Saturday, August 17, 2024

Technology News and More-Saturday Edition...

Technology News and More...







Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun calls response to her viral performance 'pretty devastating'
400+Mashable / 21h
Australia's viral Olympic breakdancer Rachael "Raygun" Gunn has finally made a public statement about her internationally maligned performance at the Paris games, and it seems she's standing by her efforts. The Games may be over, but the drama continues. In a video posted to Instagram on Thursday , Raygun stated that she was unprepared for the backlash she'd received, and that she'd hoped to "bri


What Is YouTube Premium, and Is It Worth It?
79How-To Geek / 16h
YouTube Premium is a monthly subscription service that promises to improve your viewing experience on the internet's largest video platform. Here's what you get for your money, so you can decide whether it's worth it.


Forget pay to view, pay for privacy is the latest problem for people online
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 46min
It was a cold Parisian day in 1948 when privacy became a recognized human right. As our lives become increasingly digitalized, new laws have popped up across the world to draw a line on the restless abuse of our data online. Now, in the worst capitalistic dystopian nightmare, the concept of privacy as a commodity has taken a sinister turn - alas, the privacy paywall. The so-called 'Pay or Consent



ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech news stories from Google's Pixel 9 reveals to OpenAI's GPT 4-o concerns


TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
This week Google wowed us with its Made by Google event, which introduced us to four Pixel phones including the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold , a new smartwatch, new earbuds, and (of course) plenty of Gemini AI updates to sink our teeth into. We were also exposed to major VR headset leaks from Meta and Pico, and Apple's iPhone Air was rumored as a slim alternative to its usual smartphones. To get up to



The Paris Olympics saw a whole load of domain-related cybercrime
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Fans attending the recent Paris Olympics were the target of cybercriminals looking to capitalize on scarce tickets and eager fans with a multitude of scams, experts have revealed. A surge in malicious online activity before and during the games outlined the threat consumers face when navigating the games, as large sporting and ticket events often attract criminals who look to take advantage of fa


Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Saturday, August 17, 2024
LifeHacker / 3h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for August 17, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is medium difficult; I got it in four. Beware, there are spoilers below for August 17, Wordle #1,155! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle Wordle lives here on the New York Time


How to watch the Giants vs. the Texans online for free
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Live stream the New York Giants vs. the Houston Texans for free. You can watch the NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . It was a strong start to the preseason from both the Giants and Texans, with respective wins over the Lions and Steelers in Week 1. Both teams had standout performances, which means — while it's only preseason competition — there are p


How to watch the Bills vs. the Steelers online for free
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Live stream the Buffalo Bills vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers for free. You can watch the NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The NFL preseason is now well underway, with a second weekend of games that includes the Buffalo Bills vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bills took a heavy loss to the Chicago Bears in the first week, which is sometimes all the incen


How to watch the Lions vs. the Chiefs online for free
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Live stream the Detroit Lions vs. the Kansas City Chiefs for free. You can watch the NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . This year's Super Bowl winners, the Kansas City Chiefs, are back in action this week in the preseason, hosting the Detroit Lions. The Chiefs are among the favorites to win the Super Bowl again this season, though the Lions scored the


How to watch the Buccaneers vs. the Jaguars online for free
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Live stream the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars for free. You can watch the NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been enjoying one of the best periods in franchise history, following four consecutive seasons in the playoffs, three consecutive NFC South titles, and a best-ever streak of 9-8 last season. Can


How to watch the Falcons vs. the Ravens online for free
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Live stream the Atlanta Falcons vs. the Baltimore Ravens for free. You can watch the NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The second week of the NFL preseason sees the Baltimore Ravens host the Atlanta Falcons, which follows losses for both teams in the first week of preseason. The Ravens had a great run last season, winning the AFC North and clinched N


How to watch Chicago Sky vs. Los Angeles Sparks online
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Watch Chicago Sky vs. Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass . Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The 2024 season of the WNBA is well underway, and the Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks are set to go head-to-head. Both teams have had strong performances so far, with the next match anyone's game. Don't want to miss out? If you want


