image 3, allows users to create entirely new images based on text descriptions. This opens doors for creative exploration and rapid prototyping, enabling designers to visualize ideas more quickly and efficiently.
Enhanced Selection and Adjustment Tools
The updates extend beyond AI. Both Illustrator and Photoshop boast improvements to existing tools. Illustrator features enhanced selection tools for more precise object manipulation. Photoshop gains a new Adjustment Brush tool, providing users with greater control over adjustments applied to specific areas of an image. These refinements streamline the editing process and allow for more nuanced creativity.
Empowering Creators with Accessibility
Accessibility remains a core focus for Adobe. The new features are designed to be user-friendly and cater to a diverse range of skill levels. Program Akar, a new initiative by Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) powered by AWS re/Start, was also announced alongside the Adobe updates. This program aims to equip Malaysians with essential cloud computing skills, fostering a future workforce prepared to utilize these cutting-edge design tools.
The development of these AI-powered features reflects Adobe’s commitment to collaboration. Generative Shape Fill in Illustrator is powered by the latest Firefly Vector Model, highlighting teamwork between Adobe’s research and development teams. Program Akar, meanwhile, exemplifies a successful industry partnership between PayNet, AWS, and WEPS, ensuring accessible training for aspiring designers.
In a surprising turn of events, Google has announced it will not be phasing out third-party cookies in its Chrome browser as previously planned. This decision comes after years of back-and-forth discussions and industry concerns about the potential impact on online advertising.
For those unfamiliar, third-party cookies are small data files placed on your browser by websites you visit. These cookies track your browsing activity across different sites, allowing advertisers to build profiles of your interests and target you with personalized ads. Privacy advocates have long criticized third-party cookies for being intrusive and a violation of user privacy.
In 2019, Google introduced its Privacy Sandbox initiative, aiming to develop alternative methods for interest-based advertising without compromising user privacy. Initially, Google planned to phase out third-party cookies entirely by 2022. This deadline was subsequently pushed back to late 2024 due to technical challenges and industry feedback.
The potential removal of third-party cookies caused significant anxiety within the advertising and publishing industries. Many businesses rely on these cookies for targeted advertising, a major source of revenue. Concerns were raised regarding the effectiveness of alternative methods proposed by Google and the potential for a decline in ad revenue for publishers.
Google’s decision to maintain third-party cookies signifies a shift in its approach. In a blog post on July 22nd, 2024, Anthony Chavez, vice president of Google’s Privacy Sandbox initiative, stated, “We are proposing an updated approach that elevates user choice.” While details remain scarce, this suggests Google will focus on user control over how their data is used for advertising purposes.
While Google’s reversal on third-party cookies provides some clarity for advertisers and publishers, questions remain. The specific features of the “updated approach” emphasizing user choice have yet to be unveiled. It’s unclear how this new approach will balance user privacy with the needs of the advertising industry. Additionally, it’s uncertain whether regulatory scrutiny from governments will impact this decision.
For now, users can expect to continue seeing targeted ads based on their browsing activity. However, it’s possible that Google will introduce new features in Chrome that allow users more control over how their data is used. This could potentially involve enhanced settings for managing cookies or opting out of personalized advertising entirely.
The debate surrounding third-party cookies has highlighted the ongoing tension between user privacy and targeted advertising. While Google’s decision provides a temporary reprieve, the search for a more privacy-focused approach to online advertising will likely continue. The development and adoption of robust alternatives to third-party cookies will be crucial for shaping the future of the online advertising landscape.
