Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Technology News Tuesdays, and More!

Technology News and More...

This 'House of the Dragon' scene is even sadder than you originally thought


25Mashable / 2h
From an innocent dog being kicked to the look on Heleana's (Phia Saban's) face during that final scene , it's fair to say that House of the Dragon Season 2 , episode 1 had some pretty upsetting moments. Well, guess what? One moments was actually even more upsetting than you initially realised! SEE ALSO: The new 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 intro shows the history of House Targaryen Early on in



Google DeepMind's new AI tech will generate soundtracks for videos
22Engadget / 1h
Google's DeepMind artificial intelligence laboratory is working on a new technology that can generate soundtracks, even dialogue, to go along with videos. The lab has shared its progress on the video-to-audio (V2A) technology project, which can be paired with Google Veo and other video creation tools like OpenAI's Sora . In its blog post, the DeepMind team explains that the system can understand


The Rings of Power season 2 will be 'all about the villains', the hit Prime Video show's co-creators say
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
The Rings of Power season two will explore a new "central relationship" between Sauron and one of the series' extensive supporting cast of characters. In quotes carried by the latest issue of Total Film magazine (via GamesRadar ), the high-fantasy show's co-showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay revealed that Galadriel won't be the primary protagonist this time around. That honor will fall on C



New Windows 11 bug is slowing down some devices by up to 25% and piling more misery on Microsoft
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7min
Windows 11 has a bug in testing right now which is seriously slowing down processors – although Microsoft has said it’s on the case, so it should be fixed soon enough, with any luck. The bug is present in test builds of Windows 11 24H2 – the next big update for the OS – and it’s caused by the Cross-Device Experience Host going wrong somewhere. Neowin spotted that a number of users have said their


Loop Golf looks to take the stress out of booking a tee time
TechCrunch / 12min
Golf has exploded in popularity in recent years thanks to the pandemic and the popularity of Netflix’s Full Swing documentary series. More than 531 million rounds of golf were played in the U.S. in 2023 alone, according to the National Golf Foundation. Because of this surge in interest, golfers are finding that nabbing a tee […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Amazon's Affordable Pharmacy program rxPass opens up to Medicare users with Prime
Engadget / 22min
Amazon launched its RxPass in 2023 , giving Prime customers access to generic medications that treat more than 80 common health conditions for $5 a month on top of a Prime subscription. Now, Amazon is expanding the program to Prime members on Medicare insurance, opening eligibility up to an additional 50 million customers, the company wrote in a press release . As before, members get unlimited ac


The Download: AI’s limitations
MIT Technology Review / 24min
This is today’s edition of The Download , our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology . Why does AI hallucinate? The World Health Organization’s new chatbot launched on April 2 with the best of intentions. The virtual avatar named SARAH, was designed to dispense health tips about how to eat well, quit smoking, de-stress, and more, for millions a


8 things to expect when you travel internationally from the US
The Points Guy / 27min
The summer travel season is here, and the demand is high . Whether you’re heading to see Taylor Swift in Europe , attending the Summer Olympics in Paris or taking advantage of the favorable dollar-to-yen exchange rate to visit Japan this year, expect full flights, busy hotels and crowds at major attractions worldwide. Experienced international travelers already know a lot of what awaits, but if y


Windows 11 gets a useful addition to the Start menu for a change –and some other nifty tweaks
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 29min
Windows 11 just got some useful new tweaks for the Start menu , albeit they are still in testing for the moment. These came as part of the preview build (version 22635) that was released in the Beta channel late last week, which Microsoft added to over the weekend. There are two main tweaks here for the Windows 11 interface, both of which apply to the Start menu and bolster it with useful functio


Bitsensing raises $25M for its high-resolution radar in autonomous driving
TechCrunch / 34min
Self-driving vehicles rely on many sensors to detect objects and the world around them. The conventional approach is to work with cameras and lidars. But some tech companies and startups have built advanced high-resolution radar technology for autonomous vehicles, also known as 4D imaging radar. Among them is a South Korea-based startup called bitsensing. The […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights res


