Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Technology News and More-Wednesday Edition...

Technology News and More...



Marvel's Eyes of Wakanda is a Black Panther Disney Plus spin-off rumored to launch in 2024
1KTechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 21h
Marvel has unexpectedly revealed a Black Panther animated spin-off that's rumored to make its Disney Plus debut in 2024. Initially announced during a special screening of What If...? season 2 and later confirmed in a Disney press release, Marvel revealed that Eyes of Wakanda would join the studio's animation back catalog in the not-too-distant future. Marvel declined to provide many more details


E3 is officially dead
1KEngadget / 16h
The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3 , is officially dead. "After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories," the Entertainment Software Association, E3's organizer, wrote on X . The industry trade group wrote closed out the statement with "GGWP" or "good game, well played." E3's troubles have been well d


Mapping the micro and macro of biology with spatial omics and AI
300+MIT Technology Review / 16h
37 trillion. That is the number or cells that form a human being. How they all work together to sustain life is possibly the biggest unsolved puzzle in biology. A group of up-and-coming technologies for spatially resolved multi omics, here collectively called “spatial omics,” may provide researchers with the solution. Over the last 20 years, the omics revolution has enabled us to understand cell


South African e-commerce startup TUNL gets funding to accelerate growth of its exports platform
TechCrunch / 15min
TUNL, a South African parcel shipping platform, has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding from investors, including Founders Factory Africa, Digital Africa Ventures, E4E Africa, and Jozi Angels. The platform, which claims to help e-commerce merchants save between 50% and 80% on international shipping costs, said the funding will fuel its expansion in its primary […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights


Hyperplane wants to bring AI to banks
TechCrunch / 22min
Hyperplane, a San Francisco-based startup that is building foundation models to help banks predict customer behavior, is coming out of stealth today by announcing a $6 million funding round led by former Stripe exec Lachy Groom, who was joined by SV Angel, Clocktower Technology Ventures, Liquid2 Ventures, Soma Capital, Latitud, Atman Capital, Crestone VC and […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights rese


Metafuels lands $8 million bet on greener skies ahead
TechCrunch / 1h
Metafuels sets out to change the landscape of sustainable jet fuel, and has just picked up an $8 million suitcase from baggage carousel 3 at its local ZRH. Ahh, Zurich. The company is making the sky green — literally — with its new fuel, which it calls aerobrew. Sure, it sounds a little like a […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Procurement software startup Pivot raises $21.6 million just a few months after its creation
TechCrunch / 1h
French startup Pivot is an interesting startup story as it is scaling at a rapid pace even though startup investments are down in Europe. After raising a $5.3 million pre-seed round in April (€5 million), the company worked on the first iteration of its procurement tool over the summer. In September, Pivot started selling its […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Meta aims to brings its fact-checking program to Threads next year
TechCrunch / 1h
With two large-scale elections in the U.S. in India next year, Threads aims to introduce a fact-checking checking program to the social network. Instagram head Adam Mosseri said that the social platform currently matches ratings from Facebook or Instagram to similar content. But next year fact-checkers will have tools to review posts. “We currently match […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved


Snapchat+ subscribers can now use AI to generate or extend images within the app
Engadget / 2h
Generative AI is nothing new for Snapchat users, with the app's "My AI" suite offering the likes of a free ChatGPT-powered chatbot , as well as the freemium AI-generated "Dreams" selfie effects, Bitmoji backgrounds and more. In the latest update , Snapchat+ subscribers can now leverage AI to extend images — or "zoom out" — at the click of a button, thus making the social media app even more pract


How to watch Dortmund vs. PSG online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Watch Dortmund vs. PSG for free on ServusTV . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . PSG need a positive result in their final Champions League group game, or they risk missing out on the knockout rounds of the competition. That would be unacceptable for the star-studded side, and might just push Kylian MbappƩ out of the door. But a confident win a


A lifetime subscription to this premium flight deal finder is on sale for 94% off
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Dollar Flight Club is on sale for £79.46, saving you 94% on list price. Maybe the first leg of your holiday doesn’t have to feel like you’re recovering from the stress of finding tickets, grabbing them before someone else does, and seeing what’s left of your budget after. Instead, you can let a robot find cheap flights for you. Dollar Flight Club is a service tha


