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Digital Nomads in Rome: The five best bars to Work Remotely

Tech

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November 5, 2022

Digital Nomads in Rome: The five best bars to Work Remotely

Rome has filled up again after the long-lasting effects of the pandemic that stopped the usual crowds of tourists that arrive in the Italian capital every season. I mentioned Rome because, in this column, I will talk about Italy, my country, but also about Europe and the rest of the world, trying to investigate trends and opportunities that can be seized in different countries.

I will also talk about digital nomads, a constantly growing lifestyle among workers, freelancers and students all over the world, not least because the Covid-19 epidemic has shown those companies still reluctant to smart working that the office today is no longer sacred because productivity does not drop if you work from home or anywhere other than your desk. A light mind, away from stress, has an easier time coming up with innovative ideas, finding solutions to problems, and unleashing creativity.

Rome and digital nomads are the two keywords of the first contribution on Smart Corner, intending to provide valuable pointers on comfortable places where you can plug in your laptop to work during the day. Thus, I have selected some of the best bars scattered in the city’s most central neighbourhoods, offering an excellent gastronomic choice for breakfast, lunch and snacks and a quiet environment.

Although in recent years, many managers have started to set up corners dedicated precisely to smart workers, it should be borne in mind that Rome and Italy, in general, conceive of bars and similar venues mainly for enjoying a daily treat and spending time chatting with friends. There are places to find a desk and free Wi-Fi, only that overall; there might be fewer than in other large cities in northern Europe. It is no coincidence that there is still no Starbucks in Rome, with the American company’s first location expected to open near Roma Termini, the city’s main train station, by 2025.

Ex Circus

Granted that making a ranking always runs the risk of displeasing someone because the taste is the realm of subjectivity and many variables come into play when judging a café as a working environment, Ex Circus is undoubtedly an excellent first step for those hunting for a casual landing place. Located in an alley behind Piazza Navona, it is a colourful café with a variety of spaces, offering free Wi-Fi and an international menu with bagels, salads, avocado toast, acai bowls, charcuterie board, cakes and a wide selection of teas, smoothies, hot chocolate and coffee. Run by an international team, it was created to be a focal point for tourists, students and workers looking for a familiar place. At any hour, there are young people working on their PCs scattered around the three rooms of the café.

Three Wi-Fi networks are available and of very good quality (important because there is no 4G network coverage in some interior areas), with power sockets for each table. The latter are large enough to accommodate laptops, mice, smartphones, headphones, and other useful work tools. The relaxed atmosphere, with low-volume music in the background that is enjoyable and not annoying, makes it possible to make video calls and participate in a virtual meeting without disturbance (wearing headphones or earphones, of course). Dog-friendly and with a small outdoor area, the Ex Circus is favoured by its central location, making it an easy place to reach for those living near the city centre. The prices are slightly higher than in other city cafés, but here you can work all day without any problems, which is not so common in city centre venues. Definitely recommended!

Open every day, 9 am-7 pm.

Materia

Uniqueness is the hallmark of Materia, an eatery a stone’s throw from the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (known as the Cathedral of Rome) that mixes food, coffee and design. The idea behind the concept is to create a lively but quiet context to offer the best conditions for those who want to eat, chat with friends, read the available magazines, and study and work on their PCs. Because together with Ex Circus, this is the best place in Rome for smart workers. Many large tables (for 2 and up to 8 people) for writing without disturbances and many electrical sockets available in the two internal rooms are precious elements in an ideal setting for streaming presentations and online meetings with colleagues. The Wi-Fi connection is excellent, with network and password signs prominently displayed at the entrance to the room.

Remote working — Materia Cafe – Laura and Marta, Founders

The environment is cosy because it is a meeting place for Roman and foreign freelancers (in the majority). The working hours are defined: from 8 am to 6.30 pm. In between is the lunch break (in which you can continue working), with a culinary offer that changes often and goes from poke to the famous Roman pasta dishes, from salads to buns with avocado toast and chicken curry, which remain the most popular options with the customers who crowd the place every day (especially in the morning). Also helping to soothe the mood is the well-kept décor, with many succulents and objects on display and a good number of international magazines always available.

At the Materia Café, smart workers are welcome (it is the favourite place of many employees of the nearby British embassy) and that is why if you are passing through Rome you cannot miss the opportunity to discover it, working until 6.30 pm, because after that it is time to close the laptops and enjoy an aperitif and an evening.

