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Thursday, May 16, 2024

Technology News and More-Thursday Edition...

 Technology News and More...





NASA spacecraft saw something incredible near Jupiter's Great Red Spot
200+Mashable / 23h
This is not just another sublime image of the largest storm in the solar system, Jupiter 's Great Red Spot. Look closer… a little closer… Come on, you're going to have to try harder than that. Get in there. Do you see it now? That's not a speck of dust on NASA 's Juno spacecraft camera. That's a moon, orbiting its enormous mother planet in space . The teeny tiny moon is Amalthea , and though it w


Japan Airlines Airbus A350-1000 Routes & Flights
14KOne Mile at a Time / 15h
Note : Japan Airlines has just updated its schedule to reflect that the A350 will fly daily to Dallas (DFW) as of August 16, compared to previous plans of daily service only being offered as of October 26. 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 fl


Last summer was the hottest in 2,000 years. Here’s how we know.


MIT Technology Review / 21min
This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review ’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here . I’m ready for summer, but if this year is anything like last year, it’s going to be a doozy. In fact, the summer of 2023 in the Northern Hemisphere was the hottest in over 2,000 years, according to a new study released this week. If you’ve been following



Forget full-frame, the new Fujifilm GFX100S II delivers affordable medium-format quality
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
The new GFX100S II is Fujifilm’s cheapest medium-format camera with a 100MP sensor yet at launch, and it's aggressively priced at $4,999 / £4,999 / AU$8,699 body only. That high-resolution medium-format sensor offers a degree of detail in your pictures that full-frame cameras can't match – even the class-leading and similarly-priced Sony A7R V and Leica Q3 . We're now in a world where the most af


Like the Fujifilm X100VI but want to swap lenses? The new X-T50 could be your best bet
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
The Fujifilm X100VI has grabbed the headlines so far this year, but the trending compact camera’s fixed lens might be too restricting for some people, who might instead prefer the new interchangeable-lens X-T50. It has the same stabilized 40MP crop-sensor and X-Processor 5 engine as the X100VI and pricier Fujifilm X-T5 , offers a healthy dose of retro charm, and comes with an all-new film simulat


Fujifilm's X-T50 has a special dial for film simulations
Engadget / 2h
Fujifilm has unveiled the X-T50 APS-C mirrorless camera, a long-awaited follow-up to the consumer-friendly X-T30 and X-T30 II. The new model retains key features from the past model, including the light weight and generous manual controls. At the same time, it adds a higher-resolution 40.2-megapixel sensor, 6.2K 30p video and other features from the X-T5 and other recent models . However, it also


Fujifilm’s medium-frame GFX 100S II is lighter, cheaper and AI-enhanced
Engadget / 2h
Fujifilm’s successor to the GFX 100S, its 2021 medium format camera with terrific performance but slow speeds, is the aptly named GFX 100S II. The new model is $1,000 cheaper, smaller, lighter and has (shocker) AI features to improve its autofocus, one of our gripes with its predecessor. The Fujifilm GFX 100S II uses a 102MP high-speed sensor and the X-Processor 5 processing engine. The company s


Sony PSP emulator PPSSPP hits the iOS App Store
21Engadget / 3h
PPSSPP , an app that's capable of emulating PSP games, has joined the growing number of retro game emulators on the iOS App Store. The program has been around for almost 12 years, but prior to this, you could only install it on your device through workarounds. "Thanks to Apple for relaxing their policies, allowing retro games console emulators on the store," its developer Henrik RydgÄrd wrote in


Temu accused of breaching EU’s DSA in bundle of consumer complaints
TechCrunch / 4h
Consumer protection groups around the European Union have filed coordinated complaints against Temu, accusing the Chinese-owned ultra low-cost e-commerce platform of a raft of breaches related to the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Temu only launched in the region about a year ago but recently reported blasting past 75 million monthly users. Penalties for confirmed […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All r


Netflix to add more live content, including two NFL games on Christmas Day 2024
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Netflix and the National Football League (NFL) are entering into a partnership, letting the streaming platform air live games on Christmas Day 2024, 2025, and 2026. It's all part of a new “three-season deal” between the two companies. In December, the service will offer two football games on the holiday: the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Tex


Corporate Raider Carl Icahn Walking Away From JetBlue: Victory Or Grim Future For The Airline?
View from the Wing / 7h
With JetBlue struggling, corporate raider Carl Icahn took nearly a 10% stake in the carrier and won the right to appointment members to the airline's board. Now he's walking away? Continue reading ...


