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

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

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Is Rebel Moon the new Star Wars? An exclusive clip of the Netflix movie sees mixed reactions
100+TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 20h
It's been an interesting week for Rebel Moon , the forthcoming Netflix and cinema release from Zack Snyder. Newly released footage from IGN shows the Bennu, the griffin-inspired creature that looks like something from a Harry Potter film, in an exclusive clip from the film. The three and a half minute clip, which you can watch below, is from the space opera's first film in the trilogy, Rebel Moon


Tucker Carlson Launches Subscription Streamer, Because X Reportedly Couldn’t Do the Job
1KGizmodo / 16h
Tucker Carlson launched his streaming service on Monday, charging users $9 a month for five original shows starring the former Fox News host. Carlson explored launching the subscription service on X, where he’s been hosting a show for several months, but Elon Musk’s platform couldn’t develop the technology quickly… Read more...


Elon Musk brings Alex Jones and Infowars back on X after user poll
300+TechCrunch / 1d
Elon Musk has restored the X accounts of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his media site Infowars. The X accounts of Jones and Infowars were “permanently banned” from Twitter by the previous management in 2018 for posting abusive content and violating the platform’s rules. Musk ran a user poll on X on December 9 asking whether […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Tesla could still sue Cybertruck owners if they flip their vehicles too soon
Engadget / 30min
Tesla could sue at least some Cybertruck owners who flip their vehicles too soon, but it's unclear if the rule applies to all customers who buy the pickup truck and if it will remain in place for future buyers. A few weeks before the first deliveries for the Cybertruck went out, Tesla updated its purchase agreement to add that it could seek injunctive relief to prevent owners from transferring th


DOE $42 Million for Inertial Fusion Energy Hubs
Next Big Future / 42min
The DOE funding $42 million to support three hubs to develop inertial fusion. The hubs will be led by researchers at Colorado State University, the University of Rochester, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Projects funded by the program—known as Inertial Fusion Energy Science and Technology Accelerated Research (IFE-STAR)—will bring together expertise and capabilities across DOE’s ... R


Helicity Space Raises $5 Million to Make Nuclear Fusion Rockets
Next Big Future / 42min
– Helicity Space got $5 million in seed round funding from several new investors including Airbus Ventures, TRE Ventures, Voyager Space Holdings, E2MC Space, Urania Ventures and Gaingels. There is no need to wait for terrestrial fusion power to begin using fusion propulsion in space. Pushing a spacecraft with short bursts of fusion can be ... Read more


Lego Fortnite’s debut builds momentum with 2.4M people playing at once
20TechCrunch / 1h
If you still think of Fortnite as a colorful, cartoony battle royale game, you might be surprised to learn the extent of Epic’s true ambitions. Fortnite’s big, chaotic fight to the death matches may still get top billing, but Epic has steadily been expanding the horizons of its marquee game to be more of a […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Omidyar Network to pull out of India market
TechCrunch / 2h
Omidyar Network, backed by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, is shutting down its India operations, two sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch, in a stunning development for the impact venture firm that has backed nearly 75 startups in the South Asian market. TechCrunch couldn’t determine why Omidyar had decided to abruptly pull from the Indian […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For


A spectral device using Generative AI could detect bad microbes in food factories in real time
TechCrunch / 2h
The factories which process our food and beverages (newsflash: no, it doesn’t come straight from a farm) have to be kept very clean, or we’d all get very ill, to be blunt. That usually entails deploying all sorts of petri-dish-based microbiological monitoring, hardware and waiting for tests to return from labs. Until now. Because, as […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use on


Lifetime access to 10TB of cloud storage is on sale for under £80
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Degoo Premium (10TB) is on sale for £79.34, saving you 90% on list price. In the old days, people would protect their important files in a fire-proof safe or lockbox. But now that everything is digital, we need to back up our files, photos, and documents in the cloud, which is way easier and more convenient. Degoo makes it even easier. Pay just £79.34 once and ac


Google working on an AI assistant that could answer 'impossible' questions about you
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
Google is reportedly developing an AI assistant that will analyze personal photos, files, as well as Search results with the goal of telling “your life story”. This news comes from CNBC which saw documents revealing that the tech giant recently held an “internal summit” where company execs and employees presented Project Ellman. According to the piece, the AI will offer a “bird’s–eye view” of som


Tribe Capital eyes leading $75M-plus funding in India’s Shiprocket
26TechCrunch / 3h
Tribe Capital is in talks to lead a $75 million to $100 million funding into the logistics aggregator Shiprocket, according to a person familiar with the matter, a notable financing deliberation at a time when most Indian startups are struggling to raise capital. The funding talks are ongoing and the terms may change, two people […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


