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Showing posts from October, 2024

Automation Leverage in Turnaround Strategy

Automation Leverage in Turnaround Strategy Turnaround work is often described as a crisis discipline: reduce costs, preserve cash, stabilize operations and buy time. Those moves matter, but they are not enough. A durable turnaround also needs leverage: better systems, clearer information flows and repeatable execution. For Livio Andrea Acerbo , AI automation is useful in turnaround strategy when it improves the operating rhythm of a company. The point is not to add tools. The point is to remove friction from decisions that must happen every week. From cost control to operating clarity Cost control can stop the bleeding, but operating clarity creates the next phase. Teams need to know which products are profitable, which customers deserve attention, where working capital is trapped and which workflows create avoidable delay. Automation helps when it turns scattered data into a management cadence. Dashboards, exception reports, document summaries, pipeline reviews and cash visibi...

40% Off Nectar Coupon Code for October 2024

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Get 40% off with our Nectar promo code for any Nectar mattress and earn savings for top sleep accessories, bundles and more. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

The Morning After: Our verdict on the Kindle Colorsoft

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Finally, a color Kindle. Amazon, the dominant force in ereaders, finally brought color eink to its series of devices — and we’ve reviewed it. The Kindle Colorsoft is a solid premium ereader, ideal for readers of comics and graphic novels. The company has upgraded page-turn speed and a handy pinch-to-zoom function makes it easier to fully enjoy detailed images. But at $280, it’s expensive. More expensive, even, than rival color ereaders. However, it’s hard to argue against the convenience and ubiquity of the Kindle ecosystem. The library is seemingly endless (with regular discounts on books and titles you plan to read), supplemented by Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited. If you’re tempted, check out our detailed review and comparisons with other ereaders. — Mat Smith Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The biggest tech stories you missed Election 2024: How will the candidates regulate AI? X’s Community Notes feature has one job, and it’s failing to do i...

The Untold Story of Trump’s Failed Attempt to Overthrow Venezuela’s President

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A successful CIA hack of Venezuela's military payroll system, insider fights for spy agency resources, and messy opposition politics: A WIRED investigation reveals a secret Trump-era attempt to oust autocratic ruler Nicolás Maduro. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

The next version of Android will arrive in early 2025

Android users had to wait longer than usual for the release of Android 15 this fall, but Google is already setting the timeline for the next two operating system updates. In a change of pace, the next major release for Android will arrive in the second quarter of 2025. "We’re planning the major release for Q2 rather than Q3 to better align with the schedule of device launches across our ecosystem, so more devices can get the major release of Android sooner," the company said in a blog post addressing developers. That's good news for third-party phone manufacturers that have historically had to wait a few months before they get the latest OS updates. In addition to the main release in the first half of the year, there will also be a minor update to Android slated for the fourth quarter of 2025. The Q2 release will be the only one next year to have behavior changes that can impact apps. The smaller release toward the end of the year will focus on "feature updates, opti...

Will Your Elected Officials in Congress Accept the Results of the Election?

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We’ve asked every member of Congress whether they’ll accept the results as called by the Associated Press. Use our tool to see how your representatives answer. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Clashing approaches to combat AI’s ‘perpetual bulls**t machine’

The AI stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 got off to a fiery but constructive start on a panel about combating disinformation. But in a spirited exchange of views tempered by expressions of respect and agreement, all three panelists had harsh words for social media and generative AI. None was harsher, though, than Imran Ahmed, CEO © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Aurora Innovation delays commercial autonomous truck launch to 2025

Autonomous vehicle technology startup Aurora Innovation is targeting April 2025 for commercial deployment of its autonomous trucks, pushing its timeline back by about a quarter. The company had originally planned to launch by the end of 2024. The company said it delayed the launch so it can continue to validate its self-driving technology.  “While this © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Pika 1.5 updates with three new Halloween-themed video AI Pikaffects

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The three new Pikaffects in time for Halloween are levitate, eye pop, and decapitate — all of which do what they sound like. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Marvel has its 2025 Disney Plus roadmap all laid out

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It has been a while since the MCU really felt like a cohesive place, but Marvel’s new slate of upcoming Disney Plus shows makes it seem like the studio is ready to tighten things up. Ahead of Agatha All Along’s season 1 finale tonight, Marvel shared a new sizzle reel highlighting all of its upcoming projects that will carry the MCU into its Sixth Phase. After Agatha All Along and Deadpool & Wolverine (which starts streaming on November 12th), the third and final season of What If…? is set to premiere on December 22nd. Jeff Trammell’s animated Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series will debut the following month on January 29th, and introduce a new take on Peter Parker (Hudson Thames). On March 4th, Daredevil Born Again begins with a new story in the MCU centered around Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), Vincent Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), and Frank Castle / Punisher (Jon Bernthal). Later that summer, Ironheart starring Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams (who appeared in Black...