Astronomers just witnessed a whole galaxy 'turn on the lights' in real-time
Mashable / 36min
Scientists for years thought the galaxy SDSS1335+0728 was about as remarkable as its serial code name. Then it did something scientists had never seen a galaxy do: Suddenly, this frankly forgettable space neighborhood 300 million light-years away threw the lights on. That happened nearly five years ago, and it's only gotten brighter since. Astronomers believe they just bore witness to a supermass


Delta One “Premium Lounges” Coming To JFK, LAX, BOS, In 2024
100+One Mile at a Time / 39min
Note : It’s rumored that the Delta One Lounge JFK will open on June 26, 2024. I’ve updated this post from earlier in the year to reflect that, plus all we know so far about these upcoming lounges. While Delta is by many metrics considered the most premium airline in the United States, one area where the airline has lagged the competition is when it comes to premium lounges dedicated to internatio


Fisker is the latest EV startup to declare bankruptcy
Engadget / 40min
Another EV manufacturer bites the dust with Fisker officially declaring bankruptcy. The US-based startup filed for Chapter 11 protections late Monday, June 17, with plans to restructure its debt and sell its assets. Unfortunately, this means the Alaska EV with a designated cowboy hat space will likely never come to fruition. "We are proud of our achievements, and we have put thousands of Fisker O


Starbucks and Marriott launch new partnership: Link your accounts for more rewards
The Points Guy / 50min
In 2000, Starbucks and Marriott signed a long-term licensing agreement to open Starbucks locations in select hotels across the U.S. and Canada. Now, the two brands are launching a new partnership that will let travelers earn more Starbucks Stars and Marriott Bonvoy points. To benefit from this partnership, you should enroll in Marriott Bonvoy and a U.S. Starbucks Rewards account. Then, link your


New: Marriott Bonvoy & Starbucks Rewards Partnership
One Mile at a Time / 54min
Marriott Bonvoy and Starbucks are launching a partnership, though definitely manage your expectations here, as the value for most people will be quite limited. Details of the Marriott & Starbucks partnership A new partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and Starbucks Rewards will provide some benefits to U.S. members who link their accounts . This offers the opportunity to earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy


Factor Review: Satisfying but Slimy
Wired / 54min
Factor’s prepared meals taste good, but they’re hard to eat.


Starbucks and Marriott Link Up For Double Stars and Bonus Points
View from the Wing / 55min
Are they figuring that very few will keep track of whether it’s a designated week to earn points? That’s certainly an interesting experiment in marketing – to see whether the announced partnership and linking gets most of the juice, or whether there’s significant uplift in spend during weeks members can earn 100 points. Continue reading ...


Dandelion co-founder is back to help you electrify your home for less
TechCrunch / 56min
Balto Energy hopes to speed the electrification by helping homeowners choose and finance the projects that make the most sense for them. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


SewerAI uses AI to spot defects in sewer pipes
TechCrunch / 56min
SewerAI sells cloud-based, AI-powered subscription products designed to streamline field inspections and data management of sewer infrastructure. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Watch the next Nintendo Direct here at 10AM ET
Engadget / 58min
It’s time for another Nintendo Direct, where the company teases, hypes and previews its upcoming slate of games. You can watch the June Nintendo Direct right here today at 10AM ET. Nintendo says today’s stream will focus on games coming in the second half of 2024 . We’ll likely hear about the remastered Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD , which arrives on June 27, and Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition


The best portable SSDs for 2024
Engadget / 58min
Whether you want to back up the data on your PC, transfer videos from your Mac or offload a few games from your PlayStation 5, a portable SSD is an easy way to expand your storage. These little bricks may cost more than traditional external hard drives, but they’re significantly faster, lighter and more reliable. But figuring out the best portable SSD for you isn’t as simple as just picking the o


How to Tell if Your Cellular Data Is Being Throttled
How-To Geek / 59min
Have you ever been out and about and realized your phone's data connection feels a lot slower than it should? Identifying throttling is crucial for ensuring you receive the data at the speed you pay for. But how can you be sure that throttling is happening to your phone? We'll show you.


