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

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Technology News and More-Wednesday Edition...

 Technology News and More...





One of the Internet’s Oldest Software Archives Is Shutting Down


1KWired / 13h
The Hobbes OS/2 Archive has been an institution for over three decades. Soon, it’ll be gone.


Elon Musk's $55.8 billion Tesla compensation has been thrown out by a US court
Mashable / 49min
A Delaware court has thrown out Elon Musk 's $55.8 billion Tesla compensation package, ruling that its board of directors breached their legal duty to the company when deciding their CEO's pay. It's a sizeable blow to the multi-billionaire's wallet, and might even put a dent in the richest man in the world's solid gold throne. In a lengthy 201-page post-trial opinion on Tuesday, Chancellor Kathal


Samsung's annual profits continued to decline in 2023
Engadget / 36min
Samsung has failed to recover from the sharp decline in profit it experienced in 2022. In its latest earnings report , the Korean company has reported KRW 258.94 trillion ($194 billion) in annual revenue and KRW 6.57 trillion ($4.9 billion) in operating profit for the fiscal year of 2023. Those are markedly smaller numbers than the previous fiscal year's, especially the latter's — Samsung posted



Elon Musk's $56 billion Tesla pay package has been tossed out by the court
Engadget / 1h
In 2018, Tesla awarded Elon Musk a $56 billion pay package that helped propel him to the top of world's richest lists. Now, a judge in Delaware has rendered the deal between the company and the CEO to be invalid and called the compensation an "unfathomable sum" that's unfair to shareholders. As initially seen and reported by Chancery Daily on Threads , the court of Chancery in Delaware has releas


Sundar Pichai says Google One cloud storage service has nearly 100M subscribers
24TechCrunch / 2h
Google CEO Sudar Pichai said that the company’s Google One cloud storage service is ” just about to cross” 100 million subscribers. Speaking during Alphabet’s Q4 2023 earning call, Pichai added that the company is looking to add more AI-powered features to the Google One service. The search giant first launched Google One in 2018. […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Save 94% on lifetime access to Dollar Flight Club
Mashable / 4h
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Dollar Flight Club is on sale for £31.46, saving you 94% on list price. Maybe the first leg of your holiday doesn’t have to feel like you’re recovering from the stress of finding tickets, grabbing them before someone else does, and seeing what’s left of your budget after. Instead, you can let a robot find cheap flights for you. Dollar Flight Club is a service tha


Universal Music to pull songs from TikTok
81BBC News - Technology / 4h
It would mean the social media platform would no longer have access to songs by Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and Drake.


Accel eyes new India fashion e-commerce bet with Newme
28TechCrunch / 4h
Accel, an early investor in Indian e-commerce giants Flipkart and Myntra, is preparing a new fashion e-commerce bet in India even as competition intensifies with the recent expansion of Mukesh Ambani’s Ajio platform. Accel is in advanced talks to lead a $15-20 million funding round into Newme, an Indian fast-fashion e-commerce startup, according to four […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved.


Wattpad, a storytelling platform, conducts another layoff round
TechCrunch / 5h
Wattpad, a Toronto-based storytelling platform owned by Naver’s Webtoon Entertainment, conducted another round of layoffs earlier this month. Wattpad has cut around 30 jobs, or roughly 15% of its workforce, a source familiar with the situation told TechCrunch. According to local media outlets, including The Korea Economic Daily, the cut impacted about 30 employees. A spokesperson […] © 2024 TechC


Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Wednesday, January 31, 2024
LifeHacker / 6h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for January 31, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is medium-hard; I got it in five. Beware, there are spoilers below for January 31, Wordle #956! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle Wordle lives here on the New York Times web


PayPal cuts 2,500 jobs in the face of rising competition
56BBC News - Technology / 6h
It once dominated the payments industry but firms like Apple, Zelle and Block are taking market share.


Toby Stephens breaks down Poseidon's big sacrifice in 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians'
Mashable / 6h
To say Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) has a complicated relationship with his father would be like calling the Pacific Ocean a puddle. For starters, there's the bombshell that his father is none other than the Greek god Poseidon (Toby Stephens). Then there's all the baggage that comes with that, like Poseidon not being able to support Percy or his mother Sally (Virginia Kull) except from afar, or


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 31
Mashable / 6h
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle . As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Jan. 31'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


Elon Musk’s $56B Tesla pay deal is unfair, judge rules
TechCrunch / 6h
A Delaware judge ruled Tuesday that Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package is unfair, voiding the largest in compensation deal in corporate history. The decision, issued Tuesday in the Delaware Court of Chancery by Judge Kathaleen McCormick, means that Musk, the world’s richest person, can’t keep the 2018 compensation package. The ruling can be appealed. Chancery […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights re


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 31
Mashable / 7h
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the e


China’s Solar and Wind Power Needs 1 Million Megapacks
Next Big Future / 8h
At the end of October 2023, China’s NEA (National Energy Administration) reported China’s installed renewable energy capacity had exceeded 1.4 Terawatts. This capacity includes 420 GW of hydropower, 404 GW of wind power, 536 GW of solar, and 44 GW of biomass. China added 216.9 GW of solar capacity in 2023, marking a 148 % ... Read more


Ofcom report finds 1 in 5 harmful content search results were ‘one-click gateways’ to more toxicity
20TechCrunch / 8h
Move over, TikTok, Ofcom, the U.K. regulator enforcing the now official Online Safety Act, is gearing up to size up an even bigger target: search engines like Google and Bing and the role that they play in presenting self-injury, suicide and other harmful content at the click of a button, particularly to underage users. A report […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Kurt Russell Offers His Own Take on The Thing's Enigmatic Ending
Gizmodo / 8h
During Kurt Russell’s acting retrospective for GQ , the famed actor gave his thoughts on the ever-constant debate of which survivor is the Thing at the end of John Carpenter ’s The Thing. During the shoot, what would be shown of the divisive ending was a matter of contention even for Carpenter himself, who now swears he’… Read more...


The iPad Air is $150 Off at Best Buy Right Now
LifeHacker / 8h
The iPad Air is the thinnest—and one of the best—tablets Apple has to offer, and it's going for a pretty good price right now. You can get the latest 5th generation iPad Air with 64GB of memory for $449.99 (originally $599.99) at Best Buy, which also includes three months of Apple TV. For reference, this is similar to the price Amazon sells the used version for. (Amazon was matching the price for


Universal Music Group plans to pull song catalog from TikTok
30TechCrunch / 9h
Universal Music Group (UMG), the label representing artists such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande, says that it’ll pull its music from TikTok tomorrow at midnight after failing to reach a deal with the platform’s parent company, ByteDance, over royalties. UMG won’t seek to renew its current arrangement with TikTok, set to expire […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For pers


Zuckerberg among tech bosses to testify on child safety
27BBC News - Technology / 9h
Senators say Meta, X, TikTok, Discord and Snap are not doing enough to protect children online.


Quordle today – hints and answers for Wednesday, January 31 (game #737)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
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 two years 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


Elon Musk: Judge blocks 'unfathomable' $56bn Tesla pay deal
500+BBC News - Technology / 9h
The lawsuit was filed by a shareholder who argued that it was an inappropriate overpayment.