A Lost Mayan City Has Been Found With Laser Mapping

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Archaeologists have revealed an ancient lost Mayan city using advanced laser mapping technology, unearthing monumental structures such as pyramids and plazas. Named Valeriana, the city is believed to have been founded before 150 AD. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 Review: Too Buggy

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This AI-infused 2-in-1 laptop has great performance and astounding battery life, but it’s buggy and sports a terrible keyboard. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Study finds LLMs can identify their own mistakes

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It turns out that LLMs encode quite a bit of knowledge about the truthfulness of their answers, even when they give the wrong one. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

An Elon Musk-funded super PAC is putting out fake pro-Harris ads

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Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Getty Images If you’re a swing state voter, you may have seen ads claiming that vice president Kamala Harris wants to institute a mandatory gun buyback program and make it easier for undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. These ostensibly pro-Harris ads are the product of Progress 2025, a campaign designed to look like the Democratic answer to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 — but they’re actually funded by a group called Building America’s Future, a pro-Trump super PAC that is in turn funded by Elon Musk. Building America’s Future is expanding an ad campaign targeted at undecided voters in swing states, 404 Media reports. Over the past week, the PAC spent over $300,000 on a dozen Facebook ads, which are sub-targeted to 819 different audience segments. “Imagine a world where the American Dream has no borders,” reads an ad featuring a photo of dozens of migrants at the US-Mexico border. Another ad says Harris “wasn’t just a sup...

Inside Armor: A Thrilling New Heist Film Bringing High-Stakes Action and Unexpected Twists

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In the heart of suspenseful cinema, a new thriller has emerged that is already sparking major excitement. Armor, directed by Justin Routt, is ready to deliver a fresh twist on... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Sylvester Stallone’s Intense Heist Thriller “Armor”

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Sylvester Stallone’s Intense Heist Thriller “Armor” – High-Stakes Action and Unexpected Twists! #ArmorMovie, #SylvesterStallone, #JasonPatric, #ActionThriller, #HeistMovie, #JustinRoutt, #MovieTrailer, #ComingSoon, #NovemberRelease, #EdgeOfYourSeat Dive into Armor, the highly anticipated thriller where Sylvester Stallone flips the script, stepping into a powerful antagonist role. Join us as we explore every edge-of-your-seat twist that makes this heist gone wrong an unforgettable story of survival and strategy. With an armored truck teetering on a bridge, Jason Patric and Josh Wiggins portray a father and son fighting for their lives—and the priceless cargo they’re tasked with protecting. Stallone’s character, Rook, isn’t holding back, and his unpredictable motives are setting fans ablaze with theories. Catch the full breakdown of Armor and why this film is one you can’t afford to miss. For more details, check the description and jump into the comments with your thoughts!Remember, if y...

Amazon brings its Rufus AI shopping assistant to more international markets

Amazon is extending the availability of its AI-enabled shopping assistant, Rufus, to more markets in Europe and the Americas. The ecommerce giant has been widely considered to be playing catchup with its Big Tech brethren in the AI sphere, particularly against the backdrop of the generative AI hype these past couple of years. Rufus is © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Brazil sues Meta and TikTok for over $500 million for not protecting minors

Meta and TikTok are once again in hot water for allegedly failing to protect minors or limit their use on the platforms. The Collective Defense Institute, a consumer rights group in Brazil, has issued two lawsuits against Meta, TikTok and Kwai, another short video platform from China, to the sound of three billion reais ($525.8 million), Reuters reports.  The lawsuits pull from some of the (many) studies demonstrating the risk of social media use. It orders Meta and co. to clearly issue warnings about how platform addiction can negatively impact minors' mental health. It also calls for the companies to lay out detailed data protection mechanisms.  "It is urgent that measures be adopted in order to change the way the algorithm works, the processing of data from users under 18, and the way in which teenagers aged 13 and over are supervised and their accounts created, in order to ensure a safer, healthier experience...as is already the case in developed countries," said Lill...

Apple Intelligence will come to EU iPhones in April

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Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge Apple Intelligence has finally launched in US English, and if you’re in the EU, you’ll be able to use the new AI features on your iPhone and iPad starting in April, according to an Irish Apple newsroom post. When the features roll out to iPhones and iPads in the EU, they’ll include “include many of the core features of Apple Intelligence, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, a redesigned Siri with richer language understanding, ChatGPT integration, and more,” Apple says in the post. However, if EU users want to get a taste of Apple Intelligence sooner, they can try the initial features on their Mac that are now available with macOS Sequoia 15.1. That first batch of features includes AI-powered writing tools, improvements to Siri, and... Continue reading… Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Krafton backs IMM Investment’s maiden India fund

The India unit of gaming firm Krafton has backed IMM Investment’s maiden India fund as an anchor limited partner as the battle royale BGMI-maker broadens its investment bets in the South Asian market. Seoul-based IMM Investment, an early backer of Krafton and roughly half of South Korea’s unicorn startups, has made the first close for © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Discover the Origins of Optimus and Megatron in Transformers One

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The story of Transformers has fascinated fans for decades, bringing them into an intense world of metallic giants, powerful conflicts, and a storyline as old as time: the battle between... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Grok can try and explain Elon Musk’s terrible jokes

