Elon Musk Has Turned X Into His Personal Political Playground
1KWired / 20h
Elon Musk accused Twitter’s leadership of tipping the scales politically. But now he’s doing just that with X.
9 things to pack for your epic summer road trip
100+Mashable / 16h
Summer is all about packing up the car, rolling down the windows, and hitting the open road. Whether you’re beach-bound, mountain-bound, or just in it for the roadside diners, there’s something so liberating about claiming vacay days and driving out of town. Until you realize that the bike rack you bought doesn’t fit on your car. Or that your air mattress has a hole in it. Fret not, road-trippers
PS5 hardware sales decrease year-on-year as digital game purchases rise
58TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 20h
Japanese technology giant Sony has released its latest earnings report. It shows that PlayStation 5 console sales have decreased year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, though revenue from its gaming division has risen by 12% overall thanks to growth elsewhere. The newly released financial year 2024 first quarter earnings report from Sony shows that PS5 console sales have decreased to just 2.4
Today
Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: What are the differences?
Mashable / 9min
This Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max face-off will help you understand how Google's new addition to the Pixel series compares to Apple's most premium flagship phone. The Pixel series is now more similar to the iPhone series than ever. Instead of having a dual-phone family, Google added a third model this generation. (One could even argue that the Pixel series has a four-phone family if the l
Bilingual dictation assistant Silvia understands ‘Spanglish’ and other language mixtures
TechCrunch / 28min
Natural language AI assistants tend to be excellent English speakers, and passable in other tongues — but if you are one of the millions who fluidly switch between two languages on the fly, they’re stumped. A new AI helper called Silvia, however, understands “Spanglish” just fine, with more language combos to come. The app — […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
As Skies Fill With Space Junk, Nonprofit Urges US to Pause StarLink Launches
Wired / 39min
The advocacy group PIRG is asking the US government to conduct environmental reviews of commercial internet satellites. The group’s new report warns of a space garbage problem with Earthly consequences.
The Umbrella Academy season 4 is a bittersweet but frustrating finale that proves the hit Netflix show is ending at the right time
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 41min
Mild spoilers follow for The Umbrella Academy season 4 . I'm a big fan of The Umbrella Academy . I'm sure that's come across my articles about the franchise, but if it hasn't, allow me to present evidence of my enthusiasm: I've read Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá's wonderfully oddball graphic novels numerous times, and consumed all of the supplementary literature; I own a couple of Funko Pops (yes, I
How digital tools are set to transform mortgage application processes
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 49min
The current mortgage process is challenging for all involved. For customers, purchasing a home is likely the biggest purchase they will make in their lifetime. The knock-on effect is that pressure on mortgage providers to deliver a smooth and supportive service is intense, with customer emotions often understandably heightened. With tech integrated into so many areas of the public’s lives, custom
Indian conglomerate Reliance slashed over 42,000 jobs last financial year
TechCrunch / 1h
Reliance, India's largest conglomerate, reduced its workforce by 11%, or more than 42,000 people, in the financial year ended March 2024. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
I tested the LG G3 and G4 side-by-side and the differences blew me away
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
When new TVs are announced each year, they come bearing claims of improved brightness, more discernible contrast and the classic line, “closer to what the director intended.” I often remain sceptical about such claims, and wait until I go eyes-on to make my own judgement. Of course a manufacturer is going to say its latest creation is the ‘best ever’ otherwise there’d be no need to take much noti
Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, August 8, 2024
LifeHacker / 2h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for August 8, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is easier; I got it in three. Beware, there are spoilers below for August 8, Wordle #1,146! 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 Times website .
How to watch France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 online for free
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The Paris 2024 football final is finally here and it's been an incredible few matches. The semi-finals saw both Egypt and Morocco lose out on a place in the final, as France and Spain both compete for the chance of a gold medal. Spain will be
These online coding classes come with a lifetime pass to Microsoft Visual Studio — just £44
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Through Sept. 3, this Microsoft Visual Studio software and online course bundle gives you the tools and the knowledge to create apps, websites, and games for £44.09. The problem with most online coding courses? They only give you half the tools you need to succeed. Sure, knowledge is great, but you still need a coding environment where you can build, execute, and debug your programs. And t
Palmer Luckey’s Defense Startup, Anduril, Raises $1.5 Billion to Produce AI-Powered Weapons
100+Wired / 3h
The company plans to build a Tesla-style, software-optimized factory to manufacture autonomous drones and other battlefield tech.
