Friday, July 07, 2023

Technology News and More-Friday Edition...

Technology News and More...


Amazon's iRobot purchase is under investigation by European authorities


200+Engadget / 3h
Amazon's $1.7 billion acquisition of Roomba manufacturer iRobot is under scrutiny not only in the US, but also in Europe . The European Commission has revealed that it has opened an in-depth investigation into the purchase out of concerns that the merger would restrict competition for robotic vacuum cleaners. In particular, the commission is concerned that Amazon might prevent iRobot's rivals fro


Elon Musk says Tesla might achieve fully autonomous driving 'later this year'
24Mashable / 1h
It's easy to forget amidst the Twitter/Threads drama , but Elon Musk is still CEO of that car company, Tesla. And he's still promising that fully autonomous, unsupervised self-driving is coming soon, even though he missed the mark on numerous occasions before. Speaking at the 2023 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China on Thursday, (via Electrek ) Musk said that he thinks Tes


Quordle today - hints and answers for Friday, July 7 (game #529)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off. Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I'm still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's good fun, but also difficult. What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also



EU’s competition unit takes a deeper look at Amazon’s iRobot acquisition
TechCrunch / now
Amazon’s planned acquisition of iRobot is now under in-depth antitrust scrutiny in the European Union. The $1.7BN deal for the ecommerce behemoth to pick up the robot vacuum maker, announced just under a year ago , was cleared by competition regulators in the UK last month . But EU regulators are now stepping in for their own close sweep. In a press release put out yesterday evening, the Commissi


Hotels.com Totally Guts Rewards Program
83One Mile at a Time / 27min
Hotels.com used to have the most compelling hotel rewards program for those who don’t want to be loyal to a specific hotel group. Major changes were just implemented to this, and it’s very bad news. For most people, rewards have been cut by around 80%, which is brutal. While this was first announced a few months back, I wanted to post an update, as the changes have been implemented as of July 6,


How the HONOR 90 can help you beat the bedtime blues
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 50min
If you’ve ever wondered why it’s late and you still can’t sleep, the culprit might be right next to you, or right in front of you: your phone could be messing with your mind. And we don’t mean that in a spooky way. We mean it in a science way. It turns out that many phones, tablets and other digital devices can interfere with our natural rhythms, keeping us awake just when we really need to get t


'Bob Marley: One Love' biopic trailer examines reggae icon beyond the marijuana and music
Mashable / 2h
The teaser trailer for biopic Bob Marley: One Love is here, paying tribute to the beloved reggae icon and examining his life beyond his carefree portrayal in pop culture. Though it purports to only be a teaser trailer, the three-minute long video offers a decent look at the Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, dealing with fans, paparazzi — and an assassination attempt. Bob Marley: One Love appears to to


Threads is getting a following feed, but not for a while
Mashable / 2h
Threads certainly made an entrance this week, with over 10 million new accounts reportedly being opened on Meta's Twitter rival within seven hours of its launch . Unfortunately, the app is looking a little thin right now. Threads is missing numerous features which microbloggers have come to expect , including everything from trending topics, to emoji, to the ability to delete your profile without


Should You Use Provisioned Concurrency for AWS Lambda Functions?
How-To Geek / 3h
Lambda functions are a crucial part of any serverless deployment on Amazon Web Services. However, they aren’t magic, and can come with a few downsides, like cold starts, due to the physical limitations of the hardware. Provisioned Concurrency can help alleviate the problem. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›


The Viral Products That Are Basically a Life Hack
How-To Geek / 3h
We’ve all seen hot products on Instagram or TikTok that seem life-changing. Many of them have gone viral because people swear by them. But, no one wants to spend their hard-earned money on things that don’t actually make life easier or better. Read This Article on LifeSavvy ›


Intel Meteor Lake CPUs: everything we know so far
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
Intel is hard at work on its 14th generation of Core processors, which are currently expected to arrive at some point in 2023. The next-gen CPUs, codenamed 'Meteor Lake', will supposedly bring a slew of changes, from new chip architecture to AI-focused features. Intel has been relatively tight-lipped with regard to its upcoming processors, but there have been plenty of leaks and rumors circulatin


Mirrorless cameras in 2023: the best launches so far and what’s coming next
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
We’re only half way through the year and there are already strong mirrorless camera contenders for camera of the year, including the Sony A7R V, Panasonic S5 II and Nikon Z8. Mirrorless cameras are ever evolving: you can get more pixels and better autofocus now than last year, better bang for your buck with competitively priced alternatives, and even AI is touted as a driver behind some exciting


How to unblock Peacock for free
Mashable / 4h
SAVE 49%: ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking Peacock. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. Opens in a new tab Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) (opens in a new tab) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) (opens in a new tab) Peacock is a U.S.


This Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office bundle is on sale for 88% off
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: The All-in-One Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows Bundle is on sale for £39.45, saving you 88% on list price. Here's the thing about computers: even if you have the fanciest gear out there, you won't get to enjoy the full extent of their capabilities without the latest operating system. Upgrading your software is crucial to maintaining your computer's performance, but with the hefty pri


15 of the best University of Adelaide courses you can take online for free
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: Find a wide range of free online courses from the University of Adelaide on edX. Take lessons on big data, cybersecurity, project management, and more, without spending anything. We have been touring some of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, in an effort to highlight the very best online courses that you can take for free. The tour has gone far and wide, but this


Save 83% on this streaming-friendly VPN
Mashable / 5h
SAVE 83%: CyberGhost VPN is a top choice for unblocking streaming sites like Netflix and Prime Video. A two-year subscription to CyberGhost VPN is on sale for £49.95 and includes an extra three months for free — save 83% for a limited time. Opens in a new tab Credit: CyberGhost VPN CyberGhost VPN (2-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) (opens in a new tab) £49.95 only at CyberGhost VPN (opens in a


Save 50% on a 3-month subscription to Paramount+ this Prime Day
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: Prime members can save 50% on a three-month subscription to Paramount+ this Prime Day. Subscribe for £3.49 per month until July 10. Opens in a new tab Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ (3-Month Subscription) (opens in a new tab) £3.49 per month (save 50%) (opens in a new tab) Prime Day is all about deals on a huge range of products, but there are also opportunities to save on streaming service


Can Threads make more money than Elon Musk’s Twitter?
20BBC News - Technology / 6h
Mark Zuckerberg has made a fortune selling ads on Facebook and Instagram. Will Threads be the same?


Robotaxi haters in San Francisco are disabling the AVs with traffic cones
50TechCrunch / 6h
A decentralized group of safe streets activists in San Francisco realized they can disable Cruise and Waymo robotaxis by placing a traffic cone on a vehicle’s hood, and they’re encouraging others to do it, too. The “Week of Cone,” as the group is calling the now-viral prank on Twitter and TikTok, is a form of protest against the spread of robotaxi services in the city, and it appears to be gainin


Tesla to provide more info on its driver alert system amid Autopilot probe
25TechCrunch / 7h
U.S. regulators have requested more information from Tesla to assist in their ongoing investigation into 830,000 Tesla vehicles that include Autopilot, the automaker’s advanced driver assistance system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sent Tesla a letter on July 3 seeking updated responses to questions it had asked in August 2022 . Those were specifically related to Tes



Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for July 7
Mashable / 7h
It's finally Friday, bringing with it a fresh weekend and a fresh Wordle puzzle. As always, we're here with some tips and tricks to help you work out the solution. If you just want to be told the answer, you can scroll to the bottom of this article for July 7's Wordle solution revealed. But if you want to solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where di


We may soon be getting that 16GB Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti GPU we've dreamed of
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Back in May 2023, Nvidia revealed that the 16GB version of the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti GPU would be coming out sometime in July, but no exact date had been set. However, news leaks may have narrowed down the launch to mid-July. Two reputable hardware leakers, hongxing2020 and Zed__Wang , report that the 16GB VRAM Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics card will release on July 18. And, from what we do of


How Threads' Privacy Policy Compares to Twitter's (and Its Rivals')
81Wired / 9h
Want to try out Meta’s new social media app? Here’s more context on what personal data is collected by Threads and similar social media apps.


