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Here's the latest tech news from the last 24 hours:

🐦 Twitter vs Meta: legal battle over 'Threads'
🎵 Taylor Swift's $100M deal with FTX that didn't happen
🍎 Buying Apple’s Vision Pro could require an appointment and a face scan
💸 China fines Jack Ma's Ant group nearly $1B
🔌 Mercedes-Benz adopts Tesla's charging standard

🐦 Twitter vs Meta: legal battle over 'Threads'LINK

Elon Musk's X Corp. threatens to sue Meta over alleged intellectual property violations in Meta's new Threads social network.

Musk's lawyer accuses Meta of hiring former Twitter employees who had access to Twitter's trade secrets and confidential information.

X Corp. demands that Meta immediately stop using any Twitter trade secrets and preserve relevant documents for a potential legal dispute.

🎵 Taylor Swift's $100M deal with FTX that didn't happenLINK

Taylor Swift signed a sponsorship deal with bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, but FTX executives ultimately decided not to proceed with the deal.

Contrary to public statements, Swift did agree to the deal, and the signed agreement was sent to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's email inbox.

After months of negotiations, Bankman-Fried pulled the plug on the FTX-Swift deal, and several FTX executives have pleaded guilty to federal charges and are cooperating with the prosecution.

🍎 Buying Apple’s Vision Pro could require an appointment and a face scanLINK

Apple plans to gradually roll out its Vision Pro headset, starting with appointment-only demos in designated Apple Store areas in the US.

Customers will need to make appointments and provide eyeglass prescriptions to try and purchase the headset, ensuring a proper fit and clear view.

Initially, demo spaces will be available in major US markets, with plans to expand to other countries starting at the end of 2024.

💸 China fines Jack Ma's Ant group nearly $1BLINK

Chinese authorities impose a nearly $1 billion fine on Ant Group, signaling the conclusion of investigations into technology firms.

The fine comes after a period of intense government scrutiny and tough regulation of the tech industry in China.

Ant Group is ordered to shut down its crowdfunding platform for medical costs and states its commitment to comply with the penalty.

🔌 Mercedes-Benz adopts Tesla's charging standardLINK

Mercedes-Benz will join Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) in 2024, giving Mercedes EVs access to Tesla's Supercharger network in North America.

Mercedes also plans to expand its own charging network, aiming to install over 2,500 high-power chargers in North America, with the first sites opening in late 2023.

Other major automakers like Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar have already adopted NACS, while Volkswagen, BMW, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, Stellantis, and Jaguar Land Rover have not yet offered NACS compatibility.

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Jony Ive's design agency LoveFrom collaborated with Linn to refine the Sondek LP12 turntable for a 50th anniversary edition, resulting in the $60,000 Sondek LP12-50 with subtle design improvements.LINK

Elon Musk's Twitter nemesis, the account known as Elonjet, has resurfaced on Meta's Threads app, posting near-real-time location updates of Musk's private jet, despite previous suspensions and legal threats.LINK

Samsung Electronics expects a 96% profit drop in Q2 2023 due to weak demand for memory chips, with estimated operating profit at 600 billion Korean won ($459 million), the lowest since 2009.LINK

French lawmakers have passed a bill that allows police to remotely activate cameras, microphones, and GPS on phones and other devices for surveillance purposes, with judicial approval required and limitations on targeting journalists and lawyers, raising concerns about civil liberties and potential abuse.LINK

New York's $1 billion investment in Tesla's solar panel factory in Buffalo, known as Gigafactory 2, has been deemed a disastrous boondoggle as the promised job creation and economic benefits have fallen short, and the factory's solar energy unit is underperforming with only 21 installations per week on average.LINK

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