Anduril raises $1.5B at a $14B valuation
59TechCrunch / 3h
The Palmer Luckey-founded defense startup wants to become a serious rival to longstanding kingpins, and has been clocking some big wins. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Reddit will use AI to summarize its insanely long threads and could transform the service
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
Reddit threads can be incredibly long, and sometimes it’s challenging to figure out what they’re really about, regardless of the title. Even searching for keywords can be hit or miss. The platform wants to help solve that issue and later this year plans to release a new AI-powered feature that will generate summaries at the top of search results. The idea is straightforward: AI fueled by large la
Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 8
Mashable / 5h
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 8's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle c
Google's kid-friendly Fitbit Ace LTE just got a new feature that parents may not love
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
Google is rolling out an update to its kid-friendly Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch with the goal to “foster independence and motivate movement” in young users. Chief among them is the implementation of Tap to Pay. Children will be able to use the feature to pay for things wherever “Google Pay is accepted. In fact, it operates just like it does on the Pixel Watch 2 , but with a distinct difference. Tap
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 8
Mashable / 6h
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
Large Company Says It Won't Purchase Any More Teslas Due to Elon Musk's Erratic Behavior
43Futurism / 7h
Major L Tesla has just lost a big corporate customer — and there's no two ways about it that Elon Musk is to blame . On Wednesday, the German drugstore chain Rossman — one of the largest in Europe — said that it will no longer be buying Tesla cars for its fleet, citing the automaker's CEO as the reason why. It did so with a spectacular lack of the usual corporate decorum by not only calling out M
Your Roku account is about to get a free sporty upgrade
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Roku is launching a brand new 24/7 sports channel on August 12 in the United States, aptly dubbed the Roku Sports Channel. It is a FAST (free ad-supported TV) streaming service, meaning you won’t need to pay for a subscription or sign up for an account to gain access. All you'll need to watch is either the official app on your smartphone, own one of the company’s devices, or visit the Roku Channe
My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: 9th Generation iPad
LifeHacker / 7h
Yesterday, the iPad Mini dropped to its lowest price . Today, it's the ninth generation iPad's turn. The iPad from 2021 was considered the best tablet of that year, and it's now down to its lowest price after a $100 discount. You can get the 64GB wifi-only iPad for $229 (originally $329) from Amazon, matching the lowest price it has been according to price-checking tools . Apple iPad (9th generat
Mars Society President Calls for Starship Mission to Red Planet
Futurism / 8h
All Systems Go Robert Zubrin, president and founder of the Mars Society, is arguing — as always — that humanity shouldn't settle for just the Moon. Instead, NASA should be laying the groundwork to bring astronauts to the Red Planet now , he said in an interview with Forbes last week, and believes that SpaceX's massive Starship will play a key role in fulfilling that dream, along with the enterpri
Inside the Dark World of Doxing for Profit
Wired / 8h
From tricking companies into handing over victims’ personal data to offering violence as a service, the online doxing ecosystem is not just still a problem—it’s getting more extreme.
The real story of the news website accused of fuelling riots
300+BBC News / 8h
The BBC tracks down a Canadian hockey player, a dad in Pakistan and a Texan named Kevin linked to Channel3Now.
NASA official acknowledges internal “disagreement” on safety of Starliner return
29Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / Boeing's Starliner is seen atop an Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (credit: Trevor Mahlmann) During a news conference on Wednesday, NASA officials for the first time publicly discussed divisions within the agency about whether the Starliner spacecraft is really reliable enough to return two veteran astronauts—Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams—back to Earth
The conspiracy theorists who think Biden has been replaced by AI
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / Joe Biden—or is it his AI-powered hologram? (credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg) At 1:18 pm ET on July 21, 2023, President Joe Biden stepped to the podium in the White House's Roosevelt Room and announced, "I'm the AI." The official transcript of the event says that this remark was followed by "laughter," but it's no joke to the increasing number of conspiracy theorists who claim that the
Use the 10/10 Theory to Mindfully Declutter Your Home
LifeHacker / 8h
No matter how committed you are to decluttering, when you're trying to reduce the amount of stuff in your home, you'll inevitably hit a few snags. Here's where different decluttering philosophies can come in handy. If you're combing through your sentimental items, for example, you have to go slow but be pragmatic ; while if you're just worried you might need something in the future, there are a f
How to Choose, Set up, and Use Gymnastics Rings for Home Workouts
LifeHacker / 8h
Gymnastics rings aren’t just for Olympic gymnasts. They’re cheap, versatile, and can open up a world of training possibilities if you’re working out at home without weights. They can be a little bit confusing to set up at first, so here’s a guide to buying, hanging, and using gymnastics rings. What are gymnastics rings and what are they good for? Rings are just what they sound like: hoops, tradit
Does ‘Aging’ Your Dough Really Make for a Better Cookie?