Beeper Mini is back after Apple shutdown, but had to sacrifice its main appeal
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
The saga of Beeper Mini continues as the developer behind it relaunched the app, although it comes at the cost of one of its main features. To give you a crash course of recent events, Beeper Mini is an Android app that gives users the ability to send and receive texts using the iMessage protocol. Apple eventually found out about it then proceeded to block the service , claiming it posed “signifi


Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Wednesday, December 13, 2023
LifeHacker / 3h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for December 13, 2023, read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle took me four guesses; I’d say it’s medium difficulty. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 13, Wordle #907! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle Wordle lives here on


Startup studio Hexa wants to partner with startups growing too slowly
21TechCrunch / 3h
Just a couple of weeks after announcing $22 million in fundraising, Paris-based startup studio Hexa is expanding beyond its studio model to partner with later stage companies that have already found product-market fit. Called Hexa Scale, with this program, the startup studio is looking for B2B companies that already generate some significant recurring revenue (ideally […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All r


DistroKid launches its Android app following iOS launch
TechCrunch / 3h
Independent music distribution service DistroKid launched its Android app today months after the company launched the iOS app. The Android app has similar capabilities to its iOS counterpart, which has been downloaded over half a million times. Artists can upload their tracks directly from their phones, get alerts for payments, look at analysis from services […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights rese


Xbox 2023 year-in-review recap stacks you up against other players
Engadget / 3h
Xbox is giving you a detailed look at how much you've gamed and which titles you've truly enjoyed playing this year. Its 2023 recap shows your total time gaming on the system over the past year, the month you'd been most active on the Xbox, your total achievements and your top genres in a pie chart, which could give you an idea whether your taste in games has changed over time. Of course, you'll


British International Investment backs India’s Aye Finance in $37M funding
TechCrunch / 3h
Aye Finance, an Indian startup that offers its digital lending platform to small firms, has raised $37.18 million in a fresh funding round led by British International Investment, as it looks to continue to help micro enterprises grow their businesses and employees expand their incomes. The all-equity Series F round, which does not involve any […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For perso


Teslabot Optimus Gen 2
Next Big Future / 4h
Tesla has introduced Optimus Gen 2. • Tesla designed actuators and sensors • 2-Dof actuated neck • Actuators integrated electronics & harnessing • 30% walk speed boost • Foot force/torque sensing • 22lb (10kg) weight reduction • Better hands, able to handle eggs and other delicate work There’s a new bot in town šŸ¤– Check ... Read more


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 13
Mashable / 4h
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. 13'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


Blue Origin sure seems confident it will launch New Glenn in 2024
Ars Technica - All content / 5h
Enlarge / This picture, taken several months ago, shows different parts for Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket inside the company's manufacturing facility in Florida. (credit: Blue Origin) For the first time, it's starting to feel like Jeff Bezos's space company, Blue Origin, might have a shot at launching its long-delayed New Glenn rocket within the next 12 months. Of course, there's a lot for Blue


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for December 13
Mashable / 5h
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


Today's NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Wednesday, December 13, 2023
LifeHacker / 6h
Today’s puzzle isn’t that TOUGH, if you keep your wits about you! If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Wednesday, December 13, 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. Beware, there are spoilers below for Decem


Netflix: Users spent 812 million hours watching The Night Agent
200+BBC News - Technology / 6h
For the first time, the streaming giant has released global viewing data across almost its entire catalogue.


Two former Department of Energy staffers warn we’re doing carbon removal all wrong
MIT Technology Review / 6h
The carbon removal industry is just starting to take off, but some experts are warning that it’s already headed in the wrong direction. Two former staffers of the US agency responsible for advancing the technology argue that the profit-driven industry’s focus on cleaning up corporate emissions will come at the expense of helping to pull the planet back from dangerous levels of warming. Numerous s


Disney's Truly Wild 100th Anniversary Year
Gizmodo / 6h
The House of Mouse celebrated its centennial in 2023 through monumental film and television releases and Disney Parks experiences, while dealing with real-world repercussions during historic writers and actors’ strikes. And then, of course, there was the whole ongoing skirmish with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Read more...