Black Eye, Handcuffs, And A Barf Bag: Elderly Granny’s Fight With Flight Attendant Ends In Arrest
View from the Wing / 9h
A 74-year-old retired flight attendant, Angela Siddell, alleges she received a black eye and was handcuffed on a JetBlue flight after a dispute over disposing a tea cup, leading her to file a lawsuit. Continue reading ...


Admit It: You're Not Going to Cancel Amazon Prime
Gizmodo / 9h
For a while, #DeleteFacebook would trend every couple of months on social media. Countless people were fed up with Facebook’s endless parade of scandals, they claimed, and this time they were finally pulling the plug. Some people did, but Facebook’s user base continues to grow years later. Now Amazon is experiencing a… Read more...


Amid a fairly flat European market, Giant Ventures raises $250M to invest transatlantically
21TechCrunch / 9h
Giant Ventures, a U.K.-based VC that has made a habit of investing on both sides of the Atlantic, is launching two new funds, totaling $250 million. Its previous fund totaled $100 million. The firm invests across climate, health and what it calls “purpose-driven” startups and some used to call “impact” or “mission-driven.” Whatever the case, […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For persona


China's live streaming factories are bleak. Now TikTok wants to open one in the U.S.
Mashable / 9h
According to The Information , TikTok plans to open studios in major cities, where creators can host shopping livestreams on the platform. This move follows the widespread addition and adoption of TikTok Shop in 2023, the app's e-commerce element. If this idea sounds familiar, it may be because similar facilities have existed in China for years, including one in Wuhan operated by TikTok itself. O


‘Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’ Early Access Is a Mess, Here’s How to Get a Refund
LifeHacker / 10h
Rocksteady's upcoming open-world co-op shooter Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League just can't catch a break. The beleaguered game isn't even out yet, and already it's faced delays, lukewarm preview impressions , and pre-launch woes—including a major leak that spoiled the game's story and a strange bug during its early access period this week that forced Rocksteady to take it offline and lock e


Someone finally cracked the “Silk Dress cryptogram” after 10 years
20Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / “Paul Ramify loamy event false new event” was one of the lines written on two sheets of paper found in a hidden pocket. (credit: Sara Rivers Cofield) In December 2013, a curator and archaeologist purchased an antique silk dress with an unusual feature: a hidden pocket that held two sheets of paper with mysterious coded text written on them. People have been trying to crack the code ever


YouTube TV starts testing customizable 2×2 multiview options
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / For the NBA YouTube launched "Multiview," which is coming to Sunday Ticket. It's four games in a split screen. (credit: YouTube) YouTube TV may finally get a configurable split-screen mode. Google's cable TV replacement service launched a 2×2 "multiview" feature in 2023, but it relied on pre-made choices cooked up by some person (or maybe AI) inside Google. It's 10 months later, and now


Universal Orlando reveals lands, attractions, hotels and more for new Epic Universe theme park
77The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. It’s been almost five years since the world learned that a fourth theme park would be coming to Universal Orlando Resort called Universal Epic Universe. Aside from a March 2021 update that construction on Epic Universe would resume after it was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal has been tight-


Guide to the 6-month passport rule — what is it?
1KThe Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. It may sound trivial, but one of the best rules you can follow as an international traveler is to remember to check your passport validity before you book flights and hotels. Why? Because the requirements for entry differ from country to country. In the midst of planning my 2024 travel, I realized my U.S. passport ex


Tarot's Trailer Is Here to Remind You to Stick to Candy Land, Kids
Gizmodo / 10h
Beware any sinister party game pilfered from a dusty hiding place by smirking teens who couldn’t be less concerned with following “rules” that might protect them from supernatural harm. Many a horror movie has launched with that premise—and Tarot, which dropped its first trailer today, is the latest. Read more...


Microsoft says AI is getting deployed 'at scale'
40BBC News - Technology / 10h
The tech giant's AI success has caused shares to surge, after its market value passed $3tn.


Gamers rejoice: AMD may be cooking up a GPU with RTX 4080 performance at half the price
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
According to a new report, AMD may be working on a graphics card that offers the same performance as the Nvidia RTX 4080 but at only half the price. This isn’t the first time these rumors cropped up either, with a report back in 2023 about the manufacturer focusing on the mid-range market. The latest report asserts that the mid-range options of the AMD Radeon 8000 series will allegedly cost betwe


Facebook Approves Disgusting Pro-Anorexia and Drug Ads Targeted at Teens and Made With Its Own AI
Futurism / 10h
To see how open to abuse Facebook's advertising and AI platforms really are, a tech watchdog tested out some salacious prompts — and found that the company now known as Meta was all too willing to monetize its rule-breaking outputs. In a report, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), which is part of the Campaign for Accountability nonprofit, said that its researchers used the " Imagine with Meta A


Make a Better To-do List With the 1-3-5 Method
LifeHacker / 11h
No matter what kind of productivity goals you have and which techniques you plan to use to get it all done, you still probably start with a to-do list. Learning to formulate a solid to-do list is the key first step to being productive, since you need it to move on to other planning stages, like using the Eisenhower matrix to prioritize tasks or Kanban to organize them . Try using the 1-3-5 rule f


Cozy-up With a Different Kind of Dumpling
LifeHacker / 11h
Some of the greatest comfort foods involve carbs, cheese, and cream. I’d like to bring dumplings into the spotlight. While there are as many dumpling variations as there are people on this planet (only slightly exaggerating), lately I’ve been cozying up with Swiss capuns. If you’ve never heard of these leaf-enrobed, cream-bathed parcels, you’re in for a treat. These savory bundles had never befor


The Taylor Swift deepfake debacle was frustratingly preventable
TechCrunch / 11h
You know you’ve screwed up when you’ve simultaneously angered the White House, the TIME Person of the Year and pop culture’s most rabid fanbase. That’s what happened last week to X, the Elon Musk-owned platform formerly called Twitter, when AI-generated, pornographic deepfake images of Taylor Swift went viral. One of the most widespread posts of […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For per


Microsoft's gaming revenue was up 49 percent in Q2, mostly thanks to the Activision deal
Engadget / 11h
Microsoft posted another blowout earnings report for Q2 of the 2024 fiscal year, with revenues of $62 billion (up 18 percent from last year) and profits of $21.9 billion (a 33 percent increase). But really, the most interesting thing about this quarter is that we finally get to see how the $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition affects the $3 trillion company. While Microsoft isn't breakin


Navigating media’s ups and downs with theSkimm co-founders
TechCrunch / 11h
Welcome back to Found, where we get the stories behind the startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


UK law could ban Apple security updates across the world in an 'unprecedented overreach'
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Apple is no stranger to controversy, especially involving government bodies. But a new proposal could aim to be “unprecedented” in its reach over the tech giant. Several amendments to the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) have been proposed, one that would require Apple (and any other company) to “notify UK officials of any updates they planned to make that could restrict the UK government's ac


Elon Musk’s Tesla Pay Package Is Voided by Judge
2KNYT > Technology / 11h
Shareholders had sued, arguing that Mr. Musk’s compensation — which helped make him the world’s richest person — was excessive.