LifeHacker / 8h
Cookies are like snowflakes and cats: Each special in their own way, even the nasty ones. But there is an idea floating around out there that aging your cookie dough can make something that’s already pretty great even better. So I set out to see if aging your cookie dough actually can make for a better cookie. (And if not that, then what could?) How do you "age" cookie dough? Jacques Torres, the
7 Security Risks to Be Aware of on Public Computers
How-To Geek / 8h
While public computers are easily accessible and convenient, they are also hotspots for malware and traps set by malicious actors. Here's why using a public PC can be so dangerous, and why you should avoid them unless it is necessary.
UK satellite startup Blue Skies Space wants to sell astronomy data ‘as a service’
TechCrunch / 8h
The satellite is designed to complement data provided by existing astronomical efforts such as that of the famed Hubble Telescope. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Thursday, August 8 (game #424)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Thursday's Connections puzzle is another fairly easy one – and I seem to have been saying that a lot lately. But if you do find yourself needing some hints, read on… 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. SPOILE
NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, August 8 (game #158)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Thursday's Strands is here, guaranteed to get your brain working. If it works a little too hard, you might want to check out my hints below. 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 on if you don't want to know the answ
Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, August 8 (game #927)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
It's time to get another dose of Quordle goodness into your life, so read on for hints, answers and my commentary. 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 POILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers. Quordle to
YouTube invites users to test its community notes feature
Engadget / 8h
YouTube seems to be starting to roll out its community notes feature to a select group of users. Screenshots of YouTube’s official invitation to join the pilot program for its new community correction feature are popping up all over social media, according to 9to5Google . Aye YouTube is adding community notes pic.twitter.com/xVOw9yEzhJ — Ian Zelbo (@ianzelbo) August 7, 2024 YouTube first announce
The Cybertruck Is Much Improved by Adding Googly Eyes
400+Futurism / 8h
Brave Little Cybertruck If you were wondering how you might make your $100,000 Tesla Cybertruck look less like a grill on wheels and more like silly cyberpunk goose, a solution has emerged: googly eyes. Yes, googly eyes. According to the internet, Cybertruck owners are slowly but surely figuring out that slapping a goofy pair of extra-large crafting eyeballs is, without question, the best way to
YouTube is testing a feature that lets creators use Google Gemini to brainstorm video ideas
72TechCrunch / 9h
YouTube is testing an integration with Google Gemini to help creators brainstorm video ideas, titles and thumbnails. The Google-owned company announced the launch of the new Brainstorm with Gemini feature in a video posted to its Creator Insider channel. A YouTube spokesperson told TechCrunch that the feature is available to select creators as a part […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. Fo
Reddit Will Soon Try Out AI Summaries (and Maybe Paywalls)
LifeHacker / 9h
Reddit could soon block certain subreddits behind paywalls , but hey, at least it’s testing AI-powered searches. In Reddit’s second earnings call with investors after its IPO earlier this year, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman’s focus was on ways to make cash. While the company has been slowly transitioning to more profit-forward strategies like a famously unpopular paywalled API , most of the changes th
Fortnite Battle Pass rewards may appear in the shop under new Epic Games policy
Engadget / 9h
Fortnite is reversing a long-held policy for its Battle Passes. Previously, developer Epic Games had treated Battle Pass items as limited-time rewards that would never show up in the in-game shop. Going forward, Epic Games may make Battle Pass rewards available in the shop, but not until at least 18 months after the pass expires. The company said that the updated policy will not have any impact o
New mpox outbreak raises alarm; WHO considers declaring international emergency