Meta is going to fact-check content on the Threads app
24Engadget / 7h
Threads is going to make an effort to moderate more of the user-generated content on the platform. Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, posted that it is working on creating a fact-checking program. Mosseri didn’t lay out what such a program would entail, only saying that Threads is going to “match fact-check ratings from Facebook or Instagram to Threads.” Currently, fact-checkers can't rate content


Virgin Media 'fastest wi-fi' advert banned by watchdog
21BBC News - Technology / 7h
Advertising regulator tells firm to withdraw "fastest wi-fi guarantee of any major provider" advert.


MoD fined after email blunder risked Afghan interpreters' lives
29BBC News - Technology / 7h
A mass email revealed details of more than 200 people who the UK was trying to help flee the Taliban.


Guarding your PC: Important cybersecurity precautions for the holiday shopping period
Mashable / 8h
The silly season is finally here! While the holidays are a great time to catch up with family and friends, relax, and enjoy the beautiful weather. Unfortunately this time of year is also when cyber criminals get up to the most mischief, so you better make sure you’re not being silly with your cybersecurity. The holiday season contains some of the biggest shopping dates of the year. Black Friday S


How Much You Need to Read for Kindle Unlimited to be Worth the Cost
23LifeHacker / 8h
With the advent of BookTok and the continued rise of Amazon's Kindle e-readers, a subscription service like Kindle Unlimited might seem like a home run. After all, it gives you unlimited access to over 4 million digital titles for just a small monthly price. But is it really worth it? How much does Kindle Unlimited cost? Kindle Unlimited is available for a monthly subscription of $11.99 USD. Howe


Quordle today - hints and answers for Wednesday, December 13 (game #688)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
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


The X-Men's Return to Lego Marvel Comes at a High Price
Gizmodo / 8h
Although the X-Men have been returning to the world of Lego in fits and starts recently—a few characters in the Marvel minifigures line here, a giant Wolverine fist there—2014 was the last time Marvel’s mutants actually got to star in a more traditional Lego set. That’s now changing... but it’s not an entirely joyous… Read more...


Goerge Hotz Asks Mistral 7B to Make Q* Algorithm in Python and Runs It
Next Big Future / 8h
Computer coding genius George Hotz asks the Mistral 7B model to make the Q* algorithm in python and run it. This is near AGI level actions. He added in a human in the loop safety feature. It worthwhile to watch how George Hotz prompts the LLM.


American Airlines New Partnership With Philippine Airlines Starts Thursday
36View from the Wing / 8h
At the start of the pandemic, American Airlines filed for codeshares with Philippine Airlines amidst fairly outlandish rumors they'd fly to Manila. That codeshare is now a reality. Continue reading ...


Google Maps Just Made it Easier to Hide Your Life
Gizmodo / 8h
If you give me access to your location, I am the person who will check on you constantly and bring it up the next time I see you. “So,” I’ll start casually, “what were you doing in the city last week?” Then you’ll ask me how I knew you were down there. I’ll remind you that you gave me access one summer long ago and… Read more...


These Cute Christmas Candies Are Easy Enough to Make at Home
LifeHacker / 8h
December is the time for “giving,” and all that stuff, but more importantly, it’s the only time of year you’re fully entitled to enjoy sweets with delirious abandon. Cookies, pies, cakes, cheesecakes, eggnog, cider, fudge, and chocolates of all varieties are all on the menu during the holidays. One of the cutest chocolate confections to cross my path is the nonpareil. A chocolate bite, bespeckled


Even Snapchat Has an AI Image Generator Now
LifeHacker / 8h
Snapchat's first foray into AI wasn't exactly a success . It started with "My AI," an AI chatbot that lives at the top of your Snapchat chats, back in April, and people weren't happy. For one, you couldn't get rid of it, so you had to deal with the chatbot in your app whether you were interested in it or not. Plus, there was a concern that the bot was lying about having access to your location. T


