Chromebook Plus laptops debut with minimum hardware requirements and exclusive features, starting at $399

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Here are some of the top technology news stories for today:

Chromebook Plus laptops debut with hardware requirements, exclusive features

Google is introducing the Chromebook Plus badge. ChromeOS devices with the moniker have minimum hardware requirements and will be granted exclusive software and AI features, with Google promising a higher level of performance. On October 8, eight new laptops with the Chromebook Plus branding will be released in North America, starting at $399.

In a blog post today, John Maletis, VP of ChromeOS product, engineering, and UX at Google, said Chromebook Plus laptops have "double the performance" when compared to the top-selling Chromebooks from July to December 2022. Most of that somewhat vague claim comes from the Chromebook Plus' minimum hardware requirements:

• Intel Core i3 12th Gen or AMD Ryzen 3 7000-series processor
• 8GB of RAM
• 128GB of storage
• 1080p IPS display
• 1080p resolution webcam with temporal noise reduction

Some Chromebooks released before today meet those minimum requirements already. A Google spokesperson said that owners of such laptops "will get upgraded to the Chromebook Plus software experience in the coming weeks."

Source: Ars Technica

Supreme Court to Hear Challenges to State Laws on Social Media

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear challenges to state laws in Florida and Texas that regulate social media platforms. The tech industry argues that these laws, prompted by conservative complaints about censorship, violate the First Amendment. This case will have significant implications for the future of online speech and the power of tech platforms.

Source: The New York Times

Who wins when telehealth companies push weight loss drugs?

Telehealth providers are increasingly offering weight loss drugs through their platforms. This raises questions about the effectiveness and safety of these drugs, as well as the ethics of telehealth companies pushing them. It's important for consumers to be informed and skeptical when considering weight loss treatments offered online.

Source: The Verge

LG suspends including IP-based broadcast signaling standard ATSC 3.0 in its 2024 lineup of US TVs

LG has decided to suspend the inclusion of the IP-based broadcast signaling standard ATSC 3.0 in its 2024 lineup of US TVs due to the challenging and uncertain patent landscape. This decision will likely have implications for the adoption and integration of ATSC 3.0 technology in the United States.

Source: Light Reading