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / A 2003 photo of the arms and legs of a 4-year-old girl infected with mpox in Liberia. (credit: Getty | BSIP ) A deadly outbreak of mpox (previously called monkeypox) is spilling out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising alarm among global health experts. The DRC has reported more than 22,000 suspected cases since the start of 2023, including 1,200 suspected deaths, according
Disney has “earned” latest streaming price hike, CFO says
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / A scene from Secret Invasion , a Disney+ exclusive. (credit: Marvel ) Yesterday, The Walt Disney company announced it will soon raise prices for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ . Today , it revealed that its streaming business has become profitable for the first time. So if Disney is starting to make money, why has it decided to jack up prices ... again ? Disney says it has “earned” higher pri
Background check company breached, nearly 3 billion exposed in data theft
Mashable / 9h
You might be affected by one of the biggest data breaches ever and not even know it. A recent class action lawsuit filed against Jerico Pictures Inc., a background check company that does business under the name National Public Data, claims that the company was breached by hackers earlier this year. As a result, the lawsuit says, confidential data for 2.9 billion was exposed and stolen by a hacke
Sonos is delaying two product launches until it fixes its buggy app
Engadget / 10h
Last quarter should've been a triumphant one for Sonos with the launch of its first headphones , but the company is facing the realities of its botched app redesign . CEO Patrick Spence explained in the company's Q3 earnings press release that Sonos has reduced its 2024 fiscal guidance as a result of "problems" both customers and partners encountered with the software update. But, the issues don'
OpenAI Cofounder Quits to Join Rival Started by Other Defectors
42Futurism / 10h
Another cofounder has left OpenAI. AI safety researcher John Schulman has departed the ChatGPT creator and joined the ranks of the rival venture Anthropic, an AI company founded by other OpenAI expats . In an X-formerly-Twitter post on Monday , Schulman announced that he'd "made the difficult decision to leave" the AI company he helped start, citing desires to "deepen [his] focus on AI alignment"
The Microsoft Store in Windows Is Getting Better
How-To Geek / 10h
Microsoft is bringing a few notable enhancements to the Microsoft Store, including changes to the library page, a dedicated section for updates and downloads, game events, etc.
Chrome Is Top Dog, but Firefox Is Still My Favorite Browser
How-To Geek / 10h
Google Chrome is undoubtedly the most used browser. Statistics suggest it makes up more than 65% of the worldwide browser market share. However, there are a few important areas where Chrome falls short, which is why I prefer using Mozilla Firefox, which covers just over 2% of the browser market share.
The 25 best hotels in London
200+The Points Guy / 10h
With tens of thousands of rooms spread across London’s hotels, travelers have no shortage of choices when it comes to booking a place to stay in the Big Smoke. There are iconic London hotels in some of the poshest neighborhoods that have legacy and reputation on their side, and affordable hotels that prioritize communal spaces designed for mingling with others. The best hotels in London, ranked b
Meta shutters its first-party VR game studio Ready at Dawn
Engadget / 10h
Ready at Dawn Studios , the game studio behind the Echo virtual reality series for the Meta Quest, has been shut down by its parent owner, Meta, effective immediately. Android Central reported Meta’s decision to close Ready at Dawn Studios almost a year and a half after purchasing the game studio. The news comes on the heels of a mid-July report that Meta plans to cut its Reality Labs division’s
How To Predict Your Flight Will Be Delayed And Get A Leg Up Rebooking Travel
View from the Wing / 10h
When I'm traveling I almost always try to predict whether my flight will be delayed. That can give me an hours-long head start in getting re-routed, rather than stuck at the airport. I'll have access to more flight choices, especially if I can leave earlier. And I won't be fighting with as many passengers over a limited number of seats, since I'll be ahead of them in grabbing what's available - a
Habituator for iOS Is a Beautiful Habits App With Great Widgets
LifeHacker / 10h
Building new habits is hard, but tracking progress can help motivate you—that's why there are a lot of habit tracking apps out there. Habituator stands out for its clean yet playful design, integration with system features like Apple Fitness, and widgets that make it easy to check off habits without having to actually open the app. The application, from indie developer Alain Caltieri, is free for