Elon Musk’s social media platform X is home to the Grok AI model, and it just received an update today to help it understand images. Musk showcased Grok explaining a joke in an X post and mentioned that the technology is still in the early stages. Other than that, neither Musk himself or the Grok account elaborated further. Grok now understands images, even explaining the meaning of a joke.This is an early version. It will rapidly improve. https://t.co/gQ5BBISVRc— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2024 Musk owns xAI, the company that powers Grok’s image understanding function. You can see Grok’s six-point explanation of a meme Musk chose for the demonstration here. Thankfully, a premium X subscription is not needed to read Grok’s explanation. As things stand, Grok’s image understanding abilities are still subpar relative to ChatGPT, as the joke explanation reads somewhat off, but it’s true that Musk’s AI company is working hard to improve Grok’s capabilities. That still hasn’t pre...

The iPhone 16 is banned from sale in Indonesia after Apple fails to invest enough locally

The iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10 and other devices Apple announced this fall are banned from sale in Indonesia. That's because Apple has failed to meet its local investment commitments by around $15 million. It's said to have invested 1.48 trillion ($94 million) of the 1.71 trillion rupiah ($109 million) it pledged to plow into local sourcing and/or infrastructure to meet Indonesia's requirements. Due to Apple not meeting the investment threshold, the Ministry of Industry has not issued the certifications that are required for Apple's latest products to be sold there. The ban doesn't impact older Apple devices, which the company can still sell in the country. Under Indonesia’s local content rules, certain devices sold there have to contain at least 40 percent "domestic content." This can be reached by, for instance, using materials sourced in the country, having manufacturing plants or employing local workers. Apple has established four develope...

Transformers One: The Epic Origins of Optimus & Megatron on Cybertron #TransformersOne

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Transformers One: The Epic Origins of Optimus & Megatron on Cybertron #TransformersOne, #OptimusPrime, #Megatron, #CybertronOrigins, #AnimatedFilm, #SciFiMovies, #TransformersPrequel, #ChrisHemsworth, #BrianTyreeHenry, #CybertronWar Dive into the untold story of Transformers One! This captivating prequel reveals the legendary origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron on their home planet, Cybertron. Uncover the heart-wrenching journey from friendship to rivalry that shaped these two iconic leaders in the Transformers universe. With an all-star cast, including Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry, Transformers One promises a mix of intense drama, breathtaking visuals, and deep emotional resonance. Want to know what sets this story apart? Watch to find out how Cybertron’s paradise turned into a battlefield and what secrets might lie behind the origins of the Autobots and Decepticons. Don’t miss it—subscribe for more exclusive insights, leave a comment, and let’s unravel Cybertron’s myst...

Indian fintech Slice seals bank merger

Indian fintech startup Slice has completed its merger with North East Small Finance Bank, marking a rare instance of a startup successfully entering India’s tightly regulated banking sector. The merger, first proposed last year, transforms the Bengaluru-based startup into a banking entity, following months of regulatory scrutiny that has reshaped India’s fintech landscape. Slice, which © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Instagram is lowering video quality for unpopular videos

The popularity of an Instagram video can affect its actual video quality: According to Adam Mosseri (the Meta executive who leads Instagram and Threads), videos that are more popular get shown in higher quality, while less popular videos get shown in lower quality. In a video (via The Verge), Mosseri said Instagram tries to show © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Mosseri confirms Instagram reduces video quality for posts that aren’t raking in views

In an AMA this weekend, Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared some insight into why some videos on the platform appear reduced in quality well after they’re posted, and it all boils down to performance. Responding to a question about old stories looking “blurry” in highlights, Mosseri said, “In general, we want to show the highest-quality video we can. But if something isn’t watched for a long time — because the vast majority of views are in the beginning — we will move to a lower quality video.” If the video later spikes in popularity again, “then we will re-render the higher quality video,” he said in the response, which was reposted by a Threads user (spotted by The Verge). Further elaborating in a follow-up reply, though, Mosseri added, “We bias to higher quality (more CPU intensive encoding and more expensive storage for bigger files) for creators who drive more views.” The comment has sparked concern from small creators in the replies who say it puts them at a disadvantage competin...

The next Mac mini might be nearly as small as an Apple TV

The Mac mini will be getting an upgrade this week, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The mini is Apple’s desktop computer (really just a small gray box) positioned between the consumer iMac and the company’s professional-grade desktops. The new mini is reportedly getting smaller — nearly the size of an Apple TV set-top box. It © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Panic hits pause on the Playdate Stereo Dock, says it’s unlikely we’ll see it anytime soon

The long-promised Playdate Stereo Dock is officially dead, at least for now. After many months with the desktop accessory stuck in development limbo, Panic has updated the product page so it no longer says it's “coming soon,” but instead that it’s been put on pause indefinitely due to issues with the Bluetooth experience, the factory that handled it and the rising costs of resolving it all. The Stereo Dock, first announced in 2021, was meant to be a charging dock that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker (and pen holder), along with being a cute way to display your Playdate when it’s not in use. But, things didn’t quite work out as planned. The Playdate team said it hit some unexpected hurdles in trying to bring the idea to life, and found that “making the Stereo Dock was almost more challenging than making the Playdate itself.” The statement explains: What happened? Well, our first regret was assuming that our factory at that time — a factory that made lots of Bluetooth speakers — could...

