Monday, December 18, 2023

Technology News and More-Monday Evening Edition...

Technology News and More...



Tesla removes Disney+ app amid Elon Musk's feud with Disney CEO Bob Iger
500+Mashable / 5h
Elon Musk levels up his Disney feud by bringing Tesla into the fray. Over the weekend, numerous Tesla owners began to report that Disney's streaming app, Disney+, was suspiciously missing from their vehicles. "So Disney+ has now been removed from Tesla vehicles," posted X user @TheTeslaHoe after seeing the app was removed from her vehicle. "I’m assuming this is in retaliation to Disney pulling ad


American Airlines Flight Attendants: Can’t Afford Gas, Live Off Stealing First Class Snacks
400+View from the Wing / 10h
Flight attendants at American Airlines, frustrated by lack of progress on a new contract, have gone online to commiserate and share how much they're struggling day to day with a raise. Some don't have money for gas to get to the airport, or to pay their bills and buy food so they make up for it pocketing snacks from the first class snack basket. Some of the stories are heart wrenching. Continue r


Apple TV Plus has another epic sci-fi series on the way and this one's got Murderbots
90TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 15h
If you like smart sci-fi and speculative fiction, Apple TV Plus has some seriously good shows in its catalog – and it's about to get what looks to be another one adapted from a book series about a cyborg. Based on the award-winning and deeply dystopian The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, the show will follow a self-aware, self-hacking robot bodyguard who's horrified by humans but drawn to them


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 19
Mashable / now
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle . 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 jump to the bottom of this article for Dec. 19's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle co


Today's NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Tuesday, December 19, 2023
LifeHacker / 54min
Today’s puzzle has three relatively easy groupings and one stumper–or at least that’s how it was for me. If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Tuesday, December 19, 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 learn how everything fits together. Bewar


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for December 19
Mashable / 1h
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


The Cage Fight With Musk Never Happened, but Zuck Won 2023
Gizmodo / 2h
This summer, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk blew the internet’s mind by claiming they would fight each other in a “cage match”-style brawl. The rival tech execs were feuding over their platforms’ competition in the microblogging space and their proposed solution to this rivalry was to beat the crap out of each other… Read more...


Massive Icelandic Volcano Erupts, Spews Lava Hundreds of Feet Into the Air
100+Futurism / 2h
Volcano! Following tens of thousands of earthquakes rocking the Reykjanes Peninsula southwest of Iceland's capital Reykjavík, a massive volcano officially erupted early Tuesday morning local time. As The New York Times reports , officials are now worried about an impending disaster. "We are looking at a worst-case scenario," volcanologist Thorvaldur Thordarson told the newspaper. "The eruption ap


Quordle today - hints and answers for Tuesday, December 19 (game #694)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
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


Clearlake and Insight reach $4.4B deal to take software maker Alteryx private
TechCrunch / 3h
Alteryx, an Irvine, California-based software company developing data science and analytics products, today announced that it’s agreed to be acquired by private equity firms Clearlake Capital Group and Insight Partners in a deal worth $4.4 billion. Clearlake and Insight reportedly beat out Symphony Technology Group, another private equity firm, which Reuters reported several days ago […] © 2023 T


Figma fans are delighted as the design app escapes being gobbled up by Adobe
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
After facing pressure from EU regulators, Adobe and design app Figma have agreed to mutually break up, costing the former a lucrative $20 billion deal. Adobe said in a recent statement that the companies are doing this because they cannot find a “clear path to receive [the] necessary regulatory approvals from the European Commission and the UK [CMA]”, or the Competition and Market Authority. It g


You have a whole additional year to convert your Google Stadia controller to Bluetooth
Engadget / 3h
Google is giving anyone who has a WiFi-only Stadia controller lying around an additional year to convert it to Bluetooth. The deadline to do this was previously until the end of this year , but Google is now extending it to December 31, 2024. Google axed Stadia, its cloud gaming service, at the beginning of this year. Most customers who bought digital games through the Google Store got refunds ,


Timothée Chalamet Isn’t Sure Why Dune Spoilers Are a Thing
Gizmodo / 3h
The future of the Dune movies are shrouded in a lot of secrecy, especially given the high anticipation for the now long-delayed Part Two . But at least one person at the heart of them is a little confused as to why, when you can get a pretty good gist of what’s to come by reading material that’s been out there for 70… Read more...


This Roku TV Soundbar Is 75% Off Right Now
LifeHacker / 3h
If you’ve never experienced good audio in your living room, you might not realize how bad your TV's speakers really are. The good news is that it’s actually easy to improve the audio coming from your TV —and perhaps the quickest and easiest (if not the cheapest) ways is to get a soundbar. And if you have a Roku TV, the expense won't even be that bad, because right now you can pick up the TCL Alto


China Can Replace Coal With Nuclear Power
Next Big Future / 3h
As of November 2022, China held a total of 2,510 GW of installed capacity, 44% of which is coal, 16.3% hydro, 14.7% solar, 13.9% wind, 4.5% natural gas, and 18.4% other fuels. Nuclear only accounted for 2.2% of the total domestic capacity, the least of all sources. Nuclear has a higher capacity factor and delived ... Read more


Breakthrough Superconducting Devices With High Temperature Superconductors
Next Big Future / 3h
Kim, Harvard, and his fellow researchers have a promising candidate for the world’s first high-temperature, superconducting diode—essentially, a switch that makes current flow in one direction—made out of thin cuprate crystals. This would be the first superconducting switch made using higher temperature cuprate superconductors instead of lower temperature and more expensive superconductors. The te


Max Q: See you next year
TechCrunch / 4h
In this issue: AstroForge reviews setbacks (and successes) during first mission; Terran Orbital CEO says company is not looking for a buyer; and news from the FCC, Terran Orbital and more. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Alaska raises checked bag fees, will other airlines now follow suit?
36The Points Guy / 4h
Alaska Airlines updated its checked baggage fee page over the weekend, raising prices for checked luggage to $35 for the first checked bag (up $5) starting Jan. 2, 2024. Alaska’s move could have knock-on effects, if history is an indicator. It’s been a few years since we saw a round of airline checked-bag fee increases, though these things do have a tendency to happen in clusters. In fact, in 201


Current hotel promotions: Earn cash-back rewards and bonus points at major brands
1KThe Points Guy / 4h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. In 2020 and 2021, many major hotel companies offered some of their most generous promotions . That’s how some TPG staffers achieved top-tier Hyatt Globalist status with just 10 nights. But those days are far behind us. Though hotel promotions aren’t quite as generous as they once were, they certainly should be


How to Clean up Christmas Tree Pine Needles Without Wrecking Your Vacuum
LifeHacker / 4h
Please don’t use your vacuum to suck up pine needles from your Christmas tree or wreaths this year. You can cause major problems for your device and end up making the situation worse. I have a few ideas to clean up those dry, crunchy needles without busting up your vacuum—plus a foolproof method for preventing the mess in the first place. Why you shouldn’t vacuum pine needles I’ve never had a rea


Lingrove’s carbon-negative wood alternative branches out with $10M round
TechCrunch / 5h
These days even niche industries have concerned souls looking for more eco-friendly options for materials and processes, from washing machine waste to artificial wool. Lingrove is taking on laminates — thin layers of wood and other materials — with a carbon-negative option that they claim performs better while looking as good. Laminates or veneers are […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. F


Americans Have a Snack Problem
Gizmodo / 5h
Your snack habit may be even more calorie-dense than you think, recent research suggests. A study estimated that snacking contributes to around 20% of an average American’s daily caloric intake, and these snacks often add little nutritional value. The scientists found, though, that people with type 2 diabetes seem to… Read more...