VMware reveals critical security bugs, so patch now
Active Scanning (Enterprise T1595)•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 59min
VMware has released patches for two critical vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to execute malware remotely. Users are advised to apply the patches immediately and thus secure their endpoints. In a security advisory, VMware said it was tipped off on the existence of two "heap-overflow vulnerabilities in the implementation of DCERPC protocol" in vCenter Server. This tool works as a centraliz


Baldur's Gate 3's mod support patch will likely be the final major update
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
It seems Baldur's Gate 3 mod support will be the final major update as Larian Studios looks to move on to other projects. During BAFTA's An Evening with Baldur's Gate 3 event, Larian CEO Swen Vincke explained that while the development of the mod support feature hasn't yet finished and that it's been "hard trying to make that work", he and the team "really want to move forward and do new things"


It's over: Electric car maker Fisker files for bankruptcy
Mashable / 1h
Fisker is done. The company who rose to prominence as one of the independent Tesla "killers" filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware on Monday. "Fisker has made incredible progress since our founding, bringing the Ocean SUV to market twice as fast as expected," a company spokesperson said in a statement. While impressive in some regards , the Fisker Ocean also earned a bad rep for poor design choices an


Paradox Interactive officially cancels its Sims-like game Life by You
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
Paradox Interactive has officially canceled its Sims -like life simulation game, Life by You . The announcement comes from Paradox deputy CEO Mattias Lilja, who said that the decision to cancel its long-awaited game was "an incredibly difficult call to make and is a clear failure on Paradox’s part to meet both our own and the community's expectations." Life by You was first announced in May 2023


The Morning After: US Surgeon General says social media needs warning labels like cigarettes
Engadget / 1h
The US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, says social media should come with warning labels , writing in The New York Times that social media is an “important contributor” to the teen mental health crisis. Last year, he issued an advisory making similar arguments, saying social media posed a “profound risk” to teen mental health. In his latest op-ed, Murthy cited a study showing higher social media u


Bacon ice cream and nugget overload sees misfiring McDonald's AI withdrawn
57BBC News / 1h
The voice recognition system seems not to have recognised what customers were really ordering.


Air New Zealand Flight Diverts To Pick Up Stranded CEO
48One Mile at a Time / 1h
While the optics of a flight diverting in order to pick up the CEO might not sound great on the surface, this seems to have been handled pretty well , by all accounts… Tokyo-bound Air New Zealand 787 diverts to Brisbane New Zealand recently tried to send a trade delegation to Japan, including the country’s Prime Minister, Trade Minister, and 30 top business executives. Among those was Greg Foran,


Airbnb's Olympics Push Could Help it Win Over Paris
Wired / 1h
Paris officials have placed tough new restrictions on Airbnb rentals in recent years. The company is using the Olympics to try and win over locals and broaden its footprint in the iconic city.


More Android phones can finally talk to the Google Gemini AI in Google Messages
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
If you’re on Android and starting to feel a bit jealous of all the Apple Intelligence hype then you should know that Google Gemini is making its way to more Android phones via the Google Messages app. Using a compatible device you’ll be able to talk with Gemini, and use it just like you would any other chatbot like ChatGPT . You can draft messages, brainstorm plans, and ask questions about anythi


Virgin: Richard Branson Making Stuff Up, We’re Not Bringing Back The Onboard Bar
View from the Wing / 1h
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips. Continue reading ...


Why You Can't Trust Steam Deck Verified Labels and What to Do About It
How-To Geek / 2h
Valve's Deck Verified program aims to curate a game catalog for Steam Deck owners, but the program isnt perfect. Some verified games run poorly, while other unsupported games work great. Heres what you can do about it.


