🪅 Heap Heap Hurray Ed. #68

Hope your Thursday is as bright and inspiring as you are!

#VulnerableLove - Bumble, Grindr, Happn, Hinge and Hily all had the same vulnerability that could have helped a malicious user to identify the near-exact location of another user. Researchers found that some dating apps allowed malicious users or stalkers to pinpoint the location of their victims down to 2 meters.

#LyricsGate - Spotify took away free lyrics, then brought 'em back! Apparently, they're trying to please everyone after getting major backlash. Free users can now see lyrics for any song, no cap! What's next, will they bring back promised free features?

#TeamMemberBonanza - Microsoft is giving their employees a sweet one-time cash reward on top of their bonus! And it's not just the execs getting in on the action - it's literally EVERYONE! Thousands, possibly tens of thousands of dollars, are headed their way!

#AIAdultery - ChatGPT users can now have real-time conversations with an AI chatbot. The advanced Voice Mode feature is available to ChatGPT Plus members. The company drew criticism for using a voice that sounded like Scarlett Johansson.

#ForeverFever - Logitech is working on a mouse that will literally last forever?! Like, no need to replace it ever! CEO Hanneke Faber even showed off the concept to some innovation people and thought it was like a nice but not super expensive watch - you know, something you'd keep forever! But, let's be real, it'll probably cost a pretty penny - like $200!

Paytm Revolutionizes Offline Payments with NFC Card Soundbox
Paytm, a fintech major, has introduced India's first NFC Card Soundbox, integrating Near Field Communication technology with mobile QR payments, providing an efficient solution for offline merchants. The device accepts various payments, including credit/debit cards and UPI, and offers extended battery life, instant audio confirmation, and multilingual support.

Walmart-owned Flipkart Launches Consolidated Fintech Platform, Flipkart Pay
Flipkart is trying to optimize efficiency ahead of the festive season by launching a fintech platform, Flipkart Pay, which includes financial products and payment options.

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Officially Launched in India
Nothing is a London-based tech company that focuses on creating innovative and affordable smartphones with a unique design. Today, they launched the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, which is an upgraded version of their previous model. The new phone features a more powerful processor, improved camera capabilities, and faster charging. However, it comes with a higher price tag, starting at Rs 27,999.

Amazon Responsible for Recall Procedure Compliance
America’s Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says Amazon failed to adequately notify the public about more than 400,000 recalled products. Amazon products, sold between 2018 and 2021, include faulty carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers that pose an electric shock risk, and flammable children’s pajamas.

Google Photos' AI Editing Tools Go Free For All Android and iOS Users
Google Photos is a popular photo and video sharing app developed by Google that allows users to upload and share their media content. It also includes AI-powered tools designed to help refine and edit your photos, including Magic Eraser, Magic Editor, and Photo Unblur. The app is now available for free to everyone, including both Android and iOS users, and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Chartbrew | Open-source web platform used to create live reporting dashboards from APIs, MongoDB, Firestore, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more

React Hotkeys Hook | React hook for using keyboard shortcuts in components.

Optimizing JavaScript for Better Performance
Javascript code in general runs much slower than it could, simply because it’s not optimized properly. Here is a summary of common optimization techniques that are useful. Note that the tradeoff for performance is often readability.

Exploring Modern Web Development with Popovers
Learn how to use the new Popover API in HTML. You will discover how to create a popover element, style it with CSS, and understand how to use the Popover API.

Impact of Paris Olympics 2024 On Internet Traffic
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics kicked off on Friday, July 26, 2024, and will run until August 11. A total of 10,714 athletes from 204 nations, including individual and refugee teams, will compete in 329 events across 32 sports. This blog post focuses on the opening ceremony and the initial days of the event, examining associated impact on Internet traffic.