Chaos in the Cabin: Inebriated Man’s Assault on Officers Delays Spirit Airlines Flight
View from the Wing / 5h
Sunday afternoon police officers removed a Polish man from Spirit Airlines flight 239 prior to departing Barranquilla, Colombia to Fort Lauderdale. The man was judged to be inebriated, and any doubts about this were quickly quashed when he attacked the officers on board the aircraft who were trying to remove him. Continue reading ...


Cuccidati Are the Colorful Italian Christmas Cookie You've Been Missing
23LifeHacker / 5h
I believe there’s room on the table for all the cookies during December. Sure, we have our must-bakes—mine are gingerbread cookies and these nameless, cherry-spiked butter cookies—but you should leave room for some new names. This year, I recommend a classic Italian cookie called cuccidati. Maybe your grandparents made them a long time ago or perhaps they’re completely new; regardless, these frui


The Best Tech Gifts under $100 That Will Arrive in Time for Christmas
LifeHacker / 5h
Time is running out to get your Christmas list sorted and have everything arrive by the big day. But worry not, you've still got time. As a tech deals writer, I have a good idea of what people like and can find them for their best prices, like these tech stocking stuffers under $150 or these Amazon devices that will arrive before Christmas . Beats Studio Buds— A pair of noise-cancelling earbuds B


National Forest Service Trolls Tesla After Cybertruck Gets Stuck in Forest
Futurism / 5h
Unlimited Slip Last week, a video showed a Tesla Cybertruck getting woefully stuck on a small, snow-covered hill . The clip, which made the rounds on social media , showed the 7,000-pound truck with a Christmas tree loaded in its bed helplessly spinning its tires while slowly being towed up the hill by a white Ford truck. The incident led to plenty of mockery. After all, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made


Founder of Tesla Competitor Nikola Going to Jail for Fraud
Futurism / 5h
Guilty as Charged The f ounder of electric trucking company Nikola, Trevor Milton, was just sentenced to four years in prison following a jury finding him guilty of misleading investors back in October of 2022. That's in addition to a $1 million fine. It could've been worse for him. In their request at Milton's sentencing, prosecutors called for 11 years of jail time, much like the sentence disgr


The Unglamorous Reality Of My Review Trips
92One Mile at a Time / 5h
As longtime OMAAT readers know, I often take trips for the sole purpose of writing about travel experiences, as I try to review airlines, hotels, and lounges. I recently wrapped up a wild review trip , where I flew roughly 26,000 miles over the course of six days. To the average person, that probably sounds awful. Flying for nearly a week without actually seeing much isn’t the way that most peopl


War Over India Trade and Trade Routes
Next Big Future / 5h
India is an emerging economic superpower and there is increasing trade between India and Europe, the US and India and trade with China. The Biden administration in September announced the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. This would have moved a lot of trade between Europe to India through Israel and Saudi Arabia. One-third of world trade ... Read more


Habital Cold Ocean Planets Could Be Vastly Outnumber Earth-Like Worlds
Next Big Future / 5h
Ocean planets are a proposed class of low-density, terrestrial exoplanets with substantial liquid water layers. They may exist in a variety of climactic states including ice free, partially ice covered, or completely frozen over at their surfaces. Researchers call ocean-bearing planets with ice-covered surfaces as cold ocean planets. Cold ocean planets may be plentiful in ... Read more


Marvel Drops Jonathan Majors as Kang After Assault Trial Verdict
100+Gizmodo / 5h
The future is uncertain for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty . Marvel’s planned crossover film, set for release May 1, 2026, will likely feature a new face taking over the role of Kang the Conqueror as Jonathan Majors has been ousted as the MCU’s reigning big bad. Read more...


Upcoming SpaceX Launch to Include First Direct-to-Cell Starlink Satellites
24Gizmodo / 5h
SpaceX is gearing up to launch the first batch of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability, with plans to test the technology in Earth orbit so that it can expand its reach on Earth beyond the range of cell towers. Read more...


Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card review: 60,000-point bonus for a top travel card
The Points Guy / 5h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card overview The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best-known travel rewards credit cards , featuring 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal and Lyft purchases, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery stor


Google Contacts on your Android can now show your friends' real-time location
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
Google has quietly added a new module to its Contacts app on Android allowing users to see the location of friends and family in real-time. It’s worth mentioning this function has been in the works for some time now – since late May when it was leaked by industry insider Nail Sadykov on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter). It took a little while, but now you can get this feature by install


Thunderbird for Android Is Delayed, but You Can Test It Now
How-To Geek / 5h
The revival of Mozilla Thunderbird was accompanied by an unexpected announcement—instead of building a mobile app from scratch, Mozilla will convert K-9 Mail into Thunderbird for Android. Unfortunately, Thunderbird for Android's late-2023 launch has drifted a few months behind schedule.


OpenAI’s New Board Members Are Now the Boss of Sam Altman (If They Want to Be)
26Gizmodo / 5h
OpenAI has a new Board of Directors following its November skirmish, but they can still overrule CEO Sam Altman on any decisions he makes, according to a set of guidelines the company released Monday . That means if OpenAI creates artificial general intelligence (AGI), an AI system smarter than humans, the Board will… Read more...


Clear users report delays due to new facial identity verification process
1KThe Points Guy / 5h
Editor’s note: This post was updated Dec. 18 with new information. It was originally published Nov. 8. On Nov. 30, Clear began verifying Plus users in preparation for Clear’s NextGen Identity+ technology to enable face as the primary biometric for membership identification. Currently, Clear automates most users’ identity verification steps in the Transportation Security Administration screening p


Tolkien Estate and Amazon Win Court Case for Lord of the Rings Rights
58Gizmodo / 5h
It’s baffling that someone really tried to legitimize fan fiction when the estate of of The Lord of the Rings author is still actively pushing out adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal work . Read more...


Elon Musk Gets the John Oliver Treatment
300+Gizmodo / 6h
It’s been a long year. The Titan submersible getting crushed ? That was only six months ago even though it feels like it had to have been at least two years ago considering all that has happened since then. Elon Musk, especially, has been in the news constantly and rarely for anything positive. Yes, he finally managed… Read more...


The Fight Tearing the Game Awards Apart
Wired / 6h
Prior to the event, hundreds of people signed a letter asking The Game Awards’ organizers to call for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war. They didn’t, and a rift in the industry has only grown wider.


Booze Effects Sperm More than a Month After Cessation in Mouse Research
Futurism / 6h
The effects of boozing can be detected in sperm for more than a month after cessation and can lead to some pretty serious birth defects, Texas A&M University scientists have found in — at least in mice, though the research could be suggestive of risks for men who drink as well. In a press release about the new research , Dr. Michael Golding said that alcohol's potential birth defect-inducing effe


7 Last-minute Gift Card Ideas (That Aren’t Amazon or Starbucks)
LifeHacker / 6h
With the number of shopping days until Christmas dwindling, we're nearing official “just give them an Amazon or Starbucks gift card” season. While there's nothing wrong with these gift cards per se, cards for these two mega-corporations in particular are so commonly gifted that they practically scream “I panicked and got this at the last minute”—which is exactly what you don’t want in a last-minu


How to Fix Your Messed-up Wifi After the Latest Windows Update
LifeHacker / 6h
The latest Windows 11 security update has done more than just make the operating system more secure. According to several reports on Microsoft's forums and social media, the security update also caused Windows users to experience wifi issues. If you're affected by this issue, you can easily fix it. How to fix broken wifi in the December Windows 11 update According to the various reports made on M


Growing Up With Cats Linked to Higher Schizophrenia Risk
46Gizmodo / 6h
Growing up with cats could have a strange effect on your mind, new research suggests. The study, a large review of existing literature, found that cat ownership at a young age was associated with a noticeably higher risk of developing schizophrenia and related disorders—a risk possibly fueled by increased exposure to… Read more...


