Friday, April 12, 2024

Technology News and More-Friday Edition...

Technology News and More...


Apple says Palestinian flag emoji recommendation when 'Jerusalem' is typed on iPhone will be fixed
500+Mashable / 12h
Apple's recent iOS 17.4.1 update made a change to the iPhone that has thrust the company into the middle of a debate it likely wants no part of. This week, pro-Israel social media users started to notice that the iPhone keyboard would recommend the Palestinian flag emoji when the word "Jerusalem" was typed out. Tweet may have been deleted "Dear @Apple @AppleSupport @tim_cook I’ve just upgraded my


Complete guide to airline status matches and challenges in 2024
3KThe Points Guy / 7h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. While most loyalty programs do not offer a way to extend elite status beyond the current year, a workaround is available: By matching your expiring elite status to a competing loyalty program, you can potentially maintain your benefits by selecting different carriers. Numerous airline loyalty programs prov



San Francisco’s Train System Still Uses Floppy Disks—and Will for Years
1KWired / 13h
Three 5.25-inch floppy disks help keep Muni running every morning. A tech upgrade could take until 2030.



The inevitable risks and best defense for cloud cybersecurity
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 22min
Most businesses, regardless of size, now understand the potential value of the cloud. We’re beyond that stage of early skepticism in which technology decision-makers questioned whether cloud services would factor significantly into corporate operations. Wholesale adoption is now underway and has been for years. And why not? The benefits of the cloud are obvious. The ability to access cloud-hosted


Google One is shutting down its VPN feature later this year
Engadget / 23min
If you're — apparently, one of the few people — using the VPN service that comes with Google One, we've got bad news for you. In an email you're going to receive from Google if you haven't gotten it yet, it revealed that it's phasing out the perk sometime later this year. The company rolled out Google One's VPN feature back in 2020, but you could only access it then if you're paying for a plan wi


WhatsApp trials Meta AI chatbot in India, more markets
TechCrunch / 32min
WhatsApp is testing Meta AI, its large language model-powered chatbot, with users in India and some other markets, signalling its intentions to tap the massive user base to scale its AI offerings. The company recently began testing the AI chatbot, until now available in limited markets including the U.S., with some users in India, many […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use


AI isn’t a silver bullet - but it can get close if you consider the right AI tools
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 57min
AI and the way it shapes our society has come a long way from the early days in Alan Turing’s labs, from totally replacing smartphone apps to generating incredible new images in under two seconds. It’s no wonder then that many businesses are bought into and benefitting from AI-based tools and platforms. In fact, a recent IDC report found that 71% of businesses are already using AI while 22% plan


A lifetime subscription to this premium stock screener is on sale for 89% off
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR : A lifetime subscription to a Tykr Premium Plan is on sale for £75.88 with the code ENJOY20. Have you wanted to pick up a new skill? How about one that earns you money? No, we're not talking about side hustles this time. We're talking about the stock market. Tykr Stock Screener helps you confidently manage your investments on your own, serving as your very own stock screening and education


X is removing ability to hide checkmarks for premium users


TechCrunch / 2h
Last year, Elon Musk-owned social network X rolled out a feature for paid users to hide their checkmarks from others. Now, the company is sending notifications to users saying that the feature will go away soon. Just like a lot of decisions taken by X, there is no definite timeline as to when the hide […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Europe’s A.I. ‘Champion’ Sets Sights on Tech Giants in U.S.
46NYT > Technology / 2h
Mistral, a French start-up considered a promising challenger to OpenAI and Google, is getting support from European leaders who want to protect the region’s culture and politics.


iPhone 15 just got a big repairability boost and it's good news for future models, too
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Apple is easing up its self-repair policy, allowing iPhone owners to fix their devices with used parts instead of forcing them to buy new replacements. The tech giant told The Washington Post the update will apply to screens, batteries, and cameras among other things. Apple states in its announcement post that they have plans to grow the program to include biometric sensors. The changes are sched


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 12
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 April 12'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 c


OpenAI makes ChatGPT ‘more direct, less verbose’
TechCrunch / 4h
ChatGPT, OpenAI’s viral AI-powered chatbot, just got a big upgrade. OpenAI announced today that premium ChatGPT users — customers paying for ChatGPT Plus, Team or Enterprise — can now leveraged an updated and enhanced version of GPT-4 Turbo, one of the models that powers the conversational ChatGPT experience. This new model (“gpt-4-turbo-2024-04-09”) brings with it […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All righ


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 12
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


Brilliant Smart Home Control Panels Are up to $200 Off
LifeHacker / 6h
Brilliant switches are an entire touchscreen hub with an onboard security cam. They have touch-sensitive slide switches for as many as four devices, and they are a speaker, intercom, and two-way video hub. You can control your Sonos and all the other devices paired with the system, and the rest of the time, they provide a high resolution display for your favorite photos. Everyone who walks throug