Twitterrific’s team is back with Tapestry, an app for tracking social media, news, RSS and more
TechCrunch / 11h
The Iconfactory, the maker of a popular third-party Twitter client, Twitterrific, that was among those killed off by Twitter under Elon Musk’s management, is hoping to recover from its losses with a new app that combines your social media, news feeds and alerts into one experience. The app, dubbed “Project Tapestry” as it launches on […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use on


Your guide to maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases
100+The Points Guy / 11h
The next big gift-giving occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and graduations, are on the horizon. If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for your loved ones, online shopping portals may be a great solution. Online shopping portals offer an easy way to earn bonus miles or cash back on purchases. Also, Rakuten offers a one-time $30 bonus for new members who join through this lin


Microsoft’s legal department allegedly silenced an engineer who raised concerns about DALL-E 3
Engadget / 11h
A Microsoft manager claims OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 has security vulnerabilities that could allow users to generate violent or explicit images (similar to those that recently targeted Taylor Swift ). GeekWire reported Tuesday the company’s legal team blocked Microsoft engineering leader Shane Jones’ attempts to alert the public about the exploit. The self-described whistleblower is now taking his messag


Iconic streamer Pokimane is leaving Twitch
TechCrunch / 11h
One of the most popular streamers on Twitch, Pokimane announced today that she is leaving the platform. It’s not yet clear if she’s retiring from content creation altogether, or if she’s moving from Twitch to another platform. “twitch has been my home for a decade,” Pokimane wrote on X. “but it’s time to say thank […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Travelers Are Using Pillow Cases To Outsmart Airline Carry-On Limits
View from the Wing / 11h
In the ongoing game of airline versus passenger, one traveler has come up with a new way to win: using the pillow case as an extra carry-on bag. Just stuff all your items inside, instead of using it for a pillow. The overpacked pillow just takes all of the extra clothes you can't fit within your carry-on allowance. Continue reading ...


Optimus Prime Gets an Ultra Update in New Transformers HasLab Project
Gizmodo / 11h
In the world of Transformers, Optimus Prime is the guy . The traditional leader of the Autobots is the most popular character in the entire franchise and for good reason. He rules. You’d imagine it couldn’t get much bigger than him, but thanks to Hasbro, Prime is about to get a lot bigger. Read more...


Block becomes the latest fintech to lay off workers
26TechCrunch / 11h
Block, the fintech company whose subsidiaries include Square, Cash App and Afterpay, is laying off staff at a tumultuous time for tech industry workers. That’s according to an internal memo from CEO Jack Dorsey, obtained first by Business Insider, which states that “the growth of [Block] has far outpaced the growth of … business and […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use onl


iCloud Down: What's happening and when will it return?
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Apple's iCloud service is encountering service disruptions across at least one of its major services, with users expressing their frustration on X (formerly Twitter), with some TechRadar staff being locked out as well. So what's going on and when will iCloud be back to full service? We've reached out to Apple for answers and are covering the outage so you can find out when you'll be back to busin


TikTok's new favorite Wife Guy, Jett Puckett, loves his Pookie
Mashable / 11h
If you've spent a significant time on TikTok lately, then you might be just like me: wandering the halls of my home, muttering in a monotone drawl, "Pookie's looking absolutely fire tonight." You can thank a guy named Jett Puckett for that. And, of course, his wife Campbell, aka Pookie. SEE ALSO: TikTok's orange peel theory is the latest way to test your relationship The TikTok account in questio


PayPal is laying off 2,500 employees
Engadget / 11h
PayPal is laying off nine percent of its workforce, the company’s CEO Alex Chriss told staff in a letter on Tuesday that PayPal made public hours later. The decision will impact about 2,500 employees, who will find out their fate between today and the end of the week, Bloomberg reported earlier. PayPal's layoffs come almost exactly a year after the company fired more than 2,000 workers to keep co


LibreOffice 24.2 Has Landed: Here's What's New
How-To Geek / 11h
When it's time to draft a document or make a presentation, you probably use Google Workspace or the free browser-based version of Microsoft 365. But if you need an offline experience (and you aren't willing to pay), LibreOffice is your best choice. Now, LibreOffice is getting its first big 2024 update, complete with a version numbering change.


The Most Interesting iPhone Features I'm Expecting in iOS 18
LifeHacker / 11h
Apple's updates are all usually exciting, but some are much larger than others. iOS 17 , for example, introduced Contact Posters ; a feature that turns your iPhone into a smart display ; as well as the ability to turn any photo into a sticker . Come June, Apple will officially announce iOS 18, which could very well be a game-changing update for the iPhone. It's all about AI Look, this update is g


Is Amazon Alexa Spying on You?
LifeHacker / 11h
Amazon's Echo speaker, with its built-in Alexa functionality, is useful for controlling your smart home and getting quick information on traffic and the weather, among other things. But as convenient as Alexa is, it can create an eerie feeling that Alexa is always listening; spying, even. And those concerns are valid, especially since you're putting what is essentially a microphone connected to t


Google’s Parent Company, Alphabet, Reports Earnings Below Estimates
NYT > Technology / 11h
Google’s parent company reported that sales climbed 13 percent to $86.3 billion while profit jumped 52 percent.


CEOs from Meta, TikTok, Snap, X and Discord head to Congress for kids’ online safety hearing
26TechCrunch / 11h
CEOs from some of the biggest social platforms will appear before Congress on Wednesday to defend their companies against mounting criticism that they have done too little to protect kids and teens online. The hearing, set to begin at 10 a.m. ET, is the latest in a long string of congressional tech hearings stretching back […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


How to watch the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, Discord, Snap and X testify about child safety
Engadget / 12h
The CEOs of five social media companies are headed to Washington to testify in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about child safety. The hearing will feature Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Discord CEO Jason Citron and X CEO Linda Yaccarino. The group will face off with lawmakers over their record on child exploitation and their efforts to protect teens u


Breeze adds 3 summer routes from Raleigh-Durham focus city
52The Points Guy / 12h
Breeze Airways announced three new routes on Tuesday, adding more destinations from its focus city of Raleigh, North Carolina. Starting May 23, the airline will fly between Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Vermont’s Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV), as well as New York’s Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), for the summer season. Service to Portland Inte


Diary of an OnlyFans queen at AVN
Mashable / 12h
Every year, the who's who of porn descend on Las Vegas for the annual AVN Awards and Expo. We all know about porn stars, but what goes into being a top porn star at the Oscars of porn? We asked performer Lena the Plug to share with us her AVN diary for an inside look at the work that goes into dominating porn. Lena had a blockbuster year in 2023, with her podcast Plug Talk , where she and her hus


Ars Technica used in malware campaign with never-before-seen obfuscation
3 TTPs•
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Ars Technica was recently used to serve second-stage malware in a campaign that used a never-before-seen attack chain to cleverly cover its tracks, researchers from security firm Mandiant reported Tuesday. A benign image of a pizza was uploaded to a third-party website and was then linked with a URL pasted into the “about” page of a registered Ars user. Buried in th