Air India: New crew uniforms, website just the latest as big makeover gains steam
The Points Guy / 6h
The latest signs of a major transformation at India’s flagship airline are taking shape. Air India unveiled a new website and mobile app Monday, overhauling its digital platform with a new design and, in the company’s words, a faster, more seamless and intuitive booking process. If you pull up the airline’s website now, you’ll find the updated site. Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TP


Claim Your Part of This $25 Million Apple Settlement
LifeHacker / 6h
Have you been injured by misleading advertising? Did you think you could split an iPhone subscription with your family, only to find you could not? Do you like money? Then you may be eligible for compensation. Apple recently settled a class action lawsuit for $25 million . The case doesn't attack Apple for slowing down old iPhones , or allege that Apple stole medical technology ; rather, this one


Huge Mortgage and Loan Company Suffers Data Breach Impacting 14 Million People
Gizmodo / 6h
If you’ve ever bought a home with the help of the mortgage and loan firm Mr. Cooper, there’s a good chance that your personal information has been stolen by cybercriminals. Read more...


Marvel Star Jonathan Majors Found Guilty of Reckless Assault
100+Gizmodo / 6h
The jury has reached a verdict in Jonathan Majors ’ trial, declaring the Marvel Studios actor guilty of reckless assault in the third degree as well as guilty of harassment. He was found not guilty of intentional assault in the third degree and not guilty of aggravated harassment in second degree. Read more...


OpenAI buffs safety team and gives board veto power on risky AI
41TechCrunch / 7h
OpenAI is expanding its internal safety processes to fend off the threat of harmful AI. A new “safety advisory group” will sit above the technical teams and make recommendations to leadership, and the board has been granted veto power — of course, whether it will actually use it is another question entirely. Normally the ins […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Eve's New Energy-Monitoring Smart Outlet Is the First to Have Matter
How-To Geek / 7h
For those who dislike bulky smart plugs and "wall warts," a smart outlet is usually the go-to solution for home automation. Now, Eve is preparing to launch the Energy Outlet, a Thread-enabled and Matter-compatible smart outlet that can monitor your energy consumption.


How many business credit cards should you have?
The Points Guy / 7h
The best business credit cards offer a variety of perks and attractive earning rates that can benefit many types of businesses. However, some business owners require more than one card. They may want access to higher spending limits or wish to spread their purchases across different cards based on the bonus spending categories. In any case, having more than one business card can give your busines


Adobe has a big hole to fill after the $20B Figma deal falls through
TechCrunch / 7h
Adobe and Figma ended their $20 billion acquisition dream this morning after regulators signaled it would continue to be rough going. Figma still gets a $1 billion consolation prize as part of the deal, and as the leader in collaborative design, the company should land on its feet just fine. But for Adobe, it could […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


21 last-minute gifts at Amazon that are on sale and arrive before Christmas Eve
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
We're officially a week away from Christmas Day, and if you're still looking for a last-minute gift, we're here to help. I've scoured Amazon's site to bring you the 21 best last-minute gifts that arrive before Christmas Eve. Even better, all the items listed below are also on sale, so you can save money and score a last-minute Christmas gift. • Shop more last-minute deals at Amazon Today's last-m


NASA Proudly Shows Off Desiccated Tomatos Lost in Space Station Crevice
Futurism / 7h
Tomat... Oh Astronauts on board the International Space Station made a startling discovery: the husks of two old and dried-out tomatoes. While the finding may sound more like the undesirable outcome of a deep kitchen cleaning, the two rogue tomatoes were the subject of a fierce debate among crew members, with NASA astronaut Frank Rubio initially being accused of eating his share of the space-grow


Snowflake goes all in on data clean rooms with Samooha acquisition
25TechCrunch / 7h
Snowflake is buying Samooha, a startup developing a “cross-cloud” data collaboration suite, the companies announced this morning — adding to the list of big tech acquisitions leading up to the holiday season. With the deal, which is expected to close by the end of the month subject to customary closing conditions, Snowflake gains an established […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For pers


Navigating a shifting customer-engagement landscape with generative AI
MIT Technology Review / 7h
One can’t step into the same river twice. This simple representation of change as the only constant was taught by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus more than 2000 years ago. Today, it rings truer than ever with the advent of generative AI . The emergence of generative AI is having a profound effect on today’s enterprises—business leaders face a rapidly changing technology that they need to grasp t


Microsoft unveils a new and safer way for your business to print
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Microsoft is changing the way Windows handles printers , which should make for a much safer experience overall - but could also mean that some older devices may no longer be supported. In a blog post published by Johnathan Norman of the Microsoft Offensive Research &Security Engineering (MORSE), it was explained that the printing experience hasn’t changed much over the past 20 years. Until now, W


Eve reveals its plan to rebuild your smart home in 2024 with 3 new Matter products
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Smart home brand Eve is slated to kick off 2024 with the launch of three new Matter -supporting gadgets including its first in-wall outlet. The company does currently sell smart plugs , but the Eve Energy Outlet, as it’s called, won’t have the big brick jutting out as it’ll be flush with the wall. It’s meant to be the more “permanent solution”. According to the announcement , it’ll allow users to


Apple Watches being pulled from stores this week due to potential import ban
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge / The Apple Watch Series 9 released in September 2023. (credit: Apple) Apple will pause sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 starting December 21, it revealed today in a statement to 9to5Mac . The move comes as the products are facing a potential import ban until August 2028, due to rulings that the watches infringe on patents from Masimo. In October, the US Internati


Disgraced Nikola founder Trevor Milton gets 4-year sentence for lying about EVs
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge / Trevor Milton, founder of Nikola Corp., arrives at court in New York on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Milton is set to be sentenced on Monday after being found guilty of securities fraud and wire fraud in October 2022. (credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg ) The disgraced founder and former CEO of the "zero emissions" truck company Nikola , Trevor Milton, was sentenced to four years in


How Some Lucky Flyers Bagged Business Class Tickets for Just 13,500 Miles – While Others Get Cancelled
41View from the Wing / 7h
On Friday it was possible to book transatlantic business class award tickets on Air France for as little as 13,500 Flying Blue miles each way and in fact in some cases for just 1,500 points (!) . This was an error in pricing. Some people who booked it will get to travel, while others will have their plans cancelled. Continue reading ...


The Adobe-Figma breakup isn’t a signal of what’s to come for startup M&A
TechCrunch / 7h
Most startup exits look nothing like the Adobe-Figma deal, which means this breakup won't impact most future startup acquisitions. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Nikola founder Trevor Milton sentenced to four years in prison
20Engadget / 7h
Trevor Milton, the disgraced founder of Nikola, was just sentenced to four years in prison on three counts of fraud. In October 2022, a jury found Milton guilty of one count of securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Milton faced up to 60 years in prison. Prosecutors asked the judge for an 11-year prison sentence and a $5 million fine, according to The New York Times , while the defense ar


Alaska Airlines Raises Checked Bag Fees
29One Mile at a Time / 7h
Alaska Airlines has just revealed that it will be raising checked bag fees as of early 2024, and this has the potential to catch on at other airlines as well. Alaska Airlines raises checked bag fees to $35+ Alaska Airlines has updated its baggage page to reflect new fees for tickets purchased as of January 2, 2024. The airline will be raising the cost of checked bags, as follows: Through January


This gorgeous RGB backlit mechanical keyboard comes with an adjustable 13-inch touchscreen, SD card slot, SSD enclosure, and stereo speakers – and it's currently available at 38% off its usual price
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Kwumsy has launched a new model of its keyboard and display combo device, the Kwumsy K3, which combines an 82-key mechanical keyboard with a 13-inch touchscreen display. As you can tell from its name, the Kwumsy K3 Touch-Expanding Screen Keyboard is the third-generation model, and one of the significant upgrades in this iteration is the ability to tilt the screen upward, adjusting the viewing ang


Apple to Pause Selling New Versions of Its Watch After Losing Patent Dispute
300+NYT > Technology / 8h
The move, which comes after a ruling by the International Trade Commission, could create a run on watch sales in the week before Christmas.