Gemini Ultra Is Coming to OnePlus and Oppo Devices This Year
LifeHacker / 6h
The OnePlus 12 might have launched without support for AI earlier this year, but it seems OnePlus and Oppo (both owned by BBK) have big plans for how they want to support AI going forward: Both OnePlus and Oppo have announced that they will introduce features powered by Gemini 1.0 Ultra to their smartphones. Gemini Ultra is the most powerful AI that Google has to offer, and so far, it hasn't been


We've Seen About 10 Minutes of Deadpool & Wolverine
23Gizmodo / 6h
There’s exactly one Marvel Studios movie coming to theaters this year, but it’s one of the biggest to date. Deadpool & Wolverine is scheduled for release on July 26 and it won’t only be the first MCU film for Ryan Reynolds’ wisecracking killer, but also the MCU debut of Wolverine , played by Hugh Jackman. Read more...


The Space Force is planning what could be the first military exercise in orbit
Ars Technica - All content / 6h
Enlarge / Artist's illustration of two satellites performing rendezvous and proximity operations in low-Earth orbit. (credit: True Anomaly ) The US Space Force announced Thursday it is partnering with two companies, Rocket Lab and True Anomaly, for a first-of-its-kind mission to demonstrate how the military might counter "on-orbit aggression." On this mission, a spacecraft built and launched by R


Researchers find a new organelle evolving
Ars Technica - All content / 6h
Enlarge / A photo of Braarudosphaera bigelowii with the nitroplast indicated by an arrowhead. (credit: Tyler Coale ) The complex cells that underlie animals and plants have a large collection of what are called organelles—compartments surrounded by membranes that perform specialized functions. Two of these were formed through a process called endosymbiosis, in which a once free-living organism is


How the OJ trial foreshadowed internet culture
Mashable / 6h
In June 1994, when the late OJ Simpson was charged with murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her lover Ron Goldman, the World Wide Web was in its infancy. Still, with hindsight, it's easy to realize that modern internet culture was all around us. Not literally, of course. The Netscape browser would not be released for another six months. If you wanted to tie up your phone line, fire up your 56K


Virtual physical therapist Hinge Health lays off 10% of its workforce
TechCrunch / 7h
The 9-year-old Hinge Health offers a digital solution to treat chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and was last valued at $6.2 billion in October 2021. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Quordle today – hints and answers for Friday, April 12 (game #809)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
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, more than two years after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's fun, but also difficult. But Quordle is tough, so if you already find yourself searching for today's Wo


Space Force tees up new ‘responsive space’ mission from Rocket Lab and True Anomaly
TechCrunch / 7h
Each company will design and build a satellite capable of rendezvousing with other spacecraft in orbit at close proximity, as well as command and control centers for the mission. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


US Airlines Try To Block Chinese Airline Growth… With Bad Logic
One Mile at a Time / 7h
Airline lobbying groups are urging the Biden Administration to prevent Chinese airlines from adding service to the United States. I can’t help but find the argument to be weak… Air service rights between the United States and China For a bit of background, caps on air service between the United States and China are based on a bilateral agreement, which determines the number of flights that can be


Government should counter misinformation on TikTok - MPs
BBC News / 7h
A committee says the government should be more relatable in its communications with the public.


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Friday, April 12 (game #40)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Thank heavens it's Friday, eh? But if you've had a tough week, then don't worry – because the New York Times has made today's Strands rather easy indeed. Don't take my word for it, play it! You'll see – this one really is a cinch. But of course if you do need help, just scroll down and you'll find a few hints, plus all the answers to game #40. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today


The Comics History Behind Genosha, Marvel's Fallen Mutant Haven
Gizmodo / 7h
Few singular words in the long canon of the X-Men’s comic book history evoke the weight of mutantkind’s story of survival and extinction than “Genosha.” The island nation is a fundamental turning point in the comics’ long exploration of mutant statehood and the metaphor at large —one that has resonated throughout… Read more...


Three episodes in, the Fallout TV series absolutely nails it
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Like the games, the show depicts a Vault Dweller making her way out into the Wasteland. [credit: Amazon ] Amazon has had a rocky history with big, geeky properties making their way onto Prime Video. The Wheel of Time wasn’t for everyone, and I have almost nothing good to say about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power . Fallout , the first season of which premiered this week, seems to break t


The 'Criterion 24/7' Livestream Recreates the Magic of Stumbling Across a Movie on Cable
LifeHacker / 8h
Remember how you used to turn on the TV late at night and flip through the channels to see what was on? Remember when you'd stumble across a movie halfway through and get sucked in? Maybe you don't, because you came of age alongside the streaming revolution, which granted you the ability to watch exactly what you want to watch, when you want to watch it (or at least to scroll endlessly looking at


DuckDuckGo's New Paid Subscription Plan Actually Seems Like a Good Deal
LifeHacker / 8h
DuckDuckGo announced a new three-in-one subscription service on Thursday, Privacy Pro , that it hopes will help customers further protect their privacy online. The bundle includes a dedicated VPN, a personal information removal service, and identity theft restoration. But is it worth adding another $10 subscription to your monthly bill? Honestly, it might be. DuckDuckGo VPN As DuckDuckGo just ann