You can’t post ass, Threads is doomed
200+TechCrunch / 9h
Threads, the Meta-owned Twitter clone that launched this week, will always be hindered by its own content guidelines. The app is dry at best, and at worst, leeching your personal data . With 30 million downloads in less than a day of its launch, Threads is poised to compete with Twitter’s sheer volume of users. Though countless text-based social platforms have dazzled users upon launch before fad


Peter Molyneux is making a new game but he won't tell you anything about it
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Peter Molyneux is making a new game. The famous game developer retreated from the spotlight after an incredibly hostile interview asked if he was a pathological liar back in 2015, but he has re-emerged and given an interview with GameReactor where he revealed he was working on a new game for consoles and PC. "In days gone by, I would just start telling you about the whole game and the whole game


The physics of how gentoo penguins can swim speedily underwater
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / Gentoo penguins are the world's fastest swimming birds, thanks to the unique shape and structure of their wings. (credit: Priya Venkatesh/CC BY-SA 3.0 ) Gentoo penguins are the world's fastest swimming birds, clocking in at maximum underwater speeds of up to 36 km/h (about 22 mph). That's because their wings have evolved into flippers ideal for moving through water (albeit pretty much u


Theatres tempt new audiences with virtual reality
21BBC News - Technology / 9h
A virtual reality service hopes to attract a new audience to theatre performances.


Twitter threatens lawsuit against Meta over Threads
62Mashable / 10h
It turns out that a fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg may not go down in a cage but in a courtroom. Hours after Meta launched its new social media platform, a Twitter competitor called Threads , the CEO Mark Zuckerberg received a letter from a lawyer representing Twitter, threatening the company with legal action. The two-page letter , obtained by Semafor , accuses Meta of hiring former


The Super Mario Bros. Movie Streams on Peacock in August
Gizmodo / 10h
Going by its staggering box-office haul , it doesn’t seem like too many fans waited around to watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie —but those who did can now set their countdown calendars for August 3, when the movie arrives on streamer Peacock . Read more...


Air Line Pilots Union Asks The Government To Ban JSX’s Business Model
View from the Wing / 10h
The Air Line Pilots Association, the largest pilot union in the U.S., has filed with the Department of Transportation asking them to outlaw the business model of JSX, which operates 30 seat planes from private terminals. Continue reading ...


Twitter threatens legal action over Threads app
3KBBC News - Technology / 10h
Its owner Elon Musk says "competition is fine, cheating is not" a day after the rival app launched.


The new HONOR 90 lands in Europe with a 200MP camera and a gorgeous display
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
Making good on its promise, Honor is bringing its latest flagship mid-range smartphone, the HONOR 90, from China over to Europe. Well, it’s called mid-range, but once you start looking a bit deeper, you’ll realize it’s a bit more than that. For starters, HONOR 90 has a 6.7-inch quad-curved AMOLED display outputting a resolution of 2664 x 1200 pixels. Refresh rate can reach as high as 120 Hz, and


F.B.I. Searched the Home of Kraken’s Jesse Powell
70NYT > Technology / 10h
Federal agents were investigating Jesse Powell, the founder of the crypto exchange Kraken, over claims that he hacked and cyber-stalked a nonprofit arts group.


LIGHTSPEED Presents: 'Six Months After All Life on Titan Died' by JB Park
Gizmodo / 10h
io9 is proud to present fiction from LIGHTSPEED MAGAZINE . Once a month, we feature a story from LIGHTSPEED’s current issue. This month’s selection is “Six Months After All Life on Titan Died” by JB Park. You can read the story below or listen to the podcast on LIGHTSPEED’s website. Enjoy! Read more...