The Fictional Characters We Lost in 2023
Gizmodo / 8h
Light a candle for those fictional characters we lost in 2023. Characters we’ve come to know either over the years , or maybe even over just a few short hours of a movie or TV show . But these characters left an impression on us meaning, as 2023 comes to an end, it was time to give them their final moment in the sun. Read more...


DOT fines Southwest up to $140 million over 2022 holiday meltdown
The Points Guy / 8h
Southwest Airlines will be fined $140 million for violating customer protection laws during its 2022 holiday travel operations failure, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Monday morning. It was the highest penalty ever leveraged against an airline for consumer protection violations by a factor of 30, the DOT said, part of a move by the Biden administration to crack down on airlines o


TikTok rolls out an enhanced app experience for tablets and foldables
TechCrunch / 8h
TikTok has rolled out an update to enhance the app experience for viewers on tablets and foldable devices, the company announced on Monday. The company says the app is now better optimized for larger screens, as viewers can now experience a clear video feed, streamlined navigation bars and orientation support. With this new update, TikTok […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal u


Four Ways an ATM Can Ruin Your Day (and How to Protect Yourself)
LifeHacker / 8h
Cash may increasingly seem like a relic of a bygone age ( less than 10% of Americans use cash as their primary way of paying for stuff these days), but paper money is still useful. Sure, it’s almost impossible to live a cash-only life these days, but when emergencies hit and the power and data connections shut down, cash is still king . Even if you rarely use cash, chances are you have a debit ca


Inaugural flights: Alaska Airlines now flying to the Bahamas from Seattle and Los Angeles
55The Points Guy / 8h
Alaska Airlines has been in the news lately for the carrier’s proposed merger with Hawaiian Airlines , a move that Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci said will “expand options for West Coast and Hawai’i travelers.” But no one wanted to talk about that Friday morning, when Alaska Airlines celebrated inaugural flights to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, from both Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)


Billions in Funding Pouring Into Facilities for Sucking Carbon From Atmosphere
Futurism / 8h
Buried Promises Despite pledges from countries to do better, some analysts think the world will keep burning fossil fuel for decades and even consume more of it in coming years — which isn't so cool for our warming planet. In response, billions of dollars are getting earmarked for carbon removal technologies, The Wall Street Journal reports . The investment firm Blackrock has poured $550 million


Elon Musk’s Grok AI Accuses Him of Going to Court for Pedophilia
Futurism / 8h
Elon Musk's new anti-woke artificial intelligence chatbot is popping off — and it has some weird stuff to say about its creator, in yet another cautionary tale about generative AI systems cooking up ridiculous non-factual claims . While there's been plenty of coverage of the details surrounding Grok, the chatbot hosted on the site formerly known as Twitter, there hasn't been as much written about


Detroit Metropolitan Airport postcard
Music, Arts & Literature / 8h
brianfrench1995 : @postcardtimemachine


Google’s Stadia Controller salvage operation will run for another year
28Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / Like it never even happened. (credit: Aurich Lawson / Getty Images) Stadia might be dead, but the controllers for Google's cloud-based gaming platform are still out there. With the service permanently offline, the proprietary Stadia Controller threatened to fill up landfills until Google devised a plan to convert them to generic Bluetooth devices that can work on almost anything. The ap


What turns a fungal scavenger into a killer?
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / The fungus' favorite food. (credit: Bishwo Adhikari, Brigham Young University ) Some of the scariest monsters are microscopic. The carnivorous fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora doesn’t seem like much while it’s eating away at rotting wood. But when it senses a live worm, it will trap its victim and consume it alive—pure nightmare fuel. Until now, not much was known about how the attack of


Here's how to score a ton of free e-reader titles during Stuff Your Kindle Day on Dec. 27
Mashable / 8h
The best e-reader deals ahead of Stuff Your Kindle Day Best Kindle deal Kindle Scribe (16GB) $269.99 at Amazon (Save $70) Best Kobo deal Kobo Clara 2E $119.99 at Rakuten Kobo (Save $20) The only thing better than having access to thousands of books at the click of a button is having access to thousands of free books at the click of the button. SEE ALSO: You wrote a book! Now make a viral TikTok a


Buy the New Apple Watch Now Before It’s Banned
Gizmodo / 8h
Santa’s elves better hurry up and ship those new Apple Watches . Starting Dec. 21, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will no longer be available for sale. Christmas Eve is the last day to buy one at the brick-and-mortar Apple retail store. Read more...


Nikola founder Trevor Milton sentenced to 4 years for securities fraud
34TechCrunch / 8h
Trevor Milton, the disgraced founder and former CEO of electric truck startup Nikola, was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for securities fraud. The sentence, by Judge Edgardo Ramos in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, caps a multi-year saga that at one point sent Nikola stock soaring 83% only to come crashing down […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Nvidia appears to have a major problem with wealthy middle managers who do barely any work - and new starters aren't happy
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang reportedly addressed worker complacency in a recent all-hands meeting following complaints that some employees are simply coasting along while enjoying bumper paycheques. According to insight shared with Business Insider by people in attendance, Huang acknowledged the growing issue of some long-tenured Nvidia employees not pulling their weight, a concern raised by colleagu


Eggs, Gas, and Other Prices That Are Actually Deflating
LifeHacker / 8h
As inflation drove consumer prices up to dizzying heights in 2022, many households cut back on discretionary spending in order to afford essentials like fuel, food, and rent. Even more so than other grocery items, egg prices skyrocketed last year, and continued to soar in early 2023. (The only silver lining from that inflation-ridden hellscape was the advent of the word " eggflation .") While inf


Apple to Halt Sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2
34Wired / 8h
A dispute over the patent for the blood-oxygen sensor in the two newest Apple Watch models is at the heart of the pause, which partly goes into effect on December 21.


Norse Atlantic celebrates inaugural flights from Miami to Paris and Berlin with deals
The Points Guy / 9h
Norwegian low-cost airline Norse Atlantic Airways launched two inaugural flights last week: one from Miami to Paris on Wednesday and one from Miami to Berlin on Thursday. To celebrate these new routes, the airline is offering discounted flights, with one-way journeys starting as low as $165. Flights depart Miami International Airport (MIA) and arrive at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Be


Hasbro Unvaulted Some of Its Rarest Toy Projects, and Sold Them Out Immediately
23Gizmodo / 9h
Hasbro’s Haslab series —a crowdfunding drop line that lets the toymaker make some truly wild toys it could never feasibly release to the mass market, should enough collectors actually want them —is meant to be a one and done thing. The campaign starts, and if it hits its goals, when it ends pretty much all that’s ever… Read more...