Threads finally launched its API
Mashable / 2h
Meta has finally launched the Threads API to developers, meaning third party businesses will be able to build their own integrations into the app. Announced Tuesday morning in a blog post by Threads director of engineering Jesse Chen, the API (Application Programming Interface) will allow external devs to build their own apps to publish custom image, video, text, or carousel posts, analyse perfor


Sonos updates its iOS and Android app again, but some key features are still missing
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
As we reported earlier this month, Sonos responded to the fierce criticism of its revamped iOS and Android app with a pledge to deliver multiple updates that'll fix some of the missing features. There was a big update in May (following no small amount of negative customer feedback on the Sonos app update ) and another in early June, and now yet another update is available. Sonos has issued offici


Hackers target F5 products with dangerous malware
Command and Scripting Interpreter (Enterprise T1059)•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
A hacking collective was stealing sensitive information from a company, using vulnerable F5 BIG-IP appliances to break in and achieve persistence. A report from cybersecurity researchers Sygnia outlined how the group, which is suspected to be of Chinese origin, found multiple F5 BIG-IP endpoints running vulnerable OS versions. They used the known vulnerabilities to deploy PlugX, a modular remote


Former United Airlines President Downgraded On KLM On $10K+ Ticket
One Mile at a Time / 2h
Christopher Elliott has the story of how a couple traveling from Florida to Tanzania were downgraded from business class to economy while on some very expensive business class tickets (thanks to Dennis for flagging this). Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this story is who these people were… Couple downgraded from KLM business class on long haul flight Fran and John Edwardson recently took a


Why artists are becoming less scared of AI
MIT Technology Review / 2h
This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here . Knock, knock. Who’s there? An AI with generic jokes. Researchers from Google DeepMind asked 20 professional comedians to use popular AI language models to write jokes and comedy performances. Their results were mixed. The comedians said that the tools were use


The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has been benchmarked with monstrous RAM but poor performance
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
This year Google could have something new planned, as leaks suggest a Pixel 9 Pro XL will sit above the standard Google Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro, and while you might expect such a phone to be seriously powerful, an early benchmark paints a mixed picture. Spotted by X user @QaM_Section31 (via NotebookCheck ), the Pixel 9 Pro XL is listed with 16GB of RAM on Geekbench , which is 4GB more than th


Jon Stewart slams Republicans for hypocrisy over their stance on crime
Mashable / 2h
Jon Stewart has spoken about Republican hypocrisy regarding crime in his latest "Daily Show" monologue.


The Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 both sound promisingly powerful
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
You can always count on the best Samsung phones to be powerful, but many of its upcoming devices could be even more powerful than you might have expected. First up, we have the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 , which might be less than a month away now, and so it has unsurprisingly started appearing in all sorts of places – including a Geekbench listing. This listing (spotted by MySmartPrice ) shows a ph


Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker just got leaked again, along with a probable launch date
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
A brand new Beats Pill speaker, an updated version of the old Beats Pill+ speaker that Apple discontinued in 2022 , has been popping up on Instagram in recent weeks, as various sporting celebs just happen to be captured waving it around. Only now, it looks like the speaker will finally be available to the rest of us. A new ad featuring LeBron James and L'il Wayne , posted to the Beats By Dre acco


Your Apple Watch could soon get a big sleep-tracking upgrade thanks to watchOS 11
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Apple didn't have enough time at its WWDC 2024 event to talk about every new feature in watchOS 11 . That means that some upgrades are only being spotted now, like the sleep-tracking bonus that one an eagle-eyed user has just discoverd. According to user jahshua06 on Reddit , watchOS 11 could contain a form of automatic sleep tracking. This feature has apparently appeared in the first developer b


ISIS Created Fake CNN and Al Jazeera Broadcasts
Wired / 2h
One video focused on giving ISIS credit for a terror attack that Russian disinformation blamed on Ukraine. “It was essentially fake news to debunk fake news,” says an expert.