How to get a refund for The Day Before, the game that got canned in just four days
68Engadget / 3h
The Day Before was a much-hyped zombie shooter game which, after multiple delays , launched on Steam on December 7th, only to be widely criticized for failing to deliver an MMO (massively multiplayer online) experience as advertised, let alone its bugginess, lack of originality and seemingly intentional slow in-game progress. Four days later, Fntastic , the studio behind this controversial title,


Google’s Android app store monopoly violates antitrust law, jury finds
22Ars Technica - All content / 4h
Enlarge / Artist's conception of Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney jumping for joy at news of the verdict. (credit: Epic Games) While Epic's antitrust arguments against Google had many similarities to those in the company's earlier case against Apple , the verdicts could not have been more different. A federal jury took only a few hours of deliberation Monday afternoon to determine that Google had an il


Jury sides with Epic Games in its antitrust lawsuit against Google
25Engadget / 5h
Epic Games' lawsuit against Google has had a much different turnout from its courtroom battle with Apple . A federal jury has sided with the video game developer and has found Google to be in violation of US antitrust laws when it comes to how it runs the Play Store. According to The Verge , the jury has unanimously agreed that Google held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billin


Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Tuesday, December 12, 2023


LifeHacker / 5h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for December 12, 2023 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is on the easier side; I got it in 3. Wordlebot scores the average as 3.4. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 12, Wordle #906! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 12
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 Dec. 12's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle co


Judge Upholds Texas TikTok Ban on Government Devices
NYT > Technology / 5h
The Texas law was challenged by First Amendment lawyers who filed a suit on behalf of college professors who said that their work had been compromised when they lost access to the app.


Fortnite maker Epic Games wins its antitrust fight against Google
73TechCrunch / 5h
On Monday, a jury sided with Epic Games over Google in an antitrust case that could reshape how app marketplaces like Google Play are allowed to operate. The unanimous verdict wraps up a three-year-long legal battle between the companies. Epic, creator of the popular online multiplayer game Fortnite, first filed its lawsuit against Google in […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For persona


Google loses monopoly case to Fortnite maker Epic Games
44BBC News - Technology / 5h
A jury found that the tech giant used illegal strategies to maintain its app store dominance.


Today's NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Tuesday, December 12, 2023
LifeHacker / 6h
Today is a tricky one! If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Tuesday, December 12, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll learn how everything fits together. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 12, NYT Connections #184! Read on if you


The growing abuse of QR codes in malware and payment scams prompts FTC warning
31Ars Technica - All content / 6h
Enlarge / A woman scans a QR code in a café to see the menu online. The US Federal Trade Commission has become the latest organization to warn against the growing use of QR codes in scams that attempt to take control of smartphones, make fraudulent charges, or obtain personal information. Short for quick response codes, QR codes are two-dimensional bar codes that automatically open a Web browser


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for December 12
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


AI companion robot helps some seniors fight loneliness, but others hate it
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge / ElliQ, an AI companion robot from Intuition Robotics. (credit: ElliQ ) Some seniors in New York are successfully combating their loneliness with an AI-powered companion robot named ElliQ—while others called the "proactive" device a nag and joked about taking an ax to it. The home assistant robot, made by Israel-based Intuition Robotics, is offered to New York seniors through a special p


The US military’s spaceplane is about to fly again—it needs a bigger rocket
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge / SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket stands on Launch Complex 39A in Florida, hours before its scheduled liftoff with the military's X-37B spaceplane. (credit: Trevor Mahlmann/Ars Technica) CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida—A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is poised for launch as soon as Tuesday night from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and the US military's mysterious X-37B spaceplane is fastened atop


iOS 17.2 is here — 17 new features coming to your iPhone
Mashable / 7h
The iOS 17.2 update is officially here, and you can now download it to your iPhone. But the question is, which new features will you get to enjoy now that the latest version is out? You may already know that the highly anticipated Journal app — allowing you to introspectively reflect on photos, videos, and other content via inspirational prompts — is headed to iOS 17.2. But let's dive into the ot


Terran Orbital CEO tells staff it is not looking for a buyer
TechCrunch / 7h
Terran Orbital CEO Marc Bell told employees Monday the company is not looking for a buyer in an effort to quash a report that it was seeking bids by the end of the month, according to sources who spoke to TechCrunch. Bell’s comments came during an all-hands meeting with staff, following a Wall Street Journal article […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Buzzy Startup Just Dumps AI Model That Beats GPT-3.5 Into a Torrent Link
Gizmodo / 7h
While most AI companies are preciously unveiling their latest algorithms with press tours and blog posts, others seem content to throw their latest wares out into the digital ether like a pirate ship casting off dead weight. One company that fits this latter category is Mistral, a French AI startup that released its… Read more...