Lawsuit: Citibank refused to reimburse scam victims who lost “life savings”
27Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / The Citibank logo on a bank in New York City in January 2024. Citibank has illegally refused to reimburse scam victims who lost money due partly to Citibank's poor online security practices, New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged in a lawsuit filed today in US District Court for the Southern District of New York. "The lawsuit alleges that Citi does not implement strong online p


iCloud Down: What's happening and when will it return?
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Apple's iCloud service is encountering service disruptions across at least one of its major services, with users expressing their frustration on X (formerly Twitter), with some TechRadar staff being locked out as well. So what's going on and when will iCloud be back to full service? We've reached out to Apple for answers and are covering the outage so you can find out when you'll be back to busin


iCloud Down: What's happening and when will it return?
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Apple's iCloud service is encountering service disruptions across at least one of its major services, with users expressing their frustration on X (formerly Twitter), with some TechRadar staff being locked out as well. So what's going on and when will iCloud be back to full service? We've reached out to Apple for answers and are covering the outtage so you can find out when you'll be back to busi


Using A.I., Hollywood Agency and Tech Start-Up Aim to Protect Artists
NYT > Technology / 12h
WME said the partnership would help its clients get fake images of themselves removed or receive compensation for use of their likenesses.


Microsoft Reports 33% Rise in Earnings
NYT > Technology / 12h
Revenue was up 18% in the latest quarter, the tech giant said, as investors look for signs that it’s beginning to profit from artificial intelligence.


ChatGPT users can now invoke GPTs directly in chats
23TechCrunch / 12h
OpenAI is pushing adoption of GPTs, third-party apps powered by its AI models, by enabling ChatGPT users to invoke them in any chat. Starting today, paid users of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s AI chatbot front end, can bring GPTs into a conversation by typing “@” and selecting a GPT from the list. The chosen GPT will have […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Japan finally gives up on 1.44MB floppy disk drives, 50 years after they went on sale — but there's no sign of Microsoft removing the iconic 'Save' floppy icon from Office just yet
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Even though floppy disks have long since gone the way of the dodo , the ghost of the ancient recording media still haunts the digital world. As a great example, when you go to save a file in Microsoft Office, you'll see the save icon still appears as a floppy disk, even though there’s a good chance you’ll be saving your content in cloud storage , rather than to a slow, clunky plastic square with


JetBlue TrueBlue program: How to easily earn points
57The Points Guy / 12h
Since JetBlue is not part of any major airline alliance, its loyalty program, TrueBlue , tends to fly under the radar. However, it is one of the most straightforward mileage programs in the sky, and with the airline beginning seasonal service to Dublin and Edinburgh for the first time this March out of Boston and New York hubs, you may be even more inclined to redeem TrueBlue points. So, how do y


Netflix's Avatar Is Making Sokka Less Sexist, But for Bad Reasons
100+Gizmodo / 12h
In a new interview, the cast of Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender revealed a crucial change from the animated show , one that makes sense on the surface, but maybe not in context. Read more...


3 reasons why the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is worth the $95 annual fee
The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Hotel credit cards are often overlooked when compared to their airline card counterparts. Mid-tier hotel cards, with annual fees of up to $100 , can be an incredibly valuable addition to any wallet, whether you’re an infrequent traveler, a road warrior or a nonstop jet-setter. These cards tend to have rela


PlayStation 'State of Play': How to watch it
Mashable / 12h
Curious about how to watch the Playstation State of Play livestream? We've got the scoop. It's launching on Jan. 31, just weeks after Xbox's New Year showcase revealed the highly anticipated Indiana Jones and the Great Circle . In a possible effort to one-up the competition, PlayStation plans to showcase over 15 games that are due to be released in "2024 and beyond." Here's how to watch so you do


Block is reportedly laying off around 1,000 workers
Engadget / 12h
Block is the latest notable tech company to lay off hundreds of workers, according to reports. CEO Jack Dorsey is said to have informed employees that the company is firing a "large number" of them, with Cash App , Square and the foundational (i.e. operations) teams bearing the brunt of the impact. According to a Business Insider source, Block is letting go nearly 1,000 people. Dorsey reportedly


Here’s What Happened to Monkeys That Got the Neuralink Implant
500+Futurism / 12h
Elon Musk's brain chip company has apparently, and against all odds, implanted its wares into a human — which is at least slightly terrifying, considering the fates suffered by many of the monkeys it's experimented upon. In a post on X-formerly-Twitter, which he owns, the brazen billionaire said that the unidentified human subject was " recovering well ," and that "initial results show promising


Cyberattack Hits Office of Georgia DA Prosecuting Trump Case
Gizmodo / 12h
A cyberattack has impacted Fulton County, Georgia, where former President Donald Trump is currently being prosecuted on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Read more...


How Much Money Is 'Enough' to Make You Happy
20LifeHacker / 12h
There's no concrete consensus as to how much happiness a bigger income can buy. After a certain point, the pursuit of additional financial resources is not about money at all, but what it might symbolize. But what exactly does it symbolize? Is it possible to be both ambitious and satisfied? I spoke with financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin to better understand how individuals can define "enou


You Can Get This WonderCube Pro Charging Cable on Sale for $40 Right Now
LifeHacker / 12h
You can get the WonderCube Pro on sale for $39.97 right now (reg. $70) until February 4. The WonderCube Pro is a folding keychain that has charging cables for different devices, a flash memory reader, support for file transfer, and an LED flashlight. The flexible USB connector has built-in gold-plated

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Technology News Tuesdays, and More!

 Technology News and More...





Gozney's new Arc pizza oven wants to make you a slice you can't refuse 🤌🤌
100+TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
The maker of the best consumer pizza ovens, Gozney, is adding two more affordable, at-home ovens to its range: the Arc and Arc XL. These gas-fired, stone-floor ovens utilize new lateral side burners and thick insulation to provide up to 950ºF / 500ºC of uniform heat across their cooking area, to make it easy to cook excellent pizza at home. While both borrow the same puck shape of the popular Goz


Y Combinator President Garry Tan publishes a menacing tweet before deleting it, apologizing: “Die slow motherf*ckers”
500+TechCrunch / 1d
Garry Tan, whose success in Silicon Valley has likely inspired many of the founders he mentors, is once again attracting attention for his posts on the social platform X. On Friday night, the Y Combinator president, investor, and former entrepreneur, published a post that might have prompted some to wonder if his X account was […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


What Is Swappiness on Linux? (and How to Change It)
200+How-To Geek / 16h
The Linux swappiness value has nothing to do with how much RAM is used before swapping starts. That's a widely reported and widely believed mistake. We explain what it really is.