Gabe Newell, the Man Behind Steam, Is Working on a Brain-Computer Interface
39Futurism / 8h
Gabe "Gaben" Newell, one of the cofounders of Valve — the fascinatingly hierarchy-less gaming company behind everything from the Steam gaming marketplace to the Half-Life franchise — has for years been quietly working on a brain-computer interface (BCI.) And now, long before any hint of Half-Life 3 has dropped, it looks like his BCI venture is coming out of stealth. As one eagle-eyed user on the


X won’t let users hide their blue checks anymore
78Engadget / 8h
X will no longer allow users to hide their blue checks, regardless of whether they paid for premium or not. On Thursday, the app began notifying users that “the hide your checkmark feature of X Premium is going away soon.” BREAKING: #X seems to be removing the ability to hide the verification checkmark! pic.twitter.com/1Kn2OU4puj — Nima Owji (@nima_owji) April 11, 2024 The change comes shortly af


Taylor Swift’s Music Is Back on TikTok—Right Before Her New Album Drops
69Wired / 8h
Taylor Swift has seemingly reached a deal with TikTok to get her music back on the platform, just in time for the release of The Tortured Poets Department.


We Used the Force and Tried Future Star Wars Tech at Disney Imagineering
Gizmodo / 8h
Hidden deep in a California valley near Walt Disney Animation Studios is the testing ground for all the technology seen at Disney Parks and experiences around the world. It’s a top secret area, but io9 and other members of the press were recently invited in for an up-close look at the animatronics for Tiana’s Bayou… Read more...


Sketchy Botox shots spark multistate outbreak of botulism-like condition
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / A woman in New Jersey receiving a Botox treatment at a Botox party in a New Jersey salon hosted by a radio station. (credit: Getty | mark peterson ) Sketchy cosmetic injections of what seem to be counterfeit Botox are behind a multistate outbreak of botulism-like illnesses, state health officials report. So far, at least six people have fallen ill in two states: four in Tennessee and tw


Amazon virtually kills efforts to develop Alexa Skills, disappointing dozens
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / The 4th-gen Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker. (credit: Amazon) Alexa hasn't worked out the way Amazon originally planned. There was a time when it thought that Alexa would yield a robust ecosystem of apps, or Alexa Skills, that would make the voice assistant an integral part of users' lives. Amazon envisioned tens of thousands of software developers building valued abilities for Alexa that


Google Cloud CEO — when it comes to AI, we are the most open cloud around
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
The CEO of Google Cloud has laid out his aims for his company to be one of the driving forces behind the new age of enterprise AI. Speaking in his keynote at Google Cloud Next 24 , Thomas Kurian declared, “we are the most open cloud when it comes to AI,” thanks to its commitment towards offering the widest variety of AI models. “Google Cloud is the only major cloud provider offering both first-pa


That Old Jar of Loose Change Might Be Worth More Than You Think
LifeHacker / 8h
If you’re like most people, you probably have a coin collection of some sort in your home. Whether it’s an old jar filled with spare change or a junk drawer that’s carpeted with the remnants of cash purchases past, somewhere in your house lives a pile of money you might never actually use. Cashing in those coins often seems like more effort than it’s worth. If you go to a Coinstar machine, for ex


How Long Can You Actually Go Without Sleep?
LifeHacker / 8h
Sleepless nights are a reality for many of us: parents of newborns, students cramming for tests, people struggling with insomnia. We all know that we need to sleep, but come on, can’t we go without it for a while? Sort of, but it’s not pretty. The world records for sleep deprivation The most famous record holder for sleep deprivation—although he doesn’t hold the current record— is Randy Gardner,


Entire British Airways Crew Nearly Kicked Out Of Resort After Drunken Fight In The Maldives
View from the Wing / 9h
British Airways has some wild crew, and they seem to cause more commotion when they travel the world than employees of other airlines. BA recalled a flight attendant after a drunken altercation in the Maldives where her entire crew was nearly kicked off of the remote property. Continue reading ...


Global Temperatures Have Set Records Every Month for the Past Ten Months
500+Futurism / 9h
Off the Charts The Earth simply can't stop setting new heat records. Global surface temperatures have soared once again, The Guardian reports , making March the tenth consecutive hottest month on record. Over the last 12 months alone, global temperatures have persistently been more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, putting us squarely in "uncharted territory." Put differently,


How to watch 'The Sympathizer': When is Robert Downey Jr.'s new show streaming?
Mashable / 9h
How to watch 'The Sympathizer' at a glance: BEST MAX DEAL FOR MOST PEOPLE Max (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99/year (save 17%) BEST MAX DEAL WITH NO ADS Max (No Ads) annual subscription $149.99/year through April 9 (save 22%) BEST FOR CRICKET CUSTOMERS Max (With Ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) The Sympathizer , one of our most anticipated sh


Baldur's Gate 3 wins big at Bafta Games Awards
30BBC News / 9h
Super Mario Bros Wonder won two, while Star Wars Jedi: Survivor missed out despite six nominations.


