Technology News and More-Thursday Edition...

 Technology News and More...

Somehow This $10,000 Flame-Thrower Robot Dog Is Completely Legal in 48 States
13KWired / 8h
Meet Thermonator. It blasts fire up to 30 feet and has Bluetooth.


Report claims Vision Pro sales have ‘fallen sharply’ as Apple struggles to whip up demand
66TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 19h
Sales of Apple’s Vision Pro headset have been so low that the company has been forced to drastically cut its shipment forecasts, meaning it expects to sell far fewer than previously thought over the next year. That’s according to a recent report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and if it’s true it will come as a bitter blow to Apple and the device it sees as its “next big thing.” Kuo is thought to have

New Video of Strong Full Levitation of PCPOSOS Room Temperature Superconductor
Next Big Future / 13h
New video from SCTL Korea room temperature superconductor experimenters shows a very strong full levitation effect. Full levitation is evidence of the Meissner effect found only in superconductors. I have shown how the levitation evidence was originally partial levitation. Critics says partial levitation can be from diamagnetics or even some iron contamination. SCTL achieved full ... Read more



Edonia grabs €2M to turn microalgae into less bitter-tasting ground meat alternative
TechCrunch / now
The company produces plant-based ingredients from raw microalgae biomass, generated from spirulina or chlorella, that it claims is more nutritious than meat. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Swiggy, the Indian food delivery giant, seeks $1.25 billion in IPO after receiving shareholder approval
TechCrunch / 32min
Swiggy plans to raise $1.25 billion in an initial public offering and has secured approval from its shareholders, the Indian food delivery and instant commerce startup disclosed in a filing to the local regulator. The Bengaluru-headquartered startup, which competes with publicly-listed Zomato and StepStone Group-backed unicorn Zepto, plans to raise $450 million through issuance of […] © 2024 Tech


An AI startup made a hyperrealistic deepfake of me that’s so good it’s scary
MIT Technology Review / 51min
I’m stressed and running late, because what do you wear for the rest of eternity? This makes it sound like I’m dying, but it’s the opposite. I am, in a way, about to live forever, thanks to the AI video startup Synthesia. For the past several years, the company has produced AI-generated avatars, but today it launches a new generation, its first to take advantage of the latest advancements in gene


A lifetime subscription to this AI plant identifier app is on sale for 71% off
Mashable / 1h
TL;DR : A lifetime subscription to a Plantum AI Plant Identifier Premium Plan is on sale for £13.72, saving you 71% on list price. As flowers bloom and the sun sets later each day, it’s easy to see why so many people love nature. Anyone can appreciate a beautiful flower, tree, or plant but not many know how to identify and care for them. Instead of flipping through books or scrolling for answers


HMD steps out of Nokia's shadow and launches its own mid-range smartphone line
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
HMD is breaking into new territory by launching its first smartphone line under an original name. It’ll no longer be known as just a manufacturer of Nokia phones . In total, there are three mid-range devices in the series: the HMD Pulse, Pulse Plus, and Pulse Pro. The third model is meant to be the leader of the pack, although if you look at their respective specifications, you’ll notice they are


‘To the Future’: Saudi Arabia Spends Big to Become an A.I. Superpower
32NYT > Technology / 2h
The oil-rich kingdom is plowing money into glitzy events, computing power and artificial intelligence research, putting it in the middle of an escalating U.S.-China struggle for technological influence.


Mark Zuckerberg says Threads has 150 million monthly active users
23TechCrunch / 2h
Meta’s Twitter/X rival Threads is growing at a stable pace. The social network now has more than 150 million monthly active users — up from 130 million in February — Mark Zuckerberg mentioned during the company’s Q1 2024 earnings call. Since the last quarterly earnings call, Threads has notably taken steps towards integrating with ActivityPub, […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For perso


The Eufy Omni S1 Pro Robot Vacuum Doesn't Live Up to the Hype
LifeHacker / 3h
Eufy is a company that, in general, makes products I really like. They make some of the best security cameras in the industry, enough that after testing lots of brands, Eufy’s Solocams are what I keep installed at my house. Anker, their parent company, makes some of my favorite power banks , and I really like my Eufy doorbell. Like a lot of companies making smart tech, they also make vacuums. The


Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 25
Mashable / 3h
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 April 25's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle c


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 25
Mashable / 4h
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the e


Xaira, an AI drug discovery startup, launches with a massive $1B, says it’s ‘ready’ to start developing drugs
TechCrunch / 5h
Advances in generative AI have taken the tech world by storm. Biotech investors are making a big bet that similar computational methods could revolutionize drug discovery. On Tuesday, ARCH Venture Partners and Foresite Labs, an affiliate of Foresite Capital, announced that they incubated Xaira Therapeutics and funded the AI biotech with $1 billion. Other investors […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All right


Try 'Decluttering at the Speed of Life' When Cleaning Is Overwhelming
LifeHacker / 5h
Some decluttering techniques are really intense and time consuming, requiring you to use a bunch of storage bins or even clear out entire rooms and rebuild them bit by bit. All of that can be pretty overwhelming and, if you’re overwhelmed enough, you may not want to do it at all. If that feels familiar, a simpler, more laid-back technique might be a better fit. What is "Decluttering at the Speed


Why Gamers Shouldn't Bother Disabling VBS in Windows
LifeHacker / 5h
Gamers have been trying to get the best performance out of their PC games since the dawn of the hobby. Many now turning to the internet to try to find ways to improve their FPS (frames per second) and get a smoother gaming experience. Since Windows 11 , we've seen a new "fix" popping up for gaming performance: a recommendation to disable VBS. While the prospect of disabling performance-hungry set


Is Priceline The Worst Place On The Internet To Buy Airline Tickets?
View from the Wing / 6h
I don't write very much about booking travel with Priceline. I don't like dealing with Expedia on changes and when things go wrong. But for simple bookings that most travelers might make, is Priceline actually worse? Continue reading ...