BreachForums, an online bazaar for stolen data, seized by FBI
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / The front page of BreachForums. The FBI and law enforcement partners worldwide have seized BreachForums, a website that openly trafficked malware and data stolen in hacks. The site has operated for years as an online trading post where criminals could buy and sell all kinds of compromised data, including passwords, customer records, and other often-times sensitive data. Last week, a sit


Google Is Bringing Streaming and Gaming Android Apps to Parked Cars
LifeHacker / 8h
Cars with screens aren’t going away anytime soon. Even as scientists bemoan their distractions , companies are embracing them for their adaptability. Case in point: Google is adding even more apps to cars with Android Auto (which runs off a phone) or Google built-in (which is powered by the car itself). Plus, devs are going to have a much easier time bringing their own games and streaming apps to


The man who turned his dead father into a chatbot
62BBC News / 9h
The "grief tech" firms helping users create talking avatars of their dead relatives.


We Regret to Inform You That The Spinning “Loading” Icon Is Actually Called a “Throbber”
Futurism / 9h
On the internet, anything can be called anything. A site can be called "Twitter" for more than a decade and then suddenly have its name changed to "X," e-commerce platforms can have entirely made-up names like "Grailed" and "Depop," and an everyday icon that we generally take for granted can have a name that makes it sound like some sort of sex toy. It's with that horrible reality in mind that we


Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, May 16 (game #843)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
It's Quordle time once again, and today's puzzle (or rather puzzles, because there are four of them to solve, as always) may well cause you some problems. Don't worry if you get stuck, though – because I have some hints to help you out. Read on if you need them. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers. Quordle today (game #


Oreo's Special Edition Star Wars Cookies Are Here to Feed Your Inner Wookiee
20Gizmodo / 9h
Oreo has dropped a collaboration with Lucasfilm featuring special edition Star Wars sandwich cookies. Fans will be able to buy packs of the classic treat representing either the light side or dark side of the Force . Read more...


The US Election Threats Are Clear. What to Do About Them Is Anything But
Wired / 9h
A Senate Intelligence Committee hearing today saw broad agreement on how AI and other threats loom ahead of the US election—and uncertainty about how to respond.


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, May 16 (game #74)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
How's your day going? Mine starts with a round of the NYT's Strands, then Connections, then Quordle and finishes with Wordle. If you're as obsessed with word games as I am, then read on for my hints and commentary on Strands – and by all means also check out my Quordle hints and Wordle today pages too. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't wa


The Latest iPhone Update Might Have Restored Your Old, Embarrassing Photos
LifeHacker / 9h
iOS 17.5 is officially out , bringing the latest security updates to all applicable iPhones. Alongside fixing some major security flaws that Apple needed to address, the update also had an unintended effect: It's bringing back deleted photos. This iOS 17.5 bug has caused quite an uproar in the Apple community, with some raising concerns over Apple's privacy claims, and wondering if the company's


Orcas Strike Again, Sinking Yacht as Oil Tanker Called for Rescue
57Futurism / 9h
Boat GOAT The orcas are back at it again, this time straight-up sinking a yacht near the Strait of Gibraltar. As the New York Times reports , two people had to be rescued after a group of orcas attacked the Alboran Cognac, a 50-foot-long sailing yacht, about 14 miles off the coast of Morocco. According to those on board, the animals replayed their greatest hits by going for the yacht's rudder, sl


Donnie Yen Is Getting the Next John Wick Spinoff Film
21Gizmodo / 10h
Donnie Yen’s character Caine was at the center of John Wick: Chapter 4's end credit scene and now we know that’s exactly where the franchise will continue. Read more...