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and Spangram for Thursday, April 11 (game #39)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
It's Thursday, and that means it's time for another brain-breaking instalment of the NYT's Strands puzzle. Except… that makes no sense, because there's a new Strands game each day, not just Thursdays. Anyway, the important thing is that there's a new Strands game to play, courtesy of the New York Times Games section. I'd rate today's as a fairly easy one, but as always, YMMV. SPOILER WARNING: Inf


The most satisfying page turning sounds in existence: Straight to your ears from 1677!
Music, Arts & Literature / 9h
californiastatelibrary :


NYT Strands — what is it, spangrams, strategy, rules and how to play
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Strands is the New York Times' latest attempt to create a new Wordle. Yes, it's a simple online word game that you can only play once a day. Yes, you play the same game as everyone else. And yes, you can share your spoiler-free scores with each other afterwards. It's best thought of as a twist on the classic word search puzzle, but more fun than that might sound. If you've not yet tried it, I rec


Giancarlo Esposito Talks About the Coppola Movie You Might Never See, Megalopolis
Gizmodo / 9h
Read more...


Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise system was active before fatal Texas crash
30TechCrunch / 9h
It's the first known fatality resulting from a crash involving the use of BlueCruise, which Ford first announced in 2021. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Intel’s “Gaudi 3” AI accelerator chip may give Nvidia’s H100 a run for its money
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / An Intel handout photo of the Gaudi 3 AI accelerator. (credit: Intel ) On Tuesday, Intel revealed a new AI accelerator chip called Gaudi 3 at its Vision 2024 event in Phoenix. With strong claimed performance while running large language models (like those that power ChatGPT ), the company has positioned Gaudi 3 as an alternative to Nvidia's H100 , a popular data center GPU that has been


US lawmaker proposes a public database of all AI training material
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Cinefootage Visuals | iStock / Getty Images Plus ) Amid a flurry of lawsuits over AI models' training data, US Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has introduced a bill that would require AI companies to disclose exactly which copyrighted works are included in datasets training AI systems. The Generative AI Disclosure Act "would require a notice to be submitted to the Register


U.S. Airlines Unite Against China, Seek To Block New Flights Between The Two Countries
View from the Wing / 9h
There's nothing unique about Chinese airlines using Russian airspace while U.S. airlines cannot. Moreover, it's a complete non-sequitur because newly-approved flights can be conditioned on avoiding Russian airspace as has been done in the past. The truth is that U.S. airlines do not want more flights approved between the U.S. and China because it's bad for their business. Continue reading ...


DuckDuckGo Now Has a Privacy Subscription
How-To Geek / 9h
DuckDuckGo started out as a more private alternative to search engines like Google and Bing, but the company has slowly expanded to browser extensions, web browsers, and other tools. DuckDuckGo is now going one step further with a new "privacy subscription" that aims to keep you protected across the internet.


Apple Will Allow You to Fix Your iPhone with Used Parts After All
Gizmodo / 9h
Apple has announced that it’s relaxing its policy on used parts for iPhone repairs. This makes it easier to fix your broken iPhone and save some cash along the way. Read more...


The Android 15 Beta Is Now Available
LifeHacker / 10h
Google is officially moving Android 15 to its next milestone with the release of the first Android 15 Beta. The company behind Android shared the news today in a blog post, releasing some details about the new features, as well as when it expects to hit platform stability in the 15th iteration of the Android operating system. Android 15, of course, is the next version of Google's phone-based oper


Dune, the Broadway Musical and 8 Other Brain-Dead Songs From Udio's AI Music Generator
Gizmodo / 10h
The tech industry is trying to automate art. Be it visual art, filmmaking, novel-writing, or music, Silicon Valley “innovators” seem convinced that consumers just can’t tell the difference between work created by a passionate, human creative, and automated content delivered via soulless algorithm. It’s a terrible… Read more...


A Reimagined 'Willy's Chocolate Experience' Is Coming to America
Gizmodo / 10h
A recreation of “ Willy’s Chocolate Experience, ” the AI-generated Willy Wonka fiasco in Glasgow that left kids crying and forced the police to be called, appears to be selling tickets for its American debut. For $44, attendees will allegedly be offered “two complimentary jelly beans” and the chance to meet the mother… Read more...


Transformers One Does Not Look Like What You're Expecting
Gizmodo / 10h
As a massive fan of Transformers: The Movie , few films on the upcoming calendar fill me with as much excitement as Transformers One . Directed by Josh Cooley ( Toy Story 4 ), the first animated theatrical Transformers film since that 1986 masterpiece is coming September 13 and, at CinemaCon, Paramount revealed footage… Read more...