This 3-Person Pop-Up Tent Is on Sale for $28 Right Now
LifeHacker / 6h
You can get this Pop-A-Shade 3-person tent on sale for $27.99 right now (reg. $79.99). It comes in blue, green, or orange and expands from its carrying bag in seconds and folds back up almost as quickly. You can use it for music festivals, tailgating, hiking, or right in your backyard for protection against rain, wind, sun, and bugs with silver-bonded nylon sides, Oxford fabric flooring, and buil


Why Proton Unlimited Is Actually Worth Your Money
LifeHacker / 6h
If you've been looking for a better alternative to traditional free email services like Gmail, I highly recommend checking out Proton Mail . The service is completely free, and offers some of the best privacy you can find in an email platform. On top of that, it ties into the other services Proton offers, like its VPN, password manager, and even a privacy-centric calendar service. But where I bel


Meta shares sink after it reveals spending plans
24BBC News / 6h
The firm said expenses would be higher this year as it spends heavily on artificial intelligence.


How fraudsters are getting fake articles onto Facebook
60BBC News / 6h
Scammers are able to get past automated checks on the social media giant to try to defraud users.


Has There Ever Been a More Joyful Movie Than Amélie?
31Gizmodo / 6h
Try putting pure joy into words. The English language has plenty of worthy adjectives and beautiful metaphors but nothing quite comes close to actually, perfectly capturing what it feels like to be completely filled with happiness . To reverberate with delight . To float on cloud nine. No, to adequately capture that… Read more...


Anduril moves ahead in Pentagon program to develop unmanned fighter jets
TechCrunch / 6h
Anduril Industries has taken another step forward in its quest to become the next great American prime, this time by beating out major defense companies to develop and test small unmanned fighter jet prototypes. The venture capital darling beat out Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman on the deal, under the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For p


Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, April 25 (game #822)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Thursday's Quordle brings four new puzzles to solve. Or does it? Because unlike Wordle, Quordle answers do sometimes repeat. (I'm not saying any of today's do, and in fact I have no idea whether any have appeared today, but it's worth knowing that it's a possibility.) Anyway, the puzzles may be new (or possibly not), but the challenge is the same as always: find all four words in nine guesses or


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, April 25 (game #53)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
If you found yesterday's NYT Strands puzzle to be on the tough side (as I did) then you might enjoy today's a little more – I think it's a lot easier. That doesn't mean it's downright easy, though. Strands is always a challenge, so read on for a few hints if you're struggling to find the answers. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to


US TikTok ban would be 'devastating', UK firms warn


BBC News / 6h
UK businesses using TikTok say they could see a significant drop in sales if the app is banned in the US.


Reddit, AI spam bots explore new ways to show ads in your feed
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge (credit: Getty ) Reddit has made it clear that it’s an ad-first business. Today, it expanded on that practice with a new ad format that looks to sell things to Reddit users. Simultaneously, Reddit has marketers who are interested in pushing products to users through seemingly legitimate accounts. In a blog post today, Reddit announced that its Dynamic Product Ads are entering public beta


Tales of the Empire's First Clip Gives General Grievous a Bit of Menace Back
Gizmodo / 7h
When we first met General Grievous 20 years ago this month in Genndy Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars microseries, it gave him an immediate, chilling presence . But then Revenge of the Sith, and with it the Clone Wars 3DCG series, constrained what could be done with the character. Grievous took on the air of a Saturday morning… Read more...


How to Fix Search Results in the Windows 11 Start Menu
LifeHacker / 7h
The fastest way to open something on Windows is to open the start menu and start typing the name of the app or file. The exact thing you're looking for will show up, at which point you can hit "enter." Or, at least, that's how it used to work. For years now, Microsoft has insisted on slowing down the start menu search by offering "helpful" information from the internet. Now, some people might lik


Google Quietly Made Gemini Available on Older Android Phones
LifeHacker / 7h
Google launched the Gemini app on Android back in February, alongside the AI's general rebrand. (Gemini used to be called Bard, if you recall.) With it, you can access Google's AI to do the general chatbot things you expect from a generative AI model, in addition to the option of setting Gemini as your phone's default assistant . Until now, however, many Android phones have been locked out of the


How Your United Miles Can Help Families in Critical Times: Will You Join Me?
View from the Wing / 7h
Give A Mile is a unique charity that takes donations of miles and uses the miles to book flights for to book tickets so that those in need can be together with loved ones in their last moments of life, so that people don't die alone. Continue reading ...


Three Top Tesla Execs Have Resigned Over the Past Few Weeks
200+Futurism / 7h
Bye Bye Baby Over the course of less than two weeks, three of Tesla's top executives have resigned — and one announced his exit during an earnings call. As insiders who spoke to Fortune magazine confirm, Tesla vice president of investor relations, Martin Viecha, announced that he was leaving the company at the end of this week's quarterly earnings call , which came after mass layoffs , a dip in s


Threads has 150 million monthly users
Engadget / 8h
Meta’s Threads app now has more than 150 million monthly users, an increase of about 20 million new users since February . Mark Zuckerberg shared the latest user numbers during Meta’’s first-quarter earnings call, saying that the app “continues to be on the trajectory that I hope to see.” The update suggests Threads is continuing to grow steadily, though at a slower rate than its initial explosiv


What Made George Takei Write a Children’s Book About World War II?
Gizmodo / 8h
Read more...