'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for July 7
Mashable / 10h
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need. What is Quordle ? Quordle is a five-letter word guessing gam


Smelling in stereo—a surprising find on a fossilized shark
61Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / Artist's reconstruction of the shark as it once lived. (credit: Klug et. al. ) Sharks are largely cartilaginous, a body structure that often doesn’t survive fossilization. But in a paper published in the Swiss Journal of Paleontology, scientists describe an entirely new species of primitive shark from the Late Devonian period, a time when they were just beginning to proliferate in ancie


OceanGate Ceases Ocean Exploration Following Submersible Disaster
39Futurism / 11h
Time to Stop OceanGate has announced that it is suspending "all exploration and commercial operations" ABC News reports , after its Titan submersible horrendously imploded , killing all five people on board. The doomed submersible, piloted by OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, was declared missing on June 18, when it lost contact less than two hours into its 12,500-foot descent to the wreck of the Tita


The year so far in Android phones: the best launches and what’s coming next
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
If you love Android phones, 2023 is turning out to be a very good year. We’ve rounded up the biggest news from the year so far, including the most important phone launches and mobile platform rumors, as well as our predictions of what’s to come. We’ve already seen new phones that top our best phones list, some of the best camera phones ever, and the best foldable phones we’ve ever reviewed. Andro


Owner Of Multiple Airlines A Giant Fraud, Moving Money Around And Siphoning Cash? [Roundup]
View from the Wing / 11h
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 ...


Strange New Worlds' Memory Hole Mystery Can't Quite Plug All the Gaps
Gizmodo / 11h
Strange New Worlds has made a name for itself over the course of its first season, and now the first half of its sophomore , in taking the vibes of the original Star Trek —and sometimes literal episodes—and translating them to a modern television show, and the expectations that come with them. But what happens when the… Read more...



EV truck maker Nikola fails again to secure enough shareholder support to issue more shares
85TechCrunch / 11h
Nikola failed for the second time since June to get enough shareholders to vote on a proposal that would allow the EV truck maker to issue more shares in a bid to raise more capital. The company said Thursday it adjourned its annual meeting of shareholders until August 3 when it will try once more to attract enough shareholders to vote for the measure. The company is required to secure more than


Threads launch fails to prioritize accessibility
42Mashable / 11h
While the internet is abuzz with talk of Meta's new Twitter competitor, Threads , a significant portion of migrating users are already frustrated, and not because of annoying notifications or the inability to delete just your Threads account . Instead, in a strange step back for the tech giant, the hours-old platform — unabashedly attempting to poach Twitter's migrating user base — doesn't seem t


How to use a Visa gift card on Amazon
Mashable / 11h
Using a Visa gift card on Amazon is more convenient than you may think. Since it seems very similar to Amazon's gift card, users might mistakenly try to register their Visa card as a gift card on Amazon. Sadly, that won't work, but there's a pretty simple way to make Amazon purchases with a Visa gift card: register the card like you register debit/credit cards on your profile to start using it as


French Assembly passes bill allowing police to remotely activate phone cameras and microphones for surveillance
76Engadget / 11h
French law enforcement may soon have far-reaching authority to snoop on alleged criminals. Lawmakers in France's National Assembly have passed a bill that lets police surveil suspects by remotely activating cameras, microphones and GPS location systems on phones and other devices. A judge will have to approve use of the powers, and the recently amended bill forbids use against journalists, lawyer


Twitter Hits Meta With Lawsuit Threat Over Stolen 'Trade Secrets'
100+Gizmodo / 11h
Meta successfully triggered a response from Twitter on Wednesday amid the rollout of its new rival app, Threads . Elon Musk’s longtime attorney Alex Spiro sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, threatening to file a lawsuit against the company for engaging in “systematic, willful, and unlawful misappropriation of… Read more...


Everything you need to know about One Key, the new loyalty program for Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo
54The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This post was updated with new information. Expedia Group has officially unified and expanded the loyalty programs across its family of brands, which includes Expedia, Hotels.com and vacation rental site Vrbo. The Seattle-based company calls the new program “the most complete travel rewards offering in the industry.” In addition to the new loyalty program, Expedia Group is beginnin


What People Are Getting Wrong This Week: Cocaine at the White House
Lifehacker / 12h
The secret service this week found a small bag of cocaine at the White House . This is a big deal—any mysterious powder found near the president would be, and if the Biden administration is secretly a coked-up bacchanal instead of a bunch of center-left technocrats, we’d all have the right to be alarmed or impressed.… Read more...


