Thursday, November 02, 2023

Technology News Thursdays, and More!

Technology News and More...




Apple pulls the plug on its cheapest Apple Music plan


22Mashable / 2h
Apple's cheapest Music plan, the $4.99-per-month Apple Music Voice, is no longer available. First noticed by Brazilian website MacMagazine (via MacRumors ), the plan is being discontinued in November in all countries and regions where it was available. "We are focused on delivering the best, most robust music experience possible for our customers, with features like immersive Spatial Audio, Apple


Sega provides details for its mysterious 'Super Game' project, which is on track for a 2026 release
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12min
Sega's curious 'Super Game' project, originally announced back in 2021, has finally received a brief update from co-chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi. While we're still not really sure what the project will end up being, we know that it won't be a single upcoming game , but several, with Utsumi initially stating that the Super Game project will involve numerous "triple-A titles that cross over


Scientists Create 'Super Melanin' That Speeds Healing, Stops Sunburn, and More
Gizmodo / 25min
A team of scientists at Northwestern University has developed a synthetic version of melanin that could have a million and one uses. In new research, they showed that their melanin can prevent blistering and accelerate the healing process in tissue samples of freshly injured human skin. The team now plans to further… Read more...



Amazon's new Fire TV soundbar is 17 percent off in early Black Friday deal
Engadget / now
It's been less than two months since Amazon launched the Fire TV soundbar at its annual fall event, but the device is already on sale as part of the website's early Black Friday offerings. You can get the brand new entry to the Fire TV line for $100, which is a full $20 less than its original list price. The device can enhance your TV audio with its dual speakers and give you access to a 3D virtu


New Facebook Stories API helps creators share directly from third-party desktop or web apps
TechCrunch / 2min
Meta is introducing a new API that makes it easier to create and share a Facebook Story directly from a third-party desktop or web app. The social networking ad titan first introduced Stories to the main Facebook app in 2017, emulating a feature it had added to Instagram the previous year as well as Messenger […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Ubisoft partners with mental health charity Safe In Our World to combat toxicity in games
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12min
Ubisoft has teamed up with mental health charity Safe In Our World to create the Good Game Playbook, a guide which aims to offer support to players experiencing toxic behavior online, as well as those behind it. The playbook will be automatically sent to players who’ve been reported for disruptive behavior in For Honor and Rainbow Six Siege , as well as those who’ve reported it. For perpetrators,


Delta Laying Off Corporate Staff To Cut Costs
One Mile at a Time / 12min
Recently Delta reported record third quarter revenue and a double-digit operating margin, and now… Delta is laying off employees? Airlines’ outlooks are evolving very quickly… Delta eliminating some corporate jobs As reported by CNBC , Delta has this week revealed that it will be cutting some corporate jobs, with the goal of cutting costs as the industry deals with higher expenses for fuel and la


Pixel 8 reported issues are piling up: 3 common issues we’re hearing
Mashable / 15min
Overheating, battery issues, connectivity problems –– no, we're not talking about the new iPhone 15 here. These are the most common issues now being reported by Pixel 8 owners. The freshly introduced Pixel 8 series was revealed on October 4 and made its way to store shelves on October 12. As a result, users have had several weeks to put the Pixel 8 through its paces with their everyday smartphone


How a tiny Pacific Island became the global capital of cybercrime
MIT Technology Review / 17min
Tokelau, a necklace of three isolated atolls strung out across the Pacific, is so remote that it was the last place on Earth to be connected to the telephone—only in 1997. Just three years later, the islands received a fax with an unlikely business proposal that would change everything. It was from an early internet entrepreneur from Amsterdam, named Joost Zuurbier. He wanted to manage Tokelau’s


Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 2-in-1 Review: Giving Us What We Didn’t Want or Need
How-To Geek / 22min
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 2-in-1 Laptop is a hybrid laptop with a lot of attitude. Built for small-business owners, students, and photo/video-heavy workflows, the easy-swap dual displays may look cool, but two screens make this machine super-expensive. Lenovo may have overstepped with this one.


Xage Security raises $20M more to expand its security platform
TechCrunch / 23min
While the number of cybersecurity funding deals reached a high point in 2022, that doesn’t mean that the sector’s tapped out — far from it. According to Statista, there were 148 deals in Q2 2023 worth a combined $1.6 billion. And — at least anecdotally — Q3 deal flow seems healthy, too. Case in point, […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Dashtoon uses AI to turn storytellers into comics artists
TechCrunch / 23min
Dashtoon wants to make anyone with a story to tell into a comics artist, even if they can’t draw. It provides aspiring comics creator with a suite of generative AI tools, and a publishing platform that releases new episodes daily for impatient readers. To seed the platform, called Dashtoon Comic Reader, Dashtoon commissioned about 30 […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use on


NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 2
Mashable / 30min
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times ' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe. With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it. So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustr


Watch Stephen Colbert introduce James Corden's late night replacement
Mashable / 30min
James Corden may be gone , but there's about to be a new late night host in town. In the Late Show clip above, Stephen Colbert announces comedian Taylor Tomlinson as the host of a new show called After Midnight , which will follow directly on from his in the 12:37 a.m. slot on CBS. Tomlinson literally found out she got the job yesterday — as evidenced by Colbert's amusing screenshot from the Zoom


Scientists Create Robotic Seeing Eye Dog
Futurism / 52min
All Seeing Eye Researchers have created the robotic equivalent of a seeing-eye dog for the visually impaired that can even respond when the user tugs on its leash. In experiments, the robodog developed by researchers from Binghamton University led a person around a hallway, responding to input like gentle pulls to avoid obstacles. The goal is to come up with a cheaper and more accessible alternat


Access all of Babbel's languages for life for $140
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Through Nov. 5, you can get a lifetime subscription to Babbel (all languages) for only $139.97 — that's a savings of 76% for a limited time. Personal growth is having a moment. And since there is nothing bad about millions of people striving to do better, we are 100% here for it. If learning a new language is on your list of personal achievements, look no further than Babbel Language Learn


An AdGuard lifetime family plan is now just $16.97
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Through Nov. 5, get a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard family plan for just $16.97 (reg. $129.99) — that's a savings of over 85%. Protecting your family from online threats and ensuring a safe and seamless browsing experience is more important than ever. The good news is that it's pretty easy these days to protect yourself while online. Platforms like AdGuard were designed to shield yo


This $50 HDMI console has over 10,000 built-in games
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: This retro-inspired gaming console has over 10,000 built-in games, nine emulators, and is HDMI-compatible . Through Nov. 9, it’s on sale for just $49.97 — that’s a 50% discount. As Black Friday gets closer, we’re helping you check off holiday shopping before the shopping chaos ensues. This deal is an excellent (and affordable) option for that gamer in your life: A retro-inspired console th


Get this Magic Keyboard for a 10th-Gen iPad for $99
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: This new, open-box Apple Magic Keyboard for the 10th Gen iPad is on sale for just $98.97 (reg. $249) — but only until Nov. 9. There is a middle ground between new and refurbished. But it's not all that common to find. Many items labeled "new, open-box" are considered extra inventory from stores with handling visible on the packaging. They are then verified to be in new condition and put in


Microsoft Runs Ghoulish AI Poll Next to Article About a Dead Woman
Futurism / 1h
How's AI in the media going? Well, Microsoft apparently ran a disgusting AI-generated poll next to a syndicated article about a woman who'd been found dead in Australia — and The Guardian , which published the original article in question, wants answers. As The Guardian reports in its own recounting of the incident, the article that Microsoft re-published on its MSN news portal focused on the dea



Kuva Space raises €16.6M Series A to scale hyperspectral imagery ambitions
TechCrunch / 2h
Kuva Space, a hyperspectral imagery startup founded in Finland, has closed a €16.6 million ($17.6 million) Series A funding round as it looks to deploy up to 100 satellites by the end of the decade. The startup, formerly called Reaktor Space Lab, was founded in 2016 and spent its first four years focused on building […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


How AI and support teams can divide and conquer customer challenges
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
When a customer reaches out for support on a product or service, it’s a crucial time for any business. Today, making those moments count isn’t as simple as answering a phone call or responding to an email. Effective customer success relies on using the very best tools and technologies - including AI - to help drive a seamless interaction that creates real value for the customer and the business.


Japan’s SBI Holdings commits $40M to anchor Novastar Ventures future funds
TechCrunch / 3h
SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial services conglomerate and one of the largest venture capital firms in the East Asian country, has made a $40 million multi-fund commitment to anchor pan-African VC firm Novastar Ventures’ future funds. The commitment is the first direct investment by the Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed company into a VC in Africa. Its […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For


Scarlett Johannson takes legal action against AI app that cloned her likeness
100+Engadget / 3h
Oscar-nominated actor Scarlett Johansson has taken legal action against an AI app developer for using her likeness in an ad without permission, Variety has reported. The 22-second ad promoted an AI image editor called Lisa AI: 90s Yearbook & Avatar, and reportedly used an AI-generated version of Johansson's voice and image. The ad showed a real clip of Johansson in a Black Widow behind-the-scenes



Disney to buy out Comcast and take full control of Hulu
100+Engadget / 4h
Disney is buying the rest of Hulu from Comcast, the company has announced . It will acquire the 33 percent of Hulu Comcast still controls and expects to pay NBC Universal approximately $8.61 billion for the deal, though the final amount will be determined after an appraisal that will be wrapping up sometime next year. As The New York Times notes, the companies had agreed back in 2019 that Comcast