10 Best Mobile Games for iOS and Android

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These addictive smartphone games are perfect for the small screen in your pocket. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Google is reportedly developing ‘Jarvis’ AI that could take over your web browser

Google may be close to unveiling an AI agent that can operate a web browser to help users automate everyday tasks. The Information reports that the company is working on a “computer-using agent” under the codename Project Jarvis, and it may be ready to be previewed as soon as December. According to sources that spoke to The Information, Jarvis “responds to a person’s commands by capturing frequent screenshots of what’s on their computer screen, and interpreting the shots before taking actions like clicking on a button or typing into a text field.” Jarvis is reportedly made to work only with web browsers — particularly Chrome — to assist with common tasks like research, shopping and booking flights. It comes as Google continues to expand the capabilities of its Gemini AI, the next-gen model of which is expected to be revealed in December, as reported by The Verge. Gemini Live, Google’s AI chatbot, gained support for dozens of new languages this month, and Gemini integration has recently...

Microsoft Envisions Every Screen as an Xbox. How’s That Going So Far?

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My journey to play games like Starfield on anything except an Xbox accidentally proved the console still has its place. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Apple wins $250 from Masimo in watch patent trial

A federal jury ruled Friday that Masimo smartwatches infringed Apple patents, but Apple isn’t getting a big payday. Bloomberg Law reports that the company was only seeking the statutory minimum of $250, and that’s all it was awarded. Apple’s attorney John Desmarais reportedly told jurors, “We’re not here for the money.” Instead, he said the © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

OpenAI’s Whisper transcription tool has hallucination issues, researchers say

Software engineers, developers, and academic researchers have serious concerns about transcriptions from OpenAI’s Whisper, according to a report in the Associated Press. While there’s been no shortage of discussion around generative AI’s tendency to hallucinate — basically, to make stuff up — it’s a bit surprising that this is an issue in transcription, where you’d © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Lyft will have to tell drivers how much they can truly earn, with evidence

Lyft has agreed to to tell its drivers how much they can truly earn on the ride-hailing platform — and back it up with evidence — as part of its settlement for a lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. The lawsuit accused the company of making "numerous false and misleading claims" in the advertisements it released in 2021 and 2022, when the demand for rides recovered following COVID-19 lockdowns in the previous years. Lyft promised drivers up to $43 an hour in some locations, the FTC said, without revealing that those numbers were based on the earnings of its top drivers.  The rates it published allegedly didn't represent drivers' average earnings and inflated actual earnings by up to 30 percent. Further, the FTC said that Lyft "failed to disclose" that information, as well as the fact that the amounts it published included passengers' tips. The company also promised in its ads that drivers will get paid a set amount...

The Agency: Unmasking Secrets, Love, and Betrayal – Showtime’s New Spy Thriller #TheAgency

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The Agency: Unmasking Secrets, Love, and Betrayal – Showtime’s New Spy Thriller #TheAgency, #MichaelFassbender, #EspionageDrama, #ShowtimeSeries, #ParamountPlus, #SpyThriller, #JeffreyWright, #RichardGere, #LeBureauDesLegendes, #JoeWright Get ready to dive into a world of secrets, romance, and high-stakes espionage with The Agency! Join us as we explore this stylish new series starring Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, and Richard Gere, where loyalties are tested and past loves reignite. If you’re a fan of thrillers with depth and elegance, this one’s for you. Catch our deep dive into the plot, cast dynamics, and what makes The Agency a must-watch this season! Drop your theories in the comments, hit like if you’re intrigued, and subscribe for more exclusive insights. More details in the description – don’t miss out!Remember, if you want to stay updated with the latest trends, news, and tech reviews, don’t forget to like and subscribe to GreengroundIT! Follow up on our website https:/...

Chinese Hackers Target Trump Campaign via Verizon Breach

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Plus: Apple offers $1 million to hack its AI cloud infrastructure, Iranian hackers successfully peddle stolen Trump campaign docs, Russia hacks the nation of Georgia, and a “cyberattack” that wasn’t. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Apple wins a battle (and $250) in its smartwatch patent fight with Masimo

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Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge Apple got a mixed victory in a patent infringement lawsuit against medical device maker Masimo. On Friday, a federal jury determined that Masimo had infringed on some Apple patents, and as part of the verdict, Apple was awarded $250 — yes, just $250 — as a statutory remedy for Masimo’s infringement. $250 is the statutory minimum damages for the alleged infringement and Apple had sought that figure, Bloomberg Law reports. “We’re not here for the money,” Apple attorney John Desmarais said to jurors in closing arguments, according to the publication. Masimo’s W1 smartwatch, Freedom smartwatch, and health module infringed on one patent, while Masimo’s charger infringed on another, per the verdict form. The jury also found that Masimo’s... Continue reading… Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman unveils ‘super agency’ vision at TED AI conference, takes subtle shot at Elon Musk