The Best Gifts for Neat Freaks, According to TikTok
LifeHacker / 8h
It might seem contrary to gift-giving norms to present someone with tools meant for housework, but there are simply some neat freaks out there who love cleaning and would be thrilled to get a vacuum or something. Whether or not you understand them, you can get them what they want this year. TikTok is full of recommendations for awesome cleaning supplies, so let’s look at some of the trending tool


FCC issues final denial of $885M Starlink subsidy
TechCrunch / 8h
The FCC has made a final denial of Starlink’s application for $885 million in public funds to expand its orbital communications infrastructure to cover parts of rural America, saying the company “failed to demonstrate that it could deliver the promised service.” As previously reported, the money in question was part of the Rural Digital Opportunity […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For


E3 memory lane: Ars’ favorite moments from the show’s over-the-top past
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / This photo is exactly what it was like to be on the E3 show floor. Exactly. (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Today's news that the Electronic Entertainment Expo is officially, totally, and completely dead was a bit bittersweet for your humble Ars Technica Senior Gaming Editor. Don't get me wrong, I'll miss the chance to meet industry luminaries, connect with far-flung associates,


Every homeopathic eye drop should be pulled off the market, FDA says
100+Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty | UniversalImagesGroup ) This year has been marked by many terrifying things, but perhaps the most surprising of the 2023 horrors was … eye drops. The seemingly innocuous teeny squeeze bottle made for alarming headlines numerous times during our current revolution around the sun, with lengthy lists of recalls , startling factory inspections , and ghastly reports of people d


X Is Profitable or Nearly Profitable
Next Big Future / 9h
X (aka Twitter) is making $600 million per quarter in ad revenue and this is 70% of total revenue. This is $3.4 billion annually. Elon Musk had said expenses were about $2 billion per year and another $1 billion per year for debt servicing. This was after cutting excess staff and other expenses. The total ... Read more


United Airlines Won’t Say Whether Pilot Who Celebrated Terrorism Is Back In The Cockpit
View from the Wing / 9h
United was willing to assure customers that the man wasn't flying planes three weeks ago. And they do not appear willing to make any such assurance today. Continue reading ...


Kylo Ren Wasn't Originally Supposed to Become Ben Solo Again
Gizmodo / 9h
As if the movies themselves didn’t make it more than obvious, fans have long come to understand that the Star Wars sequel trilogy changed drastically throughout development. Multiple writers and directors worked on The Force Awakens as well as The Rise of Skywalker , sometimes with radically different results , while The… Read more...


Head to Hawaii this winter with discounted flights from multiple airlines
The Points Guy / 9h
What better way to celebrate the new year than with a trip to beautiful Hawaii ? Luckily, multiple airlines are offering discounted flights to the islands during January and February 2024. There are flight options from Texas and some West Coast hot spots, as well as some from Boston and Washington, D.C. Deal basics Airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian and United Routes: Austin, Boston, Dal


Feds want anti-drunk-driving tech in cars — here’s what stands in the way
TechCrunch / 9h
The in-car tech used by the likes of Ford and GM to make sure drivers pay attention to the road has come a long way. But it’s just not ready to help prevent or mitigate the damage done by drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That assessment is threaded throughout a […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


The Death of E3 Signals the End of Gaming’s Most Extravagant Era
61Wired / 9h
Now that any video game company can go online to hype up its big new releases, no one needs big events anymore.


The future of Arrakis is at stake in latest trailer for Dune: Part Two
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Dune: Part Two is the next chapter in director Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert’s celebrated novel. We didn't get to see Dune: Part Two —the second film in director Denis Villeneuve's stunning adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic—last month as originally planned since the film's November release was delayed until next March due to the Hollywood strikes. But Warner Bros. does


Broadcom ends VMware perpetual license sales, testing customers and partners
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty ) Broadcom has moved forward with plans to transition VMware , a virtualization and cloud computing company, into a subscription-based business. As of December 11, it no longer sells perpetual licenses with VMware products. VMware, whose $61 billion acquisition by Broadcom closed in November, also announced on Monday that it will no longer sell support and subscription (SnS


Netflix Releases Its First 'What We Watched' Report Following Union Win
Gizmodo / 10h
The era of streaming services being reticent to share viewership information appears to be ending, as Netflix , one of the biggest in the biz , is now touting the arrival of its twice-yearly “What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report.” Read more...


