Thursday, January 04, 2024

Technology News Thursdays, and More!

Technology News and More...




What’s next for AI in 2024
26MIT Technology Review / 1h
This time last year we did something reckless. In an industry where nothing stands still, we had a go at predicting the future. How did we do? Our four big bets for 2023 were that the next big thing in chatbots would be multimodal (check: the most powerful large language models out there, OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Google DeepMind’s Gemini, work with text, images and audio); that policymakers would draw


The 20 best horror movies on Max that'll give you nightmares
Mashable / 1h
Put on some flip flops, leave your cellphone at home, and wander alone into a dangerous place the town weirdo definitely warned you about, because it's time to get scared! Right now on Max , the horror category is an embarrassment of terrifying riches with top-shelf selections available from every decade of horror history. You've got 2000s tank top horror next to 1980s slashers next to 1950s camp


Microsoft continues to embrace the memes with the new Xbox Series S toaster


TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
The long awaited Xbox Series S toaster is finally here, with a listing for the new appliance inconspicuously appearing on the Walmart website. Rumors of a Xbox themed toaster first began to surface back in March last year , when a Twitter user posted what they claimed were early images showcasing some of the specs and dimensions of the device. After the success of the iconic Xbox Series X mini fr



AI-powered search engine Perplexity AI, now valued at $520M, raises $70M
TechCrunch / now
As search engine incumbents — namely Google — amp up their platforms with gen AI tech, startups are looking to reinvent AI-powered search from the ground up. It might seem like a Sisyphean task, going up against competitors with billions upon billions of users. But this new breed of search upstarts believes it can carve […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Kim Kardashian: Hollywood mobile game to shut down
BBC News - Technology / 10min
The app was a surprising success upon its 2014 release, but the star has announced its time is up.


Windows keyboards get their biggest change for 30 years – a new Copilot AI key
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11min
It's no secret that Microsoft is betting big on artificial intelligence, most recently launching mobile app versions of its Copilot AI bot. Now Microsoft has announced its latest AI innovation: a dedicated Copilot key on Windows 11 keyboards. That's right, you'll soon be able to launch Copilot as easily as you can hit Esc or Backspace. The new key should "empower people to participate in the AI t


CES 2024: I fiddled with the new Dell XPS laptops — here's why they're polarizing
Mashable / 20min
New Dell XPS laptops have dropped ahead of CES 2024. And it's no surprise they're packed with some new AI goodies. After all, as we mentioned before, we're now in the era of AI PCs. These laptops will come in three flavors: 13-inch, 14-inch and 16-inch screen sizes. The last two, by the way, are new to the Dell XPS lineup. They're stunning, yes, but after attending a recent showcase of the new-ge


5+ Apple products that will likely come out in 2024
Mashable / 20min
2024 is here and that means a whole new generation of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more, are on the way from Apple. But 2024 also brings new beginnings for the company. For the first time, Apple will enter a new market in the tech space with its latest product: An AR/VR headset. Here's what Apple has in store for us in 2024. Apple Vision Pro (and potentially a cheaper version too) This is a big one


Microsoft announces AI key on Windows 11 PCs
BBC News - Technology / 22min
The new keyboard will introduce a Copilot key which accesses AI capabilities on Windows 11.


The hidden climate cost of everything around us
MIT Technology Review / 23min
This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review ’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here . The world is building and making things as never before, from roads and hospitals to vehicles and furniture. That’s good news for people who benefit from new goods and infrastructure, but it’s also made industries like manufacturing and construction absol


My Parents’ Dementia Felt Like the End of Joy. Then Came the Robots
Wired / 25min
Forget the crappy caregiver bots and puppy-eyed seals. When my parents got sick, I turned to a new generation of roboticists—and their glowing, talking, blobby creations.


Dell's Is Betting Big on AI With Its New XPS Laptops
Gizmodo / 31min
Remember the Dell XPS Plus 13 released at CES last year that we weren’t the biggest fans of? Dell just released a revamped version of that, called the XPS 13, along with two new XPS size variants, the XPS 14 and the XPS 16. All of these are, you guessed it, AI PCs. Read more...


