Technology News Tuesdays, and More...

 Technology News and More...

Make Dungeons and Dragons 2, You Cowards


3KGizmodo / 12h
Fans have been trained to expect the worst from Hollywood adaptations. Anytime something you love is announced as the next mega blockbuster , your heart sinks. Surely, they’re going to screw it up and ruin your childhood. Which is what happens 90% of the time. Read more...


The New Jackrabbit XG Ebike Is a Pint-Size Prankster
2KWired / 16h
Jackrabbit’s new and improved tiny electric motorbike is the perfect first-, last-, and every-mile-in-between solution.


Sorry, doubters: Starship actually had a remarkably successful flight
500+Ars Technica - All content / 13h
Enlarge / Starship launched on Saturday with all 33 Raptor engines burning nominally. (credit: SpaceX) SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas—Starship launches are clarifying events. Pretty quickly after liftoff you find out who understands the rocket business, and who are the casual observers bereft of a clue. Before I had even left the launch viewing area in South Padre Island on Saturday morning headlines



Google admits Spotify pays no Play Store fees because of a secret deal
TechCrunch / 22min
A Google executive said during a testimony in the Epic vs Google trial that a deal with Spotify allows the audio company to bypass Play Store fees, as reported by The Verge. Don Harrison, Google’s head of partnership, said that Spotify pays no fees when it processes its own payments and pays a measly 4% […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Indy raises $44 million to simplify taxes and paperwork for freelancers
23TechCrunch / 43min
French startup Indy has recently closed a new funding round of $44 million (€40 million) with BlackFin Capital Partners leading the round. Indy started as an automated accounting platform for freelancers and other self-employed people. But the company has been slowly iterating on its product to become an all-in-one platform for freelancers, from accounting to […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights res


How to watch the 'Doctor Who' 60th Anniversary Specials online for free
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Stream the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . It is a huge year for fans of all things Doctor Who . Not only are we getting a new Doctor in the next season, but before that, we all get to enjoy a trio of amazing 60th anniversary adventures. What a time to be a Whovian! If you want to watch th


How to watch the 2023 Davis Cup Finals online for free
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Stream the 2023 Davis Cup Finals for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . We're done with Grand Slams in 2023, but that doesn't mean high-quality tennis is over for the year. The Davis Cup often delivers some truly magical moments, as the best players in the world compete for their country. If you want to watch the 2023 Davis


24 of the best Stanford University courses you can take online for free
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from Stanford University are available to take for free on edX. Stanford University is obviously a famous name, so becoming a student of this school would look pretty good on your CV. And fortunately, you can do just that without stepping foot outside. A wide range of of online courses from Stanford University are available to take on edX. And better yet, you


How to watch My5 for free
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free streaming services. Unblock My5 from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . My5 is a popular streaming service offering a wide range of on-demand shows and live TV, including free coverage of the NFL . It's not all good though, because My5 is one of those services that recognises your location when you attempt to stream, and blocks your ac


Unblock Indian Netflix for free with this clever hack
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Access extra Netflix libraries with a streaming-friendly VPN. ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking Indian Netflix. If you're a regular streamer , you should consider using a VPN to significantly boost the number of movies and shows at your disposal. These powerful tools can hide your digital location and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you get access to a


How to watch Wales vs. Turkey online for free
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Stream the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier between Wales and Turkey on S4C Online or BBC iPlayer. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . Everyone wants a place at the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament , but there's only so many spaces. Competition is always fierce in the qualification rounds, but Group D is particularly close. And there's still so much to play


A lifetime subscription to this clever stock screener is on sale for under £90
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to a Tykr Stock Screener premium plan is on sale for £80.24 with code STOCK, saving you 86% on list price. Investing in the stock market always seems like a good idea, but you have to know where to start so you don’t end up losing your hard-earned cash. This is where a Tykr Stock Screener premium plan could help. And it’s only £80.24 with code STOCK . Instead of sea


X lawsuit accuses Media Matters of running a campaign to drive advertisers away from its website
Engadget / 2h
X has filed a lawsuit against media watchdog group Media Matters over the latter's research that showed ads on the social network appearing next to antisemitic content. The company's owner, Elon Musk, promised to file a "thermonuclear lawsuit" against the organization late last week following an advertiser exodus. In its complaint , X said Media Matters "knowingly and maliciously manufactured sid


The Mystery at the Heart of the OpenAI Chaos
36Wired / 2h
Last week Sam Altman was sensationally fired from OpenAI, tipping the AI company into chaos. It remains unclear what made the board decide to act.


11 fake languages that are super easy to learn
27Mashable / 2h
Brain studies have shown that learning a language has multiple benefits beyond just improving your communication skills. It can increase problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and even empathy . So if you don’t know a second language, now is a great time to learn. But do you really want to learn Spanish or Chinese? Plenty of people can already speak those languages. Maybe you're a geek who


Elon Musk's X sues Media Matters over antisemitism analysis
64BBC News - Technology / 3h
The lawsuit says Media Matters "manipulated" data in an attempt to "destroy" the social media site.