A Polestar Phone now inexplicably exists
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
The Polestar Phone. Someday it will unlock your Polestar car. [credit: Polestar ] Polestar, the Volvo offshoot EV company, has made a smartphone. It's called, predictably, the Polestar Phone , and it's only available in China. There have been a lot of car-brand smartphones out there (it's often Lamborghini ), but usually, these are licensing deals that the car company ignores. Polestar seems to b


We may have spotted the first magnetar flare outside our galaxy
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / M82, the site of what's likely to be a giant flare from a magnetar. (credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team) Gamma rays are a broad category of high-energy photons, including everything with more energy than an X-ray. While they are often created by processes like radioactive decay, few astronomical events produce them in sufficient quantities that they can be detected when the


American Airlines delays big changes to earning miles and Loyalty Points, for now
200+The Points Guy / 8h
Editor’s note: This post was updated with new information. American Airlines really doesn’t want you shopping around, but the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is now delaying the previously announced changes to booking travel experiences that would encourage flyers to transact directly with the airline. It teased many of these updates in the past several months, but things like earning miles and L


Oh No, There's an Orb Shortage
Gizmodo / 8h
Worldcoin, the project that hands out free cryptocurrency in exchange for biometric data, is experiencing a shortage of the orbs that scan everyone’s eyeballs, according to a new report from Semafor . But Tools for Humanity, the startup behind Worldcoin, seems to think that’s a good sign. Apparently, 10 million people… Read more...


Three Ways to Double Your Bookshelf Capacity
LifeHacker / 8h
If you’re a book fiend and love reading, you probably accumulate books at an alarming rate. They overflow your bookshelves and start stacking up on the floor, on tables, in just about every nook and cranny of your home no matter how weird or inappropriate. Books stacked on the toilet tank? Sure, why not. You might be able to handle this by buying more bookcases —until you have literally crammed a


How to Join the Android Beta Program
LifeHacker / 8h
Joining the Android Beta program gives you firsthand look at the latest Android updates, as well as a way to provide feedback about those changes before they reach full release. If you're curious about trying the latest Android betas, then signing up is easy. Here's what you need to know. How to join the Android Beta program The Android Beta program is ongoing, with the latest versions of Android


Threads Now Has More Daily Users Than X
500+Futurism / 8h
Falling Behind Meta's Twitter killer Threads has now had more daily active users in the US than Elon Musk's X-formerly-Twitter since at least December, according to estimates by data intelligence platform Apptopia. "Threads DAUs in the US passed X in December 2023 and it has not looked back," Apptopia's VP of research Thomas Grant told Business Insider . In Apple's App Store, Threads is the third


Stunning 81-Room Six Senses Kyoto Now Open
One Mile at a Time / 8h
IHG’s luxury wellness brand is expanding its footprint, with the opening of the Six Senses Kyoto. Basics of the new Six Senses Kyoto The new 81-room Six Senses Kyoto has opened as of April 2024, and marks the brand’s entry into Japan, and continued expansion in urban markets. Six Senses Kyoto exterior Six Senses Kyoto lobby Here’s how the hotel’s design inspiration is described (I won’t even try


Zombie Blockbuster 28 Years Later Will Have Serious Star Power
73Gizmodo / 8h
Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland are not screwing around when it comes to their upcoming zombie film, 28 Years Later . Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes are the first three actors who’ve joined the film, a follow-up to the cult classics 28 Weeks Later and 28 Days Later. Read more...


Italy deal alert: Fly to Venice, Milan, and Naples for as low as $479 round-trip
32The Points Guy / 8h
We’ve spotlighted a few sales with great prices on flights to Rome , but this time, we’ve found a sweet deal for travel to other much-desired destinations in Italy. Airfare to Venice, Milan, Naples, Bari, Genoa, and Turin is now available at substantial discounts. You can depart from a number of East Coast cities, including Boston, Miami, New York City and Washington, D.C. There are even some sal


TikTok Lite axes ‘addictive as cigarettes’ reward-to-watch feature under the EU’s watchful eye
Engadget / 8h
The EU has effectively vanquished a TikTok feature that Europe’s digital commissioner described as “toxic” and “addictive as cigarettes.” Owner ByteDance said on Wednesday that TikTok Lite’s reward-to-watch feature would be suspended. It’s been a brutal day for TikTok as President Biden signed a bill (also on Wednesday) forcing ByteDance to sell the platform’s US operations or face a ban. TikTok


Biden Signs TikTok Ban Bill Into Law. Here’s What Happens Next.
100+NYT > Technology / 8h
President Biden has signed the bill to force a sale of the video app or ban it. Now the law faces court challenges, a shortage of qualified buyers and Beijing’s hostility.


