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Showing posts from May, 2025

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...

What Is Google One? A Breakdown of Plans, Pricing, and Included Services

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If you use Google’s apps and AI, it’s worth looking at this all-inclusive service. We break down the plans and how much they cost. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Micro Center nerd store fills the Fry’s vacuum with its return to Silicon Valley

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Micro Center, an electronics retailer, has opened a store in Silicon Valley in California And so the nerd kingdom has returned. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Yep, X was down again

People reported that photos weren't loading, its banking service XMoney wasn't working, and search wasn't returning any results, among other things. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Young people sue Donald Trump over climate change

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A group of young people — as young as 7 and as old as 25 — are suing the Trump administration to stop its assault on renewable energy and climate action.  Executive orders President Donald Trump signed to promote fossil fuels amount to an “unconstitutional” overreach of power, they allege in a complaint filed Thursday at Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Trump administration to claw back $3.7B in clean energy and manufacturing awards

Large corporations and growing startups were wrapped up in the latest move by the Trump administration to undo Biden-era contracts. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Google fixes bug that led AI Overviews to say it’s now 2024

Google has fixed a bug that led AI Overviews to say it's 2024 when it was asked if this year is 2025. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Engadget Podcast: Who needs an AI web browser?

This week we're fielding your burning tech questions, as well as diving into a bunch of AI web browser news. Opera has started testing its fully agentic AI browser, the Browser Company is dumping the Arc browser in favor of something AI related and Mozilla is getting in a bit of hot water with experimental AI preview summaries. Try as we might, we just can't escape AI. Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Podcasts Topics Listener Mailbag: How to set up an Xbox account for your kids, will screens be obsolete, and more – 1:34 Web browsers go AI ‘agentic’: The Browser Company leaves Arc behind. Opera and Firefox debut new features – 25:37 xAI is paying Telegram $300m this year to use Grok – 54:04 Apple’s self repair program extends to iPads – 56:30 Apple might switch its OS numbering next year, iOS26 could be on the way – 58:57 Working on – 1:02:41 Pop culture picks – 1:09:26 Credits  Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Ben EllmanProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale Nor...

Bitkraft doubles down on Web3 games with added leaders

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Bitkraft Ventures, an early-stage investment firm focused on games, has announced new leaders who will double down on Web3 gaming. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Valorant is finally adding replays and upgrading to Unreal Engine 5

The hugely popular first-person shooter game Valorant is getting some long-awaited upgrades as the game approaches its 5-year anniversary. In the latest dev update, the Valorant team announced the long-anticipated replay feature. They’ll function about the same as replays in other online shooters like Counter-Strike 2, allowing players to revisit their previous matches and watch them from the perspective of any player in the game or from a free-roaming camera. Replays will initially launch on PC with patch 11.06 in September and will come to consoles later in the year. After initially developing and updating the game in Unreal Engine 4 for more than ten years, the dev team announced a port to Unreal Engine 5 with patch 11.02 around the end of July. The Valorant devs say this will bring higher frame rates and faster future patch downloads without changing the current gameplay feel. In their video update, the team teased that moving to Unreal 5 will enable a whole host of possibilities i...

The Best Sweatpants: Our Top 7 Picks (2025)

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Our top picks are comfy, cozy, and suited to every body. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

FLUX.1 Kontext enables in-context image generation for enterprise AI pipelines

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FLUX.1 Kontext from Black Forest Labs aims to let users edit images multiple times through both text and reference images without losing speed. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

“Trump Caps Foreign Students at Harvard, Sparks Global Academic Debate” – 5/29/2025, 6:28:51 PM

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As of May 29, 2025, several significant news events are developing around the world: Trump Administration News: – President Trump is pushing for a 15% cap on foreign students at... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

7 Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks (2025), Tested and Reviewed

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If you want to wake up with the sun but aren’t a morning person, these bedside devices can simulate a sunrise whenever you want to rouse for the day (and a sunset too). Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Tesla alum’s Heron Power closes $38M Series A to transform key grid technology

Drew Baglino's startup is hoping to Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Nvidia CEO takes a shot at U.S. policy cutting off AI chip sales to China

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang tiptoed into politics with a comment taking a shot at the U.S. policy that has cut off sales of his chips to China. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

10 Best Juicers (2025): Centrifugal, Slow, Masticating

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Stay hydrated with tried-and-tested juicers for refreshing daytime beverages and eye-brightening evening drinks. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Chaos in Gaza and Ukraine Escalates as Diplomatic Tensions Surge Globally – 5/28/2025, 6:28:46 PM

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As of May 28, 2025, several significant events are making headlines around the world: Israeli operations in Gaza continue with intensifying attacks that have killed at least 15 people since... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Microsoft wants Windows Update to handle all apps

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Microsoft is starting to open Windows Update up to any third-party app that needs to be updated. The software giant is now allowing developers to sign up for a private preview of what it calls the Windows Update orchestration platform, that will enable Windows Update to support any update for apps or drivers in the Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

LexisNexis leaked social security numbers and other personal data for over 364,000 people

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The data analytics firm LexisNexis Risk Solutions says it suffered a breach that could have exposed the names, Social Security numbers, contact information, and driver’s license numbers of over 364,000 people, as reported earlier by TechCrunch. In a notice filed with the state of Maine, LexisNexis says “an unauthorized third party” accessed its data through Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Rillet raises $25M from Sequoia to automate general ledger systems using AI

Rillet directly pulls data from their customers' banks and platforms to generate financial statements, including the balance sheet and income statement. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Everyone’s looking to get in on vibe coding — and Google is no different with Stitch, its follow-up to Jules

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Google is looking to compete in vibe coding with Stitch, which designs user interfaces (UIs) with one prompt.  Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Apple buys the maker of Sneaky Sasquatch

Apple has bought a game studio for the first time. Digital Trends reported on Tuesday that the company has scooped up RAC7. The two-person team is behind the Apple Arcade hit Sneaky Sasquatch. For years, some investors have hoped Apple would apply its full clout to the gaming industry. Although recent years have seen the launches of Apple Arcade and Game Mode for Macs, there's still untapped potential. Another piece of news on Tuesday makes it easier to speculate that something is brewing. Bloomberg reported that the company will launch a revamped gaming app at WWDC. The new app is said to replace the oft-forgotten Game Center. However, Giovanni Colantonio of Digital Trends suggests the acquisition isn't necessarily a sign of what's to come. He notes that Apple described the RAC7 purchase as a unique situation to help the small studio grow. "We will continue to deliver a great experience for Apple Arcade players with hundreds of games from many of the best game develop...

EU regulators are investigating Pornhub and three other sites

European regulators are investigating Pornhub. On Monday, the European Commission (EC) accused the platform of not doing enough to block underage access. Also included in the investigation are Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos. The EC suspects the porn sites have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA), which includes child safety measures. Specifically, it accused the platforms of lacking age restriction tools. All four sites let EU users watch content after clicking a single button to confirm they're over 18. In a statement to Engadget, Pornhub said it's "fully committed" to the online safety of minors. "Our sites are fully RTA compliant as rated by the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP), and are strictly reserved for those of legal age only," the company said. It added that it believes device-level verification, rather than on the website, is "the real solution." "Children should not have access to pornographic content,...

Mistral launches API for building AI agents that run Python, generate images, perform RAG and more

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For professionals like the Lead AI Engineer or Senior AI Engineer, the Mistral Agents API represents a powerful addition to their AI toolkit. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

TCL’s newest TVs will automatically calibrate wireless speakers

Dolby's automatic speaker calibration tech FlexConnect finally comes to market via TCL's 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs. The company had originally announced the technology back in 2023, and was set to debut it with TCL's 2024 TV lineup. FlexConnect lets users place wireless speakers anywhere in a room without worrying about perfect configuration. The surround sound will then be optimized automatically based on the layout of the room and the position of the speakers. The first audio device to support this tech will be TCL's Z100 smart speaker, which is designed to pair with TCL's FlexConnect-enabled TVs. TCL's Precise Dimming Series, which includes the QM6K, QM7K and the newly announced QM8K, will all be FlexConnect-compatible. Users will be able to pair up to four Z100 speakers with their TCL TVs, which will work in concert with the TV's built-in speakers to deliver intelligently calibrated Dolby Atmos sound. This innovation allows for immersive spatial sound without...

The PS5 will be cheaper than the Switch 2 for a limited time

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In the midst of tariff concerns and a cost-of-living crisis, Sony has decided to throw a party. Starting May 28th and lasting till June 11th, Sony’s putting on its annual Days of Play summer event in which PS5s, PS5 accessories, and some of the console’s most popular games will go on sale. The sale is Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Jurassic World Rebirth 2025: The Dinosaurs Return, and So Do the Secrets

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Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) brings back dinosaurs—and danger—in a daring new chapter. Explore plot, cast, and deeper conspiracies in this Greenground exclusive. The dinosaurs are back—but this time, evolution took... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

The best Memorial Day tech sales from Amazon, Apple, Samsung, Dyson and others that you can get today

It might surprise you, but Memorial Day can be a great time to shop for tech. In years past, we've seen solid Memorial Day sales on all manner of gadgets including many of our favorite tablets, headphones, charging accessories, robot vacuums and more. That's on top of all the seasonal items that usually gets discounted at this time like smart grills and grilling gear, pizza ovens and outdoor tech.If you're on the market for any of those things, now's a good time to shop. Memorial Day sales are live, and we expect them to be live at least through the end of the day today. Below, we've collected all of the best Memorial Day tech deals we could find for 2025, and we'll continue to update this post with the latest offers.We'd be remiss if we didn't mention Amazon Prime Day, though. The biggest iteration of the online retailer's annual shopping event typically happens in July, and Amazon confirmed it will be back again this year (although official dates r...

Apple’s AirPods 4 with ANC drop to $149 for Memorial Day

Apple's AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) just became an even more enticing proposition for those who have been on the fence about picking up a pair. They have dropped to $149, which is $30 off the regular price. That's only about $10 more than the record low and the lowest price we've seen for the AirPods 4 with ANC so far this year. If ANC isn't such a big deal for you (perhaps, like me, you tend to only wear one earbud at a time), you can snap up a set of AirPods 4 without ANC instead. Those will currently run you $119, a discount of $10. We gave the AirPods 4 with ANC a score of 86 in our review. Apple improved the audio quality compared with the previous version, and the earbuds have a better fit than the AirPods 3. We felt that the ANC was pretty effective too. However, the lack of onboard volume controls remains a disappointment. The AirPods 4 use the same H2 chip as the AirPods Pro 2, meaning they share some features with the higher-end model...

CoComelon is headed to Disney Plus in 2027

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Disney Plus will become the new home of CoComelon outside of YouTube starting in 2027, according to Bloomberg. All eight seasons will move over from Netflix, which has hosted the absurdly popular kids’ show since 2020. CoComelon, essentially a series of mind-numbingly plotless, CG-animated vignettes set to karaoke-quality nursery rhymes, is a giant in the Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Tesla opened Cybertruck trade-ins, and the numbers aren’t pretty

Per Inside EVs, Cybertruck owners are now allowed by Tesla to trade in their cars for the first time since they hit the market – but they’ll incur a heavy hit in the process. CarGurus recently showed depreciation rates of up to 45%. Meanwhile, Business Insider talked this past week with two owners who shared Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

From LLMs to hallucinations, here’s a simple guide to common AI terms

We thought it would be helpful to put together a glossary with definitions of some of the most important words and phrases that we use in our articles. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

We Hand-Picked the 61 Best Deals From the 2025 REI Anniversary Sale

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It’s the best time of year to pick up all the tents, stoves, sleeping bags, and gear you’ll need for summer fun. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

“Massive Drone Attack on Ukraine Marks Escalation; Gaza Airstrikes Intensify as Crises Mount” – 5/25/2025, 6:28:18 PM

Latest World News as of May 25, 2025 United States – Over 45 million Americans are traveling for the Memorial Day holiday, causing significant strain on the aviation industry and... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Breaking News Roundup: Global Crises & Conflicts on May 25, 2025 | Greenground

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Breaking News Roundup: Global Crises & Conflicts on May 25, 2025 | Greenground#BreakingNews, #WorldNews, #GazaCrisis, #MiddleEastConflict, #RussiaUkraine, #GlobalAffairs, #HumanitarianCrisis, #NewsUpdate, #CurrentEvents, #GreengroundWelcome back to Greenground on this crucial day—May 25, 2025—as we dive deep into the most urgent international stories shaping our world. In this video, we cover:- **Gaza Crisis:** Unpack the devastating impacts of ongoing airstrikes and the deepening humanitarian disaster, where children and families face famine and unimaginable loss.- **Global Conflicts:** Explore the latest from the Russia-Ukraine war, Israeli airstrikes in Yemen, and new developments in Syria and the Middle East.- **European Instability:** Get updates on the Hamburg train station stabbing, France’s Cannes Film Festival power outage, and Germany’s debate over military conscription.- **Asia’s Tensions:** Learn about North Korea’s latest internal crackdown, escalating India-Pakist...

Beyond single-model AI: How architectural design drives reliable multi-agent orchestration

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Successful AI agents require enterprises to orchestrate interactions, manage shared knowledge and plan for failure. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

X is back after an apparent widespread outage

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X is back up for most users after what appeared to be a significant outage that spiked early this morning around 9AM ET. Global internet monitor NetBlocks posted this morning that X “has been experiencing international outages for some users for a second time in a week,” adding that the issue isn’t “related to country-level Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

The US Is Building a One-Stop Shop for Buying Your Data

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Plus: A mysterious hacking group’s secret client is exposed, Signal takes a swipe at Microsoft Recall, Russian hackers target security cameras to spy on aid to Ukraine, and more. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

7 Best Coffee Pod Machines (2025), Tested and Reviewed

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Pod coffee makers are a convenient way to get caffeinated. These are our favorites. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Freedom of the Press Foundation Threatens Legal Action if Paramount Settles With Trump Over ’60 Minutes’ Interview

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As Paramount considers settling a lawsuit with Donald Trump over a "60 Minutes" interview, the Freedom of the Press Foundation warns that it will sue over a deal that allegedly “could amount to a bribe.” Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Valve CEO Gabe Newell’s Neuralink competitor is expecting its first brain chip this year

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Valve co-founder and CEO Gabe Newell, the company behind Half-Life and DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike and preeminent PC game distribution platform Steam, has long toyed with the idea that your brain should be more connected to your PC. It began over a decade ago with in-house psychologists studying people’s biological responses to video games; Valve Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Trump threatens a 25 percent tariff on all smartphones not made in the US

After threatening Apple with a 25 percent tariff unless the company found a way to move iPhone production to the US, Bloomberg reports that President Donald Trump wants the tariff applied to other phone makers, too. "It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair," Trump said in a White House press conference following his earlier Truth Social post threatening the new tariff. "So anybody that makes that product, and that’ll start on, I guess, the end of June." That means Samsung, Google, and other phone makers selling smartphones in the US would also need to find a way to move production state-side, something most experts says is economically unfeasible. While Trump's announcement lacks detail in the way many of his potentially world-altering decisions do, it does fit with the larger plan outlined in earlier tariff announcements. When electronics like smartphones were initially exempted from the larger 125 percent tar...

Naukri exposed recruiter email addresses, researcher says

The recruiter website fixed the email address exposure earlier this week. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

“Gaza Hospitals Suspend Services Amid Escalating Conflict and Resource Shortages” – 5/23/2025, 6:28:48 PM

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Latest World News as of May 23, 2025 Gaza Crisis Intensifies – Gaza’s health system is at a breaking point. Israel’s intensified military operations have caused mass displacement and severe... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Trump threatens Apple with a 25 percent iPhone tariff

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President Donald Trump has threatened Apple with a tariff of “at least 25 percent” just for its iPhones unless it moves production to the United States. “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Apple’s first smart glasses could arrive next year

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Apple is planning to debut its first pair of smart glasses next year, according to a report from Bloomberg. The upcoming glasses will reportedly come with cameras, microphones, and speakers, “allowing them to analyze the external world and take requests via the Siri voice assistant,” Bloomberg says. The glasses would also be capable of taking Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

The FTC will finally stop challenging Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard

The Federal Trade Commission has finally given up the ghost on challenging Microsoft's $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. "The Commission has determined that the public interest is best served by dismissing the administrative litigation in this case," the agency said in an order issued today. The federal regulator had attempted to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard both before and after the deal closed back in October 2023. The FTC just lost out on its latest appeal against the merger earlier this month. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FTC had not successfully argued several points of its case for a preliminary injunction against the merger, which is one of the biggest acquisitions in the video game industry. "Today’s decision is a victory for players across the country and for common sense in Washington, D.C. We are grateful to the FTC for today’s announcement," Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith po...

Strava is buying up athletic training apps – first Runna, and now The Breakaway

The social fitness app Strava has made two acquisitions over the last month and change: on Thursday, Strava’s acquired cycling app The Breakaway, following its acquisition of Runna last month. Incubated in Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 class, The Breakaway uses AI to create personalized training plans for cyclists working toward specific goals. Runna, a UK-based Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline

Anthropic’s newly launched Claude Opus 4 model frequently tries to blackmail developers when they threaten to replace it with a new AI system and give it sensitive information about the engineers responsible for the decision, the company said in a safety report released Thursday. During pre-release testing, Anthropic asked Claude Opus 4 to act as Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Amazon’s AI voiceovers will talk you through product features

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Amazon is testing new AI-generated audio summaries that will let you listen to two AI “hosts” chat about a product’s features. Along with product details, the AI audio clips also draw information from user reviews and information from the web. The feature is currently available for select products on Amazon’s mobile app, including the Ninja Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

“Trump Unveils $175 Billion ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense, China Raises Space Militarization Concerns” – 5/22/2025, 6:20:55 AM

As of May 22, 2025, here are the latest world news developments: Trump’s “Golden Dome” Defense System: President Trump has unveiled plans for a massive missile shield defense system called... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Luminar secures up to $200M following CEO departure and layoffs

Lidar company Luminar reached a deal with Yorkville Advisors Global and another unnamed investor that could bring another $200 million into its coffers through the sale of convertible preferred stock over an 18-month period. The agreement, which was announced in a regulatory filing Wednesday, follows an abrupt change in leadership and layoffs. Earlier this month, Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Tamagotchi Paradise looks like the most exciting virtual pet toy in years

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You've got to hand it to the Tamagotchi team for continuing to find new ways to spin a toy that is now pushing 30 years old. We've seen a Tamagotchi with a built-in camera, a Tamagotchi watch with a touchscreen so you can pet your virtual pet and another one with its own Tamaverse. Sometimes these experiments don't work out as well as we'd like them to — the flat buttons introduced with Tamagotchi Pix were kind of terrible in practice — but they keep the franchise feeling alive. And alive seems like the best way to describe the newest member of the Tamagotchi family. Tamagotchi Paradise looks like it's absolutely bustling with life. Bandai first teased the upcoming Tamagotchi Paradise in a comic for Free Comic Book Day at the beginning of May, but it's now official: we're getting a Tamagotchi that's equipped with a zoom dial feature to observe the critters up close (like, even down to the cellular level) and from afar. It'll bring back gene-mixing, t...

Google rejected giving publishers more choice to opt out of AI Search

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Google didn’t want to give publishers the choice to keep their content out of AI Search results because it’s “evolving into a space for monetisation.” That’s according to a newly disclosed internal document spotted by Bloomberg, which reveals that Google had discussed offering publishers more granular control over how website data would be used in Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Memorial Day Apple deals include the USB-C Magic Mouse for $68

Memorial Day brings the unofficial start of summer in addition to tons of deals across the internet. It's a decent time to shop for tech, believe it or not, from big purchases like laptops and tablets down to more affordable devices like tech accessories. In the latter category, you'll find the Apple Magic Mouse with a USB-C port down to $68 for Memorial Day. That's a 14-percent discount and only $5 more than its record-low price. Notably, this deal is only for the white model with a USB-C port. The Apple Magic Mouse is a solid wireless and rechargeable option to go with any of your Macs. It should pair automatically with the computer. Plus, one charge should last about a month and you can recharge it with an included woven USB-C Charge Cable.  In addition to the Magic Mouse, there are a handful of other Apple accessories on sale for Memorial Day. Key among them are the Apple Pencil Pro for $99 and a four-pack of AirTags for $75. Check out our coverage of th...

AMD takes aim at Intel with new 96-core Threadripper 9000 series CPU

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AMD has announced its latest Zen 5-based Ryzen Threadripper 9000 Series of CPUs at Computex today. The 9000 Series and 9000 WX-Series are built for the demanding workstation market, and the top Threadripper Pro 9995WX will ship with 96 cores and 192 threads. This flagship Threadripper chip is designed for professionals who are working on Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Sonos portable speakers are 25 percent off for Memorial Day

Sonos' speakers are known for their premium price tags, but if you're looking for a more affordable entry-point to the ecosystem, you can get up to 25 percent off some of the company's portable speakers and speaker bundles for Memorial Day. That includes $113 off the Sonos Move 2, which brings the speaker's price down from $449 to $336. The Sonos Move 2 was introduced in 2023 as the more expensive follow-up to the original Move, Sonos' first "portable" speaker. You can argue over it's portability — the Move 2 makes more sense as something your carry to your backyard than take on a hike — but the speaker packs a punch and lets you play music over both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. We liked the Sonos Move 2 when we originally reviewed it, but took issue with how expensive it was, so this sale helps make splurging on it more palatable. If you're looking for something even more portable and affordable, the Sonos Roam 2 is also on sale for $45 off. Like th...

Mario Kart World was initially planned for the original Switch

The upcoming Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World was originally intended for the OG Switch console, according to an interview with the game's developers. This was the goal until the dev team realized that the console couldn't handle it. "It was difficult for us to incorporate everything we wanted, so we were always conscious of what we were giving up in return,” said programming director Kenta Sato. A big sticking point seemed to be that the original Switch would have had to run the game at 30FPS. Mario Kart games have always run at 60FPS, for obvious reasons. You can't simulate speed without, uh, simulating speed. Developers pecked away at the "tough situation" until finally deciding to create more DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as a way to bide time as the team figured out what to do. "As we’d decided to release Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Booster Course Pass, we thought that would give us a bit more time to continue development," said producer Kosuke ...

New Bacteria Have Been Discovered on a Chinese Space Station

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On Earth there is no record of Niallia tiangongensis, a bacterium found aboard the Tiangong station that appears to be well adapted to conditions there. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Lost in Cult’s new Editions publishing label focuses on art and indie games preservation

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Editions is the name of a new game publishing label launched by Lost in Cult, the same company known for making gorgeous books about video games, like Outer Wilds: Design Works. The new label’s aim is to preserve indie games, including some that haven’t been released on physical media before, and to celebrate their artistic Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Fortnite returns to the US App Store after a five-year gap

Popular battle royale game Fortnite has finally returned to the U.S. App Store amid game maker Epic Games’ lengthy legal skirmish with Apple. As of Tuesday, Fortnite is also available on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the EU. It’ll show up in App Store searches soon, Epic said in a post on X. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Fortnite is finally back in the US App Store

Fortnite is back in the US App Store. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced that he intended to relaunch the game in late April, following a court order that demanded Apple stop collecting a 27 percent fee on app transactions that happen outside of its in-app purchase system. The company finally amending its rules to remove that additional commission is why Epic moved forward with the relaunch. The origins of this conflict can be traced all the way back to 2020, when Epic added its own method for collecting payments for in-game items in Fortnite and encouraged players to circumvent Apple's system. Fortnite was removed from the App Store (and the Google Play Store for that matter), Epic sued and the rest is history.  Epic didn't win its entire case against Apple, but it did secure a permanent injunction allowing developers to include in-app text that makes users aware of payment options other than the App Store. According to the latest court order, Apple allowed that text, but was stil...