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LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman introduces 'super agency' framework for AI development, dismissing near-term election risks while advocating for balanced regulation and human-AI collaboration in emerging cognitive technologies. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

iOS 18.2 will include daily Sudoku puzzles for Apple News+ subscribers

The long-anticipated iPhone iOS 18.1 officially launches next week, bringing with it Apple Intelligence, but we are already on to the next new thing. The company is busy preparing iOS 18.2, which has already entered its beta stage and should be widely released in December. This next operating system will include daily Sudoku puzzles for Apple News+ subscribers, as reported by MacRumors. Users will be able to choose from three difficulty options each day, ranging from easy to challenging. There’s a scoreboard to track stats, which includes the total number of puzzles solved, speed metrics and more. This is the fourth puzzle game to be included with an Apple News+ subscription, joining Crossword, Crossword Mini, and Quartiles. The New York Times also offers a slew of games with a subscription, including Wordle, so this is becoming an actual trend. iOS 18.2 Adds Daily Sudoku Puzzles for Apple News+ Subscribers in U.S. https://t.co/b61nAQ3eUA pic.twitter.com/h63oR3KIf5— MacRumors.com (@Mac...

Mattel and Outright Games release Barbie Project Friendship

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Mattel and Outright Games today launched Barbie Project Friendship, on the PC and consoles. Players can join Barbie “Malibu” Roberts and Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts as they team up to save the Malibu Waves Community Center with help from their friends and family. It’s a test of the market in some ways, as it’s released broadly on most  Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

A Neuralink Rival Says Its Eye Implant Restored Vision in Blind People

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A retinal implant allowed some people who lost their central vision to read, play cards, and recognize faces. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

The confusing state of Apple Intelligence

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Image: Alex Parkin / The Verge The first bits of Apple Intelligence are starting to show up on people’s phones. The features in iOS 18.1 are fairly basic: summarizing messages, writing emails, that kind of thing. Apple is already letting developers play with iOS 18.2, though, which looks like a much more substantial update. Meanwhile, the company is about to launch a bunch of new M4-powered and AI-focused Macs, and launched the iPad Mini this week. It’s a lot happening all at once, and it’s a lot to make sense of. On this episode of The Vergecast, we try and make sense of it. The Verge’s Richard Lawler joins us as we talk through the small changes in 18.1 and the much bigger changes in 18.2, debate whether Tim Cook can really use every Apple product every day, and... Continue reading… Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

San Francisco Will Pay $212 Million for Its Train System to Ditch Floppy Disks

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The city’s light-rail system has used 5¼-inch floppy disks for nearly 40 years. Getting off them won't come cheap. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

OpenAI reportedly plans to release its Orion AI model by December

OpenAI is reportedly planning to release its next frontier AI model, codenamed Orion inside the company, by December of this year, The Verge reported on Thursday. Unlike previous releases, the company reportedly plans to release the model gradually to trusted partners before a broader rollout through ChatGPT. An OpenAI spokesperson tells TechCrunch the report is © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

TikTok accounts are becoming divorce fodder

When Kat and Mike Stickler divorced, their biggest challenge was dividing a shared TikTok account with millions of followers that generated significant income, and they aren’t alone, reports the WSJ. A growing number of couples — and divorce attorneys — are grappling with how to assess the value of social media accounts when a couple © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Joby launches $200M public offering ahead of 2025 commercial eVTOL release

Electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle startup Joby Aviation has launched a public offering to sell up to $200 million of its shares of common stock, per a regulatory filing. Joby said it will use the proceeds from the raise — together with its existing cash — to fund its certification and manufacturing efforts, prepare © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Google Calendar gets a desgin refresh along with dark mode

Google said Wednesday that it is revamping the Google Calendar’s web interface following the Material Design 3 guidelines. The update also includes support for dark mode. The updated elements include controls like button, dialogs, and a sidebar that are more “modern and accessible.” according to the company. Screenshots on the Google Workspace blog suggest that © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

UnitedHealth says Change Healthcare data breach affects over 100 million people in America

Health insurance giant UnitedHealth blamed a ransomware gang for the data breach that included a substantial proportion of America's health data. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

VW spinoff Scout reveals its EV vision and it includes a model with a gas-powered generator

Scout Motors, the Volkswagen Group spinoff, unveiled Thursday two EVs it hopes will hook American customers with modern-meets-rugged styling that downplays digital and embraces the mechanical. The catch? The company will also offer variants to its all-electric Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra Truck that will come equipped with a built-in gas-powered generator using a system © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Judges and Border Police Targeted by Anti-Government Extremists, Doxed as ‘Traitors’

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A report from the US Department of Homeland Security claims that self-identified militia members have posted the names and photos of US government officials in reaction to their work on the US-Mexico border. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Twitch sees uptick in views thanks to September subathons | StreamElements

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StreamElements' September report shows that Twitch got a boost in watch hours thanks in part to major streamers' subathons. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Of course telecom companies are suing the FTC to block the new ‘click-to-cancel’ rule

An industry group representing telecom providers like Comcast and Charter has sued the FTC to block the recently-ratified “click-to-cancel” rule, as reported by Reuters. The NCTA, formerly known as the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, filed the suit with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on the grounds that the rule oversteps the FTC’s authority. The Interactive Advertising Bureau, which represents the online advertising industry, and the Electronic Security Association, which represents the home security industry, are also involved in the lawsuit. The groups call the FTC ruling “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion.” There’s also language in the suit that suggests that jumping through annoying hoops to cancel a subscription is actually helpful to consumers, according to USA Today. So this little mom and pop trade organization is just looking out for us, the little guy. I’m practically glowing with appreciation. For news junkies, the la...