Yes, Some New Windows Keyboards Are Getting a ‘Copilot Key' to Quick-Access AI
Gizmodo / 31min
Microsoft’s big early 2024 AI push has PC makers dancing along to the siren song of big tech’s new big obsession. Along with the newly-announced XPS lineup of Dell laptops , there’s one small tidbit of information that isn’t nearly as engrossing but could prove to be Microsoft and the largest PC maker’s push to… Read more...


Dell unveils new XPS 13, 14 and 16 laptops ahead of CES 2024
Engadget / 31min
Dell is bringing the bold design of last year's XPS 13 Plus to the rest of the XPS lineup ahead of CES 2024 in Las Vegas — and now that includes new 14-inch and 16-inch models. The "Plus" name is also gone entirely: the new models are simply called the XPS 13, 14 and 16. They all sport the defining featured of the XPS 13 Plus : A seamless glass wrist rest, which hides an invisible haptic touchpad


Kick off the new year with 24 months of Visible Wireless for just $20 per month
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 32min
The prepaid carrier Visible Wireless is wishing all new customers a happy New Year with one of the best Visible deals we've ever seen. For a limited-time-only, you can use the code VISIBLE24 at checkout to get a full two years of service for as little as $20 per month. Eligible with both the basic Visible plan and the premium Visible Plus plan, this is collectively the cheapest we've ever seen th


SpaceX charged with unlawfully firing employees critical of Elon Musk
Mashable / 35min
In June 2022, SpaceX fired several employees who had distributed an open letter condemning the behaviour of its founder and CEO Elon Musk . This Wednesday, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint and notice of hearing charging SpaceX with unfair labour practices and unlawful dismissal. The former SpaceX employees first brought their complaint against the company on Nov. 16, 20


3 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra leaked features that beat iPhone 15 Pro Max
Mashable / 35min
Is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra real yet? No, but who cares? Let's do some comparison shopping anyway. Samsung's theoretically imminent new flagship smartphone is just a couple weeks away (we think), but as usual, the internet has provided a boatload of leaks and rumors about it. We don't exactly know its specs or price, but reliable leakers have at least given us a basic idea of what to expect.


Work on your self-growth in 2024 with Headway Premium, now $60 for life
Mashable / 35min
TL;DR: Through January 7, get this Headway Premium Lifetime Subscription for only $60 — it's usually $300. As the new year approaches, it’s time to sit down and think about areas in your life where there’s room for improvement. But what if you could work towards your self-improvement while waiting in line for a cup of coffee or during your lunch break? Headway Premium is a mobile app that provide


New year, new career — study 12 CompTIA certifications for $65
Mashable / 35min
TL;DR: Through Jan. 7, earn your CompTIA certification with this 15-course training bundle for $64.97. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to change careers, you should consider joining the IT field. With a wealth of opportunities for computer nerds as technicians, ethical hackers as penetration testers, and bossy types as project managers, and more, there’s something for almost everyone — a


Dell's New XPS Laptops Don't Have Physical Trackpads and Function Keys
How-To Geek / 35min
Two years ago, Dell told us that the XPS 13 Plus was a precursor to the "next generation of XPS design." This statement has certainly come to fruition. Dell's new XPS 13, XPS 14, and XPS 15 laptops use a flush "touch area" in place of a traditional trackpad and function row. They also have larger screens than their predecessors and run on Intel Core Ultra processors.


Anker Soundcore Aerofit Pro Review: Comfortable Open-Ear Headphones
How-To Geek / 35min
These Soundcore Aerofit Pro open-ear headphones from Anker leave your ears unplugged for awareness without heavily sacrificing audio quality. So, if you were considering bone-conducting headphones, these are probably a better option that have a similar desired effect. Music will sound better from these, which could provide more motivation during intense workouts.