What is a round-trip flight?
35The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. It’s one of the first decisions we make when booking a flight: Should I book a round-trip or a one-way flight? It’s typically something you’ll think about before you ever click “search” to find flights and airfare. At face value, it seems like a pretty straightforward choice. Book a one-way flight if you’re only flyi


These Robot Vacuums Are Over 50% Off for Christmas
LifeHacker / 10h
Robot vacuums are great, and whoever tells you otherwise doesn’t own one (or just doesn’t have the right one for their situation). Right now, you’re in the position of potentially gifting someone the power of never needing to vacuum up those day-to-day messes ever again. If you're looking for the most basic option on a budget The iHome AutoVac Juno Robot Vacuum is the most basic robot vacuum of t


The Biggest Scams to Avoid This Holiday Season
LifeHacker / 10h
The holiday season is in full swing, and while it might be a time of good cheer, there's also a lot to worry about when it comes to spending your time online. The holiday season is primetime for scammers and bad actors, so it's important to be especially vigilant when you're shopping for gifts, trying to keep up with family, or just browsing social media. Be prepared One of the most important ste


Scientists Warn That the Dubai Climate Conference Is Full of Crap
42Futurism / 10h
For the past two weeks, the world's best and brightest have been meeting in Dubai — under a glittering, color-changing dome built to resemble Islamic geometric art — as the petrostate hosts the United Nations' latest climate change conference. And experts are calling bull. In interviews with The Guardian , climate scientists and advocates said the " solutions " offered at the COP28 conference, wh


SBF’s Lawyer Says He May Be the “Worst Person I’ve Ever Seen Do a Cross Examination”
Futurism / 10h
Worst Behavior Sam Bankman-Fried's attorney is apparently rethinking his career after handling the FTX pariah's defense. In an interview with Bloomberg , Stanford Law School professor and lawyer David Mills said that the youthful crypto con was among the most difficult clients in his decades-long career. "He may be at the very top of the list as the worst person I’ve ever seen do a cross-examinat


Consulting Firm PwC’s Business Class Ban: Environmental Step or PR Stunt?
View from the Wing / 10h
Claiming the basis for decision-making is the environment, rather than to reset employee expectations, is something of a farce. But the 'compelling business purpose' exception hints that the underlying reason is to require employees to offer a business justification, rather than presuming business class as a right. Continue reading ...


British Airways implements no-notice devaluation for American and Alaska award flights
26The Points Guy / 10h
In a major bit of unwelcome news for U.S. travelers, British Airways has increased award prices for many award flights operated by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, as flagged by AwardWallet . And unfortunately, this comes with no notice, as the new award rates are now showing up through British Airways’ search engine. Here’s what you need to know about these changes. British Airways increas


Did Indiana Jones 5 Borrow a Scene From an '80s Animated Movie?
Gizmodo / 10h
Read more...


Tablo Launches a 4-Tuner Version of Its OTA DVR
How-To Geek / 10h
Earlier this year, Tablo stepped up with a 4th Generation OTA DVR box and a revamped streaming app. But if the simple dual-tuner Tablo box isn't enough for you, Tablo is now offering a four-tuner model.


Netflix’s first engagement report reveals its most popular shows and movies
30Engadget / 10h
Netflix has published the first of a new twice-a-year engagement report called “What We Watched.” The first installment, launched Tuesday as a Microsoft Excel file, lists the hours viewed for every title (original and licensed) that has tallied more than 50,000 viewing hours. Although it’s an uneven performance comparison since episodic series will rack up many more hours than standalone films, t


Tierra Whack Doesn’t Want Her Creativity Boxed In
37Wired / 10h
The rap star’s success is fueled by the fact that she’s constantly evolving and challenging the boundaries of what fame can look like.