Why I love the Amex Business Platinum’s Pay with Points perk
The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers frequent travelers several ways to add elements of luxury to their travel plans. From flight discounts to hotel elite status and a comprehensive airport lounge access benefit, the Amex Business Platinum Card delivers unparalleled travel perks that yo


Apple Just Announced a Bunch of New Accessibility Features for iOS 18
LifeHacker / 10h
All eyes are on Apple's WWDC event next month . That's when the company will no doubt show off their latest operating system upgrades, including its late-to-the-party AI plans for iOS and macOS. But AI doesn't just mean generative AI. Apple has more traditional features in the works for users to check out, some simply powered by AI. And as it happens, we just got a glimpse at a slew of upcoming i


This App Will Sync a Pomodoro Timer Across All Your Apple Devices
LifeHacker / 10h
We've talked more than once about the pomodoro technique , which is built around intensely focusing on a task for 25 minutes and taking a five minute break. There's a lot of software out there for the job, but most of them live on only one of your devices. Not Focus Timer , an indie app that's been around in various forms for eleven years. The current version works on every Apple platform: Mac, i


Sonequa Martin-Green Looks Back on Her Gory Walking Dead Fate
Gizmodo / 11h
Read more...


Scientists Ponder Why Fish Are Spinning Themselves to Death
39Futurism / 11h
Next of Spin The mystery surrounding the disturbing phenomenon of fish spinning themselves to death in Florida is as murky as the ocean's depths, but scientists may have a lead: poisonous algae. While red tide algae hasn't been detected where the fish are dying, scientists working with the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) tested water samples and discovered they contained oth


How TPG’s points and miles experts maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards points
The Points Guy / 11h
There’s never been a better time to consider applying for one of the Chase Sapphire cards . Both cards are currently offering elevated welcome bonuses — the highest we have seen on these two popular cards in over a year. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card currently offers 75,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. The S


iOS 17.5 is reportedly resurfacing once deleted photos for some users
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Reports from iOS owners have recently surfaced claiming their device is bringing back old deleted content out of nowhere after updating to iOS 17.5. A Reddit user on the iOS subreddit said they saw pictures taken in 2021 reappear even though the images were “permanently deleted.” The same thing happened to a former iPad owner who sold the tablet to a friend who then called them after vacation pho


Anyone Can Get Away With The Southwest Preboarding Scam – And The Airline Just Shrugs
View from the Wing / 11h
A Southwest passenger complained on social media about four young girls and their parents pre-boarding their flight despite "not need[ing] assistance or extra time" and Southwest responded that "many disabilities aren't visible" so they are "unable to question preboarding requests." We regret any frustration, Stephanie. As many disabilities aren't visible, we're unable to question preboarding req


11 best hotels for nightlife — from popular nightclubs to swanky lounges
The Points Guy / 11h
Sometimes you want to go to a hotel to rest and relax. Sometimes a hotel is just where you end up after a long day of traveling or for some conference for work. And then sometimes you go to a hotel for the nightlife — or, at least, you a pick a hotel wherever you’re going because there is some nightlife you can enjoy without ever having to leave the property. Nightclubs and lounges at hotels are


Lord of the Rings Team Teases Plot and Characters for The Hunt for Gollum
Gizmodo / 11h
When news broke that Warner Bros. was making a new Lord of the Rings movie about Gollum , directed by Gollum himself, Andy Serkis, and produced by Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh, we instantly wanted someone to pick their brains about it . Why come back? Why this story? Who will return? Now, someone has. Read more...


You Can Now Buy the New iPad Air and iPad Pro
How-To Geek / 11h
Apple announced the new iPad Air and iPad Pro last week, with newer chipsets, Apple Pencil Pro support, and upgraded screens on the Pro models. Now the tablets are finally available to purchase.


Baidu With Waymo-level Robotaxi Wants to Work With Tesla on Robotaxi in China
Next Big Future / 11h
On May 15, Xu Baoqiang, general manager of Baidu’s autonomous driving vehicle department, said in an interview that Baidu is considering potential collaboration opportunities with Tesla for the latter’s upcoming Robotaxi service. The decision will be based on Tesla’s specific application models and the timing of their entry into the Chinese market. For those that ... Read more


9 things to do when you get the Amex Business Platinum Card
26The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is unquestionably the best premium business card, thanks to its slew of perks and ability to earn flexible, valuable Membership Rewards points. You can earn an elevated 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within th