There’s good and bad news for GPU buyers: big US price hikes have been postponed, but they might still be coming soon
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 39min
Graphics cards, and other PC components for that matter, just dodged a big price hike this month in the US, but planned tariffs on Chinese imports have only been put off until later this year, rather than scrapped entirely. As PC Mag reports, these are tariffs originally brought in some time ago by the Trump administration, and they added a 25% duty on imported graphics cards, motherboards, SSDs


You can now buy the Xbox Series S toaster for $40
Engadget / 42min
Waking up in the mornings is especially hard in these cold, dark winter months. Now there's a fun incentive to do so, thanks to the release of the Xbox Series S Toaster . For $40 you can get it from Walmart and have the Xbox sphere logo toasted onto your bread every day — a dream fulfilled that you never knew you had? The Xbox Series S toaster was first spotted in France back in March 2023, with


Marriott Bonvoy & United MileagePlus Top Tier Promotion
One Mile at a Time / 45min
Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus have a partnership, offering some reciprocal perks and opportunities . The two programs have just announced the details of a new promotion intended specifically for top tier members, and it could prove valuable for eligible members. Marriott & United offer Suite Night Awards & PlusPoints A new promotion has just been launched for Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador m


Apple might be planning a major iPhone selfie camera upgrade
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 47min
Apple’s rear-facing iPhone cameras are some of the best in the business , and nowhere is that more so than on the iPhone 15 Pro Max . Its selfie cameras lag behind in terms of quality, however – but that might change with the iPhone 17, according to a new report. In a blog post on Medium , renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the front-facing lens in the upcoming iPhone will receive a


23andMe blames users for security breach, says they should have been better at passwords
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 54min
Genetic testing company 23andMe is blaming its customers for the data breach it suffered in late 2023. According to TechCrunch , the firm sent a letter to a group of victims, claiming that these users “negligently recycled and failed to update their passwords following past security incidents unrelated to 23andMe." “Therefore, the incident was not a result of 23andMe’s alleged failure to maintain


Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth co-director says Zack will help players 'deepen their understanding' of the game's world
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 54min
With the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth fast approaching, co-director Naoki Hamaguchi has opened up a little on what players can expect from Zack Fair’s inclusion in the game. If you’re unfamiliar with the Final Fantasy 7 games, it’s rather difficult to discuss Zack’s role in the story since it’s deeply intertwined with spoilers left right and center. Without getting too deep into all of thos


'I'll take that': Marvel's Echo director is a big fan of those Breaking Bad and John Wick comparisons
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
Echo 's director has expressed surprise over suggestions it's Marvel's answer to the beloved and multi-award-winning crime show Breaking Bad . Speaking to TechRadar ahead of the show's January 9 launch on Disney Plus and Hulu , Sydney Freeland was taken aback by parallels between Marvel's Echo and some of the most notable crime and assassin-themed movie and TV projects of recent times. Such compa


Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director says Larian is 'in discussion with Microsoft' over reported Xbox bans for recordings of the game's explicit content, calls the bans 'annoying and uncool'
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
Baldur's Gate 3 isn't just known for its thrilling storylines and memorable characters. Larian Studios' award-winning fantasy role-playing game (RPG) includes plenty of steamy romance scenes , too; recordings of which have reportedly gotten Xbox players in hot water, leading to bans for at least one user ( via Dexerto ). Michael Douse, director of publishing at Larian Studios took to Twitter to a


Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown's console performance and PC specs have arrived, and it's looking promising
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
Ubisoft has revealed its official PC specs and console performance for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown , and it's looking pretty good regardless of your platform of choice. By heading to the official news post on Ubisoft's website, you can read up on what kind of performance to expect from your PC setup or console ahead of the game's launch on January 18. Those who want a sneak peek before relea


Learn how to start your own business with this $25 expert instruction
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Through Jan. 7, get this 6-course Build a Passive Income Online Business from Scratch Bundle for only $25 — usually $120. It feels like everyone has a great business idea, but few take the plunge to make it happen. Maybe it’s a shortage of time or know-how holding you back, but the new year may be an opportune time to reach for success with this 6-course learning bundle on starting an onli


Tackle New Year’s fitness goals with this $679 rower and bike duo
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Through Jan. 7, get the Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike/Rower on sale at $678.99 — that's 51% off. Now that we’re a few days into the new year, how are your resolutions holding up? If you were hoping to be more active but you’re already running out of motivational steam, take this as your sign to not give up and, instead, find a workout routine that adapts to your needs. Home e