Webb telescope’s new Uranus image looks like a portal to another dimension
200+Engadget / 9h
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has a treat to celebrate the upcoming second anniversary of its launch . NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), which operate the craft alongside the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), shared a recent image of the icy planet Uranus. The picture, resembling a glowing blue marble rippling into a black ocean, was funneled through the telescope’s infrared filters to


How To Combine Hilton Honors Points Between Accounts
74One Mile at a Time / 9h
Every loyalty program has a different policy when it comes to being able to combine points among members. Arguably Hilton Honors has the most generous policy of any program when it comes to letting members combine points, so I wanted to take a closer look at that in this post. For what it’s worth, I’ve written in the past about the policies of Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt when it comes to c


You can reserve Acura’s ZDX EV starting today
Engadget / 9h
Acura has opened reservations for its first fully electric vehicle (EV). Starting today, you can order the Acura ZDX at around $60,000 for a baseline model with a single-motor (rear-wheel-drive) powertrain. The first deliveries of the “performance SUV” are expected in early 2024. The automaker said earlier this year it would shift to online-only sales of Acura EVs starting in 2024, and ZDX preord


Uranus Is Luminous and Ringed in New Webb Telescope Image
100+Gizmodo / 9h
Yes, that’s Uranus. The giant icy orb looks more like an agatized dinosaur egg than a planet in this new image by the Webb Space Telescope. Read more...


Keep your appliances and tech tools safe with Asurion
Mashable / 9h
No one buys a new device or appliance anticipating the day it stops working. But accidents, breakdowns, and other disasters can — and frequently do — happen. And when it does, we’re left wishing there was a better option than buying it all over again. Asurion's protection plans ensure that if the worst happens, your TV, gaming consoles, home appliances, and more will get fixed or replaced without


Apple pauses sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 over patent dispute
Mashable / 9h
This week, Apple will indefinitely pause sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 due to a patent dispute. According to 9to5Mac , the Apple website will stop selling the newest generations of its smartwatches on Dec. 21 after 3 p.m. ET and in stores on Dec. 24. SEE ALSO: Double Tap finally comes to Apple Watch Series 9 — here’s how to use it The years-long patent dispute between


IHG One Rewards availability officially launches at Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
The Points Guy / 9h
All-inclusive resort getaways are even more attainable for IHG One Rewards members starting this month. IHG officially rolled out details of its integrated loyalty points structure at Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, a popular all-inclusive resort brand the hotel conglomerate first partnered with late last year . Full awards integration arrived in phases, with the ability to earn IHG points and enjo


Not all pickups are work trucks—Toyota aims the 2024 Tacoma off-road
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / Yes, pickup trucks are used in work situations, but they're also bought by people who want to drive them off-road. (credit: Kristin Shaw) Toyota provided flights from Austin to Los Angeles and accommodation so we could drive the new Toyota Tacoma. Ars does not accept paid editorial content. Between a new platform and the model's first hybrid powertrain, the redesigned 2024 Toyota Tacoma


Musk’s X hit with EU’s first investigation of Digital Services Act violations
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Chris Delmas) The European Union has opened a formal investigation into whether Elon Musk's X platform (formerly Twitter) violated the Digital Services Act (DSA), which could result in fines of up to 6 percent of global revenue. A European Commission announcement today said the agency "opened formal proceedings to assess whether X may have breached the Digital Serv


Tesla Driver Forced to Pay After Killing Two People on Autopilot
100+Futurism / 9h
Grand Deathed Auto A man in Los Angeles has been ordered to pay more than $23,000 in restitution after killing two people with his Tesla back in 2019 while using Autopilot. As Fortune reports , it's possibly the first time US prosecutors have brought felony charges against a motorist who was using driver assistance software. It's also one of over a dozen deadly collisions currently being investig


Vans, Supreme owner VF Corp. says personal data stolen and orders impacted in suspected ransomware attack
TechCrunch / 9h
VF Corporation, the U.S.-based owner of apparel brands including Vans, Supreme and The North Face, has confirmed a cyberattack has impacted the company’s ability to fulfill orders ahead of Christmas, one of the biggest retail events of the year. The Denver, Colorado-based corporation said in a filing with federal regulators that the cyberattack, which the […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserve


CISA really wants tech makers to stop using default passwords
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
The US Govenrment's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an alert to manufacturers, urging them to forgo default passwords supplied with their internet-connected products as a matter of security. CISA believes these default passwords pose a substantial risk to organizations, allowing hackers to easily breach systems if the basic credentials haven't been changed, as u


You Can Get the Xbox Series X for Its Lowest Price Ever in Time for Christmas
LifeHacker / 9h
Christmas miracles don’t happen very often, but for gamers, this one will surely make them believe in the magic of the season. The Xbox Series X has seen some discounts since Black Friday , but none better than its current deal: You can get the Xbox Series X for $349 (originally $499) from Amazon or Walmart , which is by far the cheapest it’s ever been since its release. The best deal on the Xbox


New Apple Watches Are Being Pulled Off the Market Soon
LifeHacker / 9h
When a company, like Apple, releases a product, like the Apple Watch, you expect them to sell it for a while. But unfortunately for Apple, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 won't be on shelves for much longer. It all stems from an extended patent infringement legal battle between Apple and Masimo, a medical technology company. Masimo sued Apple in 2020 over 10 patents it believed the company i


These were the top flight destination searches on Google in 2023
The Points Guy / 9h
With busy airports, full flights and the ending of most travel restrictions, 2023 marked a return to travel, mostly as we knew it before the pandemic began. Nearly every peak travel period in 2023 broke air travel records, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. An estimated record-breaking 4.7 billion people are expected to travel in 2024, according to the International Air Transport Associat


Major apparel supplier behind North Face and Vans hit by cyberattack, disrupting its holiday fulfillments
Engadget / 9h
VF Corporation reported in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Monday that it had been hit by a cyberattack. The company owns a slew of apparel brands, including Vans, North Face, Timberland, Dickies and more — and it warns the disruption could affect your holiday shopping. VF first noticed "unauthorized occurrences" on its IT systems on December 13, it said in a statement to Engadget.


Get the Nothing Phone 2 for (almost) nothing in this record-setting Amazon deal
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Nothing is still a relatively unknown tech brand outside of enthusiast circles and yet it's responsible for one of the most distinctive smartphone designs of the last two years. The original Nothing Phone and the newer Nothing Phone 2 , boast a transparent back with an iconic Glyph Interface unseen elsewhere on the market. Better yet, that newest entry is currently enjoying its best discount on A


Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel Are Now on Quest VR Headsets
How-To Geek / 9h
Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has been trying to make its Quest VR headsets helpful for more than just virtual reality gaming. Productivity and social applications are slowly making their way to Quest headsets, and now three Microsoft applications have joined the party.


TikTok upgrades its app experience for tablets and foldables
30Engadget / 9h
You can now mindlessly scroll your TikTok’s ‘for you page’ on larger screens and foldable devices. The new update will be available for users worldwide and on devices like the iPad or the various foldable Android phones out there. TikTok, which is traditionally mobile-forward, said it will deliver a clear video feed of content on bigger screens with “enhanced clarity.” The top and bottom of scree


Indie Film Fans Now Have a New Prime Video Channel: Film Movement Plus
Gizmodo / 9h
There’s already a niche streaming service for nearly every appetite , but indie film fans searching beyond the mainstream now have yet another new resource : Film Movement Plus, which launched on December 15 as an add-on subscription channel for Prime Video customers. Read more...