Meta tests tools to protect teen users from sextortion and unwanted nudes
Mashable / 10h
Meta is testing new tools and features to protect young people from unwanted nudity and sextortion scams, including Nudity Protection in DMs, a feature that automatically blurs nude images. Part of this crackdown is because Meta says it's seeing a trend of financial sextortion, in which someone gets nude photos from another person and says they'll post them online unless the victim sends money or


Test Shows the Model X Has Better Range Than the Cybertruck When Pulling the Same Trailer
100+Futurism / 10h
Weighed Down Despite being designed to pull trailers that weigh many thousands of pounds, Tesla's Cybertruck is seemingly not great at the whole towing thing. Case in point: Geneva Long, founder and CEO of all-electric RV maker Bowlus, found that a Model X could tow the company's Volterra trailer significantly farther than the supposedly mighty Cybertruck. In a LinkedIn post first spotted by Insi


3 lesser-known perks of the Capital One Spark Miles for Business
The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Capital One is cementing its place as one of the most rewarding credit card issuers by making waves with an offer of 50,000 bonus miles on the Capital One Spark Miles for Business . To earn these bonus miles, you’ll need to meet a spend threshold of $4,500 within the first three months of opening a Spark M


I LOVE a well used and well annotated book! Any signs of actual, everyday usage is such a wonderful…
Music, Arts & Literature / 10h
othmeralia : I LOVE a well used and well annotated book! Any signs of actual, everyday usage is such a wonderful find in rare books. This is found in our copy of Bouquet composé des plus belles fleurs chimiques (1629) by David de Planis Campy.


Delta Sky Club Miami Expanded Significantly
38One Mile at a Time / 10h
There’s an exciting update when it comes to the Delta Sky Club at my home airport… Larger Delta Sky Club Miami now open On April 9, 2024, Delta opened its newly expanded Sky Club at Miami Airport (MIA). The lounge has expanded by nearly 4,000 square feet, and has added 100+ seats, increasing capacity by more than 50%. The club is now over 12,000 square feet, and is able to accommodate around 300


Internal pre-Starlink SpaceX financials show big spending on moonshot bets
40TechCrunch / 10h
While the comprehensive balance sheets are five years old, they provide an intimate look inside the operations of arguably one of the most important, and secretive, private companies in the U.S. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Dbrand's Social Media Goes Off the Deep End, Offers $10K as an Apology
22Gizmodo / 10h
Dbrand, a prominent maker of skins for mobile devices and faceplates for consoles , got into some hot water the past few days on social media. What started as making fun of a customer’s last name in the most cringe (and arguably racist) way possible, ended up with the company forking over $10,000 to make amends. Read more...


No one needs this cryptocurrency-powered Steam Deck competitor
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / Look, a generic render that looks vaguely like every other Steam Deck clone. (credit: Playtron) Remember when "web3 gaming" was the hot new thing in the game industry? In 2022, it seemed like every other game maker was flirting with "NFT integration" or "blockchain support" or some other crypto-adjacent buzzword in one form or another. Then, throughout 2023, the whole idea quickly faded


Elon Musk’s X botched an attempt to replace “twitter.com” links with “x.com”
100+Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / An X sign at company headquarters in San Francisco. (credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg) Elon Musk's clumsy brand shift from Twitter to X caused a potentially big problem this week when the social network started automatically changing "twitter.com" to "x.com" in links. The automatic text replacement reportedly applied to any URL ending in "twitter.com" even if it wasn't actually a twitte


Apple will allow reuse of iPhone parts for repairs, with a notable catch
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
(credit: Getty Images) Apple has always had a strong preference that only its own parts be used in repairs, but only if they're brand-new. Now, soon after Oregon passed a repair bill forbidding devices from rejecting parts with software locks, or " parts pairing ," Apple says it will allow for used Apple parts in future iPhone repairs. While noting that "pairing" is "critical to preserving the pr


Hackable Intel and Lenovo hardware that went undetected for 5 years won’t ever be fixed
Pre-OS Boot (Enterprise T1542)•
57Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Intel) Hardware sold for years by the likes of Intel and Lenovo contains a remotely exploitable vulnerability that will never be fixed. The cause: a supply chain snafu involving an open source software package and hardware from multiple manufacturers that directly or indirectly incorporated it into their products. Researchers from security firm Binarly have confirmed that the lap


The first Android 15 public beta is out – here's how to download it
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
The first public beta for Android 15 is officially here after months of waiting. A Google representative told us several refinements were made as the team took the feedback they received from the two developer previews . Keep in mind this is far from the final version of the system. Most of the rumored features, like the lock screen widgets or Private Space, are not here. The beta focuses primari


New Jersey Library Apologizes After Handing Out Knockoff Eclipse Glasses
52Gizmodo / 10h
A library in New Jersey issued an urgent statement after learning that the eclipse glasses handed out to its patrons may have been fake. Read more...