United Explorer Card Review: Rich Benefits & 60K Miles
26One Mile at a Time / 2h
Link: Apply now for the United℠ Explorer Card Chase and United offer a suite of co-branded credit cards , and in this post, I wanted to take a closer look at the United℠ Explorer Card . I’d argue that this is one of the most lucrative airline credit cards with an annual fee of under $100. United Airlines Explorer Card Basics For June 2024 The United Explorer Card is probably Chase’s most popular


Google has a mysterious new device on the way – and it could be a new Nest thermostat
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
A mysterious new Google device has appeared in filings at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US – but we're not sure exactly what it is. It could be a new Nest Thermostat , or perhaps a smart speaker or smart display. As reported by Android Authority , the gadget in question unsurprisingly supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. More interesting is a mention of 60GHz radio support, whi


Apple is discontinuing Apple Pay Later, but a replacement is coming
Mashable / 3h
Apple Pay Later is no more, but a replacement is coming. Introduced at WWDC 2022 and launched in March 2023 in the U.S., Apple Pay Later was a service allowing users to split payments into installments without additional fees or interest. The service was initially offered to a limited number of customers before being expanded to all users in the U.S. in October 2023. It was limited to payments be


How gamification sparked the AI era in tech
Mashable / 3h
This is the time of the AI tech boom. The AI market is currently $241.8 billion according to Statista . For scale, that means AI already dwarfs Statista's estimated size for the global movie industry — $79.22 billion — and puts it neck-and-neck with the video game industry at $282.30 billion . Since the auspicious November 2022 day which saw OpenAI unleash ChatGPT on the masses, AI products have


This online learning bundle includes unlimited access to Rosetta Stone
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Have an educational summer with The Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle featuring Rosetta Stone for only $179.97 (reg. $849) now through July 26 with coupon code ROSETTA10 . Want to stay productive this summer? If you're hoping to accomplish more than a nice tan this season, this lifetime learning bundle featuring Rosetta Stone is ready to help you feel accomplished by Labor Da


Block annoying ads and get VPN access with this AdGuard unlimited bundle for $25
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Through June 26, pay only $24.97 (reg. $293.98) for this value-packed AdGuard 3-year subscription bundle , including access to AdGuard VPN for 10 devices. There's a long-running myth that the average person sees 10,000 ads a day. But come on, it's obviously an exaggeration — unless someone out there was born with a few extra pairs of eyes. The real number is probably somewhere between 100


Browse securely with 2 years of NordVPN, now 55% off
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: For a limited time, score 55% off a 2-year NordVPN subscription to help protect your digital data. Some folks might think VPNs are just digital snake oil, making grand promises about "protecting" you online while doing squat. But here's the kicker: those people probably used a free VPN. Free VPNs are notorious for offering shoddy service and barely shielding you from online threats. The be


Level up your party with a gaming version of Heads Up, now only $19 via Steam
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Spice up your party entertainment with Heads Up! Phones Down Edition for PC gaming , now on sale for only $19 (reg. $39.99). Heads Up is the modern, digital version of charades, where players turn their backs to the computer or TV screen while their friends or family try to guess the word or phrase displayed. Be ready to think on your feet and have uncontrollable laughter fill the room. If


NASA mission spots Chinese spacecraft on far side of the moon
Mashable / 3h
NASA's moon -orbiting spacecraft can spot trails left by astronaut boots on the lunar surface. Now, it's captured a view of China's most recent moon landing. The China National Space Administration landed its robotic Chang'e-6 mission in the expansive South Pole-Aitken Basin in early June. A week later, on June 7, the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter passed over and captured footage of the uncre


5 best Apple rumors of 2024 (so far) — you'll be crossing your fingers for these
Mashable / 3h
Apple is one of the most hush-hush tech giants, doing whatever it takes to ensure that its plans and blueprints don't leave Cupertino. However, it seems like there are cracks in its secrecy armor. Whether it's coming from Bloomberg Apple leaker Mark Gurman or Ming-Chi Kuo, two respected bean spillers, there are always leaks that flow from the iPhone maker, feeding the thirstiest Apple enthusiasts