Marriott Bonvoy & Emirates Skywards Partnership: How It Works
56One Mile at a Time / 10h
Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards have had a relationship for years, known as Your World Rewards. This offers some reciprocal perks, and in this post I wanted to take a closer look at what’s available through this collaboration, since it’s something that many members overlook. The concept of an airline and hotel group working together makes sense, since those who fly a lot are also likely to


Ted Cruz wants to stop the FCC from updating data-breach notification rules
33Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, November 30, 2023. (credit: Getty Images | Bill Clark ) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other Republican senators are fighting a Federal Communications Commission plan to impose new data-breach notification requirements on telecom providers. In a letter sent to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today, the senators


$50 off round-trip JetBlue flights in January and February
26The Points Guy / 10h
To kick off travel in the new year, JetBlue is offering travelers $50 off round-trip flights that cost at least $100. Book by Dec. 13 with the promo code “NEWYEAR” to take advantage of this deal. Keep in mind that the discount can only be applied to flights in January and February 2024. Flights on Fridays and Sundays are excluded. Deal basics JETBLUE.COM Airline : JetBlue Routes : Across the dome


The Gerbua or Yerboa
Music, Arts & Literature / 11h
nobrashfestivity : Brown University Library engravings collection


Bizarre Theory Claims ChatGPT Is Suffering From Seasonal Depression
35Futurism / 11h
The days are getting shorter and temperatures are plummeting. For many, the seasonal depression associated with a long and arduous winter is starting to settle in. Here's the twist: it may not just be humans struggling with the lack of vitamin D. The particularly galaxy-brained among us are speculating, Ars Technica reports , that OpenAI's breakout chatbot ChatGPT may be suffering from the same c


Amazon Caught Selling Bathroom Spy Cam Disguised as Clothes Hook
Futurism / 11h
Evil Eye Here's a nightmare: you're about to take a shower when you discover that the plastic clothes hook on the wall contains a tiny camera recording your every move. That's exactly what happened to a foreign exchange student — a minor at the time — when she was about to bathe inside a West Virginia home, according to the BBC . And though Amazon is now facing a lawsuit over the chilling inciden


True Anomaly raises $100M to scale space security tech
TechCrunch / 11h
True Anomaly has closed $100 million in new funding, a strong signal that the appetite for startups operating at the intersection of space and defense is far from abating. The new round was led by Riot Ventures, with participation from Eclipse, ACME Capital, Menlo Ventures, Narya, 645 Ventures, Rocketship.vc, Champion Hill Ventures and FiveNine Ventures. […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved


Why the end of the year is the perfect time to open a premium credit card
27The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. There are many reasons why the end of the year can be a great time to open a new premium rewards credit card . Some of them offer statement credits that reset with the calendar year, while others are offering limited-time bonuses or promotions on holiday purchases or travel. Additionally, increased spendin


Doctor Who's Big Regeneration Twist Means Everything and Nothing
200+Gizmodo / 11h
In contemporary fandom, canon is king . This is not a jab against an admiration of an ordered continuity and worldbuilding, the necessary aspects of creating a story to be lost in. But what goes beyond it—a yearning for raw, wiki-able data and facts that can be collated and held in amber, where interpretation gives way… Read more...


The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are getting AI-powered visual search features
37Engadget / 11h
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are about to get some powerful upgrades thanks to improvements to the social network’s AI assistant. The company is finally adding support for real-time information to the onboard assistant, and it’s starting to test new “multimodal” capabilities that allow it to answer questions based on your environment. Up to now, Meta AI had a “knowledge cutoff” of December 2022


Google’s Antitrust Loss to Epic Could Preview Its Legal Fate in 2024
NYT > Technology / 11h
A trio of antitrust cases on the docket threaten to reshape Google’s business and sap its profits.