Google Loses Antitrust Court Battle With Makers of Fortnite Video Game
80NYT > Technology / 7h
The case could reshape the rules of how other businesses can make money on the Android operating system.


Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games
39Wired / 7h
A jury in San Francisco unanimously found that Google stifled competition for its app store. A judge will now decide on what fixes to require at the company, but appeals could delay the impact of the case for years.


Quordle today - hints and answers for Tuesday, December 12 (game #687)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off. Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I'm still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's fun, but also difficult. What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keep


Why You Shouldn’t Force Kids Into Sports (and What You Should Do Instead)
LifeHacker / 8h
There is plenty of discussion about the risks of kids participating in league sports, but if parents handle things thoughtfully, these leagues can be a great way to keep kids physically active. League sports can also help kids develop social skills by working cooperatively with their peers. "You might be able to spark some interest in something they really enjoy," says Catherine Butz, Ph.D., the


Todays SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Scrubbed
Next Big Future / 8h
SpaceX and Space Systems Command USSF-52 mission with a space plane on Monday night was scrubbed. Space Force X-37B spaceplane is slated to launch its seventh mission overall and first on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, headed to a unique orbit as soon as 8:14pm ET tonight. SpaceX has scrubbed tonight's launch of a Falcon Heavy rocket ... Read more


Controversial clothes hook spy cameras for sale on Amazon
48BBC News - Technology / 8h
The hidden devices remain available despite being at the centre of a US case against the firm.


Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary Is Finally Joining Magic: The Gathering
Gizmodo / 8h
A few months ago Wizards’ latest Magic: Universes Beyond release celebrated 60 years of Doctor Who in style , with decks filled with cards from every era of the show ... except its then-upcoming present. That’s all changing very soon, thankfully. Read more...


Hasbro to cut 1,100 jobs despite Dungeons & Dragons thriving
25TechCrunch / 8h
Hasbro is laying off 1,100 employees, according to an SEC filing. The company behind franchises like Dungeons & Dragons and Transformers, Hasbro already laid off 800 employees in January. While some employees will find out about the fate of their jobs on Tuesday, others will be cut in the coming year. By 2025, Hasbro told […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Apple’s Journal App May Be the Only Thing to Keep You Sane This Holiday
Gizmodo / 9h
There are plenty of things to like about the latest iOS 17.2 update . For one, iPhone 15 Pro users are getting telephoto camera improvements and can finally use the titanium-shelled hardware to shoot spatial videos for the Vision Pro . There’s also a new Action button shortcut for real-time translation. But the most… Read more...


Ford slashes production target for all-electric F-150 Lightning to match demand
44TechCrunch / 9h
Ford will cut production of its all-electric pickup truck in 2024 in an effort to match consumer demand. Ford executives signaled in October during its third-quarter earnings call plans to “adjust” production of its all-electric vehicles and delay about $12 billion in investments due to softening demand for higher-priced premium electric vehicles. The automaker didn’t […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All r


Porsche gives Ars a look inside its next EV: The all-electric Macan
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / Porsche's all-electric Macan is almost on sale. (credit: Porsche) Porsche provided flights from Washington to Leipzig and accommodation so we could visit the Porsche factory and learn about the new Macan, as well as try out the new Panamera . Ars does not accept paid editorial content. LEIPZIG, Germany—The Porsche Macan has carved out a rather solid reputation for itself over the years,


As ChatGPT gets “lazy,” people test “winter break hypothesis” as the cause
53Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Benj Edwards ) In late November, some ChatGPT users began to notice that ChatGPT-4 was becoming more "lazy," reportedly refusing to do some tasks or returning simplified results. Since then, OpenAI has admitted that it's an issue, but the company isn't sure why. The answer may be what some are calling "winter break hypothesis." While unproven, the fact that AI rese


Tesla again threatens to sue Cybertruck buyers who try to resell the cars
42Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / Tesla Cybertruck displayed at Lincoln Center in New York. (credit: Getty Images | Roman Tiraspolsky) Tesla has revived a contract clause that says the electric carmaker could sue Cybertruck buyers for $50,000 or more if they resell during their first year of ownership. As we reported a month ago , the Cybertruck-only clause was added to the public version of Tesla's Motor Vehicle Order


Elon Musk reinstates Alex Jones and Infowars on X / Twitter
38Mashable / 9h
Alex Jones is back on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter . Last week, Elon Musk said he would " consider " bringing Jones back to the platform following an interview the conspiracy theorist did on Tucker Carlson's show, which is uploaded directly to X. Over the weekend Musk put the decision to a poll , which overwhelmingly favored bringing Jones back to the social media platform more than