Learn to be a white-hat hacker in this £31 online course bundle
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: Study the fundamentals of ethical hacking in the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle on sale for £31.10 (reg. £854.28). The IT industry is always changing, whether it's because of new technology or the latest major data leak. That constant evolution and the steep learning curve makes it tough to enter the industry without a good teacher, but you don't have to be in school to find


Judge calls foul on Venu, blocks launch of ESPN-Warner-Fox streaming service
Ars Technica - All content / 4h
Enlarge (credit: Gina Ferazzi via Getty) A US judge has temporarily blocked the launch of a sports streaming service formed by Disney’s ESPN, Warner Bros and Fox, finding that it was likely to “substantially lessen competition” in the market. The service, dubbed Venu, was expected to launch later this year. But FuboTV, a sports-focused streaming platform, filed an antitrust suit in February to bl


Report: The iPhone 16 Pro might come in a unique shade of "bronze"
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
Funnily enough, one of the hotly debated topics surrounding the iPhone 16 Pro is what color it’ll come in . Back in late July, notable leaker Sonny Dickson posted an image on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) displaying dummy units of the smartphone in Natural Titanium (basically silver), White Titanium, and Black Titanium. There is supposed to be a fourth color, Rose Titanium pink, alth


Gogoro delays India plans due to policy uncertainty, launches bike-taxi pilot with Rapido
22TechCrunch / 5h
Gogoro has deferred its India plans over delay in government incentives, but the Taiwanese company has partnered with Rapido for a bike-taxi pilot. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 17
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 August 17'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


NYT Strands hints, answers for August 17
Mashable / 6h
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands , the New York Times ' elevated word-search game. By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections . SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 17 SEE ALSO: Wordle today


What is the Value of XAI and X Now and Can They Reach $80 Billion Each Within 5 Months ?
Next Big Future / 6h
People say that X aka Twitter was a bad investment because advertising revenue is down from when Elon Musk purchased it at $44 billion. The losses are not that bad while advertising is down, Elon was able to drastically reduce costs and headcount. X also added subscription revenue. A major thing that people forget is ... Read more


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 17
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


Lenovo's next Chromebook could be a powerhouse fueled by artificial intelligence
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Lenovo is working on two new AI-powered Chromebook tablets collectively codenamed Ciri. That is what news site Chrome Unboxed claims after tracking the devices on two “public repositories” – cros.tech and Chromium Dash – which pull their info from Google servers. According to the publication, an official reveal may be happening soon. The tablet will reportedly be known as the Lenovo Chromebook Du


Only AI can understand Premier League offside rules
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
The Premier League kicks off this week, and a new AI referee tool to spot when players are offside will be coming on board before it ends, as first reported by Wired. The league has turned to sports tech company Genius Sports and its Semi-Assisted Offside Technology (SAOT). Unlike the usual video assistant referee (VAR) systems, SAOT doesn’t need expensive 4K cameras, just a network of between 24


Actors demand action over 'disgusting' explicit video game scenes
60BBC News / 8h
They say the scenes, which they often don't know about in advance, leave them "shaken" and "upset."


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Saturday, August 17 (game #167)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read


NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Saturday, August 17 (game #433)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues. What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers , Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.


Quordle today – hints and answers for Saturday, August 17 (game #936)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles. S PO


A16z offers social media tips after its founder’s ‘attack’ tweet goes viral
TechCrunch / 9h
On Friday, the venture firm Andreessen Horowitz tweeted out a link to its guide on how to “build your social media presence” which features advice for founders. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


DARPA Validates if Industrial Scale Fault Tolerant Quantum Computers Can Be Made by 2035
Next Big Future / 9h
DARPA is hosting a QBI (Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI)) proposers day on Sept. 3, 2024, for quantum computing companies that believe they are on track to develop an industrial-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer in the near term. The goal of the hybrid in-person and virtual proposers day is to introduce the quantum computing research and development ... Read more


Weekly Deep Dive into the Most Important AI Developments
Next Big Future / 9h
Nextbigfuture on substack now has weekly update on AI. It does deep dives on major developments in AI, AI startups, AI research and AI funding. 1. Google launches Gemini Live for advanced voice conversations 2. XAI launches Grok 2 3. Sakana AI makes a powerful AI Scientist 4. Cosine Genie launches a superior AI Software ... Read more


