🪅 Heap Heap Hurray Ed. #144

Friday's here - let's make it a winning day!

#YouTubeJewels - So, YouTube's testing this new virtual currency, Jewels, where viewers can buy gifts for creators... imagine buying virtual hugs and kisses! Great way for fans to show love, but will it bring in more revenue for the platform?

#OperatorAI - OpenAI is preparing an AI agent operator release in January. The Operator AI agent can perform actions in a web browser based on user input. It will be first available in a release preview through the API.

#XboxHandheld - XBox may be thinking of experimenting with handheld gaming. Think on the lines of Steam Deck or Playstation Portable.

#SpotifySlop - Spotify does not seem to be immune from AI garbage being generated. Users spotted a new album on an artists page, but there was no similarity to their music raising suspicion that it was AI generated.

EU Slaps Meta With Record Fine
Meta, the tech giant behind social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been hit with a massive fine by the European Union Commission for allegedly abusing its market power.

Github Copilot's Dominance Interrupted By Newly Joined Forces
Startups like Cursor and Supermaven are attempting to challenge Copilot with their own AI coding editors, and Supermaven has now joined forces with Cursor to build a more useful product faster.

AMD Lays Off 4% Of Its Workforce To Focus On Growth Opportunities
AMD confirms it's laying off 4% of its workforce to focus on ‘large growth opportunities’ It’s unclear how many workers have been impacted by the reduction. AMD had roughly 26,000 employees as of last year.

Poor Password Habits Still Plaguing The Tech World
NordStellar, a cybersecurity company, collaborated with LastPass to analyze password habits, revealing that people are still using weak and reused passwords, both for personal and corporate use. The link has the most commonly used passwords, if you are interested.

LinkedIn - New Badge - Open to Volunteer, a new option to signal interest in volunteer opportunities and connect with charitable organizations.

Google - Launches dedicated Gemini app for iOS with AI-powered assistant, Live feature, image generation, and extensions for Gmail, Maps, YouTube, and Calendar.

Spotify - Introduces Uninterrupted Video Podcasts, Audience-Driven Payments, and New Spotify for Creators Platform

Phone by Google - Live Scam Detection Feature Now Available for Pixel 6 and Newer Devices

Snapchat - Updates Family Center with location tracking features, allowing parents to view, share, and receive notifications about their child's whereabouts.

Awesome Opensource Boilerplates | A curated list of open source boilerplates and starter templates to kickstart your next project.

Jawsm | JavaScript to WASM compiler

The Ideal Typescript Configuration With tsconfig.json
In this article, you'll learn how to use the tsconfig.json file to manage the configuration of your TypeScript project, including options for performance, code safety, and compatibility. The tsconfig.json file is a crucial part of any TypeScript project, serving as a central configuration hub that allows you to customize the behavior of your code.

CSS Now Has A New Logo
The CSS Next community has chosen rebeccapurple as the new logo color after a community-driven vote with over 400 votes. A new repo has been established to hold the logo, alt formats, and future variants.

Minimizing Distractions
Boost your productivity by establishing clear boundaries, organizing your work, and creating a distraction-free environment. Learn actionable strategies to minimize workplace interruptions, communicate your focus, and prioritize your tasks effectively.