Tesla is testing a robotaxi service that Elon Musk claims will launch next year

Elon Musk said he hopes to launch a service that will let people hail self-driving Tesla vehicles in California and Texas sometime in 2025 — and claims his company has already been testing the service in the Bay Area with employees. The comments, made Wednesday on Tesla’s third-quarter earnings call, go farther than what Musk © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Roblox to launch new child safety protocols next month

Roblox has adopted several new policies designed to give parents control over how their children use the sprawling online game platform. Bloomberg reported that the company has created a new type of parental account so that a guardian can oversee their kids' online activities and friends. Roblox is also now requiring parent permission for users under age 13 to access certain features. Users age 9 and younger will also need permission in order to access game modes with moderate violence or crude humor. The publication said these changes are slated to go into effect next month. Concerns about safety for young players have been a recurring issue for Roblox. The platform faced a lawsuit claiming exploitation of a minor in 2022. Sony was reluctant to host the game on its hardware over questions of whether Roblox exposed children to inappropriate sexual content, and the same justification led to a ban in Turkey earlier this year. Hindenburg Research recently released an exposé about pre...

Dolby Atmos is making its live theater debut

Dolby Atmos has integrated into spaces like movies, home theaters, and headphones over the decade plus since it launched in 2012. Now, its entering the live theater space for the first time since thanks to Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s take on King Lear. It has been used for live events before, however, like concerts at the Dolby Live in the Park MGM Las Vegas.  Kenneth Branagh, who stars in the production, has previously used Dolby Atmos as a director of films like Belfast. "Kenneth Branagh’s brilliant implementations of Dolby Atmos in film, like for his Oscar-winning Belfast, demonstrate the power artists have to immerse audiences in ways never before possible," said Jed Harmsen, Head of Cinema and Group Entertainment at Dolby. He added that the "collaboration with Dolby will break ground in bringing Dolby Atmos to the world of stage performance and use intentional sound design to plunge audiences into the play’s universe." King Lear will run for nearly two mo...

TSMC has reportedly cut off a company that sent its chips to Huawei

Chipmaking giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) halted semiconductor shipments to a client that may have illegally sent the chips on to Huawei, according to Bloomberg. That follows reports that TSMC had informed the US government that its chips appeared in one of Huawei's AI accelerators. There's no confirmation on whether the company was acting on Huawei's behalf or where it's based.  TSMC cut off shipments to the entity in mid-October after it noticed that the same chips had appeared in Huawei products. It notified the US and Taiwanese governments of this latest development and is further probing the matter, Bloomberg's sources said. They asked not to be identified given the sensitive nature of the matter.  Yesterday, Bloomberg and The Financial Times reported that Canadian research firm TechInsights had spotted TSMC chips in a Huawei AI accelerator, a clear violation of US sanctions. That brought into question how Huawei had obtained those chips, w...

How gen AI is revolutionizing the fitness industry

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CONTRIBUTOR CONTENT: Since the introduction of generative AI, many industries have undergone significant transformations. Recently, the new amp fitness machine was launched, showcasing how gen AI, combined with advanced technologies, is set to change the way people approach fitness training. Upon entering amp’s showroom in NYC’s Soho, the futuristic aesthetic of the machine immediately stands out. Its  Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

NASA’s newest telescope can detect gravitational waves from colliding black holes

NASA showed off a telescope prototype for a new gravitational wave detection mission in space. The telescope is part of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission led by the European Space Agency (NSA) in partnership with NASA. The goal of the LISA mission is to position three spacecraft in a triangular orbit measuring nearly 1.6 million miles on each side. The three spacecraft will follow the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Each spacecraft will carry two telescopes to track their siblings using infrared laser beams. Those beams can measure distances down to a trillionth of a meter. Gravitational waves are created during a collision between two black holes. They were first theorized by Albert Einstein in 1916 and detected almost a century later by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) Scientific Collaboration from the National Science Foundation, Caltech and MIT. A gravitational wave is detected when the three spacecraft shift from their characteristic...