Apple has sold 200,000 Vision Pro headsets, report says
Mashable / 7min
Apple Vision Pro , the company's first foray into the virtual/augmented reality space, is selling like hotcakes. Very expensive hotcakes. According to MacRumors , which cites a source familiar with Apple's sales numbers, the company has sold 200,000 Vision Pro units since the device became available for pre-order on January 19. This is roughly in line with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's estimate that App


Semron wants to replace chip transistors with ‘memcapacitors’
TechCrunch / 51min
A new Germany-based startup, Semron, is developing what it describes as “3D-scaled” chips to run AI models locally on smartphones, earbuds, VR headsets and other mobile devices Co-created by Kai-Uwe Demasius and Aron Kirschen, engineering graduates from the Dresden University of Technology, Semron’s chips use electrical fields to perform calculations instead of electrical currents — […] © 2024 Te


Elon Musk's Neuralink has implanted a brain chip in a human for the first time
Mashable / 57min
Elon Musk 's medical technology company Neuralink has reportedly implanted a brain chip into its first human subject. After years of assurances that human trials were imminent , it seems as though they're finally actually happening. Musk announced the development on his Twitter/X account on Monday. Though he was light on details, Neuralink's CEO appeared optimistic about the results, and stated t


OpenAI and CommonSense Media team up to curate family-friendly GPTs
Engadget / 1h
You will soon find a kid-friendly section inside OpenAI's newly opened store for custom GPTs . The company has joined forces with Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that rates media and technology based on their suitability for children, to minimize the risks of AI use by teenagers. Together, they intend to create AI guidelines and educational materials for young people, their parents a


Fidelity cuts Meta-backed Meesho valuation to $3.5 billion
24TechCrunch / 2h
Fidelity has cut the value of its holding in Meesho by 33.6% since the original investment, giving the Indian social commerce startup a valuation of $3.5 billion, adjusted for outstanding shares. The U.S. asset manager valued its holding in Meesho at $27.8 million at December’s end, down from the $41.9 million that it invested in […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Forget Samsung’s Space Zoom – this OM System super telephoto zoom lens can shoot up to a staggering 2400mm
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
There are times when all photographers wish they had a little more zoom – but those days could soon be over judging by OM system's new M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS lens. That's because the super telephoto zoom lens, announced alongside the new OM-1 II mirrorless camera , could have an effective zoom range of up to an incredible 2400mm. The micro four thirds sensor format has a 2x crop


OM System OM-1 II is a refresh of one of the world’s best wildlife photography cameras
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
In our Olympus OM-1 review , we labelled the flagship mirrorless camera for photographers "the best Micro Four Thirds camera you can buy", and said it proved that computational tricks are the future of mirrorless cameras . Almost two years later, it has a successor with a different name etched on its body – the OM System OM-1 II. Olympus had already been bought by OM Digital Solutions when the OM


A lifetime subscription to this AI video production tool is on sale for under £40
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to vidBoard Creative AI Presenter is on sale for £39.28, saving you 88% on list price. Whether you create presentations for potential clients or help introduce new processes or products to your team, they are a valuable tool in the workplace. With that being said, they can be time-consuming and costly to create if they are being done correctly. One way to cut produc


Startup studio Hexa hires former Doctolib exec to launch its health vertical
28TechCrunch / 3h
Hexa, the Paris-based startup studio that recently raised $22 million, is launching a new vertical focused on improving the healthcare system. Julien Méraud, a senior team member of the French unicorn startup Doctolib, is joining the startup studio . As a reminder, Hexa started its life as eFounders and originally focused specifically on B2B software-as-a-service […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights


Sony Xperia 1 VI leak suggests it could get a major camera and zoom boost
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
The launch of Sony’s next-gen Xperia 1 VI may just be around the corner as marketing material for the flagship smartphone recently leaked. Posted on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) by notable leaker Insider Sony , images show the upcoming device will see a major camera upgrade when compared to Xperia 1 V . It’ll have not one, not two, but three 48MP lenses on the back, enabling high-re


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 30
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 Jan. 30'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


Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Tuesday, January 30, 2024
LifeHacker / 5h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for January 30, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is medium-hard; I got it in five. Beware, there are spoilers below for January 30, Wordle #955! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle Wordle lives here on the New York Times web


Marriott Bonvoy Promo 2024: Double Elite Nights & Bonus Points
500+One Mile at a Time / 5h
Marriott Bonvoy has just unveiled the details of its first global promotion of 2024. Marriott’s previous global promotion ended in early December 2023, so it’s nice to see another offer being introduced soon. This promotion can earn you bonus points, and help you qualify for elite status faster. Marriott Bonvoy 2024 promotion details With Marriott Bonvoy’s upcoming global promotion: Members can e


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 30
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


The First Human Has Gotten a Neuralink Implant
Next Big Future / 6h
Neuralink has officially implanted its first brain chip into an actual human. The person is recovering well and the device is detecting neuron spiking. Those who suffer from ALS or spinal cord injury are the people who should apply for device. The Neuralink mission is to create a generalized brain interface to restore autonomy to ... Read more


Mark Cuban Publicly Admitted Violating Hiring Antidiscrimination Laws
Next Big Future / 6h
EEOC Commissioner informs Mark Cuban that his hiring practice tweets describe a violation of Title VII law. As a general rule, race/sex can’t even be a motivating factor—nor a plus factor, tie-breaker, or tipping point. It’s important employers understand the ground rules here. If the EEOC determines that employers are in violation of anti-discrimination laws, ... Read more


Elon Musk announces first Neuralink wireless brain chip implant
500+BBC News - Technology / 6h
The company hopes that such chips can eventually help tackle complex medical conditions.


You Can Get Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office for $80 Right Now
LifeHacker / 6h
You can get Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro together on sale for $79.99 right now (reg. $408). Windows 11 Pro includes support for biometrics login (for compatible devices), encrypted authentication, and Bitlocker device encryption. Windows 11 Pro also expands hardware compatibility with support for up to two CPUs with a max of 128 cores and up to 2TB RAM. This Microsoft


ChatGPT is leaking passwords from private conversations of its users, Ars reader says
94Ars Technica - All content / 6h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) ChatGPT is leaking private conversations that include login credentials and other personal details of unrelated users, screenshots submitted by an Ars reader on Monday indicated. Two of the seven screenshots the reader submitted stood out in particular. Both contained multiple pairs of usernames and passwords that appeared to be connected to a support system used by


The Toy Shop That Inspired Toy Story Is Shutting Down After 86 Years
Gizmodo / 7h
For anyone who ever wondered where Andy’s mom might’ve gotten Buzz and Woody in Toy Story —it turns out one particular San Francisco toy shop sparked the imaginations of Pixar creatives. Now, after 86 years in business, it’s closing its doors. Read more...


Elon Musk Says a Human Patient Has Received Neuralink’s Brain Implant
100+Wired / 7h
Details are scarce, but Neuralink cofounder Elon Musk says initial results are “promising.”


Diversity in the Skies: FAA’s Controversial Shift in Air Traffic Controller Hiring
View from the Wing / 8h
The FAA's move towards diversity-oriented hiring practices for air traffic controllers raises concerns over industry impact, although it doesn't appear to compromise safety. Continue reading ...