15 best sci-fi movies on Hulu that you can watch right now
Mashable / 1h
Science fiction can run the gamut from far-flung space adventures to journeys to the bottom of the ocean. The genre can introduce us to awe-inspiring robots, horrific extraterrestrials, or harrowing experiments. Whether the sci-fi ranges from the mostly true to the truly outrageous, there's always fun to be had in this sandbox. But how to pick which to watch? Hulu's got a wide selection of movies


Quantum computing is taking on its biggest challenge: noise
MIT Technology Review / 1h
In the past 20 years, hundreds of companies, including giants like Google, Microsoft, and IBM, have staked a claim in the rush to establish quantum computing. Investors have put in well over $5 billion so far. All this effort has just one purpose: creating the world’s next big thing. Quantum computers use the counterintuitive rules that govern matter at the atomic and subatomic level to process i


The online art catalogue that chronicles a stolen African heritage
MIT Technology Review / 1h
When British forces raided the African kingdom of Benin in the late 19th century, they took with them thousands of sculptures dating back centuries. Sold to private collectors and museums in the Global North, the artifacts, known as the Benin Bronzes, included ceremonial swords, ritualistic statues, and musical instruments that belonged to the Edo people. Their looting had a profound impact on th


New Game Plus is in the works for RoboCop: Rogue City
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
RoboCop: Rogue City is set to receive a New Game Plus mode, as announced on the game's official Twitter page. Unfortunately, no details as to when exactly we can expect this update were shared, but more information is likely to follow in the coming weeks, which may answer some questions. Hopefully, the information we are anticipating to receive in the following weeks also sheds some light on what


A Plague Tale: Innocence is free on the Epic Games Store, but only for a few more hours
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
The action-adventure game A Plague Tale: Innocence is currently on a monster sale right now at the Epic Games Store, with it being completely free to download and play. A Plague Tale: Innocence follows the story of a young girl and her brother who are being hunted by the Inquisition during the Black Death. You must constantly stay one step ahead of the soldier and avoid the effects and shocks of


Autonomous delivery startup Nuro taps simulation company Foretellix to cut R&D costs
TechCrunch / 1h
Autonomous delivery startup Nuro has struck a deal with safety-focused software company Foretellix to help with virtual testing of its automated driving system, in a bid to cut R&D costs while still pushing the technology forward. The partnership, which the companies are set to announce later Thursday, comes in the wake of a tumultuous stretch […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For perso


Guide To Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Status
100+One Mile at a Time / 1h
While Alaska Airlines isn’t one of the “big three” US airlines, the Seattle-based carrier has quite a robust loyalty program, which many people are loyal to. In particular, Alaska Mileage Plan is the only major US frequent flyer program that still awards miles based on how far you fly rather than how much you spend. In this post I wanted to take a look at Alaska MVP status for 2024, especially in


Microsoft is adding a new key to PC keyboards for the first time since 1994
Ars Technica - All content / 2h
Enlarge / A rendering of Microsoft's Copilot key, as seen on a Surface-esque laptop keyboard. (credit: Microsoft) Microsoft pushed throughout 2023 to add generative AI capabilities to its software , even extending its new Copilot AI assistant to Windows 10 late last year . Now, those efforts to transform PCs at a software level is extending to the hardware: Microsoft is adding a dedicated Copilot


Your next Windows laptop will have a ‘Copilot key’ for easy access to ChatGPT rival
Mashable / 3h
Your next Windows keyboard will have a small design change with big implications. On Thursday, Microsoft announced the introduction of a "Copilot key" to Windows 11 PC keyboards. This means users will have access Copilot's AI-powered tools with the press of a button. Like the Windows key that brings up the Start menu, the new key will launch Copilot in Windows, an AI-powered assistant that works


'The Brothers Sun' review: Michelle Yeoh kicks butt in this fun tale of family crime
Mashable / 3h
In The Brothers Sun , you can be one of two things: a killer or a dipshit. Those are the labels a member of the criminal underworld assigns to the show's titular pair, Charles and Bruce Sun (Justin Chien and Sam Song Li). One was raised in Taipei to be the perfect assassin, while the other is an improv-loving Angeleno who's completely unaware that his family is part of a powerful organized crime