AI startup Ideogram launches infinite Canvas for manipulating, combining generated images

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Users can spread newly generated images out, compare them to older ones, resize and reorder them at will, and even combine two with AI. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Stability claims its newest Stable Diffusion models generate more ‘diverse’ images

Following a string of controversies stemming from technical hiccups and licensing changes, AI startup Stability AI has announced its latest family of image generation models. The new Stable Diffusion 3.5 series is more customizable and versatile than Stability’s previous-generation tech, the company claims — as well as more performant. There are three models in total: © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Thousands of creatives sign petition against AI data scraping

What do the actor Kevin Bacon, the novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, the musician Robert Smith, and the journalist and historian Sidney Blumenthal have in common? They are among the 11,500 signatories of a petition against unlicensed use of creative works for AI training. “The unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Three of the best AI headshot generators

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CONTRIBUTOR CONTENT: Could your profile picture use an update? Not everyone has the time or money to hire a professional whenever they need a headshot, and a smartphone picture doesn’t usually make a good impression. Designed to automatically give your photos a professional look, an AI headshot generator might be the perfect solution—but which is the right  Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

UK Considers New Smartphone Bans for Children

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A proposed law would tighten up phone bans in schools and limit how tech companies use children’s data, but experts are unconvinced these measures would make kids safer or healthier. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Tim Cook’s other job

In May, while unveiling the newest iPad at an Apple event, CEO Tim Cook wore a custom-made, one-of-a-kind pair of Nike sneakers whose decorative stitching included the words “Made on iPad.”  It wasn’t just a collab between Apple and Nike. As Bloomberg reminds readers, Cook has been on Nike’s board since 2005, when Cook was © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

India’s Neysa bags $30M to compete with global AI hyperscalers

India's Neysa has raised $30 million in a Series A round to bolster its AI infrastructure offering. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Nintendo Alarmo review: Charming, yet frustrating

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Alarmo is the quintessential Nintendo product: It's a fun and quirky spin on a bedside alarm clock (with a motion sensor!) that mines your love for everything Nintendo. It's a $100 device entirely meant to surprise and delight you. But there are also usability issues that make me think the company's engineers haven't encountered any modern gadgets over the past decade (which is how long they've been developing Alarmo). Here's an example: There's no easy way to input your Wi-Fi password if you ever want to download new themes. Instead you have to patiently spin its bulbous top button until you land on the character you need, then press it down like Mario squashing a Goomba. That may not sound like much of an issue, especially since you may only need to do it once, but it's needlessly frustrating if you have a complex password with multiple letter cases, numbers and symbols. My password is all lowercase letters, thankfully, but it still took me three minu...

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition will only be sold in Korea and China

Samsung fans interested in the Galaxy Z Fold series may be curious about the the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition (SE), which is coming out on October 25, this Friday. However, this smartphone will only reach stores in Korea and China. The Galaxy Z Fold SE is 1.5mm thinner and three grams lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, measuring 1.6mm thick and weighing 236 grams. The inner and outer screens are 8 and 6.5 inches, respectively. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s screens are 7.6 and 6.3 inches, in comparison. While the Galaxy Fold 6 has 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy Z Fold SE will have 16GB of RAM, which allows it to perform better at AI tasks courtesy of Samsung’s Galaxy AI. These tasks include real-time conversation interpretation, image editing, summarizing audio and transcription functions. Samsung aims to help users “unleash” their creativity with these and other functions. The final notable change is the rear camera. The Special Edition rear sensor has been upgraded to 200 megapixels from 50 on the s...

How a Trump Win Could Unleash Dangerous AI

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Donald Trump's opposition to “woke” safety standards for artificial intelligence would likely mean the dismantling of regulations that protect Americans from misinformation, discrimination, and worse. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

xAI, Elon Musk’s AI startup, launches an API

In August, Elon Musk’s xAI promised to make Grok, the company’s flagship generative AI model powering a number of features on X, available via an “enterprise API.” Now, that API has arrived — albeit a bare-bones at the moment. The xAI API only has one model available, “grok-beta,” priced at $5 per million input tokens © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

A closer look at the AirPods Pro’s new hearing aid features

In November 2022, the FDA passed a resolution allowing Americans to purchase hearing aids over-the-counter. The move launched a mini-industry, with companies rushing to make available technology that was previously mired in healthcare restrictions. Consumer electronics firms saw opportunity, as well. In September, Apple announced that it would be bringing hearing aid features to the © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite is reportedly its next premium mobile chip

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Another year, another flagship Qualcomm mobile chip. But things are reportedly a bit different with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the company's newest offering headed to premium smartphones. For one, it's using the Oryon CPU that debuted in X Elite chips for laptops last year, according to a leaked slide from Videocardz. It's also using a new 3nm process node, instead of last year's 4nm node. That helps the Snapdragon 8 Elite deliver 45 percent faster single and multi-core performance while using 27 percent less power than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. While we're still waiting for more details on the Snapdragon 8 Elite at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit later today, there's still a lot we can learn from that single leaked slide. As expected, the company is doubling down on its generative AI capabilities, with a 45 percent faster NPU (neural processing unit) than before, and gaming performance will also see a 40 percent boost. The 8 Elite will reach a maximum speed of 4.32...