OpenAI and Common Sense Media partner to protect teens from AI harms and misuse


Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images ) On Monday, OpenAI announced a partnership with the nonprofit Common Sense Media to create AI guidelines and educational materials targeted at parents, educators, and teens. It includes the curation of family-friendly GPTs in OpenAI's GPT store . The collaboration aims to address concerns about the impacts of AI on children and teenagers. Known for its reviews of fi


Quordle today – hints and answers for Tuesday, January 30 (game #736)
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 two years 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


Neuralink’s brain chip has been implanted in a human, Elon Musk says
Engadget / 8h
The first human patient has received a Neuralink brain implant, according to Elon Musk. The procedure was apparently successful, with Musk saying the individual “is recovering well” one day after the surgery. Neuralink, which aims to create brain-computer interfaces (BCI), began recruiting human patients for its first clinical trial last fall after getting the green light from the FDA . At the ti


Cursive Handwriting Could Make Your Idiot Kid Smarter, Study Suggests
Gizmodo / 8h
There’s a glimmer of hope if you’re looking for last-ditch strategies to save your child from the halls of stupidity. A study published this week in the journal Frontiers of Psychology found that good ol’ cursive handwriting seems better at promoting learning than typing, and if we want to pump smarter kids out of our… Read more...


Elon Musk Says Neuralink Has Implanted Its Chip in a Human for the First Time
Gizmodo / 9h
Elon Musk says that the first person has received a neural implant from his controversial brain chip startup Neuralink. Musk revealed the information in a tweet posted on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). The tweet reads merely: Read more...


And DC's New Supergirl Is...
Gizmodo / 9h
James Gunn’s new DC Universe has found its Supergirl, and she already knows how to fly. Milly Alcock, who played the young dragon-riding Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen on HBO’s House of the Dragon, has been cast as the Kryptonian, beating out several other actresses for the role. Read more...


You Can Set Up a Eufy Security System for up to 59% Off Right Now
LifeHacker / 9h
Security cameras can get expensive, especially when you add in the cost of monthly subscriptions most of them charge. Eufy is one of the few brands that doesn't force you to get a subscription plan with them to be able to use their cameras. Right now, Amazon is having a sale on Eufy products going up to 59% off. Here are the best ones. The Eufy Security Kit The Eufy Security Kit brings you the ba


Make These Berry Cheesecake Twists Out of Leftover Pie Crust
LifeHacker / 9h
It’s mid-winter, but I’m still excavating some of the frozen treasures from my freezer after a whirlwind holiday season. Besides turkey bones and lumps of cookie dough (which I’m enjoying every evening), I also found a stray roll of pie crust. It has no box, so I don’t know if it’s vegan, gluten-free or what, but it’s definitely pie dough—and pie dough is always flaky and delicious. If you have a


Rebellions lands $124M to develop its new AI Rebel chip with Samsung
200+TechCrunch / 9h
Rebellions, a South Korean fabless AI chip startup, said today it has closed $124 million (165 billion KRW) in a Series B round of funding to develop its third AI chip, called Rebel. The startup will also use the new capital, oversubscribed with an initial target of $90 million, to ramp up production of its […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Vanishing On Touchdown: Unraveling Why PIA Flight Attendants Keep Disappearing As Soon As They Land
View from the Wing / 10h
A flight attendant from Pakistan International Airlines disappeared in Canada, highlighting a pattern of crew members vanishing during layovers, prompting the airline to implement stricter measures and raising questions about the reasons behind these incidents. Continue reading ...


How to redeem Aeroplan points for maximum value
71The Points Guy / 10h
Air Canada’s loyalty program, Aeroplan , is a favorite among award travelers, and for good reason. It’s easy to earn Aeroplan points , and the redemption rates are great, with plenty of sweet spots. Unlike some major U.S. loyalty programs, Aeroplan’s award chart hasn’t disappeared completely, and the long list of airline redemption partners is impressive (and has continued to grow). Plus, Aeropla


What is Clear airport security — and is it worth it?
1KThe Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Clear Plus is an expedited security program currently available at 56 U.S. airports, as well as stadiums and other large venues, with more than 17 million members nationwide . As a secure identity platform, Clear uses member data, including fingerprint and iris scans, to automate most users’ identity verif


Beware of scammers sending live couriers to liquidate victims’ life savings
49Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Scammers are stepping up their game by sending couriers to the homes of elderly people and others as part of a ruse intended to rob them of their life savings, the FBI said in an advisory Monday. “The FBI is warning the public about scammers instructing victims, many of whom are senior citizens, to liquidate their assets into cash and/or buy gold, silver, or other p


Apple warns proposed UK law will affect software updates around the world
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge Apple is "deeply concerned" that proposed changes to a United Kingdom law could give the UK government unprecedented power to "secretly veto" privacy and security updates to its products and services, the tech giant said in a statement provided to Ars. If passed, potentially this spring, the amendments to the UK's Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) could deprive not just UK users, but all use


After 32 years, one of the ’Net’s oldest software archives is shutting down
300+Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / Box art for IBM OS/2 Warp version 3, an OS released in 1995 that competed with Windows. (credit: IBM) In a move that marks the end of an era, New Mexico State University (NMSU) recently announced the impending closure of its Hobbes OS/2 Archive on April 15, 2024. For over three decades, the archive has been a key resource for users of the IBM OS/2 operating system and its successors, wh


Happy 'Threshold' Day, Star Trek Sickos
33Gizmodo / 10h
Twenty-eight years ago, Star Trek asked a daring question , one fitting of a franchise that triumphs boldly going and facing the unknown: should experimental FTL travel culminate in a captain and her helmsman turning into amphibians and doing the scaly deed? The answer is unequivocally no , but it has given us a… Read more...


Yes, it’s possible to ‘Swiftly’ get from Tokyo to the Super Bowl in Vegas in the same day
200+The Points Guy / 10h
Ever since the Kansas City Chiefs clinched a spot in the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, there’s been no shortage of chatter about the travel plans of one Taylor Swift. This is because she has been in the stands (or the private suite, at least) at many Chiefs games this season in support of star tight end Travis Kelce. Given her attendance throughout the season, it’s natural to assume she’d want to be i


Refurbished Garmin Smartwatches Are Majorly Discounted Right Now
LifeHacker / 10h
The Amazon-owned online retailer Woot is currently having a sale on Garmin products , with some refurbished devices going for almost 50% off. The sale includes smartwatches, GPS monitoring devices for biking, dash cams, and golf laser range finders. The sale will last until Feb. 5 at 1 a.m. ET, or until supplies run out. Keep in mind that all these Garmin devices are refurbished, so they might co


Proposed California bill would let parents block algorithmic social feeds for children
Engadget / 10h
California will float a pair of bills designed to protect children from social media addiction and preserve their private data. The Protecting Youth from Social Media Addiction Act (SB 976) and California Children’s Data Privacy Act (AB 1949) were introduced Monday by the state’s Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Senator Nancy Skinner and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. The proposed legislation follo


Tiny Robot Surgeon Will Slice Through Fake Human Flesh on the ISS
Gizmodo / 10h
Earth orbit is getting its own space doctor in the form of a small cyborg arm reaching out for the scalpel. A surgical robot is launching to the International Space Station (ISS) to test its ability to slice through human flesh in a microgravity environment. Read more...


TikTok Testing Whether Users Will Put Up With Every Video Being an Ad
Gizmodo / 10h
TikTok has grabbed the world’s attention in recent years, averaging 73 million American users every month . The app knows exactly what you like, and now it’s rolling out phase two: selling you something with every single video. TikTok is testing out a new feature that will identify objects in a video automatically, and… Read more...