Video Surfaces: NYC Mayor Confronted In Tight Middle Seat On American Airlines Flight Back To New York
View from the Wing / 8h
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was confronted by a woman boarding an American Airlines flight from Miami to New York on Monday. His Honor was seated in an exit row middle seat, and the woman approached him, first asking whether he was in fact the mayor - and then began to launch into a wide-ranging tirade. The anti-Israel activist, headed to New York as well, recorded herself lambasting the mayor


Nation-state hackers exploit Cisco firewall 0-days to backdoor government networks
3 TTPs•
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images ) Hackers backed by a powerful nation-state have been exploiting two zero-day vulnerabilities in Cisco firewalls in a five-month-long campaign that breaks into government networks around the world, researchers reported Wednesday. The attacks against Cisco’s Adaptive Security Appliances firewalls are the latest in a rash of network compromises that target firewalls, V


Deepfakes in the courtroom: US judicial panel debates new AI evidence rules
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images ) On Friday, a federal judicial panel convened in Washington, DC, to discuss the challenges of policing AI-generated evidence in court trials, according to a Reuters report . The US Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules , an eight-member panel responsible for drafting evidence-related amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence , heard from compu


Chamber of Commerce sues FTC in Texas, asks court to block ban on noncompetes
22Ars Technica - All content / 9h
(credit: Getty Images | eccolo74) The US Chamber of Commerce and other business groups sued the Federal Trade Commission and FTC Chair Lina Khan today in an attempt to block a newly issued ban on noncompete clauses. The lawsuit was filed in US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The US Chamber of Commerce was joined in the suit by Business Roundtable, the Texas Association of Busine


The Bird Flu Situation Is Not Looking Great
Gizmodo / 9h
Food and Drug Administration officials reported this week that lab tests have found genetic material from strains of H5N1 avian influenza in samples of store-bought pasteurized milk. Officials say these samples do not appear to contain live virus and that the commercial milk supply should still be safe. But the… Read more...


Meta Says It Plans to Spend Billions More on A.I.
300+NYT > Technology / 9h
Along with the higher spending, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp projected lighter-than-expected revenue, causing its stock to plummet.


CEO of Trump Media Trying to Figure Out Why Its Stock Keeps Falling
82Futurism / 9h
As shares of former president Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) continue to plummet , CEO Devin Nunes is accusing Wall Street of unfairly betting against the troubled Truth Social parent company . As CNBC reports , Nunes claimed the company's stock was the target of "unlawful manipulation" in a letter to a House Republican committee. Given the company's astronomically overvalued shares — a ge


IBM moves deeper into hybrid cloud management with $6.4B HashiCorp acquisition
22TechCrunch / 9h
With HashiCorp, Big Blue gets a set of cloud lifecycle management and security tools, and a company that is growing considerably faster than any of IBM’s other businesses. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Airlines Will Now Have to Give You Cash When They Screw Up
Gizmodo / 9h
The Department of Transportation announced a final rule mandating that airlines automatically give cash refunds to passengers and inform passengers of their right to a refund on Wednesday. The policy change highlights the Biden Administration’s continued hardline support of consumer rights in the skies. The USDOT… Read more...


AI Can Tell Your Political Affiliation Just by Looking at Your Face, Researchers Find
200+Gizmodo / 9h
A study recently published in the peer-reviewed American Psychologist journal claims that a combination of facial recognition and artificial intelligence technology can accurately assess a person’s political orientation by simply looking at that person’s blank, expressionless face. Read more...


My Favorite Storage Boxes for Decluttering and Organizing Your Home
LifeHacker / 9h
Decluttering is something we all need to do periodically and probably put off too long, which is why there is a whole industry built around decluttering tips and methodologies. While most of the techniques are unique, many of them have something in common: At some point in your decluttering process, you're going to need some storage boxes. The best storage boxes for sorting A number of declutteri


What People Are Getting Wrong This Week: Donald Trump Trial Myths
LifeHacker / 9h
For the first time in American history, a former president is the defendant in a felony trial, and the misinformation, rumors, and fake news are coming in hot from the Trump trial. Below are some quick fact checks of some of the many dubious claims coming out of the trial. Donald Trump farts in court I’m starting with the most important claim first: Donald Trump farts a lot in court and the stenc


Watch Office Pals John Krasinski and Steve Carell Reunite for If
Gizmodo / 9h
Many of us watch The Office more often than we care to admit. We’ve spent so much time with the series that, over the years, the characters and the actors who portray them have almost become family. So when a video like this comes online, it’s more than just delightful. It’s cathartic. Read more...


Meta’s Profits More Than Double, While Spending on A.I. Rises
NYT > Technology / 9h
The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp continued to grow, even as it said it would spend billions of dollars more on artificial intelligence.


Southwest Flight Attendants Get New Contract, Huge Pay Raises
500+One Mile at a Time / 9h
Flight attendants at several US airlines are currently trying to negotiate new contracts. We’ve seen pilots at ratify new contracts with massive bonuses, and flight attendants are now trying to get in one the action as well. Southwest Airlines flight attendants have just become the first flight attendants at a major US airline to ratify a new contract , and it’s incredibly lucrative, and sets the


Trump Media Goes to Congress With Claims That Its Stock Is Being Illegally Traded
42Gizmodo / 9h
Trump Media & Technology Group is doubling down on claims that its stock is being illegally traded — this time bringing its concerns to congressional leaders. Read more...


The next HomePod could be more like a soundbar according to this Apple patent – and it hints at fixing the HomePod 2’s biggest issue
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
The next Apple HomePod might have a much longer and thinner horizontal design than previous models, making it look more like a soundbar, according to an Apple patent spotted by AppleInsider . The patent details the design of what appears to be a horizontal HomePod with speakers and a central display that reminds us of the design of the JBL Charge 5 speaker or a chunkier soundbar, like the Sonos R


'Metaphor: ReFantazio' Steals the Best Ideas From 'Persona 5'
Wired / 9h
Atlus promises its next game, out later this year, will be a culmination of all of its beloved RPGs.