You'll Soon Be Able to Repair Your iPhone With Used Parts
LifeHacker / 10h
Apple has introduced a change that will make it easier and more affordable to repair your iPhone. As part of an expansion of the self-repair program for iPhones, Apple will allow you to use genuine second-hand parts to complete repairs starting this fall. Previously, the company only allowed people to use new spare parts for self-repair . Although this move comes in the wake of Oregon passing rig


These Google Photo Editing Tools Will Be Free Soon
LifeHacker / 10h
Google has announced that some of its AI-powered editing tools will soon be free to all Google Photos users. Previously, to use some of these tools, you would either need to be a Google Pixel user or have a paid Google One subscription. The new features available to all Google Photos includes: Magic Editor Magic Eraser Unblur Portrait light Portrait blur HDR effect for photos and videos Color pop


Android 15 Beta 1 Has Arrived
How-To Geek / 11h
Google is hard at work on Android 15, the next major update for the Android operating system that will arrive later in 2024. Following two developer previews, the first Android 15 beta is now available.


A four-pack of Chipolo One Bluetooth trackers is on sale for $60 right now
Engadget / 11h
Bluetooth trackers are handy little things that can help you find valuables after misplacing them. Our pick for the best Bluetooth tracker is the Chipolo One, and a four-pack has dropped close to its record-low price. The bundle (which usually costs $75) is currently available for just $60 , which makes each tracker just $15 — that's a record low for each unit. Alternatively, you can buy a single


Apple's Hidden iOS Puzzle Game Is Designed to Infuriate You Back to Wordle
Gizmodo / 11h
The next rendition of iOS 17 is right around the corner, and it’s bearing gifts we want and a few better left on the drawing-room table. The latest iOS 17.5 beta includes a hidden game for Apple News+ subscribers called Quartiles. The game features word snippets in five-by-five tiles that players must match to create… Read more...


Star Trek: Discovery Would Really Like You to Know What It's About
52Gizmodo / 11h
Star Trek: Discovery has always been about one thing: at the end of it all, the only thing that matters, the only thing that will bring light in dark times, and save the day, is a connection and understanding forged between people, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done. Sometimes, it’s more subtle about… Read more...


Global Entry Fee Increasing To $120, And More Changes
32One Mile at a Time / 11h
Note : This post is updated to reflect that Citi is increasing the Global Entry fee credit on select cards to $120, to reflect this price increase. I imagine that puts pressure on other issuers to do the same. United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is adjusting some of the pricing of its Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP). This is something that was first proposed back in 2020, but we now


Delta’s expanded Miami Sky Club is now open with seating for 300
The Points Guy / 11h
Delta Air Lines’ so-called gateway hub in Miami just got a big glowup with the opening of an expanded Sky Club. The carrier has added over 4,000 square feet and 100-plus seats to the Miami Sky Club, which is located between terminals H and J at Miami International Airport (MIA). DELTA This represents a more than 50% increase in lounge capacity, meaning that the space shouldn’t be as overcrowded a


OpenAI and Meta Reportedly Preparing New AI Models Capable of Reasoning
78Futurism / 11h
Soon OpenAI and Meta are on the verge of releasing next versions of their AI models that will supposedly be capable of reasoning and planning, the Financial Times reports . But, as with any hype coming out of big tech, take it all with a grain of salt. For one thing, there's no exact timeline for a rollout. Per the report, OpenAI has indicated that its next AI model, which will likely be called G


Walmart will deploy robotic forklifts in its distribution centers
22TechCrunch / 11h
The story of warehouse robotics is a story of attempting to keep up with Amazon. It’s been more than a decade since the online giant revolutionized its delivery services through its Kiva Systems acquisition. As Walmart works to remain competitive, it’s taking a more piecemeal approach to automation, through partnerships with a range of different […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For per


Monsterverse Mania Continues as Monarch Gets a Second Season—and Spin-Offs
50Gizmodo / 11h
With theatrical hit Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire currently stomping all over the box office, it’s an ideal moment for Legendary’s Monsterverse to re-up its small-screen success. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will return for a second season on Apple TV+. And that’s not all—there are more series on the way, too. Read more...


Happy National Pet Day!
Music, Arts & Literature / 11h
postcardtimemachine :


American adds new service to Provo, its 228th domestic city; will take on budget rivals
90The Points Guy / 11h
American Airlines is adding a new domestic city to its route map. The Fort Worth-based carrier announced on Thursday that it would open an outstation in Provo, Utah, on Oct. 7. American’s regional affiliate SkyWest Airlines will fly three daily flights to Provo Municipal Airport (PVU) onboard the CRJ-700 regional jet; it features nine first-class seats, 12 Main Cabin Extra extra-legroom flights a


Alaska Mileage Plan elites won’t receive American Airlines systemwide upgrade certificates in 2025
The Points Guy / 11h
Attention, Alaska Airlines elite members : If you are an MVP Gold 75K or 100K elite member, check your email inbox for your systemwide American Airlines upgrade vouchers. Unfortunately, with the good news comes some bad. Alaska announced this is the last time it will give elite upgrades on American Airlines flights. Therefore, Alaska will no longer offer these vouchers to MVP Gold 75K or 100K eli