IBM debuts open source Granite 3.0 LLMs for enterprise AI

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IBM is launching its new open source Granite 3.0 family of models for enterprise AI as it looks to a future state of generative computing. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Michelle Yeoh’s Star Trek spy movie has a release date

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Michelle Yeoh is back in Trek. | Screenshot: YouTube Star Trek: Section 31 will premiere as a direct-to-streaming movie on January 24th on Paramount Plus, which revealed the date during a Trek panel at the New York Comic Con. Fans will finally see Michelle Yeoh’s Star Trek: Discovery character, Emperor Philippa Georgiou, put her Mirrorverse skills to use as a super secret space spy. When we last saw Emperor Georgiou (an alternate dimension version of Captain Georgiou Discovery’s first season) she was flung back in time by a being called the Guardian of Forever. Before that, though, she had been recruited as a member of Section 31, the clandestine organization that the Trek franchise often uses to illustrate that even the glossy Federation has a shady side. The film, originally announced as a TV series in 2019 before being reintroduced as a movie, will follow her time as a Section 31 operative who “must face the sins of her past.” In addition to Yeoh, Section 31 will also s...

The AI edge in cybersecurity: Predictive tools aim to slash response times

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AI's ability to sift through massive amounts of data, identify patterns and constantly learn makes it invaluable in cybersecurity. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Elon Musk is offering people $1 million to vote

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Image: Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images Tech billionaire Elon Musk gave a $1 million check to an audience member at a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he’s been Trump-stumping, on Saturday. And he said he will continue to give that prize to one random voter per day until the Presidential election on November 5th. The move could very well break US election law. Only people who have signed a petition from Musk’s America PAC are eligible for the sweepstakes-style offer. And only registered voters are eligible to sign the petition. According to its terms, Musk will give $1 million to someone in Pittsburgh today, but will later expand to anyone living in swing states like Georgia, Nevada, or Arizona. It’s against federal law to impel anyone to vote or get registered to vote and Musk’s $1 million prizes are “clearly illegal,” writes UCLA political science professor Rick Hasen in his Election Law Blog. He cites 52 USC 10307 (c), which states that anyone who “pays or ...

Perplexity is reportedly looking to fundraise at an $8B valuation

AI search engine Perplexity is in fundraising talks and hopes to raise around $500 million at an $8 billion valuation, according to the Wall Street Journal. If a deal happens with those terms, it would more than double Perplexity’s valuation from its $3 billion valuation when it raised from SoftBank over the summer. The WSJ © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Women in AI: Marissa Hummon thinks AI will help make the power grid greener

This is part of TechCrunch’s ongoing Women in AI series, which seeks to give AI-focused women academics and others their well-deserved time in the spotlight. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

The Wolf Man (2025) // A Thrilling Reimagining of Classic Horror #WolfMan2025, #HorrorMovies, #Werewolf

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The Wolf Man (2025) // A Thrilling Reimagining of Classic Horror #WolfMan2025, #HorrorMovies, #Werewolf, #LeighWhannell, #ChristopherAbbott, #JuliaGarner, #UniversalMonsters, #Blumhouse, #PsychologicalHorror, #MonsterReboot The upcoming Wolf Man movie, set for release in January 2025, is a chilling reimagining of the classic werewolf tale. Directed by Leigh Whannell and starring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, this psychological horror delves deep into the terrifying transformation of Blake, a man torn between protecting his family and succumbing to a monstrous curse. With suspenseful storytelling and a fresh take on the original, this film promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Watch this video to uncover all the thrilling details about the film, its cast, and what makes this reboot a must-see. More info in the description below!Want more? Drop your thoughts in the comments and be sure to like, share, and subscribe!Remember, if you want to stay updated with the la...

The Internet Archive hackers still have access to its internal emailing tools

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Early this morning, I received an email from “The Internet Archive Team,” replying to a message I’d sent on October 9th. Except its author doesn’t seem to have been the digital archivists’ support team — it was apparently written by the hackers who breached the site earlier this month and who evidently maintain some level of access to its systems. I’m not alone. Users on the Internet Archive subreddit are reporting getting the replies, as well. Here is the message I received: It’s dispiriting to see that even after being made aware of the breach 2 weeks ago, IA has still not done the due diligence of rotating many of the API keys that were exposed in their gitlab secrets. As demonstrated by this message, this includes a Zendesk token with perms to access 800K+ support tickets sent to info@archive.org since 2018. Whether you were trying to ask a general question, or requesting the removal of your site from the Wayback Machine—your dat...

The 7 Best Blackout Curtains, Tested and Reviewed

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We tested many options on bright windows to see which curtains actually give us a dark night’s sleep. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Gusto’s head of technology says hiring an army of specialists is the wrong approach to AI

As founders plan for an increasingly AI-centric future, Gusto co-founder and head of technology Edward Kim said that cutting existing teams and hiring a bunch of specially trained AI engineers is “the wrong way to go.” Instead, he argued that non-technical team members can “actually have a much deeper understanding than an average engineer on © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Protesters Say Uber and Lyft Are Still Failing Their Blind Passengers

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At a protest in San Francisco, blind Uber and Lyft users claim that the ride-hailing companies aren’t doing enough to prevent drivers from turning them away. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .