Sunday, July 16, 2023

Sunday Night Technology News and More...

Technology News and More...



A Novel Type of Neural Network Comes to the Aid of Big Physics



500+Wired / 14h
The machine learning tool is helping physicists with the daunting challenge of analyzing large but nearly empty data sets, like those from neutrino detectors or particle colliders.




United Airlines Pilots Getting Huge Raises Worth $10 Billion
3KOne Mile at a Time / 15h
This year we’re seeing pilots at most major airlines negotiating new contracts. They didn’t have much leverage to negotiate during the first couple of years of the pandemic, and they now have great bargaining power, given the pilot shortage. Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines have already ratified new contracts. American Airlines pilots have reached an agreement in principle on a new contract, m


The Airports Most Likely to Lose or Damage Your Luggage
70Lifehacker / 13h
With all the hassle that comes with air travel, when the wheels of your plane hit the runway at your final destination, it can feel like a minor victory. But the winning feeling may be fleeting if you discover that your luggage was lost or damaged in transit. Read more...



SunVilla Debuts a Solar-Powered Tool Shed For All Your Gear
36How-To Geek / now
The popular California-based patio furniture brand SunVilla is partnering with Suntek Technology to deliver more solar-powered options for homeowners. SunVilla recently debuted its new smart yard ambitions and a solar storage shed for tools and gear with a built-in battery. Read This Article on Review Geek ›


How to Automatically Cancel Your Amazon Prime Trial Before It Renews
73How-To Geek / now
If you don’t use any of Amazon’s services, you probably don’t need a Prime membership. However, you may occasionally redeem a 30-day free trial to take advantage of Prime Day or enjoy a new show on Prime Video. Here’s how to ensure that you aren’t hit with a renewal fee. Read This Article on Review Geek ›


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for July 17
Mashable / 52min
New week, new day, new Wordle ! As always, we're here with some tips and tricks to help you figure out the solution. If you just want to be told the answer, you can jump to the end of this article for July 17's Wordle solution revealed. But if you want to solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle come from? Originally created by engineer


Tesla announces first Cybertruck build ahead of Q2 earnings
TechCrunch / 3h
Tesla over the weekend said its first much anticipated Cybertruck came off the electric vehicle maker’s production line in Texas. The debut of the long-delayed, futuristic-looking pickup truck comes in the lead up to Tesla’s second quarter 2023 earnings call. Tesla CEO Elon Musk first introduced the Cybertruck in 2019 , but vehicle production has repeatedly been delayed. The truck was initially s


Twitter loses nearly half advertising revenue since Elon Musk takeover
100+BBC News - Technology / 4h
Elon Musk confirms the firm has a heavy debt load and income in June was not what had been expected.


Call of Duty battle over after Sony deal with Microsoft
80BBC News - Technology / 4h
Sony agrees deal with tech giant to keep franchise on PlayStation as Activision buyout moves step closer.


Instagram Threads now has one-fifth the weekly active user base of Twitter
TechCrunch / 4h
Instagram Threads’ launch has been an overnight success, topping 100 million users within days of its arrival. Now, new data indicates the app has already achieved one-fifth of the weekly active user base of Twitter worldwide and 86 times the weekly active user base of the largest Twitter rival in the U.S., Truth Social, which had a weekly active user base of 1 million as of last week. The new in


5 reasons you’ll want the Hilton Business Amex: Gold status and free lounge passes
The Points Guy / 4h
In the midst of our favorite travel rewards credit cards and business credit cards , a cobranded hotel business card can sometimes fall through the cracks. But if your travels include Hilton properties, even occasionally, you should consider the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card for your next credit card. Within the Hilton portfolio , the Hilton Honors Business Amex is most similar to


Meta’s Threads sent another app named Threads to the top of the App Store charts
41Engadget / 5h
When Instagram launched Threads on July 5th , Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took to Twitter for the first time in 11 years. The tweet, which did not include any text, saw Zuckerberg reference the Spider-Man pointing meme to take a jab at Elon Musk. It turns out the use of that meme was more apt than the Facebook founder could have imagined. As highlighted by TechCrunch , the release of Instagram’s Thr


Review: Virgin Australia Business Class, Cairns – Sydney
View from the Wing / 5h
On the outbound we flew economy. There were no business seats available, and no extra legroom coach either. It was peak season and flights were full, as many flights within Australia have been since travel re-commenced. For this flight we'd be in Virgin Australia business, which was about $100 more than economy for the three hour flight. Continue reading ...


Sweet Spot Sunday: Book short-haul Delta flights using Virgin Atlantic points
92The Points Guy / 6h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. Although there are ways to maximize Delta SkyMiles on Delta-operated flights, the number of miles required for award bookings can be unpredictable. After all, Delta uses dynamic pricing for SkyMiles redemptions. However, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club , a SkyTeam partner of Delta, offers a solution. With Virgin A


Bluesky is facing community backlash after letting users register accounts with racial slurs
Mashable / 6h
After Elon Musk acquired Twitter, brought back many previously banned far-right users, and removed moderation policies, many users sought out an alternative. And some found that alternative in Bluesky . Or so they thought. Over the past week, Bluesky users have been protesting on the platform after a number of accounts using racial slurs in their usernames were discovered. The most prominent exam


heaveninawildflower:Decorative cover by Jan Toorop of ‘Psyche’...
Music, Arts & Literature / 6h
heaveninawildflower : Decorative cover by Jan Toorop of ‘Psyche’ (1898) by Louis Couperus. Wikimedia.


Which Airlines Have The Best Business Class?
63One Mile at a Time / 6h
I’ve long published my rankings of the world’s best first class products and best first class lounges . However, I haven’t historically published my rankings of what I consider to be the world’s best business class products. I think it’s time to change to that. It’s kind of hard to truly rank business class products, simply because there’s so much variability in terms of the quality of products a


Open Channel: Tell Us Your Thoughts on Dead Reckoning Part One
Gizmodo / 7h
Paramount’s Mission: Impossible movies are often considered a pleasant surprise whenever one of them rolls around. They come just reliably enough that you like hearing when one’s on the horizon, but not so often that you kind of get sick of them. And it doesn’t help that pretty much all of them are fairly good in some… Read more...


VanMoof skids off track, another mobility startup goes SPAC and e-bike batteries catch fire
28TechCrunch / 7h
Welcome back to The Station, your central hub for all past, present and future means of moving people and packages from Point A to Point B. Your usual host Kirsten Korosec is off having a glorious vacation, so I will be doing the roundup this week. As the EV revolution takes hold, one problem keeps plaguing automakers: Batteries are heavy, and heavy means less efficient. As a result, billions of


Dune: The Sisterhood to Resume Production Amidst Actors Strike
100+Gizmodo / 7h
Dune’s spinoff series Dune: The Sisterhood has been in development since the original Denis Villeneuve movie was in production. After several actors and one of its directors of its pilot departed the project earlier this year as part of a creative overhaul , the series is said to be starting up production again fairly… Read more...


Russia bans state officials from using Apple devices over US spying concerns
80Engadget / 8h
Russian authorities have begun to ban government employees from using Apple devices for official state use, according to the Financial Times . As of Monday, the country’s trade ministry will prohibit the use of iPhones for all “work purposes.” Other agencies, including Russia’s telecommunications and mass media ministry, either have similar mandates already in place or plan to begin enforcing one


Insider tips for eating and drinking your way through Italy
70The Points Guy / 8h
Ernest Hemingway may have called Paris a moveable feast, but the expression describes Italy to a tee. The country has an incredible diversity of regional dishes and places where you can enjoy them. As an American based in Rome , I consider it my mission in life to eat my way through Italy. I’ve traveled from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south, dining on classic pasta dishes in old-


MSC Cruises’ MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know
57The Points Guy / 8h
Compared to some of its closest rivals, MSC Cruises has a relatively modest loyalty program. Unlike the frequent cruiser programs at Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , for instance, the MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program doesn’t offer its members a free cruise after reaching the top tier. There also is no massive discount on the single supplement charge for solo travelers, as Royal Caribb



American Tourist In Dubai Faces Jail Time For Yelling In Public [Roundup]
View from the Wing / 8h
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips. Continue reading ...


Fable's narrative lead has announced they are "stepping away" from the project
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Fable 's narrative lead has confirmed they've left Playground Games. Anna Megill announced that they had joined the studio back in July 2022, but has now confirmed that they are moving on because "the time feels right for new challenges" and they'd "reached a good stopping point to jump off the project". "Friends, I have news," Megill tweeted. "In August, I'm stepping away from my role as Narrati


Amex Green Card Best-Ever Bonus Offer: Worth Applying For
100+One Mile at a Time / 8h
Link: Apply now for the American Express® Green Card with a huge welcome offer We’re currently seeing a best-ever welcome offer on the American Express® Green Card , which I’d consider to be one of the most underrated credit cards out there. If you don’t yet have this card and are eligible, this is a fantastic time to apply. Amex Green Card offering 60K points & up to $200 in statement credits Th


miepstheguineapig: Aww, tiny Mies in the library 🥺❤️📚Isn’t she...
Music, Arts & Literature / 8h
miepstheguineapig : Aww, tiny Mies in the library 🥺❤️📚 Isn’t she the cutest little piggy? 🥰


Starfield devs are forbidden from talking about "unreleased" details – but Bethesda boss Todd Howard isn't
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
There's no point asking any of the developers making Starfield for sneaky info about the highly-anticipated action RPG – according to Bethesda Game Studio's studio design director, Bethesda boss Todd Howard is the only person "authorized" to give away "unreleased game information". "I know this isn't what any Starfield fan wants to hear from me, but I feel like I need to make this clear: no one


35 Years Later, Akira's Impact Is as Strong As Ever
100+Gizmodo / 9h
Everyone has a piece of media that forever changed their relationship with a genre, creator, or entire medium. It’s especially true for animation, particularly when taking anime into account. For kids who grew up in the 90s, there were particular works that turned them into diehard fans of the medium: think Ghost in … Read more...