'Alien: Romulus' has a great Easter egg right at the start
Mashable / 9h
Movies in the Alien franchise are always filled to the brim with references to each other, and Alien: Romulus is no exception. In Fede Álvarez's Alien sequel/ Aliens prequel, there's a subtle bit of set decoration that's become a tradition in the franchise: the drinking bird. In one of the very first scenes in Alien: Romulus , mine worker Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny) and her android brother And


Beach deal alert: Fly nonstop to Cancun, Mexico from $261 round-trip
The Points Guy / 10h
It’s easy to see why Cancun is Mexico’s most popular destination. It’s home to beautiful beaches, jaw-dropping Mayan ruins, and a busy nightlife scene … getting people to visit this sun-soaked jewel on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is not a hard sell. But we’ve been tipped off to a new fare sale that can get you to Cancun at a steal. Carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, South


Fubo wins injunction to delay Disney-Fox-Warner’s live sports streamer Venu
24Engadget / 10h
The sports streaming service Fubo has temporarily fended off a huge financial threat from Disney-Fox-Warner’s potential competitor Venu Sports and its collection of sports broadcasting licenses thanks to a recent court ruling. A federal judge in the Southern District of New York granted Fubo’s request for an injunction in its antitrust case against the joint sports streaming venture and its paren


How to Hide the Games You're Playing on Steam
43How-To Geek / 10h
Steam shares your gameplay activity by default. If you're playing Hello Kitty: Island Adventure or Bad Rats , you might want to keep your gameplay a secret. Here's how to hide your Steam activity from your friends.


Doctors Suggest 'Raw-Dogging' Your Flight Is Bad For Your Health
29Futurism / 10h
We regret to inform you that there's another semi-ironic and potentially harmful TikTok trend that's taking the internet by storm: "raw-dogging" a flight. It's the ultimate act of ponderous, self-flagellating stoicism: instead of doing the normal things people do to kill time on a miserable, long-haul flight, you tough it out by doing… nothing. Sit up straight, don't eat the complimentary peanuts


Deal alert: Points and miles travel deals for August 2024
300+The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: Some of the below offers may be targeted. Citi is a TPG advertising partner. From lucrative deals for bonus points on hotel stays to generous sales of airline miles, we’re finding plenty of travel deals to help you earn and redeem your points and miles so you can book the vacation of your dreams. Recently, American Airlines AAdvantage members got the exciting news that they can fin


20 of the Most Thrilling Crime Dramas Streaming on Netflix
LifeHacker / 10h
We love crime, honestly, as long as it isn't happening to us. Whether it's a chilling drama based on real-life events, a clever mystery, or a tale of a heist gone wrong, watching criminals fail and the cops triumph, or vice versa, can be intensely satisfying. So grab some popcorn and your favorite handcuffs while you enjoy some of the best and twistiest crime drams streaming on Netflix. Molly's G


When Should You Use ZTNA Instead of a VPN?
How-To Geek / 10h
Over the last few years or so, a new kind of network security system has emerged. Known by the acronym ZTNA, these powerful tools can replace VPNs. Should you use a ZTNA instead of a VPN?


Google acknowledges it 'missed the mark' with onerous demands for Pixel 9 influencers
Engadget / 11h
If you thought Google might be taking a break after unveiling new Pixel 9 devices at its Made By Google event this week, you would be mistaken. A recent post on Threads appears to show part of the sign-up form to receive Pixel devices, and the language in question mandates that signees feature Google's hardware "in place of any competitor mobile devices" or else "we will need to cease the relatio


I used to think AI was creepy, but these Google AI features are just sad
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Google AI will help you “be more productive” by writing thank-you notes, said Google’s VP of Devices and Services, Rick Osterloh, in an interview with Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal ($/£). Osterloh says putting down the pen and switching to digital thank-yous helped him write “10 times more emails than handwritten thank you notes.” In the future, AI will help us write exponentially more