Microsoft wants to add a Copilot key to your PC keyboard
22TechCrunch / 3h
Microsoft would like 2024 to be the “year of the AI PC” and to put a point on that, the company today announced a new key for Copilot — that is, a physical key that will soon make its way to your keyboard and join the Windows key, together with its friends the Control key, […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Microsoft Copilot keyboard keys are coming to Windows 11 PCs at CES 2024
45Engadget / 3h
Coming soon to a Windows 11 PC near you: A dedicated keyboard key for Microsoft's Copilot AI . The company calls this "the first significant change to the Windows PC keyboard in nearly three decades" in a blog post ahead of CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Just like how the Windows key serves as a quick way to open up the Windows Start menu, the Copilot key immediately summons Microsoft's AI companion to d


NLRB accuses SpaceX of illegally firing workers for criticizing Elon Musk
21Engadget / 3h
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a complaint against SpaceX, accusing it of unlawfully firing eight employees involved in writing a letter that called Elon Musk's behavior on social media "a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment." According to the filing , the company committed an unfair labor practice when it fired the workers for "engaging in protected concerted ac


B-100 and X-100 Nvidia AI Chips and Zettaflops AI Compute Clusters
Next Big Future / 4h
The NVIDIA H100 GPU has 30 teraflops of peak standard IEEE FP64 performance, 60 teraflops of peak FP64 tensor core performance, and 60 teraflops of peak FP32 performance. It also has a second-generation secure multi-instance GPU technology that makes it possible to partition the chip into seven smaller, fully isolated instances to handle multiple workloads ... Read more


Elon Musk and Peter Diamandis Talk About The Abundant Future
Next Big Future / 5h
Peter Diamandis told Elon Musk that healthy, longevity will be possible very soon. Elon Musk did agree that extreme longevity should be a very solvable engineering problem. Elon Musk again said that overpopulation is a big lie. The world is mostly empty. Fly a plane from New York to Los Angeles and try to drop ... Read more


Unblock YouPorn for free with this clever trick
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking porn sites. Unblock YouPorn from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN. Accessing your favourite porn sites might have just got a whole lot more difficult. As Mashable's Sam Haysom reports , Aylo-owned sites like Pornhub, Redtube, and YouPorn are now blocked for users in North Carolina and Montana following the introduction of age verification


How to watch the 2024 Dakar Rally online for free
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: Stream action from the 2024 Dakar Rally for free on SBS On Demand . Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . In a world full of sports of every kind, there are always going to be debates around which competition is actually the toughest. There is no right answer, but the Dakar Rally has got to be up there. It's an event famous for its incredibly tough


40 of the best Harvard University courses you can take online for free
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from Harvard University are available to take for free on edX. You can find free online courses in a few spots online, but for courses from some of the top educational institutions in the world, edX is tough to beat. This popular online learning hub hosts online courses from the likes of MIT , Stanford , and Harvard University. It doesn't get much better than


Unblock Pornhub for free with this simple hack
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing restricted sites. Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN. We're only a few days into the year, but the world of porn has already been thrown into disarray. And it all comes down to access. As Mashable's Sam Haysom reports , Pornhub has blocked access to users in North Carolina and Montana following the introduction of age ver


How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley online for free
Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: Stream Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley in the FA Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The FA Cup is back with a bang, as some of the biggest clubs in the country battle it out for a place in the fourth round. And the good news for fans from around the world is that it's possible to watch select fixtures from this famous competi


Dell unveils its curved 40-inch 5K monitor at CES, claiming 'five-star eye comfort'
Engadget / 6h
It's almost time for CES , which means that, among many other things, there'll soon be a heap of new monitors vying for your attention. Dell is hoping that its new UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor will stand out from the pack. Announced days before CES 2024 is set to kick off, this model is the "first 40-inch 5K monitor certified for five-star eye comfort," Dell claims. Five-star eye