The 27 best Christmas movies on Hulu
Mashable / 9h
Christmas movies are about shameless joy, uninhibited sweetness, and guaranteed happy endings. We don’t always have to be challenged. We don’t always have to learn more about the human condition. Sometimes we just want to be happy, and this list of yuletide films, from the classics to the unconventional, are sure to spark that cozy feeling of twinkling lights and sugar plum dreams in your tired,


How to Recycle, Repurpose, or Dispose of Broken Christmas Lights
LifeHacker / 9h
It's almost inevitable that when you pull out your holiday decorations for the season, at least one bulb or strand of lights will be broken, burnt out, or malfunctioning. Sometimes, fixing seemingly busted Christmas lights is as simple as swapping a dead bulb or two (and strands usually come with a few extras) or replacing a blown fuse . But whether your lights are beyond repair or simply no long


15 of the Best Species of Live Christmas Trees (and Which to Choose)
LifeHacker / 9h
If you celebrate Christmas, you probably have a decorated tree set up somewhere in your house. As a kid, the tree in my house was a dusty old artificial model that had to be assembled branch by branch. We always kept it in the basement, stuffed into a cardboard box, and every holiday season, unboxing it was a game of Spider Or Not? At some point my parents decided a real, live tree would be a mor


Max Q: Our sky
20TechCrunch / 9h
In this issue: OurSky's new funding, news from DARPA, the FAA and more © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Inside the new Porsche Macan – the Android-powered EV that’s taking the fight to Tesla
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
I was among a handful of journalists who Porsche recently invited to its production plant in Leipzig, Germany, to poke around the new Panamera and get a taste for what what we can expect from its upcoming Macan – the first of its kind to be offered in EV guise only. Although only revealed on the day in heavily-disguised, prototype form, we learnt that this powerful, high-performance electric SUV


Author Loses Book Deal After Blaming Star Wars Fans for Bizarre Review-Bombing Scheme
200+Gizmodo / 9h
Late last week, the YA fantasy/sci-fi book scene found itself in disarray following allegations of an author review bombing several other authors in the community. The end result has seen writer Cait Corrain lose her deal with Del Rey Publishing, and other partnerships she had in the works also canceled. Read more...


Helicity Space raises $5M to unlock fusion propulsion – and fast travel in deep space
20TechCrunch / 9h
Helicity Space has closed a $5 million seed funding to accelerate development of a technology that could finally unlock fast, efficient travel in deep space. That technology is fusion propulsion, which has long been the domain of science fiction. The startup says that they have discovered a way to use plasma jets for fusion reaction. […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use on


Amex Membership Rewards vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards: Which is the best?
33The Points Guy / 9h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points are two of the most highly sought-after transferable currencies among travel enthusiasts. These points can unlock incredible redemptions in aspirational locations like the Maldives and Bora Bora. Both programs offer a range of travel


Relevance AI’s low-code platform enables businesses to build AI teams
TechCrunch / 9h
Many companies already use generative AI tools, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which can help improve workers’ performance by as much as 40% compared with workers who don’t use it. However, only businesses with large engineering teams can build their own AI workforces. An Australia-based startup, Relevance AI, wants to help companies of all sizes build custom AI […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved


Lucid CFO bounces after Gravity SUV debut
24TechCrunch / 10h
Lucid chief financial officer Sherry House is leaving to "pursue other opportunities" just days after the automaker fell off the Nasdaq-100 index. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Ready to Upgrade? Rumors Suggest PlayStation 5 Pro Arriving Late in 2024
71Gizmodo / 10h
A wave of rumors has engulfed Sony’s premiere fish tail-shaped console, with speculation centering on an upcoming PS5 Pro next year with a beefed-up CPU and GPU supposed to help it swim above any of the other prominent consoles currently on the market. Read more...


NASA Asteroid Probe Snaps First Image, Revealing a Field of Stars
20Gizmodo / 10h
It departed our planet just over two months ago, but NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is already 16 million miles from Earth, well on its way to its main destination: the asteroid Psyche. Eager to prove its readiness, the spacecraft recently beamed back the first images captured by both of its cameras to create a tantalizing… Read more...