Award availability alert: Book Qatar Qsuites for next spring with Avios or JetBlue points
100+The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Qatar Airways offers an amazing business-class product called Qatar Qsuite on many of its long-haul aircraft. However, finding Qatar-operated business-class award space to or from the U.S. can sometimes be challenging. That’s why we’re excited to report you’ll currently find better-than-usual Qatar business-class awa


Prime members can play Fallout 3 and New Vegas on Luna for the next six months
52Engadget / 11h
Fallout games are having a moment in the wake of glowing reviews for the new TV series adaptation on Prime Video. Amazon has added two of the series’ best games as freebies for Prime members on Luna, its cloud streaming service. Fallout 4 is also getting some love, as Bethesda said it will drop the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S update for the 2015 game on April 25. Amazon Prime members can play Fallout


This Spyware Warning From Apple Is Actually Real
LifeHacker / 11h
We get a lot of spam calls and texts these days, so it's easy to ignore cryptic messages about the security of our accounts and devices. But what if the text you received wasn't from some random number, but from Apple itself? And what if that text from Apple claimed you were actively being spied on? As much as this situation sounds like classic spam, it's very much not: Apple actually did send al


All Three M3 MacBook Pros Are up to $300 Off
LifeHacker / 11h
The new M3 MacBook Air laptops aren't the only new M3s getting discounted right now: The new M3 and M3 Pro chip MacBook Pros are also discounted up to $300. The M3 MacBook Pro is practically the perfect laptop , and Apple made an 8GB RAM version with a more affordable starting price than previous generations ($400 lower, to be exact). The 14.2-inch M3 MacBook Pro MacBook Pro 14.2-inch (M3) Liquid


US says Russian hackers stole federal government emails during Microsoft cyberattack
28TechCrunch / 11h
CISA said the latest theft of government email — blamed on Russian government hackers — presents "a grave and unacceptable risk" to U.S. federal agencies. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Introducing the ScaleUp Startups Program at Disrupt 2024 for Series A to B startups
TechCrunch / 11h
We are thrilled to unveil our latest innovation: ScaleUp Startups Exhibitor Program at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Tailored specifically for startups in Series A to B funding stages with $35 million or less in funding, this program offers unparalleled access to 10,000 tech leaders, invaluable networking opportunities with investors, and exclusive sessions focused on scaling strategies […] © 2024 Tec


Humane Ai Pin reviews are in: Top 5 complaints about the 'smartphone killer'
Mashable / 11h
Humane Ai Pin reviews are in. Critiques poured in on Thursday, with journalists voicing their harsh opinions on a device touted as the next "smartphone killer." Humane boasts that the Ai Pin, a display-less wearable that can project virtual information onto your palms and take voice-activated commands, is a revolutionary device that can potentially jumpstart a "screenless" future. But the questio


'Fallout' is full of details from the games — here's a handy guide
Mashable / 11h
Activate those Pip-Boys, Vault Dwellers! The beloved post-apocalyptic game franchise Fallout has received the TV treatment from Prime Video , and the series wisely integrates tons of game details along the way. Co-showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, alongside executive producers Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan ( Westworld ), have successfully translated the aesthetic, narrative, an


Aang: The Last Airbender Movie Has Found Its Cast, Including Dave Bautista
51Gizmodo / 11h
Paramount introduced the beloved animated franchise’s jump to the big screen at CinemaCon 2024 with Aang: The Last Airbender (the film’s working title). The feature enlists an older crew to voice the characters in a feature that takes place presumably after Avatar: The Last Airbender but before The Legend of Korra, … Read more...


Wix's new fundraising feature makes it easy to collect donations on your website
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Wix, one of our picks for the best website builder platforms around, has announced a dedicated donations solution. Wix Donations is designed to help non-profit organizations, individuals, and businesses run donation campaigns easily, seamlessly integrating with existing websites. Wix says the launch means users will no longer need to employ third-party services, as the entire donations and fundra


Google’s new Gemini Code Assist tool could be the best thing to happen to developers this year
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Google has launched a new AI-powered coding tool that it says can free up developers from some of the dullest and time-consuming tasks. Announced at Google Cloud Next 24 , the new Gemini Code Assist service is backed up by the company’s latest Gemini 1.5 Pro AI model, which boasts a million-token context window, meaning developers can make longer and more detailed queries, and receive more in-dep


Taylor Swift’s music is back on TikTok
Engadget / 12h
Taylor Swift’s music has returned to TikTok after a ten-week hiatus, according to a report by Variety . Her tunes left the platform after negotiations broke down between the social media app and Swift’s label, Universal Music Group. It’s unclear what kind of deal Swift struck with TikTok to allow her to return to the platform, but we know one thing. The deal did not include provisions for fellow


Apple Lifts Some Restrictions on iPhone Repairs
100+NYT > Technology / 12h
This fall, the company will begin allowing customers to replace broken parts with used iPhone components without its previous software limits.