LG OLED TVs from the last couple of years will get a great free upgrade in 2024
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
LG has revealed plans to enact a webOS update program that will expand recent webOS updates to a variety of the brand’s TVs. In total, every single model in LG’s 2022 OLED TV series, the OLED Flex , the OLED Objet Collection Posé, and the QNED Mini Led 8K display will receive the upgrade. According to the company, the program will introduce new ways for users to customize their smart TVs so they


How to watch the 2024 Adelaide International online for free
Mashable / 7h
TL;DR: Stream the 2024 Adelaide International for free on 9Now . Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . There's a lot of tennis happening in Australia this month. The United Cup , Adelaide International, Brisbane International , and Australian Open are all taking place, which is wonderful news for fans who have had to remain patient after a little break at


How to watch the 2024 Brisbane International online for free
Mashable / 7h
TL;DR: Stream the 2024 Brisbane International for free on 9Now . Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The Australian Open takes place this month, which means the best players in the world will be looking to sharpen up. Fortunately, there are a number of tournaments taking place in Australia at this time of year. Isn't it nice when things work out like th


How to watch the 2024 United Cup online for free
Mashable / 7h
TL;DR: Stream the 2024 United Cup for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . Watching live tennis was actually pretty simple in 2023, as Prime Video had secured access to the ATP and WTP tours. That's not the case anymore, which does complicate things slightly. But nothing is impossible, and we're always looking for the best ways to watch top


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 4
Mashable / 7h
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 Jan. 4'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 com


Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, January 4, 2024
LifeHacker / 8h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for January 4, 2024, read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is medium difficulty; I got it in three. Beware, there are spoilers below for January 4, Wordle #929! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle Wordle lives here on the New York Tim


Today's NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, January 4, 2024
LifeHacker / 8h
If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Thursday, January 4, 2024, 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 January 4, NYT Connections #207! Read on if you want some hints (and then


Mandiant, the security firm Google bought for $5.4 billion, gets its X account hacked
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge Google-owned security firm Mandiant spent several hours trying to regain control of its account on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday after an unknown scammer hijacked it and used it to spread a link that attempted to steal cryptocurrency from people who clicked on it. “We are aware of the incident impacting the Mandiant X account and are working to resolve the issue,” company off


SpaceX accused of unlawfully firing staff critical of Elon Musk
90BBC News - Technology / 9h
A US labour agency says the employees sent an open letter to SpaceX executives, detailing workplace concerns.


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 4
Mashable / 9h
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


Superpedestrian to auction 20,000 e-scooters after shutting down
22TechCrunch / 9h
More than 20,000 electric scooters belonging to Superpedestrian will be auctioned off later this month, along with other equipment from the startup’s U.S. operations, after closing its doors December 31. Two “global online auction” listings have appeared on the website of Silicon Valley Disposition, an online market for “surplus assets,” which will feature scooters and […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All


Can artificial intelligence help you get fit?
BBC News - Technology / 9h
AI is increasingly being used by fitness apps and guy equipment as an alternative to human trainers.


23andMe to Data Breach Victims: It's Your Fault!
Gizmodo / 10h
What happens when a company loses a bunch of user data? Typically, they apologize and sheepishly beg for forgiveness. Not so with 23andMe. The popular genomics company, which suffered a pretty terrible data breach last year, has instead opted to tell pissed off customers that they probably should’ve picked a better… Read more...


LG Display plans to debut an ultra-fast 480Hz OLED panel for gaming at CES
23Engadget / 10h
LG just announced that it will bring a brand-new 27-inch 480Hz QHD OLED gaming display to CES 2024 in Las Vegas, which the company is calling an industry first and a “new era of OLEDS.” This panel was developed by LG Display, so it won’t actually be available for purchase. Rather, the tech will be sold to other companies for use in forthcoming gaming monitors. 480Hz is a blazingly fast refresh ra


Five Things You Should Never Store in Your Garage
LifeHacker / 10h
As American consumers keep purchasing—and holding onto—more stuff, garages have continued their transformation from car housing to storage unit. A Consumer Reports survey found that almost one-third of homeowners with a garage never park even their vehicles in the space, regardless of its size, and 62 percent indicated that their garage was crowded and disorganized. The problem is that most garag