Adobe's next big project is an AI that can upscale low-res video to 8x its original quality
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
A group of Adobe researchers recently published a paper on a new generative AI model called VideoGigaGAN and we believe it may launch on a future product. What it does is upscale low-quality videos by up to eight times their original resolution without sacrificing stability or important aspects of the source material. Several demo clips can be found on the project’s website showing off its abilit


Rabbit’s R1 is a little AI gadget that grows on you
25TechCrunch / 10h
If there’s one overarching takeaway from last night’s Rabbit R1 launch event, it’s this: Hardware can be fun again. After a decade of unquestioned smartphone dominance, there is, once again, excitement to be found in consumer electronics. The wisdom and longevity of any individual product or form factor — while important — can be set […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use on


Is Hilton within striking distance of dethroning Marriott as the world’s largest hotel company?
62The Points Guy / 10h
Marriott International, with more than 30 brands under its belt, is the undisputed leader in the world’s hotel orbit. However, Hilton leaders Wednesday morning outlined a growth strategy signaling why their cross-town rival in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area shouldn’t get too complacent in its lofty perch. The hotel giant behind brands like Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Home2 Suites has an


PUBG will take a nostalgia-infused trip back to its first map in May
Engadget / 10h
PUBG: Battlegrounds is somehow old enough to evoke nostalgia. The pioneering battle royale game, which entered Steam Early Access in 2017 , will borrow a page from Fortnite ’s playbook and honor its first map. Erangel Classic will recreate the old-school battlefield from the game’s inception for a limited two-week run in May and June. Developer and publisher Krafton says the Erangel Classic map w


How Dark Matter Aims to Ground High-Concept Sci-Fi With Real-World Emotions
22Gizmodo / 10h
If you’ve read Blake Crouch ’s 2016 novel Dark Matter —and a lot of people have, considering it’s a best-seller—you’re probably wondering how the upcoming Apple TV+ adaptation will handle the high-concept gimmick that propels the story: a box, designed by a genius that’s one version of the main character, that allows… Read more...


Here's How Magnets Actually Affect Your Credit Cards
LifeHacker / 10h
I was recently gifted a charming, kitschy magnet, and as I tucked it into my wallet for safekeeping, I couldn't seem to remember: Do magnets spell doom for credit cards? Many of us have held onto vague rumors about the potential dangers of magnets interfering with the functionality of our credit cards. Let's take a look at the relationship between magnets and credit cards, and separate fact from


13 of the Best Exercises You Can Do With a Cable Machine
LifeHacker / 10h
Curious about those cable machines in your gym? Just as I've guided you through some of the best beginner-friendly exercises to do with kettlebells and with TRX style suspension trainers , today I'm taking a look at some of the best exercises you can do with a cable machine. These are the machines with a handle of some sort that attaches to a pulley with a stack of weights at the other end. Many


Over a billion users could be at risk from keyboard logging app security flaw
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
Almost a billion mobile users, holding various devices, could have had their communications revealed to malicious third parties, a report from cybersecurity researchers Citizen Lab claims. It says different device manufacturers have used different keyboard apps which were relaying unencrypted communications, transmitting keystrokes via plaintext, and similar. Tencent QQ Pinyin, Baidu IME, iFlytek


Fedora Linux 40 Now Available With GNOME 46 Desktop
How-To Geek / 10h
Fedora Workstation is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions, and it might be the best option if you like the GNOME desktop environment. Fedora Workstation 40 is now available with some great improvements.


JioCinema, the Indian streaming service, launches 35-cent tier to box out Netflix and Prime Video
TechCrunch / 10h
JioCinema introduced new monthly subscription plan on Thursday, with the lowest tier costing just 35 cents. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Eric Schmidt-backed Augment, a GitHub Copilot rival, launches out of stealth with $252M
21TechCrunch / 10h
Augment, a startup developing an AI-powered platform similar to GitHub's Copilot, has launched out of stealth valued at nearly $1 billion. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Act fast: Avianca mileage sale as low as 2,200 miles each way
The Points Guy / 10h
Avianca just dropped a flash sale on award tickets from select U.S. cities to Central and South American destinations. The Colombian carrier is offering award tickets at up to a 30% discount to San Jose, Costa Rica; San Salvador, El Salvador; and Bogota, Colombia . With a couple of routes, you can book one-way fares for as few as 2,200 miles. You have to act fast to take advantage of this sale, a


Dead Dolphin Found Riddled With Bullets
53Futurism / 10h
Dolphin Murder Trigger warning for any animal lovers: federal officials are investigating how a bottlenose dolphin ended up dead and riddled with bullets on a beach in Louisiana, CBS reports , and now investigators are offering a $20,000 bounty for any tips that may lead to the perpetrator. A beachgoer happened upon the corpse of the juvenile dolphin in March at West Mae’s Beach in Cameron Parish


Windows 11 Start menu ads arrive. How to turn them off.
Mashable / 10h
Sometimes it feels like everything is getting a little bit worse every day. This latest Windows 11 update is a good example of that. In the patch notes for Windows 11 update KB5036980, Microsoft noted that the start menu in Windows 11 will now display recommended apps from the Windows app store. In other words, they put ads in the start menu. "The Recommended section of the Start menu will show s


Voltron's 40th Anniversary Set Proves Dreams Come True
58Gizmodo / 10h
It took 40 years, but recently one of my toy dreams came true. After writing this article about toys that you always wanted, but could never have, I was contacted to see if I’d be interested in receiving and writing about a brand new set of Voltron toys to celebrate the franchise’s 40th anniversary. The answer wasn’t… Read more...