St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is now open
25The Points Guy / 11h
One of TPG’s most anticipated new hotels of 2024 is finally open to travelers looking for an ultraluxury escape in South Florida. The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is officially open to any guest with a hotel, spa or restaurant reservation, per a phone call TPG made to the hotel Friday. The new resort — which is the only new St. Regis opening in the U.S. this year — sits on a beautiful barrier is


Guests Are Standing In Line For Hours Just To Check Into Las Vegas Hotels
21View from the Wing / 11h
Long check-in lines are de rigueur in Las Vegas. People go to Vegas for a break, and the start of their trip is a queue - probably first for the ride from the iarport to their hotel, and then to get into their room. What could be more of a mass experience, and what could make an upscale hotel feel more like Circus Circus than this? This is reportedly a bigger problem at Caesars hotel properties l


What Is an "Asset Flip" Game and Are They a Bad Thing?
How-To Geek / 11h
You may have heard some poorly-received games being accused of being "asset flip" titles, but I bet more than a few people have no idea what this particular insult means in the context of video games. Thankfully, we can rectify that right away.


This Entirely AI-Generated Local "News" Site Is Incredibly Depressing
29Futurism / 11h
Northwestern Arkansas has a new local news site — and it's entirely AI-generated, complete with "AI reporters" and all. According to Nieman Lab , the digital news website called OkayNWA has been around since it first cropped up as an app last year. And unlike a lot of AI-generated local news sites, most of which fall under the umbrella of "pink-slime" journalism — automated local news content tha


Anyone With a Google Account Can Try Google's Latest AI Image Generator Right Now
LifeHacker / 11h
Google's latest AI image generation model, Imagen 3, is now publicly available in the United States, and all you need to try it out is a free Google account. As spotted by VentureBeat , the company quietly opened up its model this week, publishing its research in a paper on Tuesday . It comes two months after the company first announced the new model at Google I/O back in May . In a post on Huggi


The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
100+The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. With its recent addition of Mr & Mrs Smith properties and Under Canvas locations, plus the termination of its Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership, World of Hyatt has certainly made headlines in 2024. Despite its growing portfolio, Hyatt has fewer properties than Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors . Sti


This man flew first class on six U.S. airlines to see which offered the best experience
Mashable / 11h
Are you looking for travel tips? Debating whether the extra cost for a first-class ticket is worth it? Or perhaps you're unsure which airline to choose? Don’t worry — YouTuber Will Davis, known as Trek Trendy , might have the answers you seek. On Aug. 11, Davis uploaded a 38-minute video titled " Flying First Class on Every US Airline (Back to Back) " to his YouTube channel, which has over 1 mill


'The Union' star J. K. Simmons reveals why he keeps doing action movies
Mashable / 11h
'The Union' actor J.K. Simmons keeps taking roles where he has to do stunts and he's as surprised as anyone as to why.


OpenAI shut down an Iranian influence op that used ChatGPT to generate bogus news articles
Engadget / 11h
OpenAI said on Friday that it thwarted an Iranian influence campaign that used ChatGPT to generate fake news stories and social posts aimed at Americans. The company said it identified and banned accounts generating content for five websites (in English and Spanish) pretending to be news outlets, spreading “polarizing messages” on issues like the US presidential campaign, LGBTQ+ rights and the wa


Microsoft Finally Fixed Buggy Windows 10 & Windows 11 Updates
How-To Geek / 12h
Accidents happen; not everything you'll push out the door will be perfect, but you are responsible for how you handle things afterward. Microsoft has finally pulled a problematic update it rolled out a whopping seven years ago, but better late than never?