Don't worry: These 10 deals will arrive before Dec. 25
Mashable / 9h
With Christmas only a week away, those of us who haven't finished our holiday shopping are feeling the pressure to get it done. Luckily, plenty of great gift deals are running on Amazon that promise to make it in time for Dec. 25. Who says last-minute shoppers can't score amazing finds, too? Here are some of the best gift deals on Amazon that will arrive before Dec. 25: A portable outdoor speaker


moodboardmix:Zikawei Library, Shanghai, China, Before it became...
Music, Arts & Literature / 9h
moodboardmix : Zikawei Library, Shanghai, China, Before it became the Zikawei Library, the building was designed as a bookstore by David Chipperfield Architects. Unfortunately, just after the facade and the structure of the building were completed, the building was left vacant. After two investments of the bookstore had bowed out, this building was eventually designated to be the public library i


Armored Core 6 is adding ranked PvP and new maps tomorrow
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Surprise! Out of nowhere, FromSoftware has announced that a brand new update is being rolled out for Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon tomorrow (December 19), which will add ranked player vs player (PvP) matchmaking to the game alongside some brand new maps to duke it out in. In a new trailer posted to YouTube earlier today, it was revealed that players will be able to climb a ranked leaderboard t


Apple Will Stop Selling the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2
How-To Geek / 10h
An ongoing patent dispute will prevent Apple from selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 after December 21st. This is a temporary action, and it is limited to the United States.


Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Disney Premier Visa: Flexible rewards or Disney-specific perks
The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. If you’re planning a vacation in Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort , you might want a credit card that offers flexible points you can use to book the trip. Alternatively, you might want one that offers great in-park rewards. Rewards credit cards such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and


Flipboard is moving to the fediverse
24Engadget / 10h
Flipboard is the latest mainstream app to officially join the fediverse, the collection of decentralized services that run on the ActivityPub protocol. The news reading app, which has been experimenting with Mastodon for nearly a year, now plans to become fully interoperable with Mastodon and the rest of the fediverse. The news reading app is starting with the accounts of about two dozen publishe


Amazon's Warhammer 40,000 Deal Is Now Really, Really Real
100+Gizmodo / 10h
In the grim dark future of the 41st millennium , there is only... contract negotiations? A year ago Games Workshop announced that it was working with Amazon Studios to bring the universe of its legendary sci-fi miniatures game Warhammer 40,000 to film and TV. Today it did so again, but now it’s even officialler. Read more...


Details: Finnair Plus Adopting Avios As Rewards Currency
500+One Mile at a Time / 10h
Update : This post has been updated with several new developments. The new program now starts in March 2024 (rather than January), and Avios award redemption rates have also been published, and there’s both some good and bad news there. In August 2023, major changes were announced to the Finnair Plus program. Finnair is continuing to reveal more details about what exactly we can expect with the n


What Are Dual-Screen Laptops (And Are They Worth It?)
How-To Geek / 10h
Just about everyone agrees that a dual-screen (or ultrawide ) desktop monitor setup can improve productivity, but what about laptops that promise to pack the power of dual screens into the body of a normal unassuming laptop body?


These Are the Financial Milestones You Should Actually Hit by Age 30
LifeHacker / 10h
By the time you hit 30 years old, you’re probably feeling some societal pressure to have reached certain financial goals. Save a year’s salary. Be debt-free. Have an excellent credit score. While financial planning at any age is a good idea, pegging certain money benchmarks to turning 30 is completely arbitrary. Let's take a look at why you shouldn't hold yourself to age-based money goals, and wh


Why extortion is the new ransomware threat
26TechCrunch / 10h
Cybercriminals are becoming more aggressive in their effort to maximize disruption and compel the payment of ransom demands, and now there’s a new extortion tactic in play. In early November, the notorious ALPHV ransomware gang, also known as BlackCat, attempted a first-of-its-kind extortion tactic: weaponizing the U.S. government’s new data breach disclosure rules against one […] © 2023 TechCrun


Apple settlement: How to know if you are eligible for part of the $25M payout
Mashable / 10h
You may be entitled to around $30 and not even know it if you've used Apple 's Family Sharing plan. The program, which entitles users to bundle app subscriptions together so multiple members of one family can all share them, is at the center of a class-action lawsuit settlement, as reported by MacRumors . If you used Family Sharing between June 21, 2015 and Jan. 30, 2019 and purchased a subscript


Elon Musk's X will be investigated by EU for potentially breaking disinformation law
40Mashable / 10h
It's official: Elon Musk's X , formerly Twitter, will be investigated by the EU Commission for allegedly violating laws concerning illegal content, advertising, and disinformation on big tech platforms. The EU announced it was opening "formal proceedings" on Monday "to assess whether X may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) in areas linked to risk management, content moderation, dark pa


The Long Way to Abu Dhabi
500+One Mile at a Time / 10h
[no content]


This new Windows 11 update is breaking business Wi-Fi networks - here's how to fix
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
The latest security update for Windows 11 appears to have been breaking business Wi-Fi networks, causing major headaches for IT admins globally. Windows Latest claims that several readers, working across universities and SMBs, have been experiencing slow Wi-Fi speeds or even total disconnection since updating to Windows 11 KB5033375. It gets worse, because many have suggested that the problem occ


The E.U. Is Investigating Elon Musk’s Platform X
38NYT > Technology / 10h
The inquiry is perhaps the most substantial regulatory move to date against X, which has seen a rise in incendiary content on the platform, according to researchers.


TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 agenda first look: Engine Accelerator, Y Combinator, Glasswing Ventures and more will join us in Boston
TechCrunch / 10h
TechCrunch Early Stage returns to Boston on April 25, 2024, and the agenda for our flagship founder event is shaping up. We’re excited to share this sneak peek at some of the fantastic speakers and sessions we have on tap. For builders who are just starting on their founder journey, TechCrunch Early Stage is absolutely […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


The Four Types of AirPods (and How Much They Cost)
LifeHacker / 10h
Apple AirPods is the most ubiquitous name in wireless audio—but not all AirPods are created equal. Apple currently sells four models of AirPods, which is actually the company's overarching brand name for all of its wireless headphones and earbuds. Which means it can get confusing: If someone in your life asks for "AirPods" as a gift, which should you buy? Three of the four models are in-ear wirel


You Can Now Use Microsoft Office on Your Meta Quest Headset for Some Reason
LifeHacker / 10h
When it comes to VR devices like the Meta Quest headsets, the biggest draw by far is gaming. But did you know you can also use your headset to get some work done? Thanks to the recent launch of certain Microsoft Office apps for Meta Quest headsets, you can now work on a Word doc, crunch some numbers in an Excel spreadsheet, or put together a presentation in PowerPoint, all in VR. These Office VR


NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 18
Mashable / 10h
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


NordVPN comes to the Apple TV
23Engadget / 10h
Apple’s recently-released tvOS 17 update allows for native VPN apps and big-name providers are wasting no time. ExpressVPN dropped an app a couple of weeks ago and now the same is true of one of its primary competitors. NordVPN now has an official Apple TV app available for download. This is the real deal and works with your current NordVPN subscription, if you have one. The setup is simple. Just


Elon Musk's X Under Investigation for Spreading ‘Illegal Content’ on Israel and Hamas in EU
26Gizmodo / 10h
The European Union opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s X on Monday examining the platform’s role in spreading ‘illegal content’ around the Israel and Hamas war. X has come under fire recently for antisemitic content on the platform, losing a slew of advertisers in the process. Read more...


Alan Wake and Max Payne voice actor James McCaffrey has died at 65
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
James McCaffrey, the actor arguably best known within the gaming community for voicing Max Payne, and more recently Alex Casey in Alan Wake 2 and its predecessor, has died at the age of 65. A representative for McCaffrey told TMZ - which first reported the news - that the actor was previously diagnosed with a type of cancer, multiple myeloma. He reportedly passed away on Sunday (December 17), and


Digital landline switch paused for vulnerable people
33BBC News - Technology / 11h
UK phone providers such as BT and Virgin hold off making users upgrade after "serious incidents".