The best TikTok food trends of 2024 (so far)
Mashable / 3h
TikTok and food go hand-in-hand. The platform is home to a diverse range of food-related content, from creators sharing recipes and reviewing food to those indulging in mukbangs and everything in between. Naturally, this has led to the emergence of various food trends. SEE ALSO: The best memes of 2024 (so far) Interestingly, 2024 has seen a shift away from stunt food, a type of content that often


4 AI travel concierge services that'll help plan your next vacation
Mashable / 3h
Thanks to the explosion in popularity of generative artificial intelligence , a whole range of products have sprung up dedicated to solving problems you didn't know you had with the help of algorithms and chatbots, and one of those is the "problem" of planning a vacation. AI travel concierge services are a fresh industry that exists in the same vein as AI apartment-hunting and fitness planner too


Why AI assistants are having such a moment
Mashable / 3h
Gone are the days of stumbling over your words to prompt Siri or Alexa to do your bidding: AI is making them quicker, smarter, and more like a prescient little human sitting in your pocket than ever before. Advertised as having "life-bettering" reasoning, intelligence, and conversational skills, the assistant applicant pool has only grown in the last year: Would you like a digital employee that c


AI chatbots are being used for companionship. What to know before you try it
Mashable / 3h
Companions chatbots created by generative artificial intelligence offer consumers an opportunity they've never had before. With a few clicks, and often a credit card payment, you can build a custom AI companion exactly to your liking. Want a boyfriend of Latino heritage with brown eyes, a muscular build, and short hair, who happens to enjoy hiking and is, of all things, a gynecologist? Candy.ai g


5 most fun AI products in 2024 so far
Mashable / 3h
AI is taking the tech world by storm, but AI itself is more than just a chatbot. AI features are being built into all different kinds of tech, from the devices like your phone that you use every day, to the apps that you’ve been using for years, to new websites that will supercharge your productivity. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a host of new devices and products that put AI front and cen


Why being funny is AI's toughest test
Mashable / 3h
"Hey everyone! Great to be here. You know, life is a lot like a toaster. Sometimes you're popping out of bed ready to take on the day, and other times you feel like you're stuck on the darkest setting, just waiting for something to change." That's the opener ChatGPT offered when I asked it to come up with "an original comedy routine:" An observation so far from joke territory, with a landing so b


Dragon Age: The Veilguard will take place 10 years after Dragon Age: Inquisition
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
BioWare has confirmed Dragon Age: The Veilguard takes place 10 years after its predecessor Dragon Age: Inquisition . Confirmation comes from a recent Discord Q&A session shared by Shinobi602 on X / Twitter (via Eurogamer ) wherein BioWare revealed a ton of details about its upcoming fantasy role-playing game. Among the tidbits, it was revealed that The Veilguard will be set a decade after Inquisi


'We will try our best' says Final Fantasy 14 director on bringing the popular MMORPG to Nintendo Switch 2
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
Final Fantasy 14 Online director and producer Naoki Yoshida has said he'd like anybody to be able to play the popular massively-multiplayer-online-role-playing-game (MMORPG) "regardless of device," including the tentatively named Switch successor, Nintendo Switch 2 . As reported by GamesRadar , Yoshida said as much to YouTube outlet Easy Allies in their interview with him at the Final Fantasy 14:


My Favorite Affordable Sheets Are Discounted Right Now
Wired / 3h
Quince makes some of our favorite cheap-yet-fantastic sheets to sleep on. They're already a great price—and now they're on sale.


Proton is going non-profit
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
Proton, the company behind one of the best password managers and best VPN products around, has announced that it will be going non-profit. The Proton project has been famously open source across all of its solutions, including Proton VPN and Proton Mail. This switch will continue to ensure Proton products are built in the interest of the community they serve by adopting the Swiss non-profit struc


Amazon Union Workers Join Forces With the Teamsters
NYT > Technology / 3h
An affiliation agreement between the Amazon Labor Union and the 1.3 million-member Teamsters signals an escalation in challenging the online retailer.