Get Apple Services For Free, Courtesy of Target
How-To Geek / 12h
Target offers a variety of free trials on Apple services, and you can take advantage of them even if you've redeemed a free trial in the past.


Measles could once again become endemic in the US, the CDC warns
57Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Poster issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocating for measles immunizations in 1985. (credit: Getty | National Library of Medicine. ) In 2000, after a decadeslong public health battle and a Herculean vaccination program, the US won a coveted status: measles elimination. The designation means that the extremely infectious measles virus is no longer


Google Photos’ AI editor goes freemium, hopes you’ll join $100/year plan
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Google's Magic Editor and Photo Unblur. (credit: Google) Google Photos is opening up its premium editing tools to more users. The company says features like Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Portrait Light will be open to everyone, though the editor will have some usage limits for free users. Previously these were exclusive to Pixel devices or users subscribing to Google One


Why the Crew Is Still Stuck Aboard the Ship That Totaled the Baltimore Bridge
53Futurism / 12h
For more than two weeks now , the crew of the shipping vessel that collided with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge has remained on board — leading many to wonder why. In emailed statements, representatives from the Key Bridge response team and the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center, which provides religious and social services for sailors, explained that the anchorage the sailors aboard


Boeing’s Crisis: A Story Of Executives Who Got How To Run A Business Completely Backwards
View from the Wing / 12h
Emphasizing earnings over excellence turned out to be bad business for Boeing. Continue reading ...


Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex: Should you pay $150 for more perks or stick with no annual fee?
59The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is the mid-tier option, and the Hilton Honors American Express Card is the entry-level option for those looking to open a personal Hilton Honors credit card. For those trying to decide between these two excellent card options, here are the major points of di


Instagram's status update feature is coming to user profiles
Engadget / 12h
Instagram’s status update feature, Notes, will soon be more prominent in the app. Up until now, Notes have only been visible from Instagram’s inbox, but the brief updates will soon also be visible directly on users’ profiles. The change should increase the visibility of the feature and give people a new place to interact with their friends’ updates. (Instagram added reply functionality to Notes b


vintagelibraries: For greater knowledge on more subjects use...
Music, Arts & Literature / 12h
vintagelibraries : For greater knowledge on more subjects use your library more often (LOC), between 1936 and 1941.


Edgar Wright Will Direct Glen Powell in Stephen King Adaptation The Running Man
60Gizmodo / 12h
Even diehard fans of the 1987 Running Man, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, can’t be angry about this promising update on its long-teased remake: Edgar Wright is still aboard to direct and produce a new version of the Stephen King novel, and now we know it’ll star the in-demand Glen Powell ( Twisters , Anyone But You). Read more...


Proton has acquired encrypted note-taking app Standard Notes
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Privacy firm Proton has announced it has acquired Standard Notes, an encrypted note-taking service. The Swiss firm is known for its lineup of privacy tools , including a secure email service and a VPN . Now, it looks to be entering the world of productivity apps. Proton CEO Andy Yen commented in a blog post its end-to-end encryption (E2EE) "really makes Standard Notes complementary to the Proton


What’s In My Wallet – My Credit Card Strategy (2024)
30View from the Wing / 12h
I've cleaned out my wallet and I'm not carrying nearly as many credit cards on a daily basis any longer. Still, my wallet is a great window in the spending choices I make every day. What gets a wallet slot, and what cards I have but keep in a drawer, go a long way towards illustrating how I put my mileage and spending strategies into practice. Sharing this also adds a bit to my transparency as I


'Lousy Carter' star David Krumholtz on finding the joy in playing a curmudgeon
Mashable / 12h
David Krumholtz introduces us to the layered lovable curmudgeon that is Lousy Carter . Lousy Carter is now streaming.


iPhone users in 92 countries received a spyware attack alert
Mashable / 12h
Almost half of the countries in the world got a strange notification from Apple on Wednesday. At noon Pacific time on Wednesday, iPhone users in 92 countries got a notification warning them that they may have been targeted by "mercenary spyware attacks," per TechCrunch . Apple didn't disclose exactly which countries got the warnings, though personally, as a U.S. resident with an iPhone, I didn't


Save big bucks on Disney World tickets, hotel stays and dining with these discounts
71The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Like most things we’ll spend money on in 2024, Disney World vacations continue to increase in price . A one-day ticket for the Magic Kingdom can cost as much as $189 (though purchasing multiday tickets does bring the per-day cost down), and even the cheapest on-site hotel options average around $150 per ni


Drawing Mode Is Google Keep's Best-kept Secret
LifeHacker / 13h
Google Keep has gone beyond the basic note-taking app you used for grocery lists. Yes, it's still as simple to use for your impromptu uses, but there's a nifty feature that can let you create richer notes. Are you using