Audio ripping website Convert2MP3 shuts down following lawsuit settlement

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For years audio ripping site Convert2MP3 lets its users download audio files from YouTube links and other sources. Now the site has been shut down as part of a 2017 lawsuit settlement. According to the global recording industry organization IFPI’s 2018 Music Consumer Insight Report, 38 percent of people around the world consume music through copyright infringement. Those who infringe use sites like Convet2MP3. The 2017 case was filed by German record labels in coordination with IFPI in the company’s home country of Germany. The labels claimed the site supported large-scale and sustained copyright violations by allowing people to get the audio from things like music videos.

To avoid litigation in court, Convert2MP3 agreed to shut down the site and any of its associated sites. The company also has to surrender its domains to IFPI. There’s also financial compensation included in the settlement and the site’s operator agrees to “not infringe copyright or circumvent technological protection measures in relation to recorded music in future.”

Source: IFPI

Huawei to update 14 of its current lineup to Android Q

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While we don’t know what Huawei’s relationship with Google will be, for now the company is promising to update a number of its phone to EMUI 10, which is based on Android Q. This includes the Huawei P30 Pro, P30, P30 Lite, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20, Mate 20X 5G, P20 Pro, P20, P Smart 2019, P Smart+ 2019, P Smart Z, as well as its Honor 20 series. That includes the Honor 20 lite, Honor 20, and Honor 20 Pro. EMUI 10 has a new user interface as well as a redesigned camera app with additional scene support. The EMUI logo has been tweaked as well as the system menus.

Source: GSMArena

Apple issues recall for older 15-inch MacBook Pros for battery problems

If you bought a 2015 MacBook Pro between September 2015 and February 2017, you might want to check if your unit is affected by the latest Apple recall. The company issued the recall because its batteries “may pose a fire safety risk.” Apple says a “limited number” of units are affected but if you want to make sure, you can input the serial number of your unit here. If your unit is affected, you’re eligible for a free battery replacement. But you would need to have a backup laptop or PC ready. Apple might take one to two weeks to repair your unit. The company, however, won’t extend your warranty. The recall doesn’t affect any other MacBook unit sold during the same period.

Google is done with tablets, cancels two unreleased products

Google Pixel Slate

If you were expecting a Google Pixel Slate 2, unfortunately, you’re waiting for nothing. Google’s lead for its hardware business Rick Osterloh confirmed in a tweet that the company will be focusing its Chrome OS hardware efforts on traditional laptops like the Pixelbook. Meanwhile, the existing Pixel Slate will still be supported and get software and security updates in the foreseeable future.

Google initially had plans to release two more tablets, but it’s being rumoured that the teams behind these are being moved to other areas of the company—most of them are part of the Pixelbook team supposedly. These were both smaller in size than the Pixel Slate and were supposed to come out “sometime after 2019.” But it’s said that disappointing quality assurance testing results led to Google dropping the devices. What we might see before the year ends is a Pixelbook 2. A Google spokesperson who talked to Computer World said it’s “very likely” to see this laptop make a comeback this year.

Source: The Verge