I Am Laura Kipnis-Bot, and I Will Make Reading Sexy and Tragic Again
20Wired / 3h
Margaret Atwood, Marlon James, Lena Dunham, Roxane Gay: We’ve all agreed to be turned into AI reading companions by a mysterious company called Rebind. I report from the inside.


Waabi’s genAI promises to do so much more than power self-driving trucks
27TechCrunch / 3h
For the last two decades, Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO of autonomous trucking startup Waabi, has been developing AI systems that can reason as a human would. The AI pioneer had previously served as the chief scientist at Uber ATG before launching Waabi in 2021. Waabi launched with an “AI-first approach” to speed up the […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for June 18 (#373)
How-To Geek / 3h
Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn'tConnections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.


Debunking the AI myths: A future filled with potential, not peril
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become ubiquitous, permeating everything from our daily news feeds to science fiction blockbusters. But with this growing presence comes a wave of misconceptions. Scary headlines and dystopian visions often overshadow the very real and positive impact AI is already having. Myth #1: AI will doom humanity The dramatization of AI as humanity's endgame pervades media


Why does AI hallucinate?
MIT Technology Review / 4h
MIT Technology Review Explains: Let our writers untangle the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You can read more from the series here. The World Health Organization’s new chatbot launched on April 2 with the best of intentions. A fresh-faced virtual avatar backed by GPT-3.5, SARAH (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health) dispenses health tips in eight d


NYT's The Mini crossword answers for June 18
Mashable / 4h
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times ' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe. With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it. So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustr


EV startup Fisker files for bankruptcy
TechCrunch / 4h
Fisker Group Inc., the EV startup founded by famed designer Henrik Fisker, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — a capstone to months of problems with its Ocean SUV that included recalls and dozens of lemon law lawsuits. The California-based company, which filed for bankruptcy in Delaware District Court, had been seeking a deal with […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal


Crypto Scammers Are Targeting Trump’s MAGA Supporters
27Wired / 4h
After Donald Trump’s campaign announced it would accept cryptocurrency, the operators of a host of fraudulent websites have sought to hustle his supporters.


Stephen Colbert defends Milwaukee after Donald Trump called it a 'horrible city'
Mashable / 5h
"Late Show" host Stephen Colbert has defended Milwaukee after Donald Trump reportedly described it as a "horrible city."


Threads finally launches its API for developers
22TechCrunch / 5h
Meta said today that it finally launched its much-awaited API for Threads so developers can build experiences around it. This will allow-third party developers to create new experinces around Mark Zuckerberg separately posted about the API launch saying “The Threads API is now widely available and coming to more of you soon.” In a blog […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use


Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 review: A super slim travel companion for almost any gadget
22Engadget / 5h
When I’m traveling, a portable mouse is a must. However, I’ve never really felt the same way about keyboards, because most portable options are still too big or are saddled with some major compromises in the name of lightness. But with the Keys-To-Go 2, Logitech has managed to create a super sleek typing accessory that disappears into your bag and can be paired with almost any device you can thin


Logitechs Keys-To-Go 2 Takes Portability to the Extreme
How-To Geek / 5h
Are you in need of an obsessively slim portable keyboard? Logitech is now launching Keys-To-Go 2, a wireless keyboard that's less than half an inch thick.


CuspAI raises $30M to create a Gen-AI-driven search engine for new materials
23TechCrunch / 5h
The company says its platform functions like a search engine for materials, enabling the fast evaluation of a “vast number of novel structures.” © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


SUSE wants a piece of the AI cake, too
22TechCrunch / 5h
Suse on Tuesday is announcing its AI strategy and SUSE AI solutions, a new vendor- and LLM-agnostic generative AI platform. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Instead of Mining the Deep Sea, Maybe People Should Just Fix Stuff
21Wired / 5h
A new report contends that deep sea mining is not only an environmental risk, it’s also not going to help meet the world’s renewable energy needs.
YESTERDAY



Startup backed by Dropbox and Figma debuts breakthrough tech that could solve one of the biggest AI problems — AMD's BFF Lamini promises to cut hallucinations by 90% using mindmap-like process
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Anyone who has used generative AI for any length of time will be more than familiar with hallucinations. These are when AI systems generate false or misleading information, a flaw often rooted in limitations within their training data or model design. Such inaccuracies can emerge unpredictably and vary widely in their severity - from minor errors to substantial distortions that could significantl


Unmasking Mac malware – strategies for a growing threat
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Apple devices have long enjoyed a reputation of being inherently more secure than other operating systems. Even Apple’s infamous “Get a Mac” advert campaign highlighted the security of Macs and poked fun at certain Windows’ security features. When this campaign launched back in 2006, the statement was probably true. Macs tended to be more common as personal devices, making them a less attractive


Google brings Gemini mobile app to India with nine Indian languages support
TechCrunch / 7h
Google has released its dedicated AI mobile app Gemini in India — over four months after its debut in the U.S. — with support for nine Indian languages alongside English. The Gemini mobile app in India supports nine Indian languages: Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. This lets users in the country […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For persona


Chrome on Android can now read the internet as a new update improves app accessbility
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Chrome on Android can now read as Google is rolling out a new accessibility feature called Listen to This Page to the mobile app, which gives the browser text-to-speech capabilities. According to the official Chrome help page , the tool can be accessed by tapping on the three-dot menu in the upper right hand corner and the new functionality can be found in the fourth section of the browser menu.


Get lifetime access to 25 Rosetta Stone languages and more courses for under $190
Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: Starting on June 18, lean into personal and professional growth with this lifetime learning bundle featuring Rosetta Stone and StackSkills Unlimited for just £149.55 (reg. £668.27). You're never too old to learn something new. Whether you enjoy learning for learning's sake or like to put new skills to use professionally, online courses make it easier than ever. This learning bundle feature


How to watch Portugal vs. Czech Republic online for free
Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: Watch Portugal vs. Czech Republic in Euro 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The Euro 2024 has kicked off, beginning a full four weeks of action. And though the tournament is still in the group stages, it's never too early for a big-time fixture. And Portugal vs. Czech Republic is certainly that. Portugal are form


How to watch Turkey vs. Georgia online for free
Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: Watch Turkey vs. Georgia in Euro 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . Break out the snacks and refreshments, and make those chants as boisterous as possible, because Euro 2024 has kicked off — one of the biggest tournaments in world football. While Turkey vs. Georgia feels like a low-key fixture, this Group F opener


Logitech's new MX Ink stylus might be a dream art tool for your Meta Quest headset
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Logitech has recently unveiled its first mixed reality stylus, and it's exclusive to the Meta Quest series. Known as the MX Ink, it's designed to give people a more precise way to create and draw when wearing a Meta headset. While you can utilize the native controllers for content creation, they simply don’t offer the same level of accuracy as a stylus. One of the first things you’ll notice looki


Apple scraps its Pay Later loan scheme
38BBC News / 9h
It marks a retreat for the technology giant from plans to offer traditional financial services.


Building a $2bn online game by breaking the rules
28BBC News / 9h
How the Elder Scrolls Online survived a difficult launch to become a quiet gaming success story.


'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for June 18
Mashable / 10h
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 June 18's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle co


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for June 18
Mashable / 11h
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


TOMORROW X TOGETHER VR concert coming to the U.S. this fall
Mashable / 12h
If you missed out on the U.S. leg of TOMORROW X TOGETHER's current world tour , here's some news which might help soothe the pain. Mashable can exclusively reveal that the K-pop boy group will launch a virtual reality concert this fall, allowing you to get closer to the idols than you ever could in real life — barring a hi-touch ticket . Produced by VR concert company AmazeVR in partnership with


Finbourne taps $70M for tech that turns financial data dust into AI gold
TechCrunch / 12h
Finbourne, founded out of London’s financial center, has built a platform to help financial companies organize and use more of their data in AI and other models. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.