Current Hyatt promotions: Earn bonus points, double elite night credits and more
500+The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Take a look at your account: World of Hyatt launched a host of targeted offers this week, and some of these lucrative deals may be available to you. According to LoyaltyLobby , eligible World of Hyatt members could have the chance to earn bonus points, suite upgrades or free nights on stays this spring. Ho


No more refunds after 100 hours: Steam closes Early Access playtime loophole
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) " Early Access " was once a novel, quirky thing , giving a select set of Steam PC games a way to involve enthusiastic fans in pre-alpha-level play-testing and feedback. Now loads of games launch in various forms of Early Access, in a wide variety of readiness. It's been a boon for games like Baldur's Gate 3 , which came a long way across years of Early Access . Earl


Google can’t quit third-party cookies—delays shut down for a third time
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images ) Will Chrome, the world's most popular browser, ever kill third-party cookies? Apple and Mozilla both killed off the user-tracking technology in 2020 . Google, the world's largest advertising company, originally said it wouldn't kill third-party cookies until 2022 . Then in 2021, it delayed the change until 2023. In 2022, it delayed everything again, until 2024 . It


On TikTok, Potential Ban of App Leads to Resignation and Frustration
36NYT > Technology / 10h
While Congress says the social app is a security threat, critics of the law targeting it say it shows how out of step lawmakers are with young people.


Apple is reportedly developing its own AI servers — could it be gearing up to take on Nvidia and AMD?
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Apple may again be partnering with silicon chip manufacturer TSMC to produce its own AI server processor, according to a leak from Chinese social network Weibo. Yes, news of Apple’s next step into the world of artificial intelligence tools is unironically brought to you by, MacRumors reports, “the Weibo user known as ‘Phone Chip Expert’”, who suggests that the processor will be produced using TSM


JetBlue's in-flight entertainment system just got a watch party feature
Engadget / 11h
JetBlue is revamping its in-flight entertainment system , complete with a new branding. It’s now called Blueprint and brings several features that should make your next flight just a teensy-bit less grueling. The biggest news here is a watch party feature that lets customers view the same TV show or film with up to five other people. This is actually pretty cool, as watching stuff with friends an


Radical thinks the time has come for solar-powered, high-altitude autonomous aircraft
TechCrunch / 11h
Though many eyes are on space as orbit develops into a thriving business ecosystem, Radical is keeping things a little closer to the ground — but not too close. Its high-altitude, solar-powered aircraft aim to succeed where Facebook’s infamous Aquila failed by refining the tech and embracing more markets. It’s hard to believe that Facebook’s […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For persona


Threads is testing automatic archiving for posts
Engadget / 11h
Threads users may soon have a new way to clean up their timelines. The app is testing a new archive feature that can be used to manually archive individual posts or automatically hide posts after a set period of time, Adam Mosseri shared . As on Instagram, archiving a post on Threads will hide it from public view, though the post will be available to the original author to view or undo. The Insta


How to Turn Off Those Pesky Start Menu Ads in Windows 11
20Gizmodo / 11h
I didn’t realize that Microsoft had pushed out the update that brought advertising to the Windows 11 Start menu until I started to read the news. I’ve had recommendations turned off this entire time. It turns out the same option hides the “curated” Microsoft Store apps currently populating on systems running the KB5036… Read more...


Man's Attorney Contacts NASA After Space Station Debris Smashes Through His House
21Futurism / 11h
Claim Old Story As NPR reports , Naples, Florida resident Alejandro Otero's life has been turned upside down after a two-pound battery pallet from the ISS plummeted through the roof of his house. Now he's tussling with NASA over who should be held responsible for the damage. In March, Otero noted in a since-deleted post on X-formerly-Twitter that the cylindrical hunk of metal "tore through the ro


Failed United Miles Transfer Sparks DOT Showdown: Airline Says Tough Luck, IT Issues Are Customer’s Problem
View from the Wing / 11h
Last month a Chase Ultimate Rewards member transferred their points to United, in order to book an award that showed as available at United.com, but wasn’t really available. United wouldn’t send his points back to Chase, and he complained to the Department of Transportation that this was an unfair and deceptive practice. They needed 193,000 more miles than they had in their account. United’s webs


The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 Is Over $500 Off
LifeHacker / 11h
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a good option for creative professionals, with solid specs to run heavy applications, a premium touch screen, and the ability to swap between a laptop and tablet configuration as needed. Right now, you can get this premium 3-in-1 hybrid laptop for $2,241.33 (originally $2,799.99), the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-checking tools. Microsoft Surfac


Breeze adds 5 routes to summer schedule, with a big focus on Myrtle Beach
36The Points Guy / 11h
Breeze Airways is bolstering its summer schedule. The Provo, Utah-based ultra-low-cost carrier on Tuesday announced five new routes launching this summer — each of which will touch a warm-weather, leisure destination on the East Coast. Breeze is adding three new routes to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) in South Carolina, a popular summer beach destination. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.


Are you eligible for the Capital One Venture X welcome bonus?
21The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card made waves in the premium travel rewards space upon its release. It offers incredible perks at a comparatively low $395 annual fee (see rates and fees ) — which may have you questioning whether it’s a better option than the higher-priced Chase Sapphire Reserve®


On TikTok, Resignation and Frustration After Potential Ban of App
30NYT > Technology / 11h
While Congress says the social app is a security threat, critics of the law targeting it say it shows how out of step lawmakers are with young people.