A new generation of companies is moving on up in San Francisco
TechCrunch / 5h
Ten years ago, Pear VC, then a tiny new venture firm, operated out of a nondescript office in Palo Alto that was enlivened by bright, computer-themed art. Last week, the outfit – which closed its largest fund to date in May – quietly inked a deal to sublease 30,000 square feet of “Class A” office […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


SAP wants to turn every developer into a Generative AI expert
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
SAP has revealed plans to help developers across the world quickly become experts in generative AI tools . At the company’s SAP TechEd 2023 event in Bangalore today, it unveiled a number of new AI-based tools that will allow for the speedy creation of apps, automate processes and build business sites, among other things. The new “pro-code” tools will look to bring experienced developers up to spe


Save 83% on an AI tool that combines ChatGPT with Google Sheets
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR : A lifetime subscription to a SheetMagic Single User Plan is on sale for £40.54, saving you 83% on list price. If you love both ChatGPT and Google Sheets, you’ll love how they work together in SheetMagic. It combines the AI power of ChatGPT with the organisation of Google Sheets to automate your workflow and streamline otherwise-repetitive tasks. Grab a lifetime subscription here for only


How to watch 'Doctor Who' for free
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking free streaming platforms. Watch Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN. There has never been a better time to be a fan of all things Doctor Who . To celebrate the show’s 60-year history , BBC iPlayer has launched a massive collection of Doctor Who shows, spin-offs, and behind-the-scenes clips. Over 800 episodes of


How to access Hulu for free
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking streaming sites. Access your Hulu subscription from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN. Hulu is a popular streaming platform with an all-too-familiar problem: it's only available in the U.S. due to copyright and licensing agreements. This is seriously frustrating for subscribers who travel a lot, but all is not lost. With a VPN , you can byp


How to watch ‘Love Island Games' for free
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best VPN for unblocking free streaming sites. Watch Love Island Games for free with ExpressVPN. Love Island fans are in for a real treat, because a new all-star spin-off series will bring together Islanders from around the world for a second chance at love. Love Island Games sees the return of some familiar faces, and we have absolutely no doubt that this new series is go


How to watch 'Big Brother UK' for free
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming. Watch the latest season of the UK version of Big Brother for free with ExpressVPN. It has been a long and painful wait, but the UK version of Big Brother is finally back for its 20th season after a five-year hiatus and a channel change. In the UK, you can watch everything unfold on ITV1, ITV2, and the streaming service ITVX . If you're based anywhe


SAP - these are the three key things you need to tick off for effective AI
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Businesses looking to implement AI tools in their workflows need to ensure they are making sure the technology is conforming to several key points, SAP has said. Speaking ahead of its SAP TechEd conference in India this week, company chief marketing and solutions officer Julia White outlined her thoughts on the role AI will play in not just SAP’s future, but that of its customers as well. “AI mus


Canon’s new full-frame lens offers world record zoom for wildlife and sports photographers
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Canon has announced a new RF lens for its mirrorless cameras that’s the world’s first full-frame zoom lens that goes up to 800mm. The 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM offers an unprecedented reach without needing (optional) teleconverters, that’s the equivalent of your phone having a 30x optical zoom, only with no perceivable loss in image quality. We’ve already posted a RF 200-800mm review , and labeled


Duracell's new power stations sport beefy batteries and can charge many devices
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Duracell has launched a pair of portable power stations shaped after the company’s batteries that are capable of charging your laptop , smartphone, and smartwatch . They can even charge drones. Starting with the smaller of the two , the Duracell M150 is 3.1 inches wide by 6.4 inches tall and clocks in at about two pounds. Inside is a 25,000 mAh battery that can deliver 150W of power via a wired c


How to watch the 2023 WTA Finals online for free
Mashable / 6h
TL;DR: Prime Video is offering live coverage of the 2023 WTA Finals. Watch for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Prime Video has been the place to be for tennis fans in 2023. This popular streaming platform has offered coverage of every ATP and WTA Tour event this year, and this impressive streaming schedule even includes the WTA Finals taking place in CancĂșn. If you want to watch the 202


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for November 2
Mashable / 8h
You're nearly there! Just one more sleep and two more Wordle s to go until the weekend. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. If you just want to be told today's word, you can skip to the end of this article for Nov. 2's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for November 2
Mashable / 8h
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the e


Flexport acquires technology of former digital freight unicorn Convoy
21TechCrunch / 8h
Supply chain logistics platform Flexport is acquiring the assets of shuttered digital freight network Convoy, according to a memo Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen sent to staff Wednesday. Flexport will restore Convoy’s trucking logistics services for customers in the coming weeks, according to the memo, shared by Freight Waves. Petersen said Flexport won’t acquire the business […] © 2023 TechCrunch. Al


Today’s NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, November 2, 2023
Lifehacker / 9h
Ready for some INTEL on today’s computer-brand-studded board? If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Thursday, November 2, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll… Read more...