How I Use a Storage Unit to Organize My Small Space
LifeHacker / 10h
I live in a little apartment, and no matter how many pieces of dual-purpose storage furniture I buy or how strategically I plan out how to store things I have a bunch of , I can't overcome the fact that I just don't have a lot of room. I have a storage unit (and have for years), and before you say that you don't need one, consider the following. A storage unit doesn't have to be huge or expensive
If you missed the window for an exclusive Fortnite skin, a second chance may be coming
Mashable / 10h
The days of grinding to complete those Fortnite Battle Pass quests to unlock exclusive items may soon be coming to an end. On Wednesday, Epic Games announced a major change to Fortnite and its Battle Pass, the paid tier of the hit free-to-play online video game. "Items in future Fortnite Battle Passes might be offered for purchase in the Fortnite Shop after 18 or more months from the Battle Pass’
A new Moxy with a rooftop pool is opening in St. Petersburg, Florida — and we have an exclusive first look
The Points Guy / 10h
Sunny St. Petersburg, Florida — or St. Pete, as it’s called by many — has a fun and playful new hotel you can book with Marriott Bonvoy points. Here’s a first look at the Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown , a member of the brand that won TPG’s 2023 award for Best Affordable Hotel Brand . Located on Central Avenue in a refreshed development called the Edge Collective near Tropicana Field, this new Moxy
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders call for an antitrust investigation into Venu Sports
Engadget / 11h
Venu Sports appears poised to offer a one-stop shop for streaming all kinds of athletic events. However, the extensive amount of sports content controlled by Disney (which owns ESPN), Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery, has raised questions about the upcoming streaming service. Three members of Congress have called on the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission to investigate
Google Caught Taking Money to Promote AI Apps That Create Nonconsensual Nudes
86Futurism / 11h
False Profit Google is taking money to promote AI apps that produce nonconsensual deepfake nudes, new reporting from 404 Media reveals . As caught by 404 , searches for terms like "undress apps" and "best deepfake nudes" display paid advertisements for websites offering services like "NSFW AI Image Generator" and other readily available AI tools that can be used to create explicit imagery of real
Techstars is laying off 17%, ending its J.P. Morgan-backed programs
41TechCrunch / 11h
Techstars is cutting 17% of its staff and will end its $80 million J.P. Morgan-backed AdvancingCities program once the fund is completely deployed. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Avant Credit Card review: A simple way to build credit
The Points Guy / 11h
Avant Credit Card overview The Avant Credit Card does not offer all the thrill and excitement of other rewards credit cards but is intended for those with average credit. As an unsecured credit card, it does not require a deposit and can help build credit with responsible usage. For those with mediocre credit, the Avant Credit Card offers a competitive starting credit limit compared to other unse
How to Choose an Extension Cord That Won’t Burn Down Your House
LifeHacker / 11h
No matter how many wall outlets you have in your home, chances are there aren’t enough (especially if you've got an older house) and you’re going to need an extension cord or two. And that opens you up to a certain amount of danger. Using the wrong extension cords—or old, damaged cords—can cause fires, damage your tools and equipment, and potentially even kill you—there are an estimated 2,200 sho
This Starter Wireless Microphone Setup Is on Sale for $27
LifeHacker / 11h
The EJCC Wireless Microphone is a little piece of tech that could up your audio game. It’s not just for content creators; it’s for anyone wearing too many hats in our modern, work-from-home culture. It's not super high-tech, but if you're dealing with poor audio quality or the background symphony of family life while recording demos, creating content, or attending online meetings, this wireless m
Collector's Editions Without the Game Are a Good Thing
How-To Geek / 11h
You may have noticed that some collector's editions of video games these days come with a heap of swag, but no actual copy of the game! Understandably, plenty of gamers have voiced dissatisfaction with this trend, but not only does this make perfect sense for publishers, it's actually good for players too.