Stripe, doubling down on embedded finance, de-couples payments from the rest of its stack
TechCrunch / 11h
Stripe continues to hold the title of being the biggest financial technology business still in private hands, with a current valuation of about $65 billion and a whopping $1 trillion in total processed payment volume last year alone. But fintech is fragmented and a fast-moving target, and with competitors chipping away at its place, Stripe is […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For person


WhatsApp is enabling passkey support on iOS
Engadget / 11h
Several months after Meta brought WhatsApp passkey logins to Android , it’s doing the same on iOS. The company is rolling out the feature now, and it will be available to all users in the coming weeks. Passkeys are seen as a more secure login method as (for one thing) it mitigates the risk of scammers convincing users to share their SMS passcode. Instead, you can log in by verifying a passkey usi


New Research Points to Violent Origin of Enigmatic Earth 'Quasi-Moon'
Gizmodo / 11h
For nearly a decade, a near-Earth asteroid named Kamo’oalewa has invoked speculation over how it came to orbit the Sun in total synchrony with Earth as though it shares some special relationship with our planet. A new study of the oddball may have pinpointed where it came from: a young impact crater on the far side of… Read more...


What die hard Sonic fans can expect from 'Knuckles'
Mashable / 11h
Mashable reporter Ty Cole sits down with Idris Elba to discuss his role in the upcoming Knuckles TV mini series and what die hard Sonic fans can expect to learn about him. Knuckles premieres April 26, 2024 on Paramount + .


X-Men '97 Knows Exactly Where Tolerance Will Get You
25Gizmodo / 11h
The concept of tolerance has weighed heavily upon Disney+ seriesX-Men ‘97 . And now as the world and what is left of mutantkind looks upon the ruins of Genosha , the series is ready to grit its teeth and show some fangs, giving us righteously bitter examination of just where the morals of that tolerance—the morals cast… Read more...


A new kind of gene-edited pig kidney was just transplanted into a person
21MIT Technology Review / 11h
A month ago, Richard Slayman became the first living person to receive a kidney transplant from a gene-edited pig. Now, a team of researchers from NYU Langone Health reports that Lisa Pisano, a 54-year-old woman from New Jersey, has become the second. Her new kidney has just a single genetic modification—an approach that researchers hope could make scaling up the production of pig organs simpler.


Qualcomm Proves That Snapdragon X Can Take on Apple Silicon
How-To Geek / 11h
The ARM-based Apple Silicon platform has continually put Windows PCs to shame. Now, Qualcomm is finalizing its Snapdragon X platform, which promises to outperform Apple latest M3 chip and bring the full benefits of the ARM architecture to PC users.


Watch Ryan Gosling do carpool karaoke — with a stuntman twist
Mashable / 11h
Ryan Gosling sang in Barbie . He sang at the Oscars . He even sang about Barbie on Saturday Night Live . Now, the Academy Award nominee continues his singing streak with a promotional video for The Fall Guy , a film in which he plays a stuntman. SEE ALSO: 'The Fall Guy' review: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt make movie magic In the clip, The Fall Guy director David Leitch tasks Ryan Gosling with dr


Rabbit R1: I spent 17 hours with it — and something's iffy about it
Mashable / 11h
"Hm, this is a lot wider than I expected," I said when I held the Rabbit R1 for the first time. Laying flat on my hand, the vivid, electric orange chassis exceeded the span of my palm. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable No, it's not the most comfortable gadget to hold with its unforgiving flat edges, but it's not unwieldy either. Buttons, including the scrolling wheel and the push-to-talk button,


Why code-testing startup Nova AI uses open source LLMs more than OpenAI
TechCrunch / 11h
Enterprises still don't trust OpenAI, while open source AI models are cheaper and more than sufficient for targeted specific tasks, Nova AI founder says. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


The White House wants a zero-emission freight industry by 2040
Engadget / 12h
The Biden administration is tackling the monumental task of making America’s industrial freight system more environmentally friendly. The White House said on Wednesday that it aims to have 30 percent of industrial truck sales produce zero emissions by 2030 and 100 percent by 2040. In addition to those non-binding targets, the White House is meeting on Wednesday with stakeholders from the commerci


How NASA Repaired Voyager 1 From 15 Billion Miles Away
200+Wired / 12h
The far-traveled space probe is once again transmitting usable data, after a glitch caused months of gibberish.


Sky in Athens Turns Red
31Futurism / 12h
Dust Till Dawn Yesterday, residents in Athens, Greece were greeted with a surreal sight: the city's blue skies and famous landmarks like the Acropolis were bathed in an ominous glow of red, yellow and orange, The Guardian reports — all due to an epic dust storm from the Sahara Desert. Strong winds blew fine sand from the arid region to the Mediterranean area and choked up not just the skies over


This Jim Henson Documentary From Director Ron Howard Already Has Us Weeping
100+Gizmodo / 12h
Edit Kermit the Frog singing “Rainbow Connection” over almost anything and people are going to get emotional. But when you put it over a documentary about the man who created Kermit, with footage of them both together, then it’s a surefire shot to the tear ducts. Read more...