Japan Airlines Airbus A350-1000 Routes & Flights
12KOne Mile at a Time / 10h
Japan Airlines is in the process of refreshing its long haul fleet, as the oneworld airline is gradually replacing its Boeing 777-300ERs with Airbus A350-1000s. Not only is the A350 a joy to fly in general, but these planes are particularly exciting, given that they feature an all-new passenger experience . The A350-1000 is already in service on its first route. Now the airline has revealed the n


Grab JLab Go Air Sport headphones for under $20
Mashable / 10h
SAVE $10.12: As of Jan. 27, JLab Go Air Sport wireless workout earbuds are down to $19.88 at Amazon. That's a discount of 35%. Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab Go Air Sport wireless workout earbuds $19.88 at Amazon (save $10.12) Sometimes when you're on the go, you just want a simple pair of headphones that get the job done. And you don't want to worry about them falling out when you're in


Tesla Drivers Say Autopilot Is Ruined Now
86Futurism / 11h
In an effort to combat misuse of its so-called Autopilot software, Tesla has made it harder for drivers to skirt around safety features, forcing them to pay attention to the road at all times. While that may sound like a good idea, especially given the hundreds of collisions currently being investigated by US regulators involving the driving assist feature, Tesla owners are airing their grievance


Alaska Airlines offering discounted flights and double EQMs for limited time
The Points Guy / 11h
Following the grounding of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes after a well-publicized incident , Alaska Airlines is offering travelers up to 40% off economy fares through March 13. This is a targeted deal, so be sure to check your email for your unique discount and booking link. Additionally, travelers who book this promotion will receive twice as many bonus elite qualifying miles for flights in Febr


Bilt travel portal: How to redeem and transfer points for flights, hotels and more
The Points Guy / 11h
TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor. In June 2022, Bilt launched its travel portal , which allows Bilt members to earn and redeem points for flights, hotels and rental cars. You can also use the Bilt travel portal to redeem points for activities, including theme park tickets . Even if you don’t have the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees ), you can still use the Bilt travel p


Alaska Airlines Struggles Are Your Win: 30% And 40% Airfare Discounts
View from the Wing / 11h
It's not just bonus elite qualifying miles that Alaska Airlines is using to get passengers back in the air after the ungrounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 9. They're also giving out discounts, too. Continue reading ...


Amazon scraps plans to acquire Roomba-maker iRobot
Mashable / 11h
Is Roomba in trouble? On Monday, Amazon announced it would be scrapping its plans to acquire iRobot, the consumer home electronics company best known for its line of robotic vacuum cleaners. The e-commerce giant's decision to back out of its previously announced $1.7 billion acquisition is due to pushback from regulators in the European Union. However, the company also faced challenges with the F


Japan will no longer require floppy disks for submitting some official documents
Engadget / 11h
Japan is an innovative country that leads the way on many technological fronts. But the wheels of bureaucracy often turn incredibly slowly there. So much so, that the government still requires businesses to provide information on floppy disks and CD-ROMs when they submit certain official documents. That's starting to change. Back in 2022, Minister of Digital Affairs Taro Kono urged various branch


Is Nvidia's RTX Remix necessary, or are we polishing rough gaming diamonds back into coal?
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Nvidia’s RTX Remix , a resource platform that allows the modding community access to tools for remastering old titles with ease, has entered open beta and now we’re finally seeing the results. Unfortunately, those results look pretty mixed right now. There’s been a recent demo showing the 23-year-old game Max Payne with RTX Remix enhancements, a mod that you can access here . Though it looks visu


Grand Haven, Michigan © Kevin Ryan
Music, Arts & Literature / 11h
s-usans-blog :


IRS Contractor Who Leaked Taxes of Trump, Musk, and Bezos Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
51Gizmodo / 11h
A single man is responsible for leaking the tax information belonging to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and others. Trump’s tax information was leaked to the New York Times and became the basis for a big story , while Bezos and Musk had their financial information handed over to ProPublica, which similarly reporte… Read more...


10 Sci-Fi Movies on Amazon Prime Just Asking For Repeat Viewings
Gizmodo / 11h
There are lots of reasons to re-watch movies —the obvious being you love them so much, you just want to enjoy them again . There are also situations where a movie has so much going on, or whips out a big third-act reveal that upends all of act one, that you just soak in more when you go back for seconds. Read more...


Shazam Can Now Identify Songs While You're Wearing Headphones
LifeHacker / 11h
For most of music history, those who heard a tune they liked but didn't know the name of were left to deal with the mystery on their own. Sure, you could try in vain to hum or sing the tune to friends and family, but if no one could understand your rendition, or if the song was obscure enough, you'd have to go on singing a nameless track to yourself. Enter: Shazam. This song recognition app chang


Every Type of Smart Home Sensor (and How to Use Them)
LifeHacker / 11h
Smart home automation is the ultimate life hack, in my humble opinion. Whether for efficiency, accessibility, nerding out, or just plain laziness, all you need are smart home devices and a little problem solving. In a lot of cases, the smart home tech you need above all is a sensor . As part of my goal to help you learn to build automations that make your lives easier, here's a compendium of what


Thunderbird Has a Problem With Outlook, Hotmail, and Live Email Addresses
How-To Geek / 11h
Microsoft has changed the account authorization process for its email platforms. As a result, the Mozilla Thunderbird client and other email apps may have trouble logging into your Outlook, Hotmail, or Live addresses. Affected users can take a few steps to try and resolve the issue while Mozilla searches for a permanent fix.


Twitter's Idiotic Response to AI Porn: Block All Searches for “Taylor Swift”
100+Futurism / 12h
Whack-a-Mole Leave it to X-formerly-Twitter to find the dumbest possible solution to a serious problem. Last week, outrage rightfully broke out across the web when horrific AI-generated pornography of the singer and songwriter Taylor Swift went viral on the platform — the latest content moderation scandal to hit the beleaguered social media site following owner Elon Musk's many slashes to X's onc


This Sonar Splotch Could Be Amelia Earhart's Lost Plane
100+Gizmodo / 12h
Amelia Earhart was declared dead in January of 1939, two years after her around-the-world flight in her Lockheed Electra 10E Special ended in an unsolved disappearance . Earhart was the world’s most accomplished and famed female pilot in 1937, and her ill-fated flight is still the kind of thing that haunts a person . Rea… Read more...


Maximize Your Hyatt Stays: Earn 1,000 Extra Etihad Points Per Stay
View from the Wing / 12h
Every stay at a Hyatt property between February 1 and March 30, 2024, earns an additional 1,000 Etihad Guest points, on top of regular Hyatt and airline miles earnings, for members who register and link their accounts. Continue reading ...