How to Track Your Mood with Apple Health
How-To Geek / 11h
Apple's Health app lets you log your emotions and moods and informs you about factors affecting your mental wellbeing. Here's how the mood logging feature works on your Apple devices and how to enable it.


Fears over citizens' privacy as Iran reveals new mandatory antivirus mobile app
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Iranian authorities revealed a new mobile antivirus software which they plan to make it mandatory on all phones, for all citizens. Named Farez, it's a security scanner system that promises to check all the apps on a device for any sign of malware to block those categorized as malicious. The Iranian Cyber Police, also known as FATA, haven't disclosed any details on how the system will work in prac


What are the best hotel rewards programs in the world?
200+The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. When searching for a hotel, what matters most to you? Price? Location? Amenities? Here’s a valuable tip: If you’re not booking through hotel loyalty programs , you’re missing out on great deals and leaving money on the table. These programs offer free upgrades, luxurious rooms, complimentary breakfast , access


Wheel of Time's Madeleine Madden on Egwene's Powerful Journey
20Gizmodo / 11h
Season two of Prime Video’s Wheel of Time had a lot of high-stakes fantasy storylines to explore —but none so moving or haunting as the ordeal of Egwene , played in the Robert Jordan adaptation by Madeleine Madden. io9 got a chance to speak to the actor about her character’s harrowing, powerful journey. Read more...


VC Office Hours: Unlocking LPs in a bear market
TechCrunch / 11h
Gale Wilkinson just closed a $23.4 million fund after two years of raising. She shares her advice for unlocking LPs. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Flipboard becomes a federated app with support for ActivityPub
TechCrunch / 11h
Instagram Threads isn’t the only app joining the decentralized social web, which includes Twitter/X rival Mastodon and other apps, with its newly added support for the networking protocol ActivityPub. Today, the social magazine app Flipboard is announcing it has also now integrated with ActityPub. In its initial phase, select Flipboard accounts will be discoverable and […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All


In Startling Reversal, Elon Musk Defends Use of Fossil Fuels
53Futurism / 11h
Snake Oil While pandering to an audience of far right-wing politicians in Italy, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a startling claim: that oil and gas get a bad rap. The CEO, who has made it his mission to wean the planet off coal and gas by selling electric cars and solar infrastructure, said that our worries over an impending climate crisis are unfounded, as Reuters reports . "Climate change alarm is ex


The Soaring Highs and Stark Lows of Spaceflight in 2023
Gizmodo / 11h
It’s time to look back at spaceflight in 2023, a real “two steps forward, one step back” kind of year, filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. Read more...


Bad news - infamous Qbot malware appears to have returned once again
5 TTPs•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
The dreaded QakBot malware is back once again, being distributed among victims in the hospitality industry, experts have warned. A new Microsoft report claims threat actors are sending out phishing emails and impersonating IRS employees using QakBot. In the emails, they’re delivering a PDF file claiming to be a guest list - but the document states that it cannot be viewed in the email client’s pr


How to Fix a Buzzing Light Fixture
LifeHacker / 11h
While buzzing coming from a light bulb isn’t usually dangerous, it certainly is annoying. There are a few reasons a light can make that irritating buzzing sound—and there are a few things you can try to fix it. Tighten the bulb The most common reason for a light to make a buzzing sound is if the bulb is loose. This can happen with any type of light bulb, but is most commonly associated with fluor


How to Clean Your Smart Watch Without Ruining It
LifeHacker / 11h
Two weeks ago, I got a new Apple Watch to replace my old one, which has spent the last year or so of its life in my junk drawer, save for a few days it spent in the no-man’s-land of my bedside table. The old one, it goes without saying, has become very dirty. I got the new one after coming to the conclusion, for the 137th time in my life, that it’s time to “get it together” and start taking my he


Wireless Power Network Could Maintain Drone Air Dominance for Years
Next Big Future / 11h
Currently, drones run out of power after days, hour or minutes. If there was wireless power beaming then electrically powered drones could stay flying over a battlefield indefinitely. Years of flight could become possible. Swarms of drones would be have the power to stay over entire states or countries indefinitely. The multi-year electrical drones could ... Read more


US lawmakers call for DOJ to investigate Apple for blocking Beeper’s iMessage app
30TechCrunch / 11h
Apple’s move to cut off Beeper, the app that brought iMessage to Android users, already caught the attention of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who called out the tech giant for anticompetitive behavior. Now, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Apple’s “potential anticompetitive treatment of the Beeper […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reser


Adobe gives up on $20 billion acquisition of Figma
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Bloomberg via Getty ) Adobe has abandoned its proposed $20 billion acquisition of product design software company Figma, as there was “no clear path to receive necessary regulatory approvals” from UK and EU watchdogs. The deal had faced probes from both the UK and EU competition regulators for fears it would have an impact on the product design, image editing, and illustration ma


2023 was the year the economics of tech caught up with reality
Engadget / 11h
As a precocious teen looking to improve my college application, I sat in on a business studies class. I figured taking two extra A-Levels at night school alongside those I took during the day would make me irresistible to admissions tutors. The class I watched examined if it was worth a large factory keeping its own trucks and drivers in-house rather than outsourcing them. The data showed selling


A quick guide to ethical and responsible AI governance
TechCrunch / 11h
As AI systems assume decision-making roles traditionally performed by humans, questions about bias, fairness, accountability, and potential societal impacts loom large. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Should you worry about another airline meltdown this year? Here’s what to know about holiday travel
The Points Guy / 11h
With holiday travel coming up, travelers may be thinking back to last year, when a spate of severe winter storms grounded flights across the country just around Christmas, and an operational meltdown at Southwest Airlines dragged on for nearly a week after. Given last year’s mess, many are likely wondering whether their travel plans could go off the rails again this year, whether because of a fre


Developing climate solutions with green software
MIT Technology Review / 11h
After years of committing to sustainable practices in his personal life from recycling to using cloth-based diapers, Asim Hussain, currently the director of green software and ecosystems at Intel, began to ask questions about the practices in his work: software development. Developers often asked if their software was secure enough, fast enough, or cost-effective enough but, Hussain says, they ra


Microsoft 365 Copilot will expose who’s ready for AI
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Many executives and IT strategists would agree we’re in a bit of an “AI standoff.” Organizations need to harness generative AI to remain competitive, but the last year has proven that while it’s easy to embrace new technology, it’s quite difficult to maximize its full potential. The same statement holds true for Microsoft Copilot, the latest take on generative AI that spans and integrates with ma


Google Workspace admin accounts will now require two-step verification to access
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Google has announced it will be enforcing two-step verification (2SV) for admin accounts across Google Workspace. For some users, the requirement is already being enforced, with others to follow. Super admins will be notified 30 days in advance via email and app notifications. Failing to setup 2SV within 30 days will result in users being locked out of their accounts and will need to follow the r


Mr. Cooper hackers stole personal data on 14 million customers
51TechCrunch / 11h
Hackers stole the sensitive personal information of more than 14.6 million Mr. Cooper customers, the mortgage and loan giant has confirmed. In a filing with Maine’s attorney general’s office, Mr. Cooper said the hackers stole customer names, addresses, dates of birth and phone numbers, as well as customer Social Security numbers and bank account numbers. […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved


Bipartisan Lawmakers Want to Know Why the Hell Apple Is Blocking Beeper Mini
Gizmodo / 11h
Apple’s recent move to block Beeper Mini, the app that lets Android users chat with iPhone through the iMessage protocol , has caught the eye and a fair bit of ire of several U.S. congresspeople. Now lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the tech giant over “potential anticompetitive treatment” of the smaller… Read more...


