The Future of Tech, News and making sense of it all!

Monday, February 20, 2023

Early Monday Technology News and More...

 Technology News and More...



Meta to sell blue badge on Instagram and Facebook as Zuckerberg borrows Musk’s playbook



2KTechCrunch / 15h
Facebook-parent Meta has launched a monthly subscription service, called Meta Verified, that will allow an individual to get the coveted blue check mark on Instagram and Facebook by verifying their identity, tapping a new revenue channel that has had mixed success for its smaller rival Twitter. The subscription service, first rolling out in New Zealand and Australia starting this week, is priced


Instagram and Facebook to get paid-for verification
8KBBC News - Technology / 15h
The move comes after Twitter introduced a subscription-based verification service last year.


The Physics Principle That Inspired Modern AI Art
2KWired / 19h
Diffusion models generate incredible images by learning to reverse the process that, among other things, causes ink to spread through water.



Chipper Cash executes second round of layoffs less than three months after axing 12.5% of staff
TechCrunch / 22min
African cross-border payments platform Chipper Cash conducted a second round of layoffs last Friday just ten weeks after it cut approximately 12.5% of its workforce (affecting its engineering team the most). The company’s V.P. of revenue shared the news on LinkedIn , saying “all areas” across Chipper Cash’s markets were impacted this time. “Friday was a sad day for Chipper Cash , as many talented


Jumba, a Kenyan startup simplifying sourcing of construction supplies, raises $4.5M
21TechCrunch / 54min
Less than a year after launch, Kenyan B2B construction tech startup Jumba has secured clients in major regions of the East African country, a tell-tale of the growth it has experienced over the last 10 months. Jumba , which enables construction material retailers (regarded as hardware stores locally), found on almost every block, to restock, and real estate developers to access the supplies they


'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for February 20
Mashable / 2h
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need. What is Quordle ? Quordle is a five-letter word guessing gam


Save 49% on the best VPN for unblocking Hotstar from anywhere in the world
Mashable / 3h
SAVE 49%: ExpressVPN is the best VPN for unblocking leading streaming sites. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £85.41 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. Disney+ Hotstar (or just Hotstar) is one of the most popular streaming platforms in the world, with millions of active users enjoying the wide range of hit shows and movies. It's an impres


Today's Wordle Answer #611 – February 20, 2023 Solution And Hints
SlashGear / 3h
Today's Wordle answer isn't weird or uncommon, which is a welcome respite from last week's knotty answers. We have hints and the solution word.


The Easiest Tricks To Make Your Windows 11 Desktop Look Minimal
SlashGear / 3h
If you own a Windows 11 PC, there are several settings you can tweak to make the overall appearance of your desktop more conducive to productivity and learning.


Carbon Maps helps the food industry reduce their climate impact
21TechCrunch / 3h
Meet Carbon Maps , a new French startup that raised $4.3 million (€4 million) just a few weeks after its inception. The company is building a software-as-a-service platform for the food industry so that they can track the environmental impact of each of their products in their lineup. The platform can be used as a basis for eco ratings. While there are quite a few carbon accounting startups like


Hope and doubt collide in an eventful episode 6 of The Last of Us
Ars Technica - All content / 4h
Enlarge / Will someone please get this girl an electric heater? New episodes of The Last of Us are premiering on HBO every Sunday night, and Ars' Kyle Orland (who has played the games) and Andrew Cunningham (who hasn't) will be talking about them here right after the episodes air. While these recaps don't delve into every single plot point of the episodes, there are obviously heavy spoilers conta


What that movie reference in 'The Last of Us' episode 6 means for Joel and Ellie
Mashable / 4h
Trekking through an America overrun by zombie-making fungus, not to mention raiders and tyrants vying for power, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal) finally found some respite in episode 6 of The Last of Us . They even have the chance to watch a movie, 20 years after the world as we know it fell to ruin. But what is the movie playing in the crowded theater? And what does it have to say a


10 Game Boy Advance Games We Want To See Come To Nintendo Switch Online
SlashGear / 5h
Players are already eagerly speculating: These are the 10 Game Boy Advance games we want to see come to Nintendo Switch Online.


'The Last of Us' episode 6 features a heartbreaking musical callback
Mashable / 5h
From Linda Ronstadt to Hank Williams , The Last of Us has reliably gifted us with memorable needle drops. Now, we can add another to that list thanks to episode 6, which delivers a particularly devastating musical moment — one that calls all the way back to the very first episode. Episode 6, titled "Kin," ends on a horrifying cliffhanger. Joel ( Pedro Pascal ) gets stabbed in a fight, and althoug


Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey Shine in a Super Emotional Last of Us
Gizmodo / 5h
Down the road, if The Last of Us is lucky enough to get any acting award nominations, clips from this episode will explain why. The sixth episode of The Last of Us, titled “Kin,” saw Joel and Ellie’s trek across the United States reach a crossroads. The pair were forced to deal with things they’ve been hiding and make… Read more...


Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for February 20
Mashable / 5h
It's Monday, which means a fresh work week, a fresh Wordle puzzle, and fresh hints and tips to help you figure it out. If you prefer to just be told the solution, you can jump to the end of this article for February 20's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather work through it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle come from? Originally cr


The Best Moon Lamps of 2023
Futurism / 7h
Transform any space into an ethereal sanctuary with the soothing light of a moon lamp. These glowing orbs have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years due to the calming, relaxing light they provide by simulating the luminescence of the sun reflected from the moon’s surface. But while the intensity of traditional moonlight varies depending on the lunar phase, it’s always a full moon with one of


The tech helping people get a better night's sleep
200+BBC News - Technology / 8h
Individuals suffering from insomnia are increasingly turning to tech for assistance.