US libraries cut ebook and audiobook lending programs following Trump executive order

In the latest episode of How to Dismantle Public Services in 12 Easy Steps, a Trump executive order targeting libraries has real-world consequences. The AP reported over the weekend that libraries across the country are cutting programs that offer ebooks, audiobooks and other loan programs. These initiatives exploded in popularity following the pandemic, with over 660 million people globally borrowing them in 2023 — a 19 percent annual increase. The cuts and slashing of grants followed a Trump executive order issued on March 14 targeting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). His appointee to helm the agency, Keith E. Sonderling, quickly signaled that he was there to do the president's bidding. He placed the IMLS's entire staff on administrative leave, sent termination notices to most of them, canceled grants and contracts and fired everyone on the National Museum and Library Services Board. Federal judges have temporarily blocked the administration from further g...

The 15 biggest announcements at Google I/O 2025

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Google just wrapped up its big keynote at I/O 2025. As expected, the keynote was chock-full of AI-related announcements, ranging from updates across Google’s image and video generation models, to new features in Search and Gmail. But there were some surprises too, like a new AI filmmaking app and an update to Project Starline. If Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

“China’s AI Satellite Launch Aims to Outpace Terrestrial Supercomputers in Orbit” – 5/20/2025, 12:22:50 PM

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Latest World News as of May 20, 2025 Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Ceasefire Talks Ceasefire negotiations are ongoing between Russia and Ukraine, with US President Trump expected to hold discussions with... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Spotify iOS users can now buy audiobooks directly from the app

Spotify is continuing to add more ways for listeners to directly make purchases within its iOS app. Following on the streaming service's changes to make purchasing subscriptions easier earlier this month, there's now an an option for users to buy audiobooks in Spotify. "Spotify submitted a new app update that Apple has approved: Spotify users in the United States can now see pricing, buy individual audiobooks and purchase additional 'Top Up' hours for audiobook listening beyond the 15 hours included in Premium each month," the company said in its updated blog post. The wave of changes stem from the ongoing court case between Apple and Epic Games surrounding fees for purchases made outside the App Store. While things appear to be swinging in favor of app and service providers, Apple is likely to continue challenging the rulings even as it makes changes to allow for external payment options.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com...

Is She Really Mad at Me? Maybe ChatGPT Knows

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People are turning to generative AI to sort out their interpersonal conflicts, but some say it’s heightening their anxiety. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

The ASUS ProArt A16 laptop gets you the latest from AMD and a giant screen

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ASUS is updating both its ProArt laptop and its Chromebooks with the latest internals for Computex 2025, and giving both families of laptops a more premium look, with new colors and tasteful finishes. The ASUS ProArt A16 stands out as the most premium pick, with a black aluminum body, "stealth" hinge that bring the top half of the laptop nearly flush with the bottom and a smudge-resistant finish that should hopefully avoid fingerprints. Inside, ASUS is offering an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX processor and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, both of which qualify the new ProArt as a Copilot+ PC. That means you'll get access to Windows' growing list of AI features, and ASUS is also including to apps — StoryCube and MuseTree — that can run generative AI models entirely locally. All packed into a laptop that's around half-an-inch thick and has a 16-inch 4K OLED. Asus In terms of Chromebooks, ASUS is offering both normal models and Chromebook Plus versions that support Google...

“Trump-Putin Talks Fail to Cease Russia-Ukraine Conflict as World Reacts” – 5/20/2025, 6:21:22 AM

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Based on the search results from May 20, 2025, here are the latest world news developments: Trump-Putin Call: U.S. President Donald Trump held telephone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Waymo gets OK to expand robotaxi service into more of Silicon Valley

The company is also aiming to unlock access to the San Francisco International Airport, although those plans are on a much longer timeline. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Google releases its NotebookLM mobile app

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Google’s NotebookLM app for Android is out now, as reported by 9to5Google, and is expected to launch for iOS and iPadOS on May 20th, according to the app’s App Store listing. The app appears to offer similar functionality to the desktop version of NotebookLM, including the ability to upload sources of information that the app Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

LG’s brilliant C4 OLED is more than 50 percent off for Memorial Day

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Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, but it’s also one of the best times of the year to snag a seriously good deal on a top-tier TV. Right now, for instance, you can buy LG’s C4 OLED at Amazon, Best Buy, and LG’s online storefront in the 42-inch configuration starting at an all-time Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Bluesky takes on ‘Sports Twitter’ with NBA playoff feature