The Best Tech Stocking Stuffers for Under $150
LifeHacker / 10h
It's nearly stocking stuffer time, and if someone on your list would be happy to stumble upon a little technology in their stocking, there are some solid deals right now on tech gadgets. These deals are all under $150, including earbuds, e-readers, smartwatches, and more. The perfect portable charger for iPhone users The Anker Nano Power Bank is a great portable charger for any iPhone user. It is


Sports Illustrated Publisher Fires CEO After AI Scandal
Futurism / 10h
Late last month, we reported that venerable magazine Sports Illustrated had been publishing commerce articles bylined by nonexistent writers with AI-generated profile pictures. The revelation sparked a storm of media coverage and outrage from the magazine's staff . The week after our story ran, Sports Illustrated publisher The Arena Group sacked two top executives , claiming the departures had no


Scientists Create Comically Gigantic VR Goggles for Mice
22Futurism / 10h
Despite being very low to the ground, mice are incredibly good at spotting an imminent threat like a hawk swooping down out of the sky. To get a better sense of how this behavior works, researchers at Northwestern University have built a (relatively) massive pair of virtual reality goggles for mice to study how neurons in their brains form new memories in a lab setting. The apparatus, dubbed the


Give more and spend less with these holiday gift card deals
The Points Guy / 10h
If you are still making your list and checking it twice, we found a few gift ideas in Santa’s workshop that are sure to please you and the lucky recipient. Many online retailers are offering deep discounts on gift cards for the holidays. Whether you are shopping for a travel lover, a coffee addict or a Disney fanatic, these gift card discounts can save you up to 25% on the perfect present (or a l


Unbelievable Airbnb Rule: No Toilet Paper, Only Towels for Guests! [Roundup]
View from the Wing / 10h
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips. Continue reading ...


23andMe changes to terms of service are ‘cynical’ and ‘self-serving,’ lawyers say
TechCrunch / 10h
Two days before 23andMe disclosed that hackers had accessed the personal and genetic data of almost 7 million customers, the genetic testing giant updated its terms of service. The changes are an effort to make it more difficult for the victims of the breach to band together in filing a legal claim against the company, […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Google's Weather Service Now Appears in the Pixel App Drawer
How-To Geek / 10h
A dedicated Google Weather shortcut is now rolling out to Pixel smartphones. This shortcut behaves like an app and saves you the trouble of manually creating a Google Weather shortcut. It should appear in your Pixel phone's app drawer within the next few weeks.


Rick and Morty's Cast and Crew Talk Season 7's Triumphs—and What's Next
Gizmodo / 10h
With just one episode remaining in Rick and Morty season seven , it’s officially time to celebrate: fans need not have worried about the show’s future after the high-profile departure of co-creator and key voice actor Justin Roiland. Though every episode wasn’t solid gold, there were some serious standouts , including… Read more...


Chrome could soon get a big AI upgrade – including personalized themes
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
Google is working on a couple of new generative AI features for its Chrome browser like the ability to generate custom themes on desktop. It’s similar to the Customize Chrome tool that came out back in May, although it’ll offer a lot more options. Looking at the demo videos shared by notable industry insider Leopeva64 on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), Create Theme with AI, as it’s ca


Asteroid mining startup AstroForge faces setbacks – and successes – on demonstration mission
TechCrunch / 10h
Asteroid mining startup AstroForge is racing against the clock to complete its refinery demonstration on orbit after encountering a number of unexpected setbacks before and after launch, the startup said in a candid blog post published today. This demonstration mission may prove to be a case study in the difficulties of putting hardware on orbit […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For per


Deal alert: Australia and New Zealand in business class for as low as 75,000 points each way
54The Points Guy / 10h
There are some incredible deals right now to Australia and New Zealand for those with United MileagePlus miles or Air Canada Aeroplan points — if you don’t mind planning a last-minute trip. You can book United Airlines flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Australia or New Zealand for as little as 100,000 United miles each way or as f


Hilton shows seismic growth in decade since going public. Here’s how it impacts you
The Points Guy / 10h
It’s been a decade since Hilton went public for a second time on the New York Stock Exchange, and there have been many changes and expansions at the company over the last 10 years that have affected how you travel. A mix of “complacency” and “past its prime” language was used to describe Hilton prior to CEO Christopher Nassetta taking over in 2007 when Blackstone Group owned the company. But the


From Xbox to headphones: 14 items you can buy with the Amex Business Platinum’s $200 Dell credit
100+The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Though certain credit cards — such as The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — have high annual fees, that $695 (see rates and fees ) you’ll spend every year you hold the card provides some undeniable perks. One of those perks is up to $400 in annual statement credits toward Dell purchases made


Apple’s iOS 17.2 Update Adds New iPhone Features and a Journal App
How-To Geek / 11h
Apple rolled out iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 earlier this year as a major update for iPhone and iPad devices. After a few weeks of beta testing, iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2 are now available, offering a new preinstalled app and some helpful features.