Today's NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Tuesday, November 21, 2023
LifeHacker / 4h
Here are some hints to help you win NYT Connections #163


Elon Musk’s ‘thermonuclear’ lawsuit over hate-adjacent ads on X… actually confirms them
38TechCrunch / 4h
Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, has filed a lawsuit alleging defamation by a news organization over claims that major companies had ads appear next to antisemitic content. But the suit appears to confirm the very thing it claims is defamatory. Media Matters last Thursday published an article with screenshots showing ads from IBM, Apple, Oracle […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For pers


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for November 21
Mashable / 4h
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


Recording of SpaceX Investment Twitter Space
Next Big Future / 4h
I spoke at a Twitter space on SpaceX Investment. SpaceX is already well on its way to a monopoly in Space launch and with satellite production. 80% of all the space launch payload is by SpaceX. Over half of all orbital space launches is by SpaceX. SpaceX is making and launching about 200 Starlink satellites ... Read more


Top 1% Futurist Forecaster at Metaculus
Next Big Future / 4h
The public competitive futurist prediction site, Metaculus, has a new leaderboard system. I was top 1% forecaster in 2022, coming in 40th out of 4940 predictors. In 2023, I am 28th out of 4950 predictors for 1 year baseline accuracy (almost to 0.5%). In 2023, I am 21st out of 2000 predictors for 2 year ... Read more


X Sues Media Matters Over Research on Ads Next to Antisemitic Posts
NYT > Technology / 4h
X asked a federal court to order the advocacy group to take down its findings, accusing it of “manipulating the algorithms.”


Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella suggests that Sam Altman might return to OpenAI
38TechCrunch / 5h
In interviews on CNBC and Bloomberg TV tonight, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made it clear that it’s possible Sam Altman, who was fired from his role as CEO at OpenAI by the AI startup’s board of directors on Friday, could return to OpenAI in some capacity. That’s despite the fact that Altman announced this morning […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.



European investors grab the popcorn for the new ‘series’ of OpenAI, but are fearful of the fallout
TechCrunch / 5h
With the OpenAI saga playing out across the pond, the European tech community has been waiting for the latest updates as if a new series of “Succession” was about to drop. Indeed, events have at times resembled some Greek tragedy about the Gods fighting it out, atop Mount Olympus, while us mere mortals watch on. […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Use Google Lens to Determine the Value of a Vintage Item
LifeHacker / 6h
Figure out if your flea market find is worth a fortune—or a few bucks.


Welcome to Zack Snyder's Space Snyderverse With New Rebel Moon Posters
Gizmodo / 6h
The ambitious risk Netflix is taking on a Zack Snyder sci-fi franchise looks like it could be worth it, based on these damn good character posters presenting the sci-fi ensemble of Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire . Read more...


Can bamboo be big in construction?
40BBC News - Technology / 6h
Bamboo is strong, light and sustainable, so why is it rarely used as a construction material in the West?


Max Q: SpaceX’s mega-rocket for the moon and Mars goes farther than ever before
TechCrunch / 6h
In this issue: More on Starship's second launch, news from Blackshark.ai and more © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Twitter’s Former Head of Trust and Safety Finally Breaks Her Silence
Wired / 6h
From Israel vs. Hamas threats to Donald Trump’s “wild” posts, Del Harvey helped make the platform’s hardest content moderation calls for 13 years. Then she left in 2021 … and disappeared.


Chaos at OpenAI adds fuel to the AI talent poaching war
24TechCrunch / 6h
It may be difficult for just any company to court OpenAI employees even if compensation packages are eye-poppingly high because of loyalty to Sam Altman. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Epic Games C.E.O. Says Google Has ‘De Facto Control’ on Android App
NYT > Technology / 6h
Tim Sweeney, who runs the company that created Fortnite, testified in a case that, if he wins, could allow competing payment systems on the Play Store.


Nothing’s iMessage app was a security catastrophe, taken down in 24 hours
23Ars Technica - All content / 6h
Enlarge / The Nothing Phone 2 all lit up. (credit: Ron Amadeo) It turns out companies that stonewall the media's security questions actually aren't good at security. Last Tuesday, Nothing Chats—a chat app from Android manufacturer "Nothing" and upstart app company Sunbird—brazenly claimed to be able to hack into Apple's iMessage protocol and give Android users blue bubbles. We immediately flagged


Framework Laptop prices go as low as $639 thanks to refurbs and “factory seconds”
21Ars Technica - All content / 6h
Enlarge / The Framework Laptop 13, with Framework's gear logo on the lid. (credit: Andrew Cunningham) Part of Framework’s sales pitch is that the company’s modular laptops are a ( somewhat ) more sustainable, responsible alternative to buying a hermetically sealed and non-upgradeable model from one of the big PC makers. The company has attempted to encourage reuse and recycling by offering refurb


The Google Pixel Watch Is 50% Off During Amazon's Black Friday Sale
LifeHacker / 6h
Snatch a Google Pixel smartwatch for its lowest price during Amazon’s Black Friday sale.


These Stick Cordless Vacuums Are up to 72% Off During Amazon's Black Friday Sale
LifeHacker / 6h
This is a great time to get yourself a new cordless stick vacuum, with all of these at their lowest prices.


Alaska Airlines Is Selling Elite Qualifying Miles
View from the Wing / 6h
There's plenty that can be done and needs to be done to address the roughly 2% of global emissions that stems from commercial air travel. This, though, is really just window dressing on an end of year sale of qualifying miles that prevents the need to mileage run. Continue reading ...


Nicholas Hoult Will Be Bald Once More as Superman: Legacy's Lex Luthor
Gizmodo / 6h
With James Gunn’s recent announcement that Superman: Legacy was on track for its intended July 11, 2025 release date , it’s not surprising that we’re getting more casting news now that the strikes are over. Nicholas Hoult, recently seen ripping limbs onscreen in Renfield—but also a previous wearer of the bald look, in 2… Read more...