Forget the proverbial wisdom: Opposites don’t really attract, study finds
21Ars Technica - All content / 10h
What draws us to choose romantic partners? A sweeping new meta-analysis suggests we gravitate toward certain shared traits. (credit: Muramasa ) There's rarely time to write about every cool science-y story that comes our way. So this year, we're once again running a special Twelve Days of Christmas series of posts, highlighting one science story that fell through the cracks in 2023, each day from


ChatGPT bombs test on diagnosing kids’ medical cases with 83% error rate
29Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / Dr. Greg House has a better rate of accurately diagnosing patients than ChatGPT. (credit: Getty | Alan Zenuk/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversa ) ChatGPT is still no House, MD. While the chatty AI bot has previously underwhelmed with its attempts to diagnose challenging medical cases—with an accuracy rate of 39 percent in an analysis last year— a study out this week in JAMA Pediatrics suggests


Intel spins out a new enterprise-focused GenAI software company
26TechCrunch / 10h
Intel, intent on making bigger moves in the market for AI-powered enterprise software, is spinning out a new platform company with the backing of Boca Raton, Florida–based asset manager and investor DigitalBridge. Called Articul8 AI (an awkward abbreviation of “Articulate AI”), the new entity builds off a proof-of-concept from an Intel collaboration with Boston Consulting […] © 2023 TechCrunch. A


Opting into 'link history' on Facebook and Instagram means agreeing to (more) ad targeting
26Engadget / 10h
If you’re active on Facebook or Instagram, you might have noticed prompts about a setting called “link history.” The feature allows users to keep track of all of the links they visit via Facebook and Instagram’s in-app browsers. According to Meta, the feature allows users to ensure they “never lose” a link. “Easily get back to recent links you’ve visited with your Facebook browsing activity now s


Big offshore wind farms are now transmitting sweet, sweet battery juice to the US grid
23TechCrunch / 11h
Moments before midnight on Tuesday, a single turbine near Martha’s Vineyard delivered 5 megawatts of renewable energy to the New England grid. The turbine is one out of 62 planned for Vineyard Wind... © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, January 4 (game #710)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
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 Culture War Is Already Coming for Star Wars' Rey Movie
Gizmodo / 11h
Somehow toxic fandom has returned and at the mere mention of Star Wars and women, no less. Nonsensical virulent misogynistic notions abound as Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy and the director of the studios’ upcoming Rey film Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy have found themselves in the crosshairs of troll pundits and anti-woke… Read more...


Tuck Into a Bowl of This French Onion Soup Pasta
LifeHacker / 11h
The caramelization, sweetness, and deep umami flavors of a steaming bowl of French onion soup are terribly hard to resist, which is why I’m happy to report that I’ve taken all the good parts of the incredible classic soup and turned it into pasta. But I’m also sorry—because you have to drop everything and make it right now. Luckily it’s not that hard to make. The only thing required is a bit of p


You Can Get Microsoft Office and These Basic Training Courses for $40 Right Now
LifeHacker / 11h
You can get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows—complete with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and OneNote— on sale for $39.97 right now (reg. $288) through January 7. If you're new to using Office (or just rusty), this is a bundle that also comes with 106 lessons and seven hours of content to learn how to use Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel more effec


How to Close the Social Media Accounts of a Dead Relative
LifeHacker / 11h
After a loved one dies, there’s the expected sober responsibilities of the funeral, obituary, and probate, but there’s also the matter of the decedent's “digital estate”: That collection of passwords, social media accounts, pictures, digital goods, and other ones and zeros that have come to define who we are. Some people specify how they want their digital legacy handled, but most people don't, s


Twitter / X: Cheapest tier for gold checkmark drops from $1,000 to $200
72Mashable / 11h
Elon Musk's X is changing up its Verified Organizations program by launching a new, more affordable tier for small businesses. Tweet may have been deleted X has officially rolled out a new $200 per month "Basic" plan for organizations interested in verifying their account with the gold checkmark badge, but aren't looking to fork over a whopping $1,000 per month for the "Full Access" plan. Brands


Museum World Hit by Cyberattack on Widely Used Software
43NYT > Technology / 11h
Hackers targeted software that many museums use to show their collections online and to manage sensitive information.