Apple tvOS 17.2 has a redesigned TV experience and no iTunes Movies or TV Shows apps
20Engadget / 11h
Alongside iOS, iPadOS and watchOS updates , Apple has rolled out the latest version of tvOS. The main change this time around is a redesign of the core Apple TV app. You'll now see a sidebar that blends content from Apple's own services (such as Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass and a Store where users can buy and rent popular movies) with access to third-party channels and apps such as Disney+ and Max.


Not Even James Mangold Noticed Indiana Jones 5's Wild Disney Animation Deep Cut
42Gizmodo / 11h
So I’m watching Oliver and Company, the 1988 Disney animated film featuring the voices of Billy Joel and Bette Midler, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. As Oliver, Dodger, and the crew are being chased through New York City, they head into the subway and jump on the tracks. “This reminds me of Indiana Jones and the… Read more...


Apple releases iOS 17.2 and macOS 14.2, delays two features to 2024
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / The iPhone 15 Pro Max. (credit: Samuel Axon) Today, Apple pushed out the public releases of iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, macOS Sonoma 14.2, watchOS 10.2, and tvOS 17.2. iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2's flagship feature is the new Journal app, which Apple teased when it first introduced iOS 17 earlier. The app mimics several existing popular journaling apps in the App Store from third-party develope


Elon Musk’s new AI bot, Grok, causes stir by citing OpenAI usage policy
20Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images ) Grok , the AI language model created by Elon Musk's xAI , went into wide release last week, and people have begun spotting glitches. On Friday, security tester Jax Winterbourne tweeted a screenshot of Grok denying a query with the statement, "I'm afraid I cannot fulfill that request, as it goes against OpenAI's use case policy." That made ears perk up online since


From Venice to San Juan: 31 hotels you can book for less with Choice Hotels’ Sweet Spot Rewards
52The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. In 2022, Choice Hotels began its Sweet Spot Rewards promotion. This promotion lets Choice Privileges members enjoy discounted award nights at featured hotels during certain stay periods. The featured hotels and stay dates change every few months, but the current discounts and property list are available for stays thr


Oceans of Blue and Gold
Music, Arts & Literature / 11h
histsciart : This marbled paper comes from The Butterflies of Australia (1914) by Gustavus A. Waterhouse. View more in Biodiversity Heritage Library with thanks to Museums Victoria and the Atlas of Living Australia for digitizing.


12 of the Best Gifts for Foodies (Whether or Not They Like to Cook)
LifeHacker / 11h
The toughest part of celebrating the holidays is zeroing-in on the perfect gift—even for the seemingly easy-to-please food enthusiast. While yours truly may never turn down a pair of oven mitts, not all food-folks actually like to cook. Foodies come with all different eating preferences, cooking interests, and experience levels. While one friend might be obsessed with food-themed clothing, anothe


Netflix’s New Apocalypse Movie Involves Self-Driving Teslas Going Kamikaze
500+Futurism / 11h
Full Self-Crashing In Netflix's latest apocalypse vehicle, a bunch of self-driving Teslas go haywire, seemingly trying to hit Julia Roberts and her family. With a star-studded cast including Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Kevin Bacon, the new Sam Esmail-directed joint "Leave the World Behind" involves a mysterious auditory cyberattack that makes people — and apparently cars — go rogue.


Something Unearthly Could Switch Train Signals From Red to Green
26Gizmodo / 11h
Some train track circuits are at the mercy of distant storms on the Sun’s surface, researchers found, which could cause train signals to jump from red to green and vice versa as a result of extreme space weather. Read more...


The best TV deal of the year just dropped - get LG's C2 OLED for an unbelievable price
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
You might think I'm exaggerating when I say that I've just spotted the best TV deal of the year at Walmart. But I'm not. You can now get LG's stunning 65-inch C2 OLED TV on sale for an unbelievable price of $1,299 (was $2,099.99). That's a whopping $800 discount and a new record-low price, beating Black Friday's deal by $100. • Shop more TV deals at Walmart The feature-packed display, which we ga


Doctor Who Saved Its Biggest Gift for Itself
200+Gizmodo / 11h
For a show that is often so optimistically forward thinking —and where change is baked into its hearts— Doctor Who often has a bittersweet view of its own past. Heroes and friends come and go, goodbyes are frequent and brief, and a lot of them are permanent, especially when part of the key to its longevity is that its… Read more...


Apple releases spatial video recording on iPhone 15 Pro
41TechCrunch / 12h
Apple rolled out iOS 17.2 today, giving iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users the ability to record spatial videos. The new feature lets users film in three dimensions and experience their favorite memories and special moments on Apple Vision Pro, the upcoming mixed-reality headset. In order to create a three-dimensional video, Apple […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal us


Microsoft Forms Alliance to Help Union Workers Stop Worrying and Learn to Love AI
23Gizmodo / 12h
Microsoft announced an alliance with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to ensure that artificial intelligence serves the interests of workers, according to a blog post Monday. Labor leaders called the collaboration “historic” as Microsoft became the first big tech… Read more...


Congress Clashes Over the Future of America’s Section 702 Spy Program
40Wired / 12h
Competing bills moving through the House of Representatives both reauthorize Section 702 surveillance—but they pave very different paths forward for Americans’ privacy and civil liberties.


Not seeing your double cash back on the Freedom Unlimited? Here’s why you shouldn’t worry
The Points Guy / 12h
For a limited time, Chase is running a special offer for signing up for one of its most popular cash-back credit cards . Since mid-October, the Chase Freedom Unlimited has been offering new cardholders double cash back earned in the first year. Chase will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned in the first 12 months with no limit, essentially doubling the card’s earning rates. THE PO


9 best ski resorts on the East Coast to plan a trip around this winter
20The Points Guy / 12h
There’s no denying it — when it comes to skiing in the U.S., there’s nothing like skiing out west. But, for those closer to the East Coast, it’s oftentimes significantly easier to jump in the car and drive to your favorite ski resort, which might be located in a charming New England ski town with some top-tier lodging and dining options. In terms of the actual time spent on the mountain, yes, con


Bitcoin Vulnerabilities in Mining, Signatures and Transactions to Quantum Computers
Next Big Future / 12h
Quantum computers leverage some aspects of quantum physics to make computers. They can create huge amounts of quantum states but it is also difficult to make the actual algorithms to use the abundant states. A classical (regular) computer would need more atoms than are in the entire universe to match the number of quantum stats ... Read more


'Doctor Who' Christmas Special teaser sets Ncuti Gatwa on a wintry adventure
Mashable / 12h
Christmas is coming, and with it comes the much-anticipated return of the Doctor Who Holiday Special. Titled "The Church on Ruby Road," this 55-minute Christmas episode will feature Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson as newly minted companion, Ruby Sunday. How do they come to cross paths? Well, the exclusive teaser above gives some hints. As does the official logline: Long ago


The new 'Doctor Who' Christmas special trailer reveals more than you think
26Mashable / 12h
In a pivotal Doctor Who special that aired over the weekend, we saw the 15th Doctor ( Ncuti Gatwa ) leave his 14th incarnation (David Tennant) and companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) for new adventures. Now we know exactly how he encounters his next human companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). In a brand new Disney+ trailer for the Christmas Day special "The Church on Ruby Road," Gatwa and Gi


17 Bloody Good Christmas Horror Movies You Can Stream Right Now
LifeHacker / 12h
Though your knee-jerk reactions may suggest otherwise, there’s nothing incongruous about pairing Christmas with scary stories. For centuries in Britain, families would gather around a fire and ward off the winter cold by sharing chilling tales of the supernatural—a tradition forgotten, only to be revived by Charles Dickens and M.R. James during the Victorian era. Similar, non-Christian traditions


Taylor Swift Is Shadowbanned From Google's 2023 Year In Trending Searches List
200+Gizmodo / 12h
Taylor Swift is so popular that seismologists measured recent tour dates in Seattle as a magnitude 2.3 earthquake . You wouldn’t know it from the latest edition of Google’s annual annual “ Year In Search ” roundup, though. Every December, the company publishes a list of the year’s most popular search terms. But one name… Read more...


CAMM standard published, opening door for thin, speedy RAM to overtake SO-DIMM
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / The front of a 128GB Dell CAMM. (credit: Dell) Move over, SO-DIMM. A new type of memory module has been made official, and backers like Dell are hoping that it eventually replaces SO-DIMM (small outline dual in-line memory module) entirely. This month, JEDEC, a semiconductor engineering trade organization, announced that it had published the JESD318: Compression Attached Memory Module (


OPEC members keep climate accords from acknowledging reality
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Saudi Arabia's presence at COP28 has reportedly been used to limit progress on fossil fuel cutbacks. (credit: Sean Gallup / Getty Images ) Oil-producing countries are apparently succeeding in their attempts to eliminate language from an international climate agreement that calls for countries to phase out the use of fossil fuels. Draft forms of the agreement had included text that calle