Here are the best travel deals of 2023 for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday
400+The Points Guy / 7h
Editor’s note: Prices and discounts are accurate as of 12:47 p.m. EST on Nov.20. This article will be updated with new offers and prices regularly. We’re still a few days away from actual Black Friday, but we’re already rounding up the best deals on flights, hotels, cruises and assorted travel products that no frequent flyer should be without. Below, you can find the best Black Friday travel deal


Earn increased $40 bonus by joining or referring a friend to Rakuten for online shopping until Nov. 30
100+The Points Guy / 7h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. Now is a good day to place some online shopping orders via online shopping portals if you want to get rewarded with increased earning rates for your purchases. These portals often offer perks like one-time bonuses for new members and the opportunity to earn additional rewards by referring friends and family. R


Disney Genie+ pricing at an all-time high of $35: Is the skip-the-line service worth it?
100+The Points Guy / 7h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Want to save time and ride all the attractions at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland, from the fantastical to the thrilling and everything in between? If you’d rather not splurge on a several thousand-dollar private VIP guide , Disney Genie+ is the way to go. Disney Genie+ is Disney’s answer to the “s


What Was the Inspiration Behind the Reality TV Concept for The Hunger Games?
Gizmodo / 7h
Read more...


Spotify reportedly struck a special deal with Google that let it skip Play Store fees
Engadget / 7h
Spotify struck a special deal with Google that lets it pay no commission to Google when people sign up for subscriptions using the music streaming service’s own payment system on Android, according to new testimony in the ongoing Epic v. Google trial first reported by The Verge . As part of the same deal, Spotify paid Google just four percent commission if users signed up for the service through


President Joe Biden joins Threads…and gets bombarded with 'Free Palestine' replies
Mashable / 7h
Mark Zuckerberg's latest social media platform has a new high-profile user: The President of the United States. After Elon Musk endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X, his social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the White House criticized his "unacceptable" comments. "We condemn this abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms," said White House spok



Avarni gets backing to help large enterprises hit their net-zero goals
TechCrunch / 7h
For a lot of companies, Scope 3 emissions make up the bulk of their carbon footprint, but are time-consuming and expensive for them to track. As more regulation mandating Scope 3 reporting is passed, however, it is crucial for them to do so. That’s where Avarni comes into the frame. The Sydney-based startup helps companies […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Investors are souring on OpenAI’s nonprofit governance model
35TechCrunch / 7h
OpenAI was never quite like other generative AI startups — or other startups period, for that matter. Its governance structure is unique and what ultimately led to the abrupt ousting of CEO Sam Altman on Friday. Even after it transitioned from a nonprofit to a “capped-profit” company in 2019, OpenAI retained an unusual structure that […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use on


United Airlines Pilot Argues Hostage-Taking And Killing Of Children Is Justified
View from the Wing / 8h
United Airlines has a pilot who seems to cheer on the Hamas death cult as well, posting a steady barrage of messages to Facebook. Continue reading ...


Amazon Is Offering AI Classes for Free
LifeHacker / 8h
Whether you're a coder or a total beginner, Amazon might have an AI class for you.


Make a Pull-apart Loaf With Canned Biscuit Dough
LifeHacker / 8h
Have a lovely loaf of bread for Thanksgiving the easy way.


The Boys' Antony Starr Got Hilariously Sweary Behind the Scenes on Gen V
Gizmodo / 8h
We’ve seen a lot of behind-the-scenes videos showing buff actors pulling off action-hero feats . But it’s hard to recall any performer keeping it as real as Antony Starr. He plays Homelander on The Boys , so he’s presumably no stranger to stunts and wire work. But for his character’s appearance on Boys spin-off Gen V ,… Read more...


OpenAI Employees Say Firm's Chief Scientist Has Been Making Strange Spiritual Claims
Futurism / 8h
Why does it feel like everybody at OpenAI has lost their mind? In what's arguably turning into the hottest AI story of the year, former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was ousted by the rest of the company's nonprofit board on Friday, leading to a seemingly endless drama cycle that's included hundreds of staffers threatening to quit en masse if the board doesn't reinstate him. A key character in the specta


AI and Military Leaders Gathered for Mysterious Event in Utah
Futurism / 8h
Secret Summit Last week, before the axis of the artificial intelligence world veritably shifted with OpenAI's ongoing leadership shakeup , a group of AI and military leaders met in a secretive three-day retreat in the Utah mountains. As Bloomberg reports , the AI Security Summit — not to be confused with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's AI Safety Summit earlier in November — was hosted by the


A City on Mars: Reality kills space settlement dreams
33Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge (credit: Penguin Random House) Let me start with the TLDR for A City on Mars . It is, essentially, 400 pages of "well, actually…," but without the condescension, quite a bit of humor, and many, oh so many, details. Kelly and Zach Weinersmith started from the position of being space settlement enthusiasts. They thought they were going to write a light cheerleading book about how everything


Get Credit Card Refund When Losing Out On Exchange Rate Fluctuation
View from the Wing / 8h
This was news to me. I've redeposited award tickets where the taxes and fuel surcharges were substantial, and I've lost money when those fees were credited back to me when the dollar strengthened between the time of booking and refund. It never occurred to me to ask my card issuer (usually Chase in that case) to make good on the difference. It seemed interesting enough to pass along. Continue rea


What is going on with OpenAI and Sam Altman?
50Engadget / 8h
It’s been an eventful weekend at OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco. In a surprise move Friday, the company’s board of directors fired co-founder and CEO Sam Altman , which set off an institutional crisis that has seen senior staff resign in protest with nearly 700 rank-and-file employees threatening to do the same . Now the board is facing calls for its own resignation, even after Microsoft


How Microsoft’s Satya Nadella Kept the OpenAI Partnership Alive
200+NYT > Technology / 8h
Mr. Nadella moved fast to hire Sam Altman, who was pushed out of OpenAI on Friday, and asserted his company’s role in its partnership with the A.I. start-up.