Faith or Flight Rules? JetBlue Ejects Orthodox Jews Amid Seat Change Drama
78View from the Wing / 11h
Three Orthodox Jewish passengers were kicked off of the JetBlue New Year's Eve redeye from Palm Springs to New York JFK after changing seats on board. One of the men moved to an open seat in order to avoid sitting next to a female passenger (that wasn't a relative) who had the assignment next to him. Continue reading ...


Satellite imagery analysis shows immense scale of dark fishing industry
26TechCrunch / 12h
Satellite imagery and machine learning offer a new, far more detailed look at the maritime industry, specifically the number and activities of fishing and transport ships at sea. Turns out there are way more of them than publicly available data would suggest, a fact that policymakers should heed. As a shared global resource, the oceans […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use


SpaceX launches first batch of direct-to-cell Starlink satellites for testing this year
TechCrunch / 12h
SpaceX launched its first batch of Starlink satellites that will be able to connect directly to cell phones ahead of planned testing later this year. The company launched six Starlink satellites with this capability with a batch of 15 other Starlink birds aboard a Falcon 9 rocket late last night. SpaceX obtained approval from U.S. […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Norse Atlantic launches new US-Athens service with limited-time deals
34The Points Guy / 12h
Norse Atlantic Airways announced on Wednesday its latest service between the U.S. and Europe, with bookings open right away and a limited-time promo deal available. Beginning this summer, the European low-cost carrier will fly between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Athens International Airport (ATH) in Greece . Norse will operate the route up to five times weekly betwe


How to Bring Back the Old Chrome
LifeHacker / 12h
Change isn't everyone's cup of tea. Some of us like things the way they are, dammit: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Unfortunately, staying still doesn't get you very far in most aspects of life, at least not with technology. Companies are always looking for new ways to move their products forward—or, at the very least, keep them up-to-date with the latest trends. So it is with Chrome: Google ro


10 Best Deals on Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches
21Wired / 12h
Don’t drop the ball on your health. There are plenty of discounted fitness trackers, including the latest Apple Watch.


Cobalt Core is a tight, funny roguelike deck-builder deserving of many runs
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / These symbols might not mean anything to you now. But give it a few runs, and you might lose a few minutes strategizing this ship's ideal next turn, based on this image alone. (credit: Brace Yourself Games) Games come and go through my Steam and Nintendo Switch libraries: a twitchy, grim action epic , then a metaphysical puzzle-platformer , and maybe a boomer shooter or turn-based tacti


Samsung sets Galaxy S24 launch for Jan. 17; here’s what to expect
26Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / The Galaxy S24 render from OnLeaks. This sure does look familiar. (credit: OnLeaks×SmartPrix ) Samsung is gearing up to launch its next big flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S24. The show has officially been announced for January 17, with Samsung's reservation website promising "Zoom with Galaxy AI is coming." Of course, 2023 was the year of generative AI, and Samsung's interest in the te


SpaceX charged with illegally firing workers behind anti-Musk open letter
31Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Elon Musk speaks with members of the media at the AI Safety Summit on November 1, 2023 in Bletchley, England. (credit: Getty Images | Leon Neal ) SpaceX illegally fired eight employees who criticized CEO Elon Musk in an open letter, a National Labor Relations Board regional director alleged in a complaint filed against the company today. "Today, the NLRB Regional Director in Region 31 (


Millions still haven’t patched Terrapin SSH protocol vulnerability
2 TTPs•
43Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Roughly 11 million Internet-exposed servers remain susceptible to a recently discovered vulnerability that allows attackers with a foothold inside affected networks. Once they're in, attackers compromise the integrity of SSH sessions that form the lynchpin for admins to securely connect to computers inside the cloud and other sensitive environments. Terrapin, as the


Kim Kardashian's once-popular mobile game to close in April
72Mashable / 12h
Pour one out for Kim Kardashian: Hollywood , the ground-breaking mobile game that proved building games for women is serious business. As of today, the game is no longer available in app stores and will no longer offer in-app