Tesla's Cybertruck Can Apparently Pressurize Its Battery Pack to "Wade" Through Water
83Futurism / 12h
Splish Splash After unveiling the Cybertruck over four years ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted that the brutalist pickup would be able to "float for a while" thanks to a hermetically sealed battery pack lining the floor. And, unlike many of Musk's other promises , it appears the EV maker might just have turned that scifi concept into a reality. Early adopters of the truck spotted a new "Wade Mode"


Investing.com Accused of Using AI to Plagiarize Other Websites
Futurism / 12h
We can't say for certain, but it seems mighty likely that one of the highest-trafficking financial sites in the US is plagiarizing other websites' content using artificial intelligence. Per a scoop from Semafor 's Maxwell Tani , Investing.com has in recent months published multiple pieces that are very similar in language and content to articles posted just hours before on other websites. In one


Sila inks supply deal with Panasonic for its breakthrough battery material
22TechCrunch / 12h
The supply agreement marks a significant milestone for the 13-year-old lithium-ion battery company, which has raised over $900 million to date. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


The ultra-customizable Arc browser is now available on Windows in beta
Engadget / 12h
Arc, a formerly Mac-only internet browser from The Browser Company, is coming to Windows. In a post on X, the company today announced that its first Windows beta invites are already hitting inboxes. This comes after months of requests from Windows users who want to give Arc a shot. Back in September, the company said it already had over 500,000 signups on the Windows waitlist , and that number is


Three Satellites From SpaceX's Latest Rideshare Mission Are Missing in Action
Gizmodo / 12h
Among the over 100 satellites that launched on board SpaceX’s Transporter-9 mission, three failed to deploy and their current whereabouts are unknown. Read more...


Obscure startup wins prestigious CES 2024 award — you've probably never heard of it, but Panmnesia is the company that could make ChatGPT 6 (or 7) times faster
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
The highly coveted Innovation Award at the forthcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 event in January has been snapped up by a Korean startup for its AI accelerator. Panmnesia has built its AI accelerator device on Compute Express Link (CXL) 3.0 technology, which allows an external memory pool to be shared with host computers, and components like the CPU, which can translate to near-limitl


Reddit crashed today. Here's what happened.
Mashable / 12h
Reddit crashed on Monday afternoon eastern time, seemingly down for lots of users. The issue, however, didn't appear to last long. The site redditstatus.com which, you guessed it, tracks Reddit's status first noted it was noticing issues around 12:47 p.m. eastern time. "We're investigating an issue that's left many of our web and mobile platforms unavailable. Responders are working to restore ser


TimeSplitters studio Free Radical Design has shut down
46Engadget / 12h
Free Radical Design, the company tasked with making a TimeSplitters reboot, has closed its doors, according to employee statements acquired by Eurogamer. Additionally, the developer’s official website now redirects to a 404 error, along with text reading “company not found” and a sad face. Ex-staffers have also taken to social media to announce the closure. The company was reformed back in 2021 s


Apple’s new Journal app is now available with the release of iOS 17.2
TechCrunch / 12h
Apple has officially launched its Journal app with the release of iOS 17.2, the tech giant announced on Monday. The new app, which was first announced at WWDC in June, is designed to encourage users to reflect on everyday moments and log special events. The app lets you capture these moments with text, photos, videos, […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


How Did A Russian Without Ticket, Passport, or Visa Fly To LA Without Anyone Noticing?
View from the Wing / 12h
A Russian passenger flew from Copenhagen to Los Angeles on Scandinavian flight 931 last month despite not having a ticket, passport, or visa. He’s being called a stowaway, but he wasn’t hiding. He simply sat down in a seat. Continue reading ...


You Can Make Your Artificial Christmas Tree Look More Real
LifeHacker / 12h
Artificial Christmas trees are one of modern man’s greatest achievements. Stored in a box somewhere for most of the year, they emerge as green and fresh as ever ( with a little cleaning ) without sticky sap, unwelcome pests , or the need for regular watering. But an artificial tree can often look a little, well, fake. If you want your totally not-real tree to give the illusion that you walked out


All the Jobs AI Is Coming for, According to a UK Study
37LifeHacker / 12h
If you're like me, your first experience with generative AI bots like ChatGPT probably went something like this: You asked it to do something, it did the thing you asked it to, and you were impressed with how well it did it. Then, an existential thought crossed your mind: "Shit...can this thing do my job?" The question of whether AI will eventually take jobs away from us meatbags is nothing new .


Showtime's Cable Channel Is Changing Its Name to... Paramount+ With Showtime
Gizmodo / 12h
As of January 8, linear Showtime will be no more. Instead, it’ll be rebranded as “Paramount+ With Showtime,” an arrangement spurred by the fact Showtime content is now available on the Paramount+ streaming service and executives just have to change things to justify their salaries. It’s the latest