Sony’s modular speaker system is a clever and portable take on the home theater
TechCrunch / 12h
Here’s a dirty little secret: Consumer electronics can be boring sometimes. Hardware scaling is hard and people love the familiar, both things that have a tendency to disincentive adventurous product design. So it’s worth acknowledging when big companies try something a bit different. From a purely design perspective, there’s a lot to love about the HT-AX7 . Sony’s new modular wireless speaker sy


It’s back: Sapphire Reserve holders can enroll for Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
27The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with the latest information. There’s good news for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders: Chase and Marriott have launched a new status challenge similar to the one the bank and hotel megachain offered a year ago. As of July 1, those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve can enroll for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status . It appears that this offer is available to


NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour Will Stand Tall Once More
400+Gizmodo / 12h
The Space Shuttle is going to look launch ready once again, although this time the retired spacecraft won’t be firing its engines. Read more...


In-space propulsion developer Benchmark Space Systems closes $33M in new funding
33TechCrunch / 12h
Benchmark Space Systems , a Vermont-based developer of in-space propulsion products, has raised $33.2 million in new funding, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Committee. The Series B capital will be used to help the company manufacture at-scale and deliver on the more than 220 propulsion systems in its backlog, Benchmark CEO Ryan McDevitt told TechCrunch. “[The funding]


Musk’s X Corp. threatens to sue Meta over Twitter “copycat” Threads
300+Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. (credit: Getty Images | AFP) The proposed cage match between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg might never happen, but the tech titans may soon battle in a more civil arena. Musk's X Corp., the successor company to Twitter, yesterday threatened to sue Meta over alleged intellectual property violations in Meta's new Threads social network . Musk's lawyer Alex S


Octopuses sleep—and possibly dream—just like humans
50Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Imagen Rafael Cosme Daza ) Most creatures sleep, but until now, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep , the phase of sleep in which dreams occur, was thought to be exclusive to vertebrates. Octopuses appear to be the first invertebrates to show they are also capable of this When it comes to neural function, studies have found these cephalopods are more like us than we think (pun somewha


Deel under fire for alleged questionable hiring practices, advice to other companies
20TechCrunch / 12h
A California Senator is urging the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency to conduct an investigation into the business practices of fintech turned HR startup Deel . Last week, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) sent a letter to Stewart Knox, California Secretary of Labor, alleging that Deel has hired hundreds of employees but classified them as independent contractors. By doing so, Sena


How to Join Threads, Meta's New Twitter Alternative (and Why You Might Want to Wait)
Lifehacker / 12h
This week, Meta launched its new social media app, called Threads. This Twitter-like network lets users post short text blurbs along with images and videos. It’s an obvious move to win over Twitter’s fractured user base, which overwhelmingly opposes many of the changes Musk has made since he took over the Bird App in… Read more...


Missions: Impossible, Ranked
Gizmodo / 12h
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is consider yet another ranking of Mission: Impossible films . Read more...


Easy ways to check your passport application status
43The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This post is continually updated. With Fourth of July travel behind us, we’re looking ahead to the rest of summer and beyond. If you are heading abroad during the remainder of this summer or in the fall, the U.S. Department of State advises travelers to renew their U.S. passport a minimum of six months in advance. As of July, current passport processing times are the same as they w


Here’s the Deal With Las Vegas’ Huge Psychedelic Orb
100+Gizmodo / 12h
A giant shape-shifting orb has invaded the Las Vegas metropolitan area. If you’ve seen pictures, you’d be forgiven for being alarmed because it sorta resembles something that might land on Earth during an alien invasion. A pulsating ball that likes to change its color and appearance, the orb sometimes looks vaguely… Read more...


Soundbars in 2023: the best launches so far and what’s coming next
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
If you’re looking for a new soundbar in 2023, then you may feel a bit overwhelmed by all the choices out there. Many of the major audio players in the space have launched new models too, expanding their lineups to suit varying needs and budgets. All the usual suspects have unveiled new models, including the likes of Samsung, LG, Sony, JBL and even Roku, which released a new budget wireless option


New American Airlines Technology Has Prevented 1,000 Flights From Cancelling
27View from the Wing / 12h
American Airlines has new technology that's enabled them to avoid cancelling 1,000 flights in just the past year. It helps them recover quickly during weather events, replacing manual processes with computers. And it changes how we should think about who's at fault when a flight does cancel. Continue reading ...