Check your receipt — 5 hidden rental car fees to look out for
The Points Guy / 12h
Whether you’ve booked a rental car for a lengthy two-week road trip or opted to take a quick, scenic drive to upstate New York, when you get to the checkout counter (or even days later when you look at your credit card statement) , you may be surprised to find that you were charged a few extra fees. These hidden rental car fees, which can range from extra gas charges to cleaning costs, can easily


Alaska Mileage Plan Double Elite Miles Promotion
500+One Mile at a Time / 12h
Alaska Airlines has just launched a generous promotion for Mileage Plan members, which will make travel in February 2024 more rewarding. Alaska Mileage Plan offering 2-3x elite miles Between February 1 and February 29, 2024, Alaska Mileage Plan will be offering bonus elite qualifying miles (EQMs). There’s no registration required, but rather members will automatically earn the following: All Mile


Saying goodbye to the little helicopter that could
TechCrunch / 12h
Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. Last week, NASA held its annual day of remembrance to commemorate all those who lost their lives in the pursuit of human space exploration — including the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia. The day is a sobering reminder of the perils of spaceflight and the dear […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


OpenAI partners with Common Sense Media to collaborate on AI guidelines
TechCrunch / 12h
OpenAI hopes to win the trust of parents — and policymakers — by partnering with organizations that work to minimize tech and media harms to kids, preteens and teens. Case in point, OpenAI today announced a partnership with Common Sense Media, the nonprofit organization that reviews and ranks the suitability of various media and tech […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use on


Fake Google ads are trying to trick users into downloading nasty malware — here's how you can fight back
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Consumers in China looking to access banned communications apps such as Telegram are being targeted by threat actors looking to deploy various malware . This is according to a new report from Malwarebytes’ Jérôme Segura, who found unnamed hackers have been using two Google Ads accounts to publish malicious ads. The accounts, both from Nigeria, were either previously compromised, or built from scr


Pour one out for MSN Messenger, Zune, and more: Microsoft Graveyard gives a salute to the tech giants’ retired creations
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Microsoft is an old (in tech terms, at least) company - and a very successful one at that, but not every product it makes is a success. For every Windows 7, there's a Games for Windows Live. Every Microsoft Office, there's a Clippy. To help people reminisce and revisit memories of Microsoft products gone by, a group of developers and tech enthusiasts has made an open-source site named Microsoft G


Streaming media company Plex raises $40M as it nears profitability
22TechCrunch / 12h
Media streamer Plex has raised new capital. The company, which began as a media organization startup, has morphed over the years to become a one-stop shop for all your media, including ad-supported streaming, which now accounts for much of its revenue growth. The new round, which has not yet been disclosed, was initially said to […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Earn 1,000 Etihad Bonus Miles Per Hyatt Stay
One Mile at a Time / 12h
World of Hyatt and Etihad Guest have just partnered on a new promotion, which could earn you some bonus miles with no opportunity cost. Get rewarded with Etihad Guest for Hyatt stays Thanks to a new promotion , you can earn 1,000 Etihad Guest bonus miles per stay at an eligible World of Hyatt property: You must register prior to your first eligible stay, and between January 29 and February 29, 20


Want to Stream With No Ads? That’ll Cost You
59Wired / 12h
Amazon just rolled out its ad-supported plan, the latest in a string of covert streaming price hikes. The halcyon days of commercial-free content are gone.


Score rare welcome bonuses on Amex’s no-annual-fee business cards
54The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. If you’re a small-business owner or even have a side hustle , such as driving for Uber or walking dogs, paying a credit card annual fee is likely out of the question when trying to save on costs. Fortunately, there are two solid welcome offers from American Express on a pair of its business-oriented, no-an


See Webb Telescope's 'Mind-Blowing' Collection of Spiral Galaxy Images
32Gizmodo / 12h
Shall I compare thee to the Webb Space Telescope’s latest image drop? Well, for starters, thou art less ancient and far less spectacular. The new collection of 19 images reveal face-on spiral galaxies, meaning they are oriented toward Webb’s perceptive gaze. The shots were taken as part of the Physics at High Angular… Read more...


Alaska Airlines Fights Back: Earn Up To Triple Elites Miles Offer Post-737 MAX 9 Crisis
View from the Wing / 12h
Alaska Airlines, facing a significant operational disruption and financial loss due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 9, is enticing customers with double and triple elite qualifying miles in February to regain loyalty and mitigate the impact of passengers booking away to competitors like Delta. Continue reading ...


Excess Global Deaths Continue and Total Around Triple Total COVID Deaths
Next Big Future / 12h
Researchers published in the peer-reviewed Nature in Dec 2022 estimated that there were 14.83 million excess deaths globally (2020-2022), 2.74 times more deaths than the 5.42 million reported as due to COVID-19 for the period. The Global Covid deaths greatly in declined in 2023 but the excess deaths continued at far higher levels. In Japan ... Read more


Good News, This Season's Homoerotic Mecha Anime Is For the Guys
Gizmodo / 12h
Last year, Witch From Mercury radically improved the already pretty great world of Gundam by adding an amount of lesbianism that not even its parent company could deny . Alas, sapphics have yet to see a successor to the gay mecha throne yet, but lovers of men and giant robots may have found their own show to claim this… Read more...


Ryzen 8000G review: An integrated GPU that can beat a graphics card, for a price
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / The most interesting thing about AMD's Ryzen 7 8700G CPU is the Radeon 780M GPU that's attached to it. (credit: Andrew Cunningham) Put me on the short list of people who can get excited about the humble, much-derided integrated GPU. Yes, most of them are afterthoughts, designed for office desktops and laptops that will spend most of their lives rendering 2D images to a single monitor. B


Blockbuster weight-loss drugs slashed from NC state plan over ballooning costs
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Wegovy is an injectable prescription weight loss medicine that has helped people with obesity. (credit: Getty | Michael Siluk ) The health plan for North Carolina state employees will stop covering blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, including Wegovy and Zepbound, because—according to the plan's board of trustees—the drugs are simply too expensive. Last week, the board voted 4-3 to end


Assistant with Bard video may show how it'll work and when it could land on your Pixel
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
New footage has leaked for Google’s Assistant with Bard demonstrating how the digital AI helper could work at launch. Nail Sadykov posted the video on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) after discovering the feature on the Pixel Tips app. Apparently, Google accidentally spilled the beans on its tech, so it’s probably safe to say this is legitimate. It looks like something you would see in


A new Deus Ex game was reportedly canceled amid Embracer's crisis
Engadget / 12h
Embracer Group , the Swedish holding company undergoing restructuring, has reportedly canceled a Deus Ex game. Bloomberg says developers had been working on the unannounced title for two years. Neither Embracer nor developer Eidos addressed the reported cancellation specifically, but they confirmed they were laying off 97 employees at Deus Ex developer Eidos Montreal. Eidos will reportedly focus


Dear Taylor Swift, we’re sorry about those explicit deepfakes
MIT Technology Review / 12h
This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here . Hi, Taylor. I can only imagine how you must be feeling after sexually explicit deepfake videos of you went viral on X . Disgusted. Distressed, perhaps. Humiliated, even. I’m really sorry this is happening to you. Nobody deserves to have their image exploited l


Apple’s poison-pill approach to EU regulation might be the right thing to do
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
What if Apple is right about the App Store and its control of it? I've never wanted an open App Store. Side-loading apps onto my best iPhone struck me as the perfect way to infect or ruin them. Granted, I was not an iPhone jailbreak kind of guy. I've also never felt constrained by that single App Store