A New Essential Guide to Electronics by Naomi Wu details a different Shenzen
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / The New Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzen is made to be pointed at, rapidly, in a crowded environment. (credit: Machinery Enchantress / Crowd Supply) "Hong Kong has better food, Shanghai has better nightlife. But when it comes to making things—no one can beat Shenzen." Many things about the Hua Qiang market in Shenzen, China, are different than they were in 2016, when Andrew "bu


CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens hand out medical records to cops without warrants
83Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Getty | Jeffrey Greenberg ) All of the big pharmacy chains in the US hand over sensitive medical records to law enforcement without a warrant—and some will do so without even running the requests by a legal professional, according to a congressional investigation. The revelation raises grave medical privacy concerns, particularly in a post- Dobbs era in which many states are work


Everybody’s talking about Mistral, an upstart French challenger to OpenAI
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / An illustration of a robot holding a French flag, figuratively reflecting the rise of AI in France due to Mistral. It's hard to draw a picture of an LLM, so a robot will have to do. (credit: Getty Images ) On Monday, Mistral AI announced a new AI language model called Mixtral 8x7B, a "mixture of experts" (MoE) model with open weights that reportedly truly matches OpenAI's GPT-3.5 in per


Google’s Antitrust Loss to Epic Could Preview Legal Defeats in 2024
NYT > Technology / 11h
A trio of antitrust cases on the docket threaten to reshape Google’s business and sap its profits.


FTC warns QR codes can steal money and install malware
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
When you scan a QR code, how sure are you that you know exactly where it will take you and what it will do? QR codes have become a convenient part of everyday life, and most of us will see at least one every day. But scammers are abusing their convenience by routing you through to malicious websites that can steal your data, process fraudulent transactions, and download malware . Scan here for a


Forget OLED TVs – I review projectors and these 5 holiday deals are serious upgrades
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Screen sizes of the best TVs get bigger every year. If you think I'm exaggerating, it's now possible to buy an OLED TV as large as 97 inches, though a screen that size will run you up to $30,000. Price is a big reason I'm a fan of projectors, which can deliver a 120-inch or larger image at a much lower cost. While TVs get the most attention during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales season, y


There's a Billion-Dollar Industry Between You and FEMA’s Flood Insurance
Gizmodo / 11h
This story was originally published by Grist . Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here . Read more...


You Can Get SimpliSafe's Home Security System for 50% Off Right Now
LifeHacker / 12h
The SimpleSafe wireless home security system is different from most mainstream home security cameras. You can build your security system by buying exactly what you need; you're not forced into paying for a monthly subscription to be able to use the most basic features of your security system; and everything is a simple installation that you can do yourself. Right now, you can get their basic star


Get the Right Fire Extinguisher by Knowing Its Class
LifeHacker / 12h
You know your home needs at least one fire extinguisher, but did you know there are different kinds? I didn’t until two nights ago, but it’s not the kind of thing you want to learn in the moment when you actually need one. Different fire extinguishers actually have different purposes and are designed to fight specific types of fires, so it's important to prepare accordingly. Fire extinguisher lab


iOS 17.3’s Stolen Device Protection will make life harder for iPhone thieves
100+Engadget / 12h
Apple is adding a new iPhone feature called Stolen Device Protection that limits what thieves can do with a stolen phone and passcode. Created following a report earlier this year by the Wall Street Journal ’s Joanna Stern, the opt-in feature is included in the iOS 17.3 beta, now available for developers. It works using a combination of location, biometric scans, and time delays, allowing victims


This year's best TV gets $1,000 slashed off price at Samsung's holiday sale
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
The gorgeous Samsung S90C OLED was crowned TechRadar's best TV of 2023, and it's getting a price cut at Samsung's holiday event. For a limited time, you can get Samsung's 65-inch S90C OLED TV on sale for $1,599 (was $2,599) - that's a whopping $1,000 discount and the lowest price you'll find for the stunning display. Shop Samsung's full holiday event In our Samsung S90C review , we awarded this T


Snapchat+ subscribers can now send custom generative AI images
Mashable / 12h
Snapchat has launched generative AI images for Snapchat+ subscribers, along with a series of other updates. (Snapchat+, which has over 7 million users, costs $3.99 per month.) The new feature invites subscribers to write a short prompt to create an image to share. It also supplies its own prompts, like "a planet made out of cheese" and "a cave with emeralds growing on the walls." SEE ALSO: Snapch