Cruise co-founder resigns following CEO exit
Engadget / 8h
Cruise, the self-driving car company owned by General Motors, confirmed to Reuters that its co-founder and chief product officer Daniel Kan has resigned. Kan’s departure comes just a day after the company’s CEO Kyle Vogt announced his resignation on X after a 10-year tenure. Kan is said to have announced his resignation over Slack, however, the reasoning for his departure has not been made clear


95 Percent of OpenAI Employees Threaten to Follow Sam Altman Out the Door
57Wired / 8h
Nearly all of OpenAI’s 770 employees have now joined a letter threatening to quit in protest over the board’s decision to fire CEO Sam Altman. They’re demanding he be reinstated.


The Buying Guide for the Sword Buff in Your Life
Gizmodo / 9h
I can’t help but imagine the words “study the blade” spoken in the most nasally, pre-teen voice possible, but when Gizmodo asked staff what kinds of gift guides they were interested in writing this year, I couldn’t help myself. I’m using this opportunity for those who want to study the blade to, ahem, do just that. Read more...


The New Hunger Games Worked for Me Until It Didn't
Gizmodo / 9h
When the Olivia Rodrigo song began and the credits started rolling, I couldn’t help but scratch my head. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is now in theaters and as a fan of the original films , months and months of trailers had me suitably excited to check it out. But after almost three hours of the… Read more...


These Are the Best Streaming Service Deals for Black Friday
LifeHacker / 9h
Streaming services are offering some steep discounts for Black Friday—here are the best we've found.


All the Things You Didn’t Realize You Could Get From Unclaimed Luggage
LifeHacker / 9h
One of the best sources for cheap stuff: the bags people lose at the airport and never bother to claim.


American scraps all international flights from Seattle, adds new route from Dallas
300+The Points Guy / 9h
Turning Seattle into an international gateway hub seems to have been a failed experiment for American Airlines. The carrier filed plans over the weekend to cut its final international route from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by an airline spokesperson. Originally, American had planned to resume daily service from Seattle to L


These Bats Seem to Use Their Huge Junk to Have Weird Sex
Gizmodo / 9h
It looks like flying isn’t the only unusual thing that bats can do compared to other mammals. New research has found a bat species whose males use their large penises like an arm during sex. Rather than have penetrative sex, these bats and their genitals seem to engage in close-contact “kissing”—a method widely seen… Read more...



Binance May Sacrifice $4 Billion to Settle DOJ Case
Gizmodo / 9h
The US Justice Department seeks $4 billion from Binance to end a years-long investigation into the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, according to Bloomberg . Negotiations are reportedly underway that could subject Binance co-founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao (aka CZ) to criminal charges in the US. Read more...


Judge rejects Elon Musk’s attempt to kill Twitter/FTC privacy settlement
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Bet_Noire) Elon Musk lost an attempt to avoid a deposition and terminate a privacy settlement that Twitter agreed to before he bought the company. Musk's X Corp. in July asked a federal judge for "a protective order staying the notice of deposition of Elon Musk," and an order to terminate or modify the company's 2022 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. US


Hate speech group calls Musk “thin-skinned tyrant” amid X advertiser fallout
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Leon Neal / Staff | Getty Images Europe ) Advertisers with zero-tolerance policies for antisemitism spent the weekend urging the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), Linda Yaccarino, to follow their lead, save her reputation, and ditch Elon Musk's toxic social media platform, according to a pair of reports. Advertising industry insiders told the Financial Times and Forbes that Yaccarino


Sam Altman, Microsoft Will Completely Control Whatever is Valuable in What Was OpenAI
Next Big Future / 9h
It seems like Sam Altman and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft will have won completely. Sam and Microsoft will do whatever they want for almost the entire OpenAI team. It could be with the old OpenAI or in the new Microsoft entity. Microsoft will fund the Sam AI team with all the resources needed. They ... Read more


10 Behind-the-Scenes Books for Pop-Culture Fans
Gizmodo / 9h
We’ve gathered 10 books that spotlight some of pop culture’s most beloved and fascinating properties, including Disney , Star Trek , The X-Files , and Labyrinth. Scroll through for ideas on what to gift-wrap for the sci-fi fanatic, the film-history buff, or even the budding photographer on your holiday list. Read more...


Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe is now taking over the top product role at the EV maker
24TechCrunch / 9h
Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has taken on another role within the publicly traded EV maker as chief product officer Nick Kalayjian moves out of the job and eventually into an advisory position, according to a regulatory filing and internal emails viewed by TechCrunch. Scaringe will now be responsible for all product development — […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use


700 OpenAI Staffers Demand Board Reinstate Sam Altman as CEO
Futurism / 9h
The 700 Club A vast majority of OpenAI's 770 staffers are pressuring the company's board of directors to reinstate CEO Sam Altman — and if they don't, they're threatening to walk. In response to the weekend's barrage of OpenAI news — which began when the company's board of directors dropped a surprise Friday afternoon announcement that it was firing Altman , included the company inviting him back


From: De Zoon van Bolke de beer - The son of Bolke the bear
Music, Arts & Literature / 9h
shaykarniel :


It just got easier to use your Chase points to book Southwest Airlines flights
The Points Guy / 9h
For years, you haven’t been able to book Southwest Airlines flights online through credit card travel portals , such as those affiliated with American Express , Bilt , Chase and Citi . Finally, that has changed … well, somewhat. You can now redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points via its online portal for travel on Southwest. However, it appears that only Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus


Stock up on Apple AirTags While They're on Sale
How-To Geek / 9h
Every year, millions of people lose their luggage, their pets, and their keys. That's why Apple's small and affordable AirTag tracker is a perfect stocking stuffer—everyone can benefit from one. Now, Apple AirTags are on sale for just $24 apiece, and you can buy a four-pack for just $80.


Polyend's $799 Play+ has a shot a being the ultimate groovebox
Engadget / 9h
In 2022 Polyend announced the Play , a fascinating sample-based groovebox and MIDI sequencer that was pretty much universally beloved by anyone who could get their hands on one. The pandemic fueled chip shortage made them pretty hard to come by, at least initially. But my, how things have changed in a little over a year. In just around 18 months, the company has managed to bring the cost of the P


Don’t expect competition authorities to wade into the Microsoft-OpenAI power-play — yet
TechCrunch / 9h
As the tech world watches Microsoft suck in top execs and AI engineering talent from OpenAI, the generative AI giant in which it already holds a minority stake worth several billion dollars, one question to consider is what, if anything, can competition regulators do about the visible flight of AI expertise and value into Microsoft’s […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use on


Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Season 2 Would Be a 'Miracle'
23Gizmodo / 9h
If you are a fan of Netflix’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, as we are , don’t hold your breath for a second season. While the show’s creators don’t think it’s completely out of the cards, a second season was never part of the plan and still isn’t. Read more...


X CEO calls article that led to latest brand exodus 'misleading and manipulated'
Engadget / 9h
X CEO Linda Yaccarino called a report from a watchdog group that led to a large-scale advertiser pullout “misleading and manipulated” in a note she sent to X employees on Sunday night. “While some advertisers may have temporarily paused investments because of a misleading article, the data will tell the real story,” Yaccarino wrote in the note, which was first published by The Hollywood Reporter


Elon Musk announced support for OpenAI firing Sam Altman. Here’s why.
Mashable / 9h
It seems like the entire tech industry is enamored with the drama that has been unfolding concerning OpenAI's sudden firing of its CEO, Sam Altman. Over the weekend, OpenAI's board appeared to do an about-face and try to bring Altman back. It is likely that it is now too late , though, as Altman has decided to go work with Microsoft . Many OpenAI employees , as well as a good deal of onlookers, d


Beat high gas prices while traveling during the holidays: 8 ways to save at the pump
2KThe Points Guy / 9h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The holidays are usually a time to gather and celebrate but two things that so many of us have to contend with during the season are: long drives to meet up with family and friends and the cost of fueling up that accompanies holiday travel . To help you get through the holidays without making a deep dent i


Amazon Black Friday deals include the Dyson Airwrap for its lowest price yet
Engadget / 9h
Amazon has the Dyson Airwrap on sale for a record low. The innovative styling tool uses air rather than extreme heat to dry and shape hair — potentially boosting your hair’s long-term health when used regularly. Typically $599, a clickable coupon on its product page drops the price to $480. The Dyson Airwrap utilizes the Coanda effect, a phenomenon describing airflow’s tendency to follow the path


5 investors have high hopes for defense tech amid growing venture interest
20TechCrunch / 10h
It is likely not an overstatement to say that the relationship between U.S. defense and Silicon Valley is undergoing its most profound transformation since the 1950s. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Climate Activists Tell the EV Industry to Fix Its Filthy Supply Chain
33Wired / 10h
EV production often relies on coal power and harmful labor practices. Climate activists in Squid Games costumes disrupted the LA Auto Show this weekend to demand urgent change.


Improve Your Conversations By Focusing on Curiosity, Not Performance
LifeHacker / 10h
Turns out you don't need to fill every silence with nervous rambling.



One of the Best Curved Gaming Monitors Is $500 Off Right Now
LifeHacker / 10h
Samsung's Odyssey Neo G8 4K UHD gaming monitor is at an all-time-low for Black Friday.


Your Favorite PBS Cooking Shows Now Share a Dedicated FAST Channel
Gizmodo / 10h
You don’t have to be a chef or even know how to cook to enjoy the shows gathered on the new PBS Food FAST channel —but if you binge it long enough, you might pick up some kitchen mojo by osmosis. Starting today, you can find the free 24/7 channel in the U.S. on Amazon Freevee , Plex, and Roku . Read more...