New York's flood warning drones screamed at residents in 'incomprehensible' Spanish
Engadget / 11h
New York City has implemented a new drone warning system to alert residents to hazardous weather conditions. Unfortunately, the drones need to work on their Spanish. A resident spotted one of the new drones issuing a flood warning on Wednesday to NYC neighborhoods in English and Spanish, but the Spanish words that came out of the drones were “incomprehensible,” according to a resident who shared
CrowdStrike hires outside help to track down cause of global outages as it reveals first findings
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
As CrowdStrike and its enterprise customers recover from the recent outage catastrophe , and it already being public knowledge that a pushed update caused the problem , the company has hired two security firms to look further into the issue. The external code review was announced in a root causes analysis ( PDF ), while it was already known in the course of a post-incident review that a system de
Stranded Astronauts Could Be Stuck on the Space Station for Another 5 Months, NASA Says
41Futurism / 12h
NASA admitted during a live conference today that it still isn't confident enough in Boeing's Starliner to safely return its two stranded astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, from the International Space Station. The pair have been stuck on the orbital outpost since early June, but ongoing technical issues plaguing Starliner have pushed back their return date indefinitely. And even with N
ByteDance hits play on AI video creator while Sora seems paused
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
TikTok videomakers may soon be adding AI-generated content to their dance routines. ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has debuted a new text-to-video mobile app exclusively to the Chinese market called Jimeng AI. Though geographically limited for now, Jimeng might become a serious rival to other AI video makers, particularly OpenAI's Sora . As with other AI video creation platforms, Jimeng proc
Our 21 favorite UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit, according to TPG experts
The Points Guy / 12h
UNESCO recently added 24 sites of “outstanding universal value” to its World Heritage List during its 46th annual session in New Delhi. Lencois Maranhenses National Park in northeastern Brazil and the Via Appia in Italy now join the list of 1,223 World Heritage Sites that counts Yellowstone National Park and Machu Picchu among some of its most well-known landmarks. To be inscribed on the list, a
Major shifts at OpenAI spark skepticism about impending AGI timelines
74Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Benj Edwards / Getty Images) Over the past week, OpenAI experienced a significant leadership shake-up as three key figures announced major changes. Greg Brockman, the company's president and co-founder, is taking an extended sabbatical until the end of the year, while another co-founder, John Schulman, permanently departed for rival Anthropic. Peter Deng, VP of Consumer Product,
Sam Altman just teased 'Project Strawberry' on X: Everything we know about the secret AI tool
Mashable / 12h
A seemingly-innocuous photo of strawberries in a garden posted by Sam Altman has AI enthusiasts freaking out. On Wednesday, the OpenAI CEO shared the photo accompanied by a cryptic comment that said, "i love summer in the garden." But Altman wasn't just musing about his appreciation for the late summer crop. He was teasing a secretive OpenAI technology dubbed "Project Strawberry." Tweet may have
4 Factors You Must Consider When Choosing a Password Manager
How-To Geek / 12h
Password managers are great tools that increase your security as well as your ease of surfing the web. Picking the right one for your needs can be tricky, though, especially if youve never shopped for one before. Here's what you need to consider when choosing a password manager.
People are returning Humane AI Pins faster than the company can sell them
Engadget / 12h
Humane’s universally derided AI Pin is not exactly flying off of store shelves, according to internal sales documents published by The Verge . As a matter of fact, returns seem to be currently outpacing new purchases. So many have been returned, that there are only around 7,000 units out in the wild. The company had once hoped to sell 100,000 in the first year, so that ain’t happening. To date, a
Made by Google 2024: How to watch Google unveil the Pixel 9, a new foldable and more
32TechCrunch / 12h
Made by Google 2024 kicks off at 10 a.m. PT on August 13. Get ready for a slew of new hardware, including the Pixel 9 and a new foldable. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Grand Canyon to Kyoto: Here are 9 fall trips to book using points and miles
61The Points Guy / 12h
Back-to-school shopping and pumpkin spice drinks at Starbucks mean one thing: Fall is officially around the corner. If you’ve been thinking about taking a trip this fall using your hard-earned points and miles, now’s the time to book. Cash prices are likely to rise, and award availability is likely to diminish. Therefore, if you have airline miles or hotel points in your account, it may be a grea
Which credit card should you use for American Airlines flights?
The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. You’re about to book a flight. You reach for your wallet, but what credit card should you use to pay? Is it the one with the airline’s name stamped on the front, or will a different credit card offer more? American Airlines offers numerous credit cards, so let’s compare those to other travel rewards credit
Four Signs Thieves Are Casing Your House
LifeHacker / 12h
According to the FBI, there are more than 3,000 burglaries a day in the U.S. There are steps you can take to try to burglar-proof your house , of course, starting with basic security steps and awareness . But a determined burglar can get into any house, and the average burglary takes just 8-10 minutes —and it can take as long as 40 minutes for the police to respond. For an additional layer of bur
Poaching Is the Secret to Perfect Corn on the Cob
LifeHacker / 12h
I don’t know if it’s just New York's rainy summer or my love of starch, but the corn this season seems especially good. I’ve been consuming as much as I can while the cobs are still rolling in at bargain prices. And while grilling corn might seem like the cool way to cook corn, I almost never do that. I boil it. Well, kind of. Technically I poach my corn on the cob. It’s relatively fast, it doesn
Where to pre-order Google's newly revamped Nest Learning Thermostat
Mashable / 12h
PRE-ORDER NOW: The new Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is now available for preorder at Amazon , Best Buy , and the Google Store for $279.99. It will start shipping on Aug. 20. Quick links: Amazon Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) $279.99 Best Buy Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) $279.99 Google Store Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) $279.99 Google is refreshing
How Sega Preserves Its Classic Arcade Games Better Than Anyone
How-To Geek / 12h
Arcade classics like Pac-Man , Frogger , and Street Fighter II have received countless ports and enhanced editions, but lesser-known arcade games rarely get the same treatment. However, Sega has revived numerous forgotten arcade classics with an innovative new tradition.
