Thursday, May 09, 2024

Technology News and More-Thursday Edition...

Technology News and More...



You Can Now Watch ‘Reading Rainbow’ and Old PBS Shows for Free
86LifeHacker / 9h
Decades after going off the air, classic PBS kids' shows like Reading Rainbow and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood continue to occupy a place in the hearts of many children of the '70s, '80s, and '90s. f you grew up during this era, perhaps you've wished that there was a way you could share these shows with the kids in your life, without paying per episode on a streaming site or watching grainy clips


French Air Traffic Controllers Win Right Not To Work: Can Show Up 3 Hours Late To Work, Leave Early
100+View from the Wing / 12h
French air traffic controllers have won the right to show up for work three hours late and knock off work three hours early; a raise of more than $19,000; 18 more days off each year; and retirement pensions at age 59. Continue reading ...



Q Acoustics 3000c: probably the most affordable speakers at High End Munich
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 54min
In case you've yet to be introduced to High End Munich (don't worry, they're a very friendly bunch), it's where the elite hi-fi brands go to flex – see the wild audio experiences , the outrageously expensive system separates or the mind-blowing headphones I've been lucky enough to try over the years. So, Q Acoustics ’ new 3000c loudspeaker series is something of a novelty at the elite German trad



'Keep your phone on 24 hours a day': Chinese PR boss apologises after backlash
33BBC News / 3h
Baidu's Qu Jing tells workers she does not care for them because, 'I am not your mum'.


Microsoft axes four game studios including Hi-Fi Rush developer
55BBC News / 3h
The Bafta award-winning game's developer is being closed alongside other studios owned by Bethesda.


Thai food delivery app Line Man Wongnai weighs IPO in Thailand, US in 2025
TechCrunch / 3h
Line Man Wongnai, an on-demand food delivery service in Thailand, is considering an initial public offering on a Thai exchange or the U.S. in 2025. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Enjoy a lifetime of Curiosity Stream documentary streaming for only £144.03
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Through May 12, you can sign up for lifetime access to Curiosity Stream documentaries for £144.03. Instead of spending the new year scrolling through the same old collection of documentaries on Netflix and Hulu, it might be time to try a platform that actually specialises in educational content. Curiosity Stream is home to a huge selection of high-quality documentaries and docu-series on a


How to watch Euro 2024 online for free
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Access free live streams of Euro 2024 from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . It's that beautiful time of year when the whole world seems to slow down and dedicate themselves to sport , in this case for Euro 2024. The best international sides in Europe are heading to Germany to compete for the trophy, with a selection of superstars on show including Kylian Mbappé , Harry Kane , Kevin


How to watch Bayer Leverkusen vs. AS Roma online for free
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Watch Bayer Leverkusen vs. AS Roma in the Europa League for free on ServusTV . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . Whether or not Bayer Leverkusen make it to the final of the Europa League, Xabi Alonso's side have enjoyed a truly special season. They are already Bundesliga champions, DFB Pokal finalists, and Europa League semi finalists, which i


Matter 1.3 pushes the standard into your kitchen, laundry room, and garage
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has rolled out Matter version 1.3 giving smart home brands another avenue to expand their tech into the kitchen and other areas of the house. One of the cornerstones in the update is the ability to control important, or more essential, household appliances. This includes ovens and cooktop stoves. With the former, homeowners can check the “state of the ove


A Disney+, Hulu and Max streaming bundle will soon be available in the US
Engadget / 5h
Disney has expanded its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to offer a streaming bundle sometime this summer. The companies have announced that they'll soon give people the option to pay for Disney+, Hulu and Max subscriptions together in the US. Hulu on Disney+ recently came out of beta , a few months after Disney took full ownership of the former late last year. An ad-free bundle with the t


'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 9
Mashable / 6h
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 May 9'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 come


Disney and Warner to bundle streaming services
300+BBC News / 6h
The media giants are under pressure to attract more subscribers to their streaming services.


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 9


Mashable / 7h
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


How Not to Get Brain-Eating Worms and Mercury Poisoning
38Wired / 7h
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had both a brain parasite and mercury poisoning at the same time. Just how rare is each condition?


Logic Pro gets some serious AI—and a version bump—for Mac and iPad
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / The new Chord Track feature. (credit: Apple) If you watched yesterday's iPad-a-palooza event from Apple, then you probably saw the segment about cool new features coming to the iPad version of Logic Pro, Apple's professional audio recording software. But what the event did not make clear was that all the same features are coming to the Mac version of Logic Pro—and both the Mac and iPad


Apple’s New iPad Ad Leaves Its Creative Audience Feeling … Flat
28NYT > Technology / 8h
An ad meant to show how the updated device can do many things has become a metaphor for a community’s fears of the technology industry.


Bryan Fuller Has Departed Friday the 13th Prequel Series Crystal Lake
Gizmodo / 9h
Friday the 13th prequel series Crystal Lake hasn’t aired a single episode and it already has a body count. The series, set for streaming on Peacock through A24, will no longer have Bryan Fuller—the Hannibal creator who’s no stranger to leaving projects early, including American Gods and Star Trek: Discovery —guiding… Read more...


Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, May 9 (game #836)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
This is potentially a difficult Quordle, with a couple of complications that may require you to play with some caution. To help you out, I've come up with a couple of hints – they're yours to use if you need them. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers. Quordle today (game #836) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels


Will AI dream up the hit TV shows of the future?
34BBC News / 9h
Television production firms admit they are already using AI to come up with new programme ideas.


The Best Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Any Mom Who Likes to Cook
LifeHacker / 9h
Just a quick public service announcement: Mother’s Day is this Sunday. If this fantastic holiday snuck up on you again this year (I’m in the same boat), it’s not too late to grab a thoughtful gift. Here’s a list of gift ideas for the chef, baker, coffee connoisseur, and everyone in between. While you may not have time to get something engraved or monogrammed, these gifts still say “You deserve to


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, May 9 (game #67)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Welcome to today's edition of the NYT's Strands game, in which your task is to uncover words hidden within a grid of letter. The twist is that they all follow a theme, and one – called the 'spangram' – describes that theme. It can be pretty tricky, but I've included some hints for you below to set you on your way. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if


Disney, Hulu and Max Streaming Bundle Will Soon Become Available
200+NYT > Technology / 9h
The offering from Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery shows how rival companies are willing to work together to navigate an uncertain entertainment landscape.


Microsoft Deploys Powerful New AI Completely Disconnected From the Internet
Futurism / 10h
Spy AI Microsoft has trained a massive new generative AI model — and strikingly, it's entirely disconnected from the internet. The idea is to provide US intelligence agencies with a way to analyze top-secret information without running the risk of leaking any of it. As Bloomberg reports , the company claims it's the first large language model (LLM) of its kind that's completely divorced from the


Why Running Slower Isn’t Always the Answer
LifeHacker / 10h
If you’re a beginner runner, you’ve probably heard the advice that you’re running too fast and you need to slow the heck down. I’ve told you this . Our resident marathoner Meredith Dietz has told you this . But today I’d like to present the counterpoint: all the ways that running fast—maybe even “too fast”—can benefit you. Why everybody says you should run slower To recap, everybody tells beginne


Don’t Fall for This Stolen iPhone Scam
LifeHacker / 10h
So, your iPhone was stolen. You're sad, obviously, but must move on, so you file an insurance claim and get a new phone. Some time later, you start receiving worrying texts from a stranger, who claims they've bought your stolen iPhone and now have access to everything you saved to it. They say they have your messages, saved credit cards, passwords, even your SIM, so they intercept all your phone


Lego's New Avengers Set Lets You Recreate One of the Coolest Shots in the MCU's History
Gizmodo / 10h
There are certainly things to like about Avengers: Age of Ultron . There are certainly things that are... less likely for you to like , that have certainly aged in the last nine years . But one thing that will be forever burned in the minds of Marvel fans? That slow-mo shot from the opening as the assembled Avengers leap… Read more...


American Airlines Flight Attendants Will Picket The White House On Thursday
View from the Wing / 10h
A strong showing may signal 'resolve' to the company - that flight attendants are united in getting a good deal and won't settle. But they probably do little else. Picketing in front of the White House might get more media, and make a point to the President not to intervene the way President Clinton did, halting an American Airlines flight attendants strike in 1993. I'm quite optimistic that a st


Critical vulnerabilities in BIG-IP appliances leave big networks open to intrusion
6 TTPs•
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Researchers on Wednesday reported critical vulnerabilities in a widely used networking appliance that leaves some of the world’s biggest networks open to intrusion. The vulnerabilities reside in BIG-IP Next Central Manager, a component in the latest generation of the BIG-IP line of appliances, which organizations use to manage traffic going into and out of their net


Dell responds to return-to-office resistance with VPN, badge tracking
21Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Getty ) After reversing its positioning on remote work, Dell is reportedly implementing new tracking techniques on May 13 to ensure its workers are following the company's return-to-office (RTO) policy, The Register reported today, citing anonymous sources. Dell has allowed people to work remotely for over 10 years. But in February, it issued an RTO mandate, and come May 13, most


40 years later, Kontrabant 2 for ZX Spectrum is rebroadcast on FM in Slovenia
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / In 1984, the year 2000 was so promising, students made entire games promising to take you there. (credit: Radio Student) Software is almost impossibly easy to download, distribute, and access compared to 40 years ago. Everything is bigger, faster, and more flexible, but there's a certain charm to the ways of diskettes and cassettes that is hard to recapture. That doesn't mean we can't t


Robot dogs armed with AI-targeting rifles undergo US Marines Special Ops evaluation
200+Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / A still image of a robotic quadruped armed with a remote weapons system, captured from a video provided by Onyx Industries. (credit: Onyx Industries ) The United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command ( MARSOC ) is currently evaluating a new generation of robotic "dogs" developed by Ghost Robotics , with the potential to be equipped with gun systems from defense tech company On


OpenAI Exploring How to Make AI-Generated Porn
200+Futurism / 11h
Model Behavior OpenAI's public-facing products — like its smash hit text generator ChatGPT and its formidable image generator DALL-E — are notorious prudes: ask them for anything NSFW, and they demure. But it sounds like that might not always be the case. As spotted by Wired , the company's newly-released "model spec " — basically draft documentation about how the company's AI should behave — not


How to Survive in the New World of AI per Sam Altman
Next Big Future / 11h
Sam Altman tells everyone how survive in the age of artificial intelligence. “You are about to enter the greatest golden age of human possibility…” To thrive in that world, the skills that matter most are: – Deep familiarity with the tools – Staying abreast of changes – Developing a great intuition for AI tools, where ... Read more


SpaceX Static Fire Test
Next Big Future / 11h
SpaceX had a successful static fire test and is ready for the fourth orbital flight of the Super Heavy Starship. Static fires for the third launch were about 2-3 weeks before the actual launch. Static fire of Flight 5 Starship’s six Raptor engines pic.twitter.com/UiF5UG432F — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 8, 2024


Protecting under-18s from harmful online content
BBC News / 11h
Marianna Spring on how the UK's media regulator wants to protect children from harmful content on social media.


Pixel Owners, Update Your Phones Now
LifeHacker / 11h
Following the discovery of a number of high-profile Android exploits, Google has released a new Android 14 security update . The latest version of the operating system is now available on supported Pixel devices and should come to other devices in the near future as their manufacturers roll it out. Those with supported phones should download the update as soon as possible. In addition to stamping


How to Help Your Noise-Sensitive Kid
LifeHacker / 11h
It was a typical day when my youngest son, just five years old, suddenly looked terrified. The bathroom hand dryers we were using were a bit too loud for his comfort, and the sudden increase in noise seemed to startle him. This incident wasn't the first time such a thing had happened: He had a similar reaction whenever the vacuum cleaner was turned on or my wife used her hair dryer. Strong reacti


Bluesky will soon add DMs and videos
Mashable / 11h
Decentralized social media platform Bluesky has already racked up some big accomplishments. It's a rare example of a Twitter / X-competitor that has found success. Most other competitors, aside from the Meta-backed Threads, have since-closed up shop. In addition, Bluesky was able to rack up more than 3 million sign-ups during a period where users could only join the platform via invite. Since ope


Apple’s ‘Crush’ ad is disgusting
91TechCrunch / 11h
The problem is not the media, but the message. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Amex Platinum’s 40th anniversary: Save big with offers from Sephora, Delta and Hertz
300+The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. It’s the 40th anniversary of The Platinum Card® from American Express , so Amex is offering savings to its cardmembers. Amex Offers can add extra points or savings to your upcoming purchases. We’re seeing savings with popular brands like Lululemon, Delta, Best Buy and Hertz. The bonuses and savings range f


On X-Men '97, Professor X and Magneto Fiddle While Rome Burns
Gizmodo / 11h
Marvel’s mutants are locked in a world of fighting— fighting to survive , fighting to push back against hate . But they’re also just as often fighting among themselves, and this week’s penultimate episode of X-Men ‘97 is no exception... except mutantdom’s two biggest drama queens couldn’t have picked a worst time for… Read more...


Microsoft launched a new ‘air-gapped’ AI model — but none of you can use it
Mashable / 12h
Microsoft has created a generative AI model for top-secret work within US intelligence agencies. This model is supported in an "air-gapped" environment, Microsoft's CTO of Strategic Missions and Technology William Chappell told Bloomberg . In other words, it's entirely unconnected, distinct from cloud-based AI models that are susceptible to hacks and data leaks. SEE ALSO: Microsoft to law enforce


Boeing Plane Fails to Deploy Nose Landing Gear, Skids to a Halt on Runway
100+Futurism / 12h
Full Frontal Boeing's safety issues have once again been caught on camera , as a new video of an intense emergency landing in Istanbul shows one of its cargo planes failing to deploy some of its landing gears. As Reuters reports , a FedEx-operated Boeing 737 was recorded skidding to a halt at Istanbul Airport earlier this week as its front landing gears remained upright. As now-viral CCTV videos


Matter 1.3 Tries to Simplify Smart Home Monitoring
How-To Geek / 12h
The latest iteration of Matter has arrived. Courtesy of the CSA, Matter 1.3 adds support for new energy monitoring, water management, EV charging, and home appliance technologies. It also adds support for scenes and improves on Matter's video-casting protocol.


The new iPad ad essentially flips AI-weary creatives the bird
27Mashable / 12h
Is it true that all press is good press, or is Apple's latest iPad ad — involving a different kind of press — a poorly timed misstep that could actually cost Apple the business of AI-weary creatives? Because right now, creatives are expressing their distaste at the sight of their tools being cheerfully destroyed en masse in a hydraulic press to make way for a shiny new tablet. It may just be the


10 Standout Sci-Fi Movies to Stream on Tubi
20Gizmodo / 12h
If you don’t mind commercials—and frankly, most streaming services these days have them—Tubi has one of the most vast libraries of genre films and TV , including horror , cult favorites , and sci-fi . Here are 10 picks to get you started, including all-time classics and more recent releases. Read more...


GM to Retire the Chevy Malibu to Make More EVs
100+NYT > Technology / 12h
The gasoline-powered Malibu was the last sedan sold by Chevrolet, the General Motors brand, in the United States.


How to Get Your iPhone to ‘Hear’ the Doorbell, Your Pet, and Other Important Sounds
LifeHacker / 12h
Do you sometimes miss the doorbell, or a knock at the door, because you're wearing headphones? Not everyone knows this but there's a built-in feature for recognizing sounds in the iPhone settings. By default this feature, which is in the accessibility section of System Settings, gives you a notification every time a given sound is heard, but you can take things even further by triggering a Shortc


These Are the Best Preorder Deals on the New iPads
LifeHacker / 12h
We've been telling you for some time not to buy iPads if you're the type of person who likes the latest tech, even if the iPad deals are tempting : If you managed to wait, the rumors about the new iPad were confirmed earlier this week during Apple's iPad event . The new 11th-generation iPad Pro will be the first Apple gadget to sport Apple's new M4 chip . You can get your preorders in now at Amaz


How to Tell If Someone Is Stealing Your Utilities
LifeHacker / 12h
As the cost of water, power, and internet services rise , it's understandable to want to find a way to get them for less, or even free—but that doesn't mean you have to excuse a neighbor or other nefarious individual leeching off of your utilities to their benefit. The most challenging aspect of utilities theft is how easy it is to not even notice that it’s happening, as most of us have only a fu


JetBlue and Etihad expand partnership to include mileage earning, award redemptions
40The Points Guy / 12h
JetBlue is bolstering its partnership with a major Gulf airline. The New York-based carrier has expanded its partnership with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways to include certain loyalty benefits. That means you can now use your JetBlue TrueBlue points to book a flight aboard Etihad — or vice versa. The same goes for earning miles. Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Avi


Undiagnosed Nerve Disorders May Be Widespread Among Americans, Doctors Warn
Gizmodo / 12h
A constant feeling of strange tingling and numbness along a person’s legs might be much more common than assumed in some parts of the U.S., new research out Wednesday suggests. Researchers have found evidence that a substantial majority of older adults in Flint, Michigan are experiencing neuropathy, an uncomfortable… Read more...


DeepMind adds a diffusion engine to latest protein-folding software
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Prediction of the structure of a coronavirus Spike protein from a virus that causes the common cold. (credit: Google DeepMind) Most of the activities that go on inside cells—the activities that keep us living, breathing, thinking animals—are handled by proteins. They allow cells to communicate with each other, run a cell's basic metabolism, and help convert the information stored in DNA


Intel’s and Qualcomm’s Huawei export licenses get revoked
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Huawei's Intel-powered Matebook X Pro has drawn criticism from US China hawks. (credit: Huawei) The US crackdown on exports to Huawei now includes even stronger restrictions than the company has already faced. The Financial Times reports that Intel and Qualcomm have had their Huawei export licenses revoked, so Huawei will no longer be able to buy chips from either company. The export ba


Bike brands start to adopt C-V2X to warn cyclists about cars
39Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / A C-V2X bicycle can alert a C-V2X-enabled car to its presence—note the large yellow icon on the screenshot of the Audi's digital instrument display. (credit: Audi) There's a fundamental flaw in current car safety tech: It's limited to line of sight. Or, perhaps, line of "sensing" is more accurate, because the way cameras and lidar work is to inspect the perimeter of a vehicle and use pr


Tesla Quietly Removes All U.S. Job Postings
100+Gizmodo / 12h
Tesla is a massive company, employing 140,000 people as of late last year. But over the past month, layoffs have torn through the electric vehicle maker — and now a hiring freeze appears to be in effect in North America. Read