Secretary Pete Buttigieg warns of disrupted holiday travel as the agency pressures airlines to perform
38The Points Guy / 10h
Ahead of what is expected to be one of the busiest travel seasons in history, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg warned of potential weather-related disruptions and increased pressure on airlines to manage high passenger volumes while encouraging travelers to remember their passenger rights. Nearly 50,000 commercial flights are expected to fly in and out of U.S. airports Wednesday, e


Your ultimate guide on how to search award availability for the major airlines
300+The Points Guy / 10h
Becoming an advanced award traveler requires mastering two separate skills: earning points and miles and effectively redeeming them. By developing a portfolio of the best travel rewards credit cards , you can master the first skill. The second skill can be more challenging. At TPG, we help you redeem your transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American Express Membership Rewards points, Citi


Apple’s emergency satellite service is free for another year — here’s how to use it
400+The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. If something goes wrong when you’re off the grid, getting help is just a tap away on Apple’s latest devices. Apple announced last week that it would make Emergency SOS via Satellite free for another full year for iPhone 14 users. Originally, the service was only supposed to be free for two years after acti


Amex cardmembers: Spend $50, get $5 back at small businesses this week
The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. For over a decade now, American Express has held a “ Small Business Saturday ” event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, spotlighting small businesses throughout the U.S. during the busy holiday shopping period. This year, Amex cardholders will enjoy a one-time $5 statement credit by using their enrolled e


Thousands of new honeypots deployed across Israel to catch hackers
31TechCrunch / 10h
On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, with hundreds taken hostage. The attack prompted a deadly response from the Israel Defense Forces, which has reportedly left more than 10,000 people dead in airstrikes and a land incursion. Shortly after the attack, the number of internet-connected honeypots […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights


This Might Be the Reason OpenAI Fired Sam Altman
42Futurism / 10h
A warning to anyone with a penchant for side hustles: if you happen to be the CEO of the world's preeminent AI creator, your board might not be thrilled with your extracurricular activities. It's still unclear why Sam Altman, OpenAI's recently-fired CEO , was pushed out of the fast-rising Silicon Valley AI company that he's become more or less synonymous with. Altman was not only one of the AI ma


Russell T. Davies Explains Doctor Who's Big Davros Retcon
100+Gizmodo / 10h
Last week, Doctor Who gave David Tennant’s 14th Doctor his surprise debut in a special scene recorded for the charity telethon Children in Need—one that took the Doctor back to the very genesis of their greatest foe, the Daleks. But in doing so, it also made a big change to their creator, one that returning showrunner … Read more...


Ring Doorbells Are up to 45% Off During Amazon's Black Friday Sale
LifeHacker / 10h
These Ring video doorbells are currently at their lowest price.


7 Devices Worth Upgrading to This Holiday
Gizmodo / 10h
For many of us, the holidays are when we level-up devices for ourselves and our loved ones, because pretty much everything is on sale. It’s right after Apple, Google, and Samsung have refreshed their offerings. As Gizmodo’s resident smartphone expert, I think this is the best time to toss out the old and swap in the… Read more...


How to Find and Clean Your Refrigerator's Air Filter
LifeHacker / 10h
Not every refrigerator has an air filter, but if yours does, you'll need to maintain it.


Dogs in Several States Are Coming Down With a Mysterious Illness
25Gizmodo / 10h
Veterinarians are working to figure out the cause behind a cluster of respiratory illnesses in dogs across the U.S. Over 200 suspected cases have been documented since late summer, mostly from Oregon. The illness appears to have a low fatality rate, but dogs have experienced prolonged symptoms and haven’t responded… Read more...


Airline Gold Rush: How New Tulum Airport Could Steal 25% of Cancun’s Traffic
View from the Wing / 11h
There’s a new airline gold rush down in Mexico, with U.S. carriers lining up to fly to the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport near Tulum. It’s 79 miles from the current Cancun airport, Enilria writes that an aviation study finds that this new airport could compete for a full quarter of Cancun’s passengers. Already American, Delta, United, and Spirit have announced service from the airpo


Study yields new insights into why some people get headaches from red wine
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / Red wine headache (RWH) might be caused by quercetin, which inhibits an enzyme that processes acetaldehyde in the blood. (credit: Mick Stephenson/CC BY-SA 3.0 ) As the holiday season kicks off this week, many will be making a consequential choice at dinner: red wine or white wine? And if your choice is red, will you be risking a headache? The fact that red wine can sometimes cause heada


After robotaxi dragged pedestrian 20 feet, Cruise founder and CEO resigns
21Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / Then-Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt speaks at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 on September 20, 2023, in San Francisco. (credit: Getty Images | Kimberly White ) The CEO of self-driving car firm Cruise resigned yesterday following an accident in which a Cruise robotaxi dragged a pedestrian 20 feet. California officials accused Cruise of withholding key information and video after the accident, and the comp


Measured: Steam Deck OLED’s major input lag improvements
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / The Steam Deck OLED (bottom) sunbathing with its older brother. (credit: Kyle Orland) In our review of the Steam Deck OLED last week, we noted that the upgraded 90 Hz screen "has a pretty direct impact on how it feels to play reflex-heavy games." Now, Digital Foundry has used input lag-testing hardware to quantify the precise size of that amorphous feeling, which it found is significant


Omegle’s death is the end of an era for anonymous online connection
TechCrunch / 11h
After 14 years online, Omegle shut down as part of a settlement in a $22 million sex trafficking lawsuit. If anything was a surprise, it was that the anonymous, randomized chat site was still operational. In a time when multibillion-dollar companies nitpick the rules about “female-presenting nipples” and “non-sexually graphic dancing,” how could a website notorious […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All righ


Explaining the Upheaval at OpenAI
NYT > Technology / 11h
What comes next after Sam Altman’s messy ouster?