Tech Billionaires' Quest to Build a New City in California Is Already Mired in Trouble
Gizmodo / 9h
The cohort of Silicon Valley tech titans who have been hoovering up Bay Area farmland in the hopes of converting it into a new city have been accused of deploying “strong-arm tactics” and a “divide-and-conquer” strategy to gobble up as much acreage as possible. A number of local farmers say Flannery Associates, the… Read more...


Quordle today - hints and answers for Thursday, November 2 (game #647)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
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 fun, but also difficult. What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keep


Why are fewer women using AI than men?
96BBC News - Technology / 10h
The use of artificial intelligence appears to have a significant gender imbalance.


For VCs and founders, building in public is about filling the top of the funnel
TechCrunch / 11h
Getting enough people to pay attention to you and to your thesis can help beyond raising money. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Joe Biden Wants US Government Algorithms Tested for Potential Harm Against Citizens
48Wired / 11h
Draft rules from the White House would require federal agencies to assess AI systems currently in use in law enforcement, health care, and other areas—and to shut down any algorithms doing harm.


Europe awards starting at 15,000 miles, business class from 37,500 miles: This month’s Flying Blue Promo Rewards
4KThe Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. When booking discounted travel, numerous opportunities are available, ranging from paid ticket sales to redemption promotions . However, one of the most reliable deals is the monthly Promo Rewards offered by Air France-KLM Flying Blue . These exclusive discounts are on the Flying Blue website and apply to flights to


Theme Park News From Disney, Universal Studios, and More Fan-tastical Destinations
Gizmodo / 11h
The last remnants of the fall holidays are getting snowed in as theme parks start to announce their imminent winter takeovers. Read more...


The best deals on cordless and robot vacuums live before Black Friday
Mashable / 12h
UPDATE: Nov. 2, 2023, 3:00 a.m. EDT This post has been updated with the best early Black Friday vacuum deals including self-emptying robot vacuums, hybrid robot vacuums, and cordless vacuums from Dyson, Shark, Eufy, and more. An overview of the early Black Friday vacuum deals Best self-emptying robot vacuum deal Shark Matrix RV2310AE $299.99 at Amazon (save $200) Best cordless vacuum deal Dyson V


New Google Chrome feature ends the thumb-stretching madness — but it's only for iPhone
Mashable / 12h
Google added a new feature to Chrome that is reminiscent of Safari's current design. You can now move the address bar to the bottom of the screen. This means you no longer have to stretch your thumbs to reach the top of your phone in a way that interrupts your typing flow. Sorry, Android users — this feature is only available to iPhone users at this time. You can move the Google Chrome address ba


The Best Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Streaming in November 2023
Gizmodo / 12h
Let’s get streaming! Welcome to io9's latest edition of the Nerd’s Watch, where we pare down the enormous lists of new films and television shows arriving on all your favorite streaming services into the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror titles we think you’ll like most. (And sometimes, just the ones that we like most.) Read more...


Costco Continues to Sell Banned Surveillance Equipment, Lawmakers Say
Gizmodo / 12h
U.S. lawmakers are questioning Costco’s decision to sell banned Chinese-based security products reportedly linked to human rights abuses and cybersecurity risks. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote a letter to the retailer on Tuesday, calling for Costco to remove Lorex surveillance… Read more...


Apple Music shuts down its Siri-only Voice Plan nearly two years later
TechCrunch / 12h
Apple Music just shut down its cheapest option — the Voice Plan. The subscription, which launched in 2021 and cost $5 per month, featured a Siri-only experience; the only way to access Apple Music’s catalog is to request a song, genre, album or artist by using voice commands. While Apple didn’t formally announce that it […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


The UK is spending $273 million to build its fastest ever AI supercomputer
28Engadget / 12h
The UK government has announced a $273 million investment to build its most powerful supercomputer yet, Isambard-AI, which will rank among the top AI supercomputers in the world when it’s switched on. It’ll pack thousands of NVIDIA superchips, allowing it to run more than 200 quadrillion calculations per second. Isambard-AI is expected to begin operations in summer 2024 and will be hosted by the


Your Samsung Galaxy phone is getting a big security update – here's how to use it
27TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
As part of the recent One UI 6 update, Samsung is giving Galaxy smartphone owners a new security tool called Auto Blocker to protect them from potentially malicious software. Auto Blocker consists of three main features, according to the announcement . First, it stops apps from being sideloaded,