PaleoScan is a cheap imaging device democratizing fossil research
Engadget / 12h
An innovative scanner created by an NYU computer scientist is allowing scientists to digitize previously isolated fossils in remote South American regions. Claudio Silva’s PaleoScan provides a portable and affordable way to preserve and share collections of ancient impressions that may have otherwise been lost or smuggled. Brazil’s Araripe Basin is lush with ancient fossils, some in unusually pri
Newly launched social network Maven loses its co-founders
21TechCrunch / 12h
Just three months after Maven’s public launch, Kenneth Stanley — the former OpenAI researcher who co-founded the social media platform designed to facilitate serendipitous interactions — is stepping down. Stanley posted on Maven and X that despite enthusiastic responses to the platform’s launch, Maven “could not achieve the kind of growth curve that investors want […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All right
Sorry, Figure AI, but your robot won't be cool until it can walk like a human
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Figure 02 is, for the moment, half an exciting robot, and you need only look as far as the new announcement video to understand why. The video starts off promisingly enough. Figure AI's Figure 02 robot, a redesign of the original Figure 01 , looks more human than ever. It has a smooth head and fabric-covered neck, the arms have lost most of their steampunk look, and the hands are complete with 10
All the possible ways to destroy Google’s monopoly in search
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson) After US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google has a monopoly in two markets —general search services and general text advertising—everybody is wondering how Google might be forced to change its search business. Specifically, the judge ruled that Google's exclusive deals with browser and device developers secured Google's monopoly. These so-called default agr
macOS 15 Sequoia makes you jump through more hoops to disable Gatekeeper app checks
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / The Mac's Gatekeeper feature has been pushing developers to digitally sign their apps since it was introduced in 2012. (credit: Apple/Andrew Cunningham) It has always been easier to run third-party software on a Mac than on an iPhone or iPad. Despite the introduction of the Mac App Store a couple of years after the iPhone's App Store opened, it has always been possible to download and r
Reddit considers search ads, paywalled content for the future
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Getty ) Reddit executives discussed plans on Tuesday for making more money from the platform, including showing ads in more places and possibly putting some content behind a paywall. On Tuesday, Reddit shared its Q2 2024 earnings report ( PDF ). The company lost $10.1 million during the period, down from Q2 2023’s $41.1 million loss. Reddit has never been profitable, and during i
Report: Apple’s external DVD drive is up burning discs in dongle heaven
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Apple's external DVD-burning SuperDrive may be fading away. (credit: Apple) Apple has always been eager to dump technologies when the company feels they have outlived their usefulness. The original iMac came without a floppy drive. The iPhone 7 came without a headphone jack. Mid-2010s MacBooks and MacBook Pros came with USB-A ports. And the original 2008 MacBook Air came without a built
31% of Republicans say vaccines are more dangerous than diseases they prevent
300+Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Polio victim Larry Montoya is at the airport for the arrival of cases of vaccine, which were distributed as part of the KO Polio campaign, September 5, 1962. (credit: Getty | John McBride ) Public sentiment on the importance of safe, lifesaving childhood vaccines has significantly declined in the US since the pandemic—which appears to be solely due to a nosedive in support from people w
Allegations Keep Piling Up Against MrBeast
300+Futurism / 12h
Yeesh Games In the wake of claims of philanthropy fraud and resurfaced insensitive comments , uber-popular YouTuber Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson is also facing allegations surrounding his forthcoming reality game show, "Beast Games." As the New York Times reports based on interviews with