20+ Black Friday sex toy deals you can shop right now
Mashable / 11h
TL;DR: We've rounded up some of the best Black Friday sex toy deals you can get right now. The best Black Friday sex toy deals: Best vibrator deal Playboy Pleasure The Swan Vibrator $47.60 at Lovers (save $20.40) Best clitoral suction toy deal Tracy's Dog OG Sucking Vibrator $39.99 at Tracy's Dog (save $10 ) Best male sex toy Lovehoney Blowmotion warming vibrating male masturbator $53.99 at Loveh



Italian Dyer’s Notebook
Music, Arts & Literature / 11h
othmeralia : Autograph manuscript, circa 1856-1866 This warped and worn nineteenth-century Italian manuscript appears to be a working manual and color inventory of a wool dyer in mid-nineteenth-century Italy. The handwritten entries are dated between 1856 and 1866, suggesting that the notebook was used and added to over a period of time. The work includes more than 500 numbered and itemized reci


Log Into Your Old Google Account Before It's Gone Forever
24How-To Geek / 11h
It has technically been possible to get a Google account since 2004 when Gmail was first launched. Back then, the account was good for just emails, but now, it can be used across a variety of different Google services. There are probably a lot of inactive accounts at this point, and now Google is going to start clearing them out.


Webb telescope images show an unprecedented and 'chaotic' view of the center of our galaxy
61Engadget / 11h
The James Webb telescope is back with some more gorgeous images . This time, the telescope eyed the center of the Milky Way galaxy, shining a light on the densest part of our surrounding environs in “unprecedented detail.” Specifically, the images are sourced from a star-forming region called Sagittarius C, or Sgr C for short. This area is about 300 light-years from the galaxy’s supermassive blac


The Witch Director Teases His 'Scary' Nosferatu Remake
100+Gizmodo / 11h
Silent horror classic Nosferatu celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, but it will have another reason to return to the spotlight in 2024, when genre craftsman Robert Eggers ( The Witch , The Lighthouse, The Northman ) releases his long-awaited remake . Today, we know a bit more about what to expect from the vampire… Read more...


The Photos App in Windows 11 Is Getting Better
How-To Geek / 11h
The Photos app isn't new to Windows 11, but Microsoft has been overhauling it with new features, view modes, and editing options over the past two years. Four more changes are now being tested, including AI-powered background removal and new viewing options.


Ember Smart Mugs are at record-low prices in Amazon's Black Friday sale
24Engadget / 11h
Amazon has cut Ember smart mug prices to record lows for Black Friday. The high-tech mugs have built-in heating that can keep your coffee, tea or other hot drink at your ideal preset temperature, allowing you to take your time sipping it without worrying about a lukewarm beverage. Usually $130, you can pick up the 10 oz Ember Smart Mug 2 starting at $90. One of Engadget’s recommended gifts for te


The Easiest Ways to Transcribe a YouTube Video
LifeHacker / 11h
Depending on what kind of transcript you need, you have options.


Instagram Threads missed a moment to shine, as OpenAI’s drama took place on X
37TechCrunch / 11h
Instagram Threads missed its moment to truly challenge X, this weekend’s OpenAI scandal indicates. Over the past few days, as news spread about the board’s decision to remove Sam Altman as OpenAI CEO, and the impacts of this wild and unexpected change rippled through Silicon Valley’s tech ecosystem, the conversation was largely not taking place […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For pers


With Functional Source License, Sentry wants to grant developers freedom ‘without harmful free-riding’
TechCrunch / 11h
Yet another software license is vying for the attentions of SaaS companies seeking to align themselves with the open source realm, without compromising their commercial endeavors. Sentry, an app performance monitoring (APM) company that helps companies such as Disney, Microsoft and Cisco track and resolve laggy or buggy applications, has transitioned its core product to […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All


OpenAI’s crisis will sow the seeds of the next generation of AI startups
TechCrunch / 11h
OpenAI’s meltdown is likely to become the latest installment in what’s becoming a Silicon Valley tradition. It's hard to know how this will end. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Powder, an AI clipping tool for gaming, can detect when a creator yells during a stream
TechCrunch / 11h
Powder, AI-powered clipping software that takes highlights from gaming streams and turns them into short-form videos, will soon be able to detect shouting for gamers to create even better montages. The platform is also working on speech-to-text software so creators can get a transcript of their entire stream and search for keywords. Powder has developed […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved.


Sam Altman and OpenAI employees are flooding the timeline with heart emojis
Mashable / 11h
Did you hear? Sam Altman is out, and the heart emoji is in. Altman was ousted as the CEO of OpenAI, a company he co-founded, and people are pissed. According to a letter to OpenAI's board , most of the OpenAI staff are threatening to leave the company and join Microsoft, which hired Altman, if OpenAI doesn't reinstate him. The people love the man. SEE ALSO: OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever 'deeply


Secretive White House Surveillance Program Gives Cops Access to Trillions of US Phone Records
400+Wired / 12h
A WIRED analysis of leaked police documents verifies that a secretive government program is allowing federal, state, and local law enforcement to access phone records of Americans who are not suspected of a crime.