Call of Duty will stay on PlayStation consoles thanks to this new "binding agreement" between Sony and Microsoft
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Sony has secured a "binding agreement" with Microsoft to keep Call of Duty games on PlayStation consoles. Xbox boss Phil Spencer confirmed the news on Twitter earlier today (July 16), although whilst he did confirm that both parties had "signed a binding agreement", the terms of that contract – and the timescales involved, of course – have yet to be revealed publicly. "We are pleased to anno


Four Kitchen Items You Should Wash Outdoors
31Lifehacker / 9h
Not only is cleaning your kitchen time consuming, but washing some of the larger items can create an even bigger mess than the one had in the first place. If you’re fortunate enough to have a sink that’s wide, deep, and durable, this may not pose much of a problem. But for everyone else, washing large pots, pans, and … Read more...


Star Alliance’s Recognition For Top 1,000 Flyers
500+One Mile at a Time / 9h
There are quite a few airlines offering invitation-only elite status, like American Concierge Key , Delta 360 , and United Global Services . However, did you know that Star Alliance has — or at least had — a recognition program for its top 1,000 frequent flyers? Neither did I, until a reader left a comment about this, and now I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole. I’m curious how many OMAAT readers belo


Christopher McQuarrie Talks Dead Reckoning's Timely Villain
Gizmodo / 10h
Audiences go to see a Mission: Impossible movie because they want to see Tom Cruise bend the universe backwards to survive stunts that would likely kill anyone else. Because of that, it can sometimes be easy to leave behind the actual plot of these films and their respective villains, give or take some exceptions . But… Read more...


Apple’s first M3 Macs could arrive in October
75Engadget / 10h
The first batch of Apple’s M3-equipped Macs could arrive as early October, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter , Gurman reports there “should be another launch” after the company’s annual iPhone event in September, with a new slate of Macs likely the focus of whatever Apple has planned. “October is too early for new high-end MacBook Pros or desktops, so


[no title]
Music, Arts & Literature / 10h
gameraboy2 : Woman Reading in a Landscape by Henri Le Sidaner, 1898


French Hotel Offers “Free Farts” As An Amenity
View from the Wing / 10h
Better hotels offer all sorts of amenities, and have been known to go above and beyond for guests. W Hotels have the ‘Whatever Whenever’ line, claiming they’ll get anything you need at any time (for a cost). But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hotel promote ‘farts’ as an amenity let alone offer them as an optional add-on for free? Continue reading ...


Why this founder decided to replace himself as CEO
22TechCrunch / 10h
Founding a company is a big deal, and taking on the CEO role to drive that company forward is an important choice. Some founders are able to lead their startups all the way through the process of company building. If you look at the list of most valuable companies in the world , however, you notice that the people at the top of tech companies aren’t always the original founders. If you’ve spent a


The iPhone 15 might mark a shift to a new battery technology for Apple
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
We've heard plenty of rumors about the iPhone 15 , and the latest to catch our attention concerns a new type of battery technology that Apple may be introducing with the flagship handsets that are due to launch in September. As per seasoned tipster @RGcloudS (via BGR ), all four iPhone 15 models are due to come with what's known as stacked battery design. It's already used in electric vehicles, a


Use Salt to Revive Your Kitchen Sponge
20Lifehacker / 11h
For a seemingly humble cleaning supply, there has been a lot of discussion about sponges over the years; more specifically, how to clean or sanitize them . Various studies, like the one published in Nature’s Scientific Reports in 2017, found that kitchen sponges were teeming with bacteria—362 different types, to be… Read more...


Is The British Airways Companion Voucher Worth It?
25One Mile at a Time / 11h
The British Airways Visa Signature® Card ( review ) is one of the best airline co-branded credit cards out there, as it offers lots of benefits for those who fly British Airways with any frequency, and it’s also offering a solid welcome bonus at the moment. In this post, I wanted to take an updated look at the British Airways travel together ticket, which is a benefit that you can unlock if you s


Photo
Music, Arts & Literature / 11h



International Negotiators Just Missed a Deadline to Regulate Deep-Sea Mining. Now What?
Gizmodo / 11h
This month, a small group of diplomats is meeting to hash out a plan that could affect the future of nearly half of Earth’s surface—including regions containing metals that are vital for the energy transition, like nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese. Read more...