Get 10% off your next United flight when you sign up for text alerts
The Points Guy / 12h
United Airlines is celebrating National Aviation Day on Aug.19 by giving budget-savvy travelers the gift of savings. United shared the deal via its Instagram page with a cheeky message implying that texts from United are better than texts from your ex. With this promotion, you can save 10% off your next domestic United flight — but you must act fast to get this deal. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY On


It's not just you: ChatGPT and OpenAI were down today
Mashable / 12h
UPDATE: On June 4, 2024, at 7:57 a.m. EDT, OpenAI resolved the incident at 12:28 p.m. PT. All ChatGPT systems are now operational. If you tried to use OpenAI or ChatGPT in the past few minutes and received the digital equivalent of a blank stare, you're not alone. OpenAI is experiencing a "partial outage." The company posted that there are "elevated error rates for ChatGPT and Platform API. At 11


OpenAI shuts down election influence operation that used ChatGPT
29TechCrunch / 12h
OpenAI has banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts linked to an Iranian influence operation that was generating content about the U.S. presidential election, according to a blog post on Friday. The company says the operation created AI-generated articles and social media posts, though it doesn’t seem that it reached much of an audience. This is […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For persona


This AI ghost of the past might be your guide through museums of the future
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's latest fashion showcase includes not just a 1930s wedding dress but a virtual ghost of the kind of socialite who would have worn it. OpenAI teamed up with the museum to create Natalie Potter, a fictional, century-old woman powered by its latest AI model, to interact with museum-goers and tell them about the dress and its place in fashion history. The dress is part


How 3D Printing Is Changing the Nerf Hobby
How-To Geek / 12h
Nerf is a household name, especially when it comes to its "blasters" that fire soft foam darts or balls. Just like paintball, Nerf has many serious fans, and also like paintball, they enjoy modding and tinkering with their plastic projectile slingers. With the arrival of 3D printers, the scope of what's possible in the Nerf world has opened up significantly.


Recruiters Are Getting Bombarded With Crappy, AI-Generated CVs
84Futurism / 12h
Trash Mountain Companies and recruiters are getting flooded with AI-generated job applications — and predictably, many of them are badly written and generic sounding, Financial Times reports . The use of AI has reached such a fever pitch that about half of job seekers are using AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini to churn out cover letters and resumes, and to fill out job assessment


Chinese social media users hilariously mock AI video fails
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Still from a Chinese social media video featuring two people imitating imperfect AI-generated video outputs. (credit: BiliBili ) It's no secret that despite significant investment from companies like OpenAI and Runway, AI-generated videos still struggle to achieve convincing realism at times. Some of the most amusing fails end up on social media, which has led to a new response trend on


Epic Games Store and Fortnite arrive on EU iPhones
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Artist's conception of Epic dodging harm from Apple's decisions (and perhaps its own). It's been four years since Fortnite , one of the world's most popular games, was pulled from the Apple App Store in a blaze of controversy and finger-pointing. Today, it's returning to the iPhone—but only in the European Union. Today marks the launch of the Epic Games Store on Android and iOS—iOS just


Accor’s first Orient Express train through Italy now open for reservations
69The Points Guy / 12h
Luxe train travel aboard the Orient Express is expanding, but expect this growth to be more about modern luxury and less about Agatha Christie and murder. Accor ’s La Dolce Vita Orient Express — not to be confused with Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient Express — is now open for reservations for its first journeys slated for spring 2025. The official booking window opening follows a presale in Decem


Southwest Rapid Rewards 25% Off Award Ticket Sale
500+One Mile at a Time / 12h
Southwest Airlines has just launched a lucrative Rapid Rewards award sale, whereby you can save 25% on redemptions. If you have any Rapid Rewards points, this is a great opportunity. Southwest offering 25% off award tickets Southwest Airlines is offering a 25% discount on newly booked Rapid Rewards award flights when using promotion code SAVE25NOW: This is valid for bookings made through August 1


This Summery Shrimp Roll Is a Budget-Friendly Alternative to Lobster
LifeHacker / 12h
Lobster rolls are the sandwich ambassadors of summer, but at $30+ a pop, they’re not an economically sustainable practice for me. There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself now and then, but I’d like to suggest a switch that’s easier to make, tastes great, and keeps costs low so you can churn that A/C for another month. Instead of a lobster roll, embrace the summer shrimp roll. Personally, I li


How to Play DOS Games on Your iPad
How-To Geek / 12h
Apple has been lifting restrictions on game emulation on iOS and iPadOS for months now, and finally it's possible to get DOS emulation on your mobile Apple devices without jailbreaking. One of the first DOS emulation tools on