16 Takeaways From the Explosive Second Test of SpaceX’s Starship Megarocket
43Gizmodo / 12h
Starship pierced through clear south Texas skies on Saturday morning, for what turned out to be an eight-minute-long mission. The megarocket failed once again, but SpaceX achieved significant progress in various critical mission objectives. Read more...


There's Still Time to Get Diestel's Smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving
LifeHacker / 12h
Get this smoked turkey shipped to you for the easiest and most flavorful bird you've ever had.


Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's Latest Trailer Prepares the Underwater Royal Family for War
Gizmodo / 12h
Here’s a new look at Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom , the final feature from Warner Bros.’ last era of DC films before we turn over to James Gunn’s new DC Studios franchise world. Read more...


OpenAI's New CEO Posted Edgelord Tweets About Rape and Nazis
Futurism / 12h
Edge Case OpenAI's latest interim CEO — announced after cofounder Sam Altman was fired and chief technology officer Mira Murati was appointed and then discharged from the role — seems to have made some extremely edgelordy posts. As British journalist Chris Stokel-Walker pointed out on the platform formerly and perennially known as Twitter, the "OpenAI board appears to have skipped or sped up due


This Shark robot vacuum and mop combo machine is $300 off in an Amazon Black Friday deal
Engadget / 12h
The Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum and mop combo machine is on sale for $400 via Amazon as part of a Black Friday deal. This is a discount of $300, or 43 percent, and is the lowest price we’ve ever seen for this particular model. This is a well-regarded midrange unit with plenty of functionality, including the ability to both vacuum and mop. As a matter of fact, the Shark AI Ultra topped our list of


Tech CEOs are set to testify in a Senate online child sexual exploitation hearing in December
Engadget / 12h
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on online child sexual exploitation on December 6 and the CEOs of major tech companies are set to testify. The committee expects Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his counterpart at TikTok , Shou Zi Chew, to testify voluntarily. It also wants to hear from the CEOs of X (formerly Twitter), Discord and Snap , and it has issued subpoenas to them. "Big Te


Are travel credit cards worth it?
The Points Guy / 12h
If you don’t travel frequently and are new to the world of credit cards, you’re probably wondering if a travel credit card makes sense for your wallet. Because they make up so much of the card landscape, it can be hard to know which type of travel card to apply for, let alone if they’re worth it. For most consumers, though, the answer is an unequivocal yes. Here are a few reasons why a travel cre



The Ayaneo Slide Makes Me Want a New Nokia Sidekick
22Gizmodo / 12h
It seems that these days, every other company wants to try its hand at releasing handheld gaming PCs. The Ayaneo Slide is joining the surprisingly crowded battlefield to compete with the likes of the recently released Steam Deck OLED and Lenovo Legion Go for portable gaming dominance. Read more...


Qatar Airways Employee Deported For Wearing Tinted Moisturizer?
51One Mile at a Time / 12h
A recently published story exposes how a former Qatar Airways cabin crew member claims he was fired and deported for wearing tinted moisturizer during a night out in Doha (thanks to @kq747 for flagging this). The details surrounding this really make me angry, and I can’t imagine how unpleasant this whole experience was. Qatar Airways cabin crew accused of being gay prostitute On May 14, an Indone


This Is the Cheapest iPad You Should Buy During Black Friday
How-To Geek / 12h
Searching for a cheap iPad on Black Friday? Instead of buying an outdated model, get the colorful 10th Gen iPad . It's currently on sale for the all-time low price of $350, and it includes the latest iPadOS 17 update on top of modern features like USB-C charging.


Ukraine fires top cybersecurity officials
TechCrunch / 12h
The Ukrainian government has fired two of its most senior cybersecurity officials following accusations of alleged embezzlement. Yurii Shchyhol, head of Ukraine’s State Special Communications Service of Ukraine, or SSSCIP, and his deputy Victor Zhora (pictured), who served as deputy chairman and chief digital transformation officer at SSSCIP, were both dismissed by the government, according […] ©


CyberGhost Black Friday deal includes four extra months with two-year plans
Engadget / 12h
If you’re looking for a VPN with robust cross-platform software support, CyberGhost’s Black Friday sale gives you four extra months when you buy a two-year plan. Combined with the typical savings from committing to two years, it adds up to 84 percent off the security company’s standard monthly pricing over the same period. When you buy two years of CyberGhost access for $56.94, the VPN provider w


Emmett Shear, the ex-Twitch CEO tasked with stabilizing OpenAI, has some spicy social history
41TechCrunch / 12h
Emmett Shear, the interim CEO of OpenAI, may be out of a job by the end of the hour, day or week given how fast and unexpectedly things are moving at the world’s hottest hot mess artificial intelligence company. But for now, he is the person at the helm after a dramatic three days in […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


The best mattress deals for Black Friday 2023
Mashable / 12h
Black Friday is this week, and many top online mattress brands have already launched sales. Check out our top picks for Black Friday mattress deals as of Nov. 20: Featured picks: Best overall mattress deal Nectar memory foam mattress $659 at Amazon (save $240) Best organic mattress deal Avocado Greeb mattress $1,799 with code HOLIDAY (save $200) Best splurge mattress deal Casper memory foam wave


All the best Black Friday Instant Pot deals: pressure cookers, air fryers, and more
Mashable / 12h
A glimpse at the best Instant Pot Black Friday deals: BEST MULTICOOKER DEAL Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid 13-in-1 (6.5-quart) $119.97 at Instant Home (save $79.98) BEST AIR FRYER DEAL Instant Omni Pro air fryer