Microsoft warns us all to be wary of this devious gift card scam this holiday season
4 TTPs•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Retail organizations everywhere are being increasingly targeted with phishing attacks as hackers look to commit gift card fraud this holiday season, experts have warned. A new Microsoft thread posted on X outlines what the company calls a “significant surge” in activity from a threat actor it tracks as Storm-0539. The hackers would first create a malicious landing page and try to get retailers to


Sony patent hints at PlayStation feature that would adjust game difficulty depending on how well you play
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Do you ever wish that you weren’t confined to strict, specific difficulty levels in the games you play? Sony Interactive Entertainment has clearly been having a think about this, as the company has filed a patent for a feature that would be able to alter the difficulty of games depending on the skill of those playing (via Eurogamer ). The patent, which was published earlier this month and shared


Updates From Doctor Who and the Future of Avatar
Gizmodo / 12h
Twisters screenwriter Mark L. Smith discusses the sequel. A new Percy Jackson clip introduces Grover. Hiding In Time is coming to Amazon. Plus, what’s coming on For All Mankind. Spoilers, away! Read more...


Data dilemmas at the heart of GenAI
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
With its promise of delivering competitive advantage to organizations worldwide, generative AI (GenAI) is the topic on every business leader’s lips. What does it mean for their organization? What are the plans for its use? And how quickly can they be enacted? To date, much of data -specific conversation that has accompanied the exponential rise of this technology has been focused on the logistics


Are there any all-inclusive resorts in San Juan, Puerto Rico?
42The Points Guy / 12h
Unlike other Caribbean destinations, Puerto Rico does not currently have traditional all-inclusive resorts , where unlimited food, beverages and activities are included in one set price. However, several resorts in and around San Juan can provide an “all-inclusive” experience thanks to multiple on-site restaurants, bars and activities. In some cases, guests can purchase optional food and beverage


Redeem Miles For EVA Air Business Class: Here’s The Trick
1KOne Mile at a Time / 12h
At the moment, saver level award availability across the Pacific is more limited than ever before, with one exception. Specifically, EVA Air has good business class award availability, but only if you book through the carrier’s own Infinity MileageLands program. The good news is that these miles are potentially easy to come by. The bad news is that the process of booking through Infinity MileageL


Southwest’s $140 Million Penalty: The Scary Truth No One Should Be Happy About
View from the Wing / 12h
The Department of Transportation has settled with Southwest Airlines over its meltdown last Christmas, with the airline agreeing to a $140 million penalty (but not really). It took DOT a year to deal with this. Customers who were inconvenienced in the mess do not get anything from this. And Southwest Airlines doesn't deserve it in any case. Continue reading ...


In the Age of AI, 'Her' Is a Fairy Tale


100+Wired / 12h
Spike Jonze’s Her turns 10 today. The futuristic film is now an optimistic time capsule.


The 5 Best Streaming Services for Live Sports
How-To Geek / 12h
If you want to catch every game for all your favorite teams, you'll need to find the right streaming service. Here's a look at the best streaming services for live sports, including platforms for football, baseball, soccer, and wrestling.


Apple Watch Series 9 sales to be halted over patent dispute
33TechCrunch / 12h
Apple will be halting sales of its Series 9 smartwatch, TechCrunch has confirmed. The news, shared by 9to5Mac, follows an October ruling by the International Trade Commission (ITC), owing to a patent dispute with California-based med tech firm, Masimo. The dispute stems from the blood sensor monitor on the latest flagship smart Watch. The move […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For perso


heaveninawildflower: Botanical illustrations taken...
Music, Arts & Literature / 12h
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BD_n021_w1150_(37971105701).jpg heaveninawildflower : Botanical illustrations taken from ‘Plantæ Utiliores - Illustrations of Useful Plants’ by M.A.Burnett. Published 1842-1850 by Whittaker & Co. Wikimedia. Biodiversity Heritage Library This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.


All you need for the holidays is a 'Fast and Furious' yule BBQ
Mashable / 12h
It's that time of the year, when those of us without fireplaces (most of us) can opt for a streamed yule log instead. There's an avalanche of themed yule logs online from Netflix's Witcher -themed fireplace to Nick Offerman's classy fireside sit . But perhaps you're looking for something a little closer to family, and all yule roads lead to this. Enter the Fast and Furious saga, which has dropped


Daniel Kaluuya's 'The Kitchen' trailer explores inequality in dystopian London
Mashable / 12h
Academy Award-winning Judas and the Black Messiah , Nope , and Get Out actor Daniel Kaluuya makes his directorial debut with The Kitchen , alongside co-director Kibwe Tavares. The film, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in October, will soon come to Netflix — and the trailer promises an unforgettable ride. Starring T op Boy actor Kane Robinson and newcomer Jedaiah Bannerman, the sci


An Interview with Cities: Skylines 2 developer’s CEO, Mariina Hallikainen
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Colossal Order CEO Mariina Hallikainen, from the company's "Winter Recap" video. (credit: Colossal Order/Paradox Interactive/YouTube) It's not often you see the CEO of a developer suggest their game is "cursed" in an official, professionally produced video, let alone a video released to celebrate that game. But Colossal Order is not a typical developer. And Cities: Skylines 2 has not ha


Daniel Kaluuya's The Kitchen blends Top Boy with early age Blade Runner in unnerving first Netflix trailer
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
The first trailer for The Kitchen has landed online, and it looks like an unsettling Top Boy meets Blade Runner -esque Netflix movie with plenty to say thematically. Co-written by Daniel Kaluuya ( Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse , Nope ), Rob Hayes, and Joe Murtagh, one of Netflix's early 2024 film offerings paints a creative but believably chilling picture of a near-future dystopian London w


Delta ditching plastic in favor of paper cups
400+The Points Guy / 12h
How would you feel about drinking your inflight soft drinks — or cocktails — out of a paper cup? That’s what the future holds for Delta Air Lines passengers. This month, the Atlanta-based carrier announced it’s beginning final testing on a new paper cup that would replace all of the plastic cups currently used on board its planes. Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly A


Apple is about to stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 – here are all the details
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Apple has announced in a statement that the company will stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the US from Apple’s website in after 3pm ET on December 21, 2023. You will still be able to buy them in-store until December 24, but then physical sales will end too. Outside of the US, both models will still be available to purchase. Yes – Apple will completely halt sales of


Here’s everything you should do to up your security before next year
Engadget / 12h
Be honest: How many times this year have you skipped or scrolled past a much-needed update? Maybe you just wanted to log into Twitter, er, X without setting up multifactor authentication . Putting off these minor inconveniences adds up, and it could lead to an insecure tech setup just waiting to be exploited by an attacker. So, now you're probably spending a few days sleeping in your childhood be


Adobe Officially Cancels $20 Billion Figma Acquisition
200+Gizmodo / 12h
Adobe and Figma mutually agreed to end their acquisition plans on Monday after European regulators found the deal would hurt competition in the digital design space. The $20 billion acquisition would have combined the world’s leading product design software, Figma, and the world’s largest and most recognized supplier… Read more...


Apple will pause Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales in the US due to a patent dispute
79Engadget / 12h
If you're planning to buy an Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 , you may want to act quickly. Apple says it will soon suspend sales of both devices in the US due to a patent dispute over the blood oxygen sensor on the