Now open: Six Senses Kyoto brings IHG’s wellness-focused brand to Japan
The Points Guy / 12h
Another property from TPG’s list of the most exciting hotels opening in 2024 is welcoming guests — and this time, it’s great news for fans of Japan, wellness experiences and IHG One Rewards . Introducing the Six Senses Kyoto in Japan. IHG Made up of just 81 rooms and suites, Six Senses Kyoto is the first Six Senses property in Japan and part of the wellness-focused brand’s push to enter into more


X Is Getting a Video App for Smart TVs
LifeHacker / 12h
Everything old is new again. After killing the pre-TikTok short-form video platform Vine in 2017 , Twitter is using its new overhaul as X to relaunch its video initiative. That includes a smart TV app, according to X CEO Linda Yaccarino. Tweet may have been deleted In a post on her personal X account yesterday, Yaccarino previewed the app’s UI and laid out some of its earliest features. The resul


'Jim Henson Idea Man' trailer: Meet the man behind the Muppets
Mashable / 12h
Between the Muppets , Sesame Street , and fantasy films like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth , there's a good chance Jim Henson played a key part in your childhood. Want to know more about the man behind the puppets? Check out the first trailer for the upcoming Disney+ documentary Jim Henson Idea Man , which dives deep into Henson's storied life and career. Directed by Ron Howard, Jim Henson Idea


PBS Retro is a new FAST channel playing just the classics
21Engadget / 12h
Parents throughout the country just breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of allowing more screen time for their kids that doesn’t revolve around some really loud and annoying YouTube dude. PBS just launched a new free ad-supported channel called PBS Retro, as reported by The Wrap . As the name suggests, this is a repository for all of your favorite edutainment classics from the 1980s, 1990s


WhatsApp adds global support for passkeys on iOS
TechCrunch / 12h
WhatsApp is introducing support for passkey verification on iOS, removing the need for users to deal with SMS two-factor authentication. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


This Game Boy-styled MagSafe stand just tickled my retro-gaming synapse – now all I need is a matching controller for Nintendo emulators
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
I do like a wireless charger but I’ve never been too fussed about checking out MagSafe for iPhones… until now. That’s because gaming brand Elgato has come up with the MagSafe MS W5 Charging Stand. Ignore the clunky name that feels like an errant cat has wandered over a keyboard, and focus on the fact that this MagSafe charger stand is styled after a Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP – aka the most sty


Updating California’s grid for EVs may cost up to $20 billion
37Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: boonchai wedmakawand ) California's electric grid, with its massive solar production and booming battery installations, is already on the cutting edge of the US's energy transition. And it's likely to stay there, as the state will require that all passenger vehicles be electric by 2035. Obviously, that will require a grid that's able to send a lot more electrons down its wiring a


The Fall Guy spotlights its amazing stuntmen in meta marketing video
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Ryan Gosling hosts a round of carpool karaoke with his stuntmen for the forthcoming action comedy The Fall Guy . Universal Studios has been going meta with its marketing for its forthcoming action comedy The Fall Guy . Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are the marquee stars; Gosling plays a Hollywood stuntman trying to make a movie with his estranged ex-girlfriend (Blunt). But it's the actual stuntmen


US bans TikTok owner ByteDance, will prohibit app in US unless it is sold
39Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Chesnot ) The Senate last night approved a bill that orders TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the company within 270 days or lose access to the US market. The House had already passed the bill, and President Biden signed it into law today. The "Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" was approved as part of a larger appropriations bill


How to book Starlux Airlines flights using points and miles
The Points Guy / 12h
Based in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Starlux Airlines is a new premium airline already flying to 27 destinations across Asia and the United States. Starlux flies from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Taipei, with service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) commencing Aug. 16 . TPG’s Clint Henderson was recently im


Potential TikTok Ban Becomes Law in United States
How-To Geek / 12h
TikTok might be one of the biggest social media platforms, but it has faced significant scrutiny for its ownership by ByteDance in China. While the app is not even available in China (there's a different version of TikTok there called Douyin), that hasn't stopped governments looking to ban it over national security concerns. The United States has now passed a law that could ban TikTok from the en


Get a Blueair Air Purifier for 30% off at Amazon and breathe easy
Mashable / 12h
SAVE $70: As of April 24, get the Blueair Air Purifier for $159.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 30%. Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blueair Air Purifier $159.99 at Amazon $229.99 Save $70.00 Whether you have severe allergies or you sniffle here and there due to pet dander, dealing with not-so-fresh air in your home can be a nightmare. A runny nose can lead to head congestion and general


The TikTok ban is law. Here's what happens next.
Mashable / 12h
President Joe Biden signed a bill into law on Wednesday that could, effectively, ban TikTok in the U.S. But that doesn't mean you'll be without the app right now or, really, anytime soon. Like any bill, things are complicated. The bill Biden signed is primarily a foreign aid package that'll send $60 billion to Ukraine to fight Russia's invasion and some $26 billion to both Israel and relief in Ga


Calling all business owners: Save 25% on the Square Reader with Amazon Prime
Mashable / 12h
SAVE 25%: The Square Reader (2nd gen) for contactless and chip transactions is just $44.43 at Amazon for Prime members, down from the usual price of $58.99. That's a savings of $14.56. Opens in a new window Credit: Square Square Reader (2nd gen) for contactless and chip payment $44.43 at Amazon $58.99 Save $14.56 Prime membership required Owning a small business comes with plenty of challenges, b


Microsoft launches Phi-3 Mini, a tiny AI model that packs a punch
Mashable / 12h
Microsoft released Phi-3 Mini, a new version of its lightweight AI model designed for specific tasks. According to the research paper published earlier this week, Phi-3 Mini has 3.8 billion parameters which is significantly less than other models like OpenAI's GPT-4 , making it small enough to be deployed on