How to find (and use) Apple's new Journal app


Mashable / 12h
Attention Apple users, writers, and the mindfulness curious: Time to update your phone again. With the new launch of iOS 17.2 —which includes updates to Apple Music, Memojis, Apple TV, and even a new interactive moon calendar — users can now finally use their phones to record their personal moments, emotions, and day-to-day activities. That's right. The Journal app is here. SEE ALSO: What it real


BeReal is introducing a 'BTS' feature: Here's how to use it
Mashable / 12h
It's weird to think about, but BeReal has evolved way past its original, simple design since it first launched in 2020. What was the "app of the moment" is now attempting to add as many features as possible to keep its users on board (hi, it's me, I'm one of them). This includes the new Behind the Scenes (BTS) feature, which lets users see the first couple of seconds before a BeReal is posted. BT


Google is shutting down Play Movies & TV, but don't worry, your purchases are safe
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Google will be pulling the plug on the last vestiges of Play Movies & TV, and to help with the transition, it’ll be moving users’ purchased content to other services. The tech giant has been slowly shutting down the platform for the past two years beginning with its removal from various smart TVs . The storefront has since existed on Android TV devices and Google Play undisturbed until recently w


How to set up and use a CRM to run your VC fundraising process
20TechCrunch / 12h
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software isn’t just for managing customer relationships anymore. Here's a detailed guide to setting up your own system for pitching investors. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


These are the busiest days to travel this holiday season
42The Points Guy / 12h
2023 has been a record-setting year for air travel, and there’s no reason to think the end-of-year holidays will be any different. After logging its busiest summer ever at U.S. airport security checkpoints, the Transportation Security Administration saw more passengers on Nov. 26 — the Sunday after Thanksgiving — than on any day in its 22-year history. And the crowds are just getting started. AAA


Amex “Once In A Lifetime” Rule: How Does It Work?
300+One Mile at a Time / 12h
Credit card issuers have all kinds of restrictions when it comes to getting approved for and earning the welcome bonuses on cards. In this post I wanted to talk about one major restriction for earning the welcome offers on Amex cards, which might not be quite as cut-and-dried as it sounds. What is Amex’s “once in a lifetime” rule? When you apply for an American Express card, you’ll generally see


Bezos’ Blue Origin aiming to make long-awaited return to launch next week
TechCrunch / 12h
Blue Origin is aiming to finally conclude a more than 15-month pause in operations of its New Shepard suborbital rocket, with the company announcing today that it will fly an uncrewed mission as early as December 18. The company confirmed the launch on its social media account following a Bloomberg report of an internal email […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Wyatt Russell Would Love to Remake The Last Starfighter
500+Gizmodo / 12h
The Last Starfighter is Hollywood’s white whale. The 1984 film about a young man who is recruited to defend a planet because of his video game skills was decades ahead of its time and , in recent years, has been the frequent subject of speculation and excitement. It seems everyone in Hollywood has attempted to bring… Read more...


Crowdfunding a cleaner power solution for mobile businesses
TechCrunch / 12h
Welcome back to Found. This week we are joined by James Wagoner, the co-founder and CEO of Joule Case, a startup that is creating a cleaner alternative to diesel generators. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


British Airways Devalues Points For Award Travel On American Airlines And Alaska
View from the Wing / 12h
Days after Virgin Atlantic announced that they're increasing the price of awards on their U.S. partner for traveling within the U.S. and across the world - except for travel between the U.S. and Europe - British Airways has gone ahead and imposed its own unannounced devaluation for travel on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Continue reading ...


'The Day Before' devs say refunds are coming after disastrous launch
Mashable / 12h
It's been a wild past couple of days for studio Fntastic after the release of The Day Before . What was once the most wish-listed game on Steam is now one of the worst user-reviewed games on the platform and its developer has closed its doors . Now, according to a report from IGN , a spokesperson with the publisher, Mytona, says the studio will work with Steam to make "refunds available to all" a


Dictionary.com names its Word of the Year. It's probably not what you think it is.
Mashable / 12h
Dictionary.com has announced their Word of the Year for 2023 and, in a move that should surprise few , it is related to the boom in artificial intelligence . The Word of the Year is "hallucinate." At first blush that might not seem AI-related.