AI didn’t invent creative remixing
44TechCrunch / 11h
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a group of artists and writers stayed at a run-down hotel in Paris that came to be known as the The Beat Hotel . Their proximity to one another produced some incredibly creative artistic cross-pollination. The Beat-generation creatives living there were experimenting with drugs, sex and creativity, and setting the stage for the countercultural revolution that ca



Hitting the Books: How NASA helped JFK build his 'Nation of Immigrants'
Engadget / 12h
The Apollo 11 moon landing was a seminal event in American history, one etched deeply into our nation's collective psyche. The event ushered in an era of unbridled possibilities — the stars were finally coming into reach — and its effects were felt across the culture, from art and fashion to politics and culture. In After Apollo: Cultural Legacies of the Race to the Moon , a multidisciplinary col


Twitter changed DM settings so users who don't pay for Twitter Blue can't message you
100Mashable / 12h
Twitter has launched yet another new feature in order to promote its fledgling paid subscription program, Twitter Blue. And in doing so, Twitter has changed the settings of every user with open DMs, blocking non-Twitter Blue subscribers from messaging them. Twitter turned your DMs into a Twitter Blue promo On Friday, Twitter began rolling out a new settings option for direct messages on the platf


Haunted Mansion Disneyland Premiere Is a Grim Look at Studio Strike Cope
23Gizmodo / 12h
With Hollywood actors now striking, it doesn’t just mean that various big budget productions now have to cease. It also means that until the strike is actually done, actors can’t promote any of their upcoming work (those that fall under SAG-AFTRA rules) in any capacity. Read more...


Microsoft and Sony agree to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation
100+Engadget / 12h
Following a bitter, months-long feud over the company's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft and Sony have signed a deal to keep the Call of Duty franchise on PlayStation consoles. "We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard," Microsoft Gaming CEO P


The fintech funding slump, by the numbers
TechCrunch / 12h
Welcome back to The Interchange ! If you want this in your inbox, sign up here . When it came to fintech news, we saw a pretty sluggish first half of 2023, and that is evidenced by the sobering funding statistics we cover below. But things feel like they are starting to pick up, as evidenced by our crowded inboxes. Read on for more details! Deal volume is way down It’s no secret that venture capi


Avelo gives Oregon capital its first flights in a decade, adds 2 new routes with fares from $39
The Points Guy / 12h
For years, Oregon ‘s capital city of Salem, which sits squarely in the state’s wine country, had no commercial air service. But that’s about to change. Ultra-low-cost startup Avelo Airlines announced that it plans to launch flights from the city to its bases in Las Vegas and Burbank, California. Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter . Twice-weekly fl


Why Do We Trust Fellow Passengers Not To Steal Bags From Baggage Claim?
View from the Wing / 12h
Why is it that we don’t trust airlines to get our checked bags to their destination – the old saying is that “there are two kinds of luggage, carry on and lost” – but we totally trust fellow passengers not to take our bags from baggage claim? “Many bags look alike” and your bag could easily be taken by mistake, even assuming other passengers aren’t nefarious. When you don’t find your bag on the b


LOT Polish’s Beijing Denied Boarding & Fraud Fiasco
100+One Mile at a Time / 12h
An OMAAT reader shared with me a frustrating situation he’s currently dealing with, and has asked for help. I feel like in my nearly 20 years of being obsessed with miles & points, I’ve seen just about everything, and don’t have to think much about what advice to give. However, this one is a little more complicated. LOT Polish denying boarding to passengers in Beijing A reader booked a business c


[no title]
Music, Arts & Literature / 12h
lanky-brunettes-with-wicked-jaws : Barbara Stanwyck


It’s crafty, fish-stealing sharks vs. anglers in NatGeo’s Bull Shark Bandits
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Spydro camera image of a bull shark stealing a fish on the team's line. (credit: National Geographic) Weipa is a small coastal mining town in Queensland, located in northeastern Australia, particularly favored by sports fisherman because of its annual competition, the Weipa Fishing Classic. But in recent years, fishermen have reported an increasing number of incidents where local bull s


Bizarre ancient sea creature brings evolution mystery to the surface
20Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / That blue tube is actually a very close relative of vertebrates. (credit: Gerard Soury ) Beneath the waves, there are strange, almost alien creatures that raise questions about the evolution of life on Earth and our own earliest origins. The answers might be hiding in tunicates . Tunicates are filter-feeding invertebrates that include sea squirts and salps. The more common ascidiacean s


The heat wave scorching the US is a self-perpetuating monster
100+Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / The sun sets during a heatwave in Peoria, Arizona, July 11, 2023. (credit: Ash Ponders/Bloomberg via Getty Images ) Just weeks after a third of the US population was hit with air-quality alerts thanks to smoke from climate-change-fueled fires in Canada , 100 million Americans are now under heat