As the playoffs rage on, Bluesky announced that it is beta testing a new feature during the NBA playoffs. While an NBA game is in progress, a red border with a “live” designation will appear around posts from the NBA’s account. When users click on the NBA’s profile picture, they will be redirected to the Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Grok says it’s ‘skeptical’ about Holocaust death toll, then blames ‘programming error’

Grok, the AI-powered chatbot created by xAI and widely deployed across its new corporate sibling X, wasn’t just obsessed with white genocide this week. As first noted in Rolling Stone, Grok also answered a question on Thursday about the number of Jews killed by the Nazis in World War II by saying that “historical records, Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

“Former President Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer Amid Global Turmoil” – 5/19/2025, 6:21:11 AM

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As of May 19, 2025, several significant news events are making headlines around the world: Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which is described as... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Nvidia-powered supercomputer to enable quantum leap for Taiwan’s research

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Nvidia is powering a supercomputer at Taiwan’s National Center for High-Performance Computing that’s set to deliver over eight times more AI performance than before. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Are Meal Kits Cheaper than Groceries in 2025? We Break It Down

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I spent a week recreating recipes from HelloFresh and Blue Apron in the supermarket. The numbers don’t tell the whole story. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

U.S. lawmakers have concerns about Apple-Alibaba deal

The Trump administration and congressional officials are scrutinizing a deal between Apple and Alibaba that would bring Alibaba-powered AI features to iPhones sold in China, according to The New York Times. Citing anonymous sources, the NYT says White House officials and members of the House Select Committee on China have asked Apple executives directly about Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

May 18, 2025: Breaking Down the World’s Most Impactful News Stories

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May 18, 2025: Breaking Down the World's Most Impactful News Stories#BreakingNews, #GlobalConflicts, #DiplomaticEfforts, #NaturalDisasters, #Geopolitics, #RefugeeStories, #EconomicShifts, #HealthUpdates, #GlobalStories, #NewsRoundup**Stay Informed with Greenground's Latest News Roundup**Dive into the world's most captivating stories: From the escalating Israel-Gaza conflict to diplomatic moves in the Vatican, and from natural disasters in Argentina to geopolitical shifts in South Asia. Join us for a comprehensive look at global news, including unexpected tales and economic updates. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Links and details in the description below. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Amazon claims its ‘constantly inviting’ new customers to Alexa Plus

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Yesterday, Reuters ran a story with the headline “Weeks after Amazon’s Alexa+ AI launch, a mystery: where are the users?,” in which it detailed its difficulty locating first-hand accounts of the AI-upgraded assistants’ use online. The Verge asked Amazon about the story, and the company has responded to say that the idea that Alexa Plus Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

“Deadly Tornadoes, Explosive Strikes, and Jailbreak Rock the US” – 5/18/2025, 6:21:09 AM

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Latest World News as of May 18, 2025 Severe Weather Strikes the US Midwest and South – Multiple deadly tornadoes have swept across at least five states in the Midwest... Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

What to expect at GamesBeat Summit 2025: A guide

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This post is a guide on what to expect at GamesBeat Summit 2025 on May 19-20 in LA. It is organized by subject matter. Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow .

Epic wants the court to compel Apple to approve Fortnite’s return to the US App Store

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Epic has filed a "second motion to enforce injunction," asking the US District Court for the Northern District of California to force Apple to do a timely review of its Fortnite app and to approve its submission if it's compliant. The company recently accused Apple of blocking Fortnite's return to the App Store in both the US and the EU. Epic submitted the app for approval after winning its case against the iPhone-maker. Specifically, after the court ordered Apple to stop collecting commissions on purchases that weren't paid through the App Store and to allow external payment links in-app.  After Epic said that Apple was blocking Fortnite's return to the App Store, the tech giant wrote a letter addressed to the video game developer. In it, Apple said it will not take action on Epic's submission "until after the Ninth Circuit rules on [its] pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction." It told Epic to resubmit the app to the EU storef...