Open Monday 8 am-4 pm / Tuesday-Friday 8 am-12 pm / Saturday-Sunday 9 am-12 pm

Chiostro del Bramante

Unlike the other places mentioned, this is a place without equal, with a view that is good for the eyes and soul, because it is the cafeteria of one of Rome’s most characteristic museums, built by Donato Bramante around 1500. Just think how often it can happen to study or work near a fresco such as The Sibyls (more than 6 metres wide), painted by Raphael in 1515. Here, however, it happens every day because the Chiostro del Bramante is a concentration of culture that extends to 360 degrees: exhibitions, events, workshops and bookshops; every day, there is something new to do and see. Sitting outside in one of the spaces of the upper gallery overlooking the inner courtyard guarantees relaxation and tranquillity to concentrate on one’s activities.

The tables are spaced out and large enough to accommodate all the tools needed to work, study, talk and participate in virtual meetings. The problem is that there is a shortage of electrical sockets, so you have to play it safe and arrive with a charged laptop if you plan to stay for several hours. Another weak point is the Wi-Fi connection, which often stutters, although this is an obstacle that can be stemmed with an Italian Sim, which, for around eight to ten euros a month, ensures unlimited data traffic (and then you only have to connect your laptop to your smartphone). However, the Chiostro del Bramante remains a wonderful place to immerse yourself in the culture of Rome’s past and contemporary, not to mention that it is close to such splendid sites as the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Campo de’ Fiori.

Open Monday-Friday 10 am – 8 pm / Saturday-Sunday 10 am-9 pm

Caffé Letterario

Combining a bookshop with a café, as a meeting place, a cultural venue to create hotbeds for exchanging ideas. This is the principle behind the Caffè Letterario, a café born in 2008 from the recovery of a former garage and well known in the city for the transversality of the offer and the extended opening hours (it starts at 9 am and goes on until 2 am, with many shows, literary presentations and live music scheduled every night). Situated in the heart of the Ostiense district, the open space is a favourite destination for a large number of students from the nearby faculties of the University of Roma Tre, as well as professionals and freelancers living in one of Rome’s nightlife districts.

Unlike the vast majority of Roman cafés, space is not an issue here: a free seat can almost always be found, despite the high daily attendance of students and freelance workers. Until late afternoon, plenty of tables are available, the Wi-Fi connection holds up well enough, and the in-house library is a good option to break the work rhythm. Elsewhere there are more sophisticated dishes and drinks, as well as tidiness and refined décor, but beyond that, the Caffè Letterario is undoubtedly a good place to unleash one’s creativity, not least by meeting artists of all kinds.

Barnum Café

Calling it a café doesn’t convey the idea, as the lunch menu and the choice of cocktails satisfy customers. With a relaxed atmosphere, free Wi-Fi and an outdoor area on the adjacent street to use in warm weather, the Barnum Café is a good option for a short work session.

Coffee, burgers and seasonal dishes are the gastronomic highlights, which is why it is very popular. With the rather limited interior space (there are 10 tables, only two for 6-8 people and the others all 2-seater) and the few electrical outlets available, there are more suitable places to work all morning or afternoon. It remains, however, an option to consider also because of its favourable location: it is on Via del Pellegrino, a short distance from Castel Sant’Angelo, Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona. If you need to spend an hour or so at the PC, it’s fine, but if you have a phone call or an event to attend on Zoom/Google Meet, you’d better go elsewhere.

Open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 3.30 pm.

The ‘cheap’ Meta Quest visor will arrive in 2023

News
Tech

Antonino Caffo

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November 4, 2022

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The ‘cheap’ Meta Quest visor will arrive in 2023

Meta Quest Pro has just arrived in (online) shops, but the company is already thinking about its successor, the next version of the VR visor line but for everyone, cheaper. During the company’s last earnings call, outgoing CFO Dave Whener said that ‘the next generation of Quest consumer visors’ will be launched ‘later next year’.

Mark Zuckerberg had referred to ‘the next generation of our Quest consumer visor’ earlier in the day, talking about a technical goal that would look at making both eye-tracking and facial tracking possible in avatars to faithfully reproduce facial expressions. Zuck did not name the visor in question, but many think he was referring to the Meta Quest 3. It is unclear exactly when the device might be launched, but in the past the company has introduced new visors in the autumn to coincide with its annual Connect event, as happened a few weeks ago with the Quest Pro. However, this is not the first time Zuckerberg has mentioned the Quest 3.

Earlier this month he told analyst Ben Thompson that a new model was in the works and that it would probably be positioned in the €300 to €500 price range. This would make it more in line with previous Quest visors – the Quest 2 – rather than the latest Quest Pro. Although Quest 3 may be a cheaper device than Quest Pro, there are signs that Meta could incorporate some elements of the high-end VR visor.

As UploadVR pointed out, Zuckerberg stated that facial and eye tracking will be “a big focus” and at least one early rumor suggests that Quest 3 may have ‘pancake’ lenses, to offer optical technology that bends light within the module and return a seemingly ‘natural’, albeit artificial, brightness. It has to be said that, at the moment, the Metaverse is a loss-making investment for Meta. The Reality Labs division has recorded a red balance of USD 3.7 billion. The figure will increase significantly in 2023. Despite this, Zuckerberg wants to continue investing in the platform. At the moment, the company’s virtual worlds have not attracted many users.

Uber whistleblower says current business model ‘absolutely’ unsustainable

4i-mag team

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November 4, 2022

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Uber whistleblower says current business model ‘absolutely’ unsustainable

By Sergio Goncalves

LISBON (Reuters) -Mark MacGann, the whistleblower behind the so-called Uber Files, said on Wednesday that the ride-hailing company seemed to be taking steps toward improving its work culture, but that its business model was still “absolutely” unsustainable.

The Guardian and Le Monde newspapers reported in July that Uber Technologies Inc broke laws and secretly lobbied politicians as part of an aggressive drive to expand into new markets from 2013 to 2017.

MacGann, who led Uber’s lobbying efforts to win over governments, identified himself as the source who leaked the more than 124,000 company files.

MacGann said he decided to speak out because he believed Uber knowingly flouted laws and misled people about the benefits to drivers of the company’s gig-economy model.

Uber said in July, in response to the Guardian and Le Monde reports: “We have not and will not make excuses for past behaviour that is clearly not in line with our present values.”

MacGann said Uber’s current CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, and his executive team “have done a lot of good things, but they have so, so far to go.”

When asked for a comment, an Uber spokesman on Wednesday referred Reuters to a 2020 New York Times opinion piece by Khosrowshahi in which he said “our current employment system is outdated and unfair.”

Khosrowshahi had said gig workers would lose the flexibility they have today if they became employees and that rides would be more expensive. The CEO wrote that workers want both flexibility and benefits and added that new laws are required to help them.

“I’m proposing that gig economy companies be required to establish benefits funds which give workers cash that they can use for the benefits they want, like health insurance or paid time off,” Khosrowshahi wrote in the op-ed.

“My message to Uber is: ‘you’ve done well, (but) you can do it so much better (because) the current model is absolutely not sustainable,'” MacGann told a news conference during Europe’s largest tech conference, the Web Summit, in Lisbon.

He said Uber recently reiterated that the “core of its business model is independent contractors, since everybody wants to be self-employed, everybody wants flexibility.”

He said the facts, however, contradict this view as there are Uber drivers suing the company in various countries to “have a basic minimum of social protection such as sick pay.”

“Uber is pumping tens of millions of dollars in Europe, United States, other parts of the world fighting legislation,” he said.

Kite energy: The New Technology

Sustainability

Jeremy Robson

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November 4, 2022

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The renewable energy sector is booming. Every week there are new technologies and innovations come to fruition all around the globe. It is fascinating to follow these innovations and see how they develop and grow, especially since some are startups and have often been created by a university student or innovation hubs. Many startups founded for this purpose are characterized not only by their innovative ideas but also by a great team that implements the ideas with many years of experience and industry-specific expertise.

The intention of enabling a more sustainable energy future has resulted in new ways of obtaining energy through solar and wind power and in methods that combine several approaches or create entirely new ones. Part of this is a commitment from investors and venture funds to supply the capital to keep innovation moving forward, allowing tech developments to shape the future of energy. One example, for instance, is Junction, a growth-equity fund planning to pump €100 million into energy innovation and startups. So, the ball is rolling, the funding is growing, and as a result of this new awareness, one renewable energy startup is creating quite the buzz.

Kite energy — Iperion HS, 2020. The University of Delft has created a surprising amount of startups in the last few years

The University of Delft – An energy start-up hub?

Rated as one of Europe’s top renewable energy start-ups, Kite Power is highly innovative and very different from many other renewable energy start-ups, which are usually related to wind and solar power. Kite Power creates energy from kites! However, before we look into who they are, let’s look at where they came from. Many innovative tech start-ups are coming from the same place, acting as start-up hub in Europe.

The University of Delft has been a starting point for many new companies in The Netherlands and abroad. Start-ups like The Great Bubble Barrier, The Ocean Clean Up, Crescent Tech, Scoozy, Roadmap, and many more. Supported by the Delft University of Technology, which ranks as the number one university in the Netherlands, and YES! Delft incubator, ranked among the top 5 of the world’s best university incubators, Delft is starting to see its first batch of real start-up successes. This year, ten of their start-ups are on the main European list of successful start-ups to watch for one small University town, which is quite an achievement. Kite energy been one of the products of the YES! Delft incubator.

Kite Power

The Dutch Startup Kitepower developed innovative and cost-effective alternatives to existing wind turbines by using up to 90% less material with the potential of being twice as efficient as conventional wind turbines with the same power output. This start-up evolved a patented technology, which does not require resource-intensive towers or heavy foundations, enabling high mobility and easy deployment. Kitepower systems can generate capacity and cost-effective electricity in return by facilitating stronger and more persistent winds at higher altitudes. With their main product, the Kitepower Falcon, the innovative Start-up enables remote communities worldwide to mitigate dependency on polluting and expensive diesel supply.

One of Kitepowers’ most exciting projects was a request to set up a kite-powering system on a remote Caribbean island. This is the perfect situation for one of Kitepowers’ kites because they are easy to set up, use, and take down. They leave no environmental impact once they are gone, and the energy is entirely sustainable. For a remote island, this is a perfect solution. It would have otherwise been tough for the island to import a large generator with diesel or even build a solar or wind farm.

Kitepowers’ kites generate energy through friction and tension via their cables. The kite moves in a figure-eight motion, creating constant movement and pressure to produce power. The kite is slowly pulled in, creating more tension, and then again is released by the wind to a higher altitude, where the process is repeated. It is a great, low-impact, renewable energy solution that will see growth and success in the years to come.

Web Summit reaches full capacity at 71,033

News
Tech

4i-mag team

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November 3, 2022

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Web Summit reaches full capacity at 71,033

Web Summit – the world’s largest technology event, according to the Financial Times – announced that the event has reached maximum capacity with 71,033 attendees from 160 countries, and more startups and investors than ever before.

71,033 attendees from 160 countries

This year, Web Summit sold out earlier than ever before – three weeks ahead of the event. Event organisers have increased space to its absolute maximum, stretching to 204,386 square metres (1,046 tennis courts) in order to accommodate the growth. With the limited available capacity, additional structures have been built, extending onto Oceanos, taking over roads and other local spaces, and adding approximately 21,094 square metres of space for attendees within the site.

“The sheer scale of this year’s event is extraordinary. The event space is at maximum capacity, and we are welcoming more attendees, startups, speakers and investors than ever before. We are delighted to be back to full capacity, and are eager to continue to grow in the years to come,” said Paddy Cosgrave, founder and CEO of Web Summit.

Web Summit: 2,296 startups and 342 partners from 94 countries

More startups and partners than ever before will exhibit at this year’s event.
Web Summit’s exhibition space was sold out six weeks ahead of the event, with floor space increasing to its maximum capacity of 8,478 square metres for partners and startups – a 57-per cent growth over 2019. For startups, the most represented industries are SaaS, fintech, AI, eCommerce and advertising. Top partners include Figma, Stripe, AWS, Google and Binance.

1,050 speakers and 2,000 – and counting – members of the media will be present this year
1,050 speakers – 34 per cent of whom are women – will be talking on 26 tracks across 17 stages this year. Many will be interviewed on stage by a number of the 2,000 (and counting) journalists attending the conference. This year, Web Summit will host speakers on four new stages: Book Summit, Verified, Crypto and Security Summit.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska spoke at the Opening Night ceremony last night (Tuesday, November 1), highlighting the role of technology in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while also emphasising the power technology has to keep people safe.

Web Summit: 1,081 investors from 60 countries

Web Summit has welcomed 1,081 investors looking for the most interesting early-stage startups. Investors attending Web Summit have portfolios representing 30 per cent of global deal value so far this year, according to PitchBook.

Web Summit has once again partnered with PitchBook on the annual investor survey, which revealed that nearly 80 per cent of investors say geopolitical events have an impact on investment strategies – up from just 53 per cent in 2020.

Women in tech

This year, nearly 30,000 attendees (42 per cent) are women. 34 per cent of speakers are women – the same as in 2021. While the overall gender balance has dropped from last year, Web Summit remains at near parity. As well as this, there are nearly 400 women-founded companies among the startup cohort.

Earlier this year, Web Summit carried out a study within its women in the tech community, which found that 49.5 per cent of respondents have experienced sexism in the last year, 66.9 per cent feel they are paid unfairly compared to their counterparts who are men, and 62.9 per cent feel pressure to choose between career and family at least some of the time.

TikTok denies that ByteDance used the app to monitor citizens

News
Tech

Antonino Caffo

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November 3, 2022

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TikTok denies that ByteDance used the app to monitor citizens

TikTok said it does not collect GPS location information from users in the US. A clarification that comes in the wake of a Forbes article, which instead pointed out that, according to its information, the app could monitor US citizens. A clear threat from the app developed by the Chinese giant ByteDance. Forbes had reported that the team behind the monitoring project is part of ByteDance’s risk and internal control department. The department is generally tasked with examining potential misconduct by current and former employees of the company.

According to the publication, the group used the system to collect data on the position of non-employees or former employees in at least two cases. TikTok responded to Forbes’ allegations by pointing out the omission of part of its statement that it did not collect precise GPS location. That part ‘belied the viability of the main allegation,’ explained a company spokesperson. Furthermore, TikTok emphasised that it has never been used to target members of the US government, public figures, activists or journalists and that it does not offer them content that is different from other users. In its report, Forbes wrote that TikTok “did not respond to questions” about whether ByteDance’s internal audit team targeted members of those groups.

Oracle Cloud Servers

In June, TikTok announced it had ‘changed the default storage location of US user data’ to “Oracle cloud servers located in the United States”. A move came in days when the website BuzzFeed News published a report about ByteDance employees based in China repeatedly accessing non-public data on members in the US. That report was based on hours of internal meetings leaked online. A couple of weeks later, TikTok detailed its plans on how to ensure the security of US users’ data in a letter sent to lawmakers.

The CEO, Shou Zi Chew, assured that the company would “remove US users’ protected data from [its] systems and switch completely to Oracle cloud servers located in the US”. Last July, a report by the US-Australian cybersecurity firm Internet 2.0 claimed that the TikTok app on Android queries the device’s GPS location at least once an hour. According to data.ai, there are more than 1 billion Tik Tok users worldwide. TikTok also denied it pushes different content to government officials, regulators, activists or journalists. In a statement to Forbes, ByteDance added: “Like most companies our size, we have an internal audit function responsible for objectively auditing and evaluating the company and our employees’ adherence to our codes of conduct”.

Unlimint Expands Into the Crypto Space With the Launch of GateFi at Web Summit

Finance
News

4i-mag team

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November 3, 2022

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Unlimint Expands Into the Crypto Space With the Launch of GateFi at Web Summit

The new solution enables developers worldwide to connect traditional payment networks to public blockchain networks, providing a bridge between the worlds of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0

London-based global fintech Unlimint has, today, announced the launch of GateFi, marking their expansion into the crypto space.

The solution allows users across the globe to seamlessly exchange fiat money to crypto and crypto to fiat money, while also acting as a Web3 onboarding solution, that opens the gates to Web 3 and DeFi for mainstream users everywhere. Unlimint is an award-winning global all-in-one fintech offering advanced payment capabilities through an evolving financial interface to startups and businesses across the globe. They have over 400 employees across 16 offices and five continents, including Frankfurt, Singapore, São Paulo, Hong Kong, and Mexico. GateFi will be officially launched during Web Summit in Lisbon from 1 to 4 November 2022.

A new crypto solution

The new crypto solution allows clients to pay from anywhere, any way they want, through any channel – enabling total payment freedom. In addition to this, GateFi provides decentralised app (dapp) developers the ability to connect traditional payment networks to public blockchain networks, offering a direct access point between the world of Web 2.0 and the world of Web 3.0. They can embed a widget to their website enabling users to on-ramp and off-ramp (exchange their fiat money for cryptocurrencies and crypto assets (like NFTs), and vice-versa). Dapp developers worldwide can benefit from Unlimint’s GateFi across several verticals, such as financial apps, social apps, NFTs, and gaming, and truly reach a global audience thanks to their vast portfolio of more than 1000+ directly integrated alternative payment methods – coverage that isn’t offered by any other solution on the market to date.

The company’s cryptocurrencies strategy and the launch of the new solution is being led by crypto veteran Jack Jia, who recently joined Unlimint as Head of GateFi. Jia first started working in the industry in 2013 and he is the driving force behind GateFi, from product development to market, aiming to create a powerful and meaningful solution that will prepare Unlimint’s clients for the future.

Crypto market has taken a hit over

The move comes as more businesses prepare to accept cryptocurrencies as payment. The “Merchants getting ready for crypto” survey by Deloitte shows that 75 percent of retailers plan to accept either cryptocurrency or stablecoin by 2024. While the crypto market has taken a hit over the last while, 56 percent of consumers asked in the BitPay and PYMNTS “Paying with Cryptocurrency” survey said they are at least somewhat interested in buying cryptocurrency within the next year, while 42 percent of millennials said they would be extremely likely to buy crypto in the next 12 months.

With 13 years of experience as a traditional payment company, Unlimint holds local acquiring licenses in regions across the world, and provides access to thousands of Alternative Payment Methods (APMs), making them operational and regulated globally. This allows the company to provide better, regulated solutions at a better pricing to clients worldwide.

Commenting on the launch, Jack Jia, Head of GateFi at Unlimint, said:

“We are delighted to announce GateFi at Web Summit. Payment infrastructure has always been a core component of the money lego set for dapp developers to onboard real-world users to the world of Web3. At Unlimint, we see this new solution as the future. We will build with the builders, and unlock key innovations to reign in a new era of crypto adoption for Defi, NFT, and Gamefi. GateFi is set to break down the walls currently in place, allowing users complete payment freedom. By combining our experience as a traditional payment company, with longstanding trusted networks, to forward-thinking ideas and current trends around crypto, we are positive GateFi will deliver a unique experience within the decentralised and blockchain world, preparing our clients for tomorrow.”

BeReal tries to stop people from using filters

Tech

George Mavridis

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November 3, 2022

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BeReal tries to stop people from using filters

BeReal is the latest trending social app that’s quickly expanding the download charts. It is a new social media application that is gaining more and more users. The social media app is considered the anti-Instagram, since, unlike Instagram, which is full of carefully edited posts that show people at their best, it wants users to post the real version of themselves, with no filters, during the day.

The concept behind this new social media platform is straightforward: every day, at a different time, everyone is simultaneously notified to capture and share a photo in 2 minutes. BeReal posts are hidden until the users post their own photo, which unlocks access to their friends’ posts and the Discovery page. Also, the users who don’t post the real version of themselves are not able to see the posts from other users.

Social Media App

The social media app simultaneously takes a snapshot from the front and back cameras. The users receive a notification with a message that it is “time to BeReal”. This notification is random; it can come either in the afternoon or in the morning.

The users, just before posting their BeReal, can choose either to share or not to share their location. If the location is enabled, it will only display the location of where it has been taken. Users will only see their rough location if they post publicly to Discovery.

BeReal uses scarcity since it limits the users to have the ability to upload one post per day. To make the whole experience less boring, the social media app also uses mystery since the users need to be aware of when the notification to post something will appear. Following Snapchat, photos posted on BeReal disappear after 24 hours, which can be an incredibly effective motivator for users checking the app regularly since they don’t want to miss out.

“BeReal won’t make you famous. If you want to become an influencer you can stay on TikTok and Instagram,” the social media platform highlights.

Gen Z

This app was launched in 2019, but it gained much popularity this year, and it has become the latest obsession for Gen Z.

“BeReal is the simplest photo-sharing app to share once a day your real life in a photo with friends. Every day at a different time, everyone captures a photo within 2 minutes. Capture and post in time to discover what your friends are up to,” the social media app notes.

BeReal is the latest trending social media app, and according to Apptopia, app downloads have risen by 315% since the beginning of the year BeReal now ranks fourth in the list of most downloaded social media apps, behind Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest.

The app is maintaining its popularity and more and more users are discovering and using it. However, it remains to be seen whether it will manage to keep its popularity or will be forced to adapt to the standards followed by other social media apps. What is certain, however, is that it is an alternative option for those who are tired of using filters or seeing their social media timelines bombarded by flawless photos.

November 2022 – Note from the Editor in Chief

Editor's Note

Andriani Loizidou

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November 2, 2022

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November 2022 – Note from the Editor in Chief

November: I will say that Christmas Season is near. I know some people are really excited, and others do not want to think about this yet. But I am team excited!

October was cybersecurity month awareness, where we had a series of articles, interviews, live discussions and many social media posts. Indeed, it was a busy month for us, but also an amazing one, as we did succeed in our goal to help with cybersecurity awareness.
Now we have many other things planned. Of course, November is a month where people will take advantage and buy their Xmas gifts on Black Friday, and that is why we have a few things lined up for you. The same goes for Thanksgiving Day, where our journalists will list a few gadgets for you to buy.

On the other hand, we have new and unique topics lined up here at 4i-Magazine, but I am not allowed to say yet! So, all the new things will start unwrapping themselves slowly.
On another note, we welcome article suggestions and topics you might want us to write or investigate. So get in touch with us via our emails, which you can find on our website. We are always happy to hear more from our readers.

As I always say, Stay Tuned for more!

Cyber officials from 37 countries, 13 companies to meet on ransomware in Washington

4i-mag team

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November 2, 2022

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Cyber officials from 37 countries, 13 companies to meet on ransomware in Washington

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House will host officials from 37 countries and 13 global companies in Washington this week to address the growing threat of ransomware and other cyber crime, including the illicit use of cryptocurrencies, a senior U.S. official said.

The in-person meeting follows last year’s virtual inaugural meeting of the informal Counter-Ransomware Initiative, adding seven more countries and bringing in a diverse group of private sector players for the first time.

The White House hopes the meeting will allow participating countries to “institute a set of cyber norms that are recognized across the globe to counter criminal ransomware threats and hold malicious actors accountable,” the official said.

Participants plan to issue a joint statement at the end of the meeting on Tuesday, including a pledge to redouble efforts to bring pressure on Russia and other countries that harbor ransomware attackers, the official said.

Cyber officials to discuss how to disrupt attacks

One key topic for discussion will be how to disrupt such attacks, counter the illicit movement of cryptocurrencies and build resilience against such attacks, the official said.

“So less about Russia, more about how we as a set of countries make it harder, costlier, riskier for ransom actors to operate,” the official said.

Ransomware attacks have increased sharply in recent years, with over 4,000 attacks reported outside the United States over the last 18 months alone, the official said, adding that there had also been progress in arresting attackers.

Ransom software works by encrypting victims’ data, with hackers offering the victim a key in return for cryptocurrency payments that can run as high as millions of dollars.

Top administration officials, including FBI Director Chris Wray, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will address the meeting.

Countries participating in addition to the United States include: Australia, Austria, Belgium Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, European Commission, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway Poland, South Korea, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Britain.

Russia, Belarus and other countries believed to harbor attackers will not participate.

Companies participating include Crowdstrike, Mandiant, Cyber Threat Alliance, Microsoft, Cybersecurity Coalition, Palo Alto, Flexxon, SAP, Institute for Security + Technology, Siemens, Internet 2.0, Tata – TCS, and Telefonica, the White House said.

4imagazine

Ex Circus

Materia

Chiostro del Bramante

Caffé Letterario

Barnum Café

By Sergio Goncalves

The University of Delft – An energy start-up hub?

Kite Power

71,033 attendees from 160 countries

Web Summit: 2,296 startups and 342 partners from 94 countries

Web Summit: 1,081 investors from 60 countries

Women in tech

Oracle Cloud Servers

A new crypto solution

Crypto market has taken a hit over

Commenting on the launch, Jack Jia, Head of GateFi at Unlimint, said:

Social Media App

Gen Z

By Andrea Shalal

Cyber officials to discuss how to disrupt attacks