This New Wiesmann Roadster Proves Electric Cars Don't Have To Be Boring
SlashGear / 8h
German custom automaker Wiesmann is officially doing its part in the Green Revolution with an upcoming EV currently referred to as Project Thunderball.


Things You Never Knew Your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Could Do
SlashGear / 8h
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is an impressive piece of hardware, but the software is what makes it great. Find out how to use features you never knew existed.


Apply Now: Best-Ever Chase Ink Card Bonus Offers
23One Mile at a Time / 9h
Link: Apply now for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card or Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card I consider the Chase Ink cards to be among the best business credit cards out there. At the moment we’re seeing some best-ever welcome bonuses on these cards, and in particular the two no annual fee cards have especially compelling new bonuses. If you don’t yet have these cards and are eligible, this is


Best weekend getaways in the US
The Points Guy / 9h
Three days spent cooing over otters and elephant seals in Morro Bay on California’s Central Coast; riding horses and exploring Yellowstone National Park from the Wild West epicenter of Cody, Wyoming; and dancing the night away and eating award-winning cuisine in Nashville: These are just three of the many weekend escapes I’ve taken over the past few years as an outdoors-oriented, music-loving roa


SpaceX offers $200 per month ‘global roaming’ internet service to Starlink waitlist clients
Engadget / 9h
It appears SpaceX is preparing to offer global roaming. As first reported by PCMag , the company recently began emailing customers in countries where Starlink service isn’t available yet to invite them to try a new $200 per month package that allows its terminals to provide internet access “from almost anywhere on land in the world.” NEWS: Starlink is testing a new "Global Roaming Service" for $2



What To Do If Microsoft Outlook Isn't Loading In Chrome
SlashGear / 9h
If you're suddenly unable to access Microsoft's Outlook in Google's Chrome browser, there are a handful of troubleshooting steps you can try to fix it.


Why A Classic VW Beetle Makes For A Great First Car
SlashGear / 9h
When it comes to learning to drive in your first car, you want something reliable, simple, and cheap to drive. A classic VW Beetle is all that and more.


A Pioneer For Future Technology: A Brief History Of The Toyota Prius
SlashGear / 9h
The humble Toyota Prius is the butt of seemingly hundreds of automotive jokes, but a large section of today's auto lineup owes its existence to the model.


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Music, Arts & Literature / 10h
moving-mountainsx : Michigan sure is pretty


26 Disney cruise tips, tricks, secrets and extra magic to unlock when setting sail with Mickey
The Points Guy / 10h
Disney Cruise Line might be a comparatively small cruise line with just five ships, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in popularity and enthusiastic fans. It also has some unique approaches to cruising that may surprise you — whether you’re a first-time cruiser or an experienced cruiser on a different line. After sailing on six Disney Cruise Line voyages across four of its ship


What To Look For When Buying A Used Nintendo Switch
SlashGear / 11h
If you're thinking about buying a used Nintendo Switch to save money or because you've found a deal, it's important to make sure you're not wasting your money.


As Sam Bankman-Fried’s Legal Chances Dwindle, Even His Travel Is Being Downgraded
View from the Wing / 11h
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's legal chances are dwindling as he faces charges over billions of dollars in fraud. He's no longer flying private. He's no longer even flying lie flat business class from San Francisco back to court hearings in New York. He doesn't even get to fly into JFK airport. SBF's travel has taken a huge hit as the case continues. Continue reading ...


15 best Presidents' Day TV sales to shop this weekend
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
The holiday weekend has arrived, which means Presidents' Day TV sales are live with some fantastic deals on a range of gorgeous displays. We've been hunting for weeks to find all the best Presidents' Day TV sales, and we've rounded up the top 15 offers available right now. The Presidents' Day sales event is an excellent opportunity to grab a cheap TV, and our list includes everything from a high-


'Law & Order: SVU' actor Richard Belzer dies at 78
500+Mashable / 11h
Actor Richard Belzer, a core member of the "Law & Order" network behemoth, has died at age 78. He was known for sporting his tinted glasses and doling out his cynical takes as Detective John Munch on the franchise's "Law & Order: SVU" spinoff, which has aired for a record-breaking 24 years and remains one of the most watched programs on television. SEE ALSO: Meta follows in Twitter's footsteps wi


Amazon wants employees to return to the office in May
Engadget / 11h
Starting in May, Amazon will require employees to work out of the office at least three days per week. The company announced the plan in a memo published on Friday and attributed to CEO Andy Jassy ( via CNN ). In advocating for the policy, Jassy said a hybrid work arrangement would “strengthen” Amazon’s corporate culture and lead to better collaboration among its workforce. “It’s not simple to br


Pooh: Blood & Honey Director's Got a Sequel and TMNT Hopes on His Mind
50Gizmodo / 11h
Now that Pooh: Blood & Honey is slashing it up in theaters, director Rhys Frake-Waterfield has spoken previously about his desire to keep the “kids characters as slasher villains” train a-going. Along with producing a horror flick focused on Bambi that’s currently in production and cooking up ideas for a Peter Pan … Read more...


The Futuristic Suzuki Nuda Concept Is An Ultra Sleek Motorcycle We Would Have Bought
SlashGear / 12h
Straight out of cyberpunk and sci-fi media, this Suzuki motorcycle concept has some incredible tech and styling for the time, but it never went to production.


James Gunn Teases Future DC Characters to Join His Film Universe
Gizmodo / 12h
Now that we know who’ll headline the first part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC universe, the question (and speculation) has naturally pivoted to who can show up in what movie. Superhero fans have been trained for over a decade to expect more than just the title characters in a film or show, and the