Google unveils Veo, a high-definition AI video generator that may rival Sora
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / Still images taken from videos generated by Google Veo. (credit: Google / Benj Edwards) On Tuesday at Google I/O 2024, Google announced Veo , a new AI video synthesis model that can create HD videos from text, image, or video prompts, similar to OpenAI's Sora . It can generate 1080p videos lasting over a minute and edit videos from written instructions, but it has not yet been released


MIT students stole $25M in seconds by exploiting ETH blockchain bug, DOJ says
35Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Oleksandr Shatyrov | iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus ) Within approximately 12 seconds, two highly educated brothers allegedly stole $25 million by tampering with the ethereum blockchain in a never-before-seen cryptocurrency scheme, according to an indictment that the US Department of Justice unsealed Wednesday. In a DOJ press release , US Attorney Damian Williams said the s


Seven Health Benefits of Gaining Muscle
LifeHacker / 11h
Not everybody has the same reaction to noticing a new muscle pop up on their body. Some love it: “Great, I’m getting jacked!” Some are discouraged: “Oh no, I’m getting bulky.” But everyone should know that building muscle has its benefits, beyond looks and in spite of looks. Here are seven ways your newfound muscle is a big plus, both for your health and your fitness goals. Strength and muscle si


What Is Brick Repointing, and When Do You Need It?
LifeHacker / 11h
Brick is some seriously durable stuff—clay bricks commonly endure for a century or longer , and there are plenty of examples of brick structures that are much older than that. If you have a brick home or a brick facade , you can expect decades of service without much worry. But nothing lasts forever, and everything has a weakness . In the case of your brick walls , that weakness is the mortar—the


AI Robot Gives Graduation Speech at Buffalo’s D’Youville University
500+NYT > Technology / 11h
D’Youville University in Buffalo had an A.I. robot speak at its commencement on Saturday. Not everyone was happy about it.


Google Search Has a New "Web-Only" Filter
How-To Geek / 12h
You've probably looked for something on Google Search, only to find that the top five results are news, knowledge panels, and images before getting to the link you actually want to click. Sometimes this is useful, which is why Google does it, but sometimes, all you want is a simple, text-based search result. For some reason, that wasn't an option on Google Search before, but now it's finally bein


Giant Piece of Space Junk Crashes Down on Farm of Canadian, Who Intends to Sell It and Spend Money on Hockey Rink
29Futurism / 12h
Space Junk Fundraiser A gigantic piece of a rocket crashed down on a rural farm in Saskatchewan — and the story only gets more Canadian from there. Local farmer Barry Sawchuk discovered the charred, 88-pound chunk of composite fibers while weeding his fields, the CBC reports . "We thought originally it was just garbage," he told the broadcaster. "But I had no idea. I don't build spaceships for a


Apple's next accessibility features let you control your iPhone and iPad with just your eyes
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Ahead of Global Accessibility Day on May 16, 2024, Apple unveiled a number of new accessibility features for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. Eye tracking is leading a long list of new functionality which will let you control your iPhone and iPad by moving your eyes. Eye Tracking, Music Haptics, Vocal Shortcuts, and Vehicle Motion Cues will arrive on eligible Apple gadgets later this year.


Threads search will finally be usable with 'recent' tab rollout
Engadget / 12h
Threads is inching closer to becoming an actually useful source for real-time news and updates. The app is finally rolling out the ability to search posts in order of recency, after testing the feature last month. “In an effort to make it easier to find timely, relevant content on Threads, we’re introducing a Recent tab for your searches,” Instagram’s Adam Mosseri wrote in an update . “Search res


3 Body Problem Has Been Renewed at Netflix
60Gizmodo / 12h
We’re officially going to get some answers to the burning questions we had after watching Netflix’s 3 Body Problem : the streamer is bringing back the sci-fi series—which explores what happens as humanity prepares for a slow-moving but inevitably arriving alien invasion—for more. Read more...


RetroArch Emulator Is Now on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV
How-To Geek / 12h
Step aside, no-name emulation apps. RetroArch is now available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. It's free to use, it doesn't contain ads, and it supports both touchscreen and controller input.


Watching the NFL This Season? Youll Need at Least 5 Streaming Services
How-To Geek / 12h
Do you miss regular cable TV yet? I certainly do. NFL fans will have difficulty watching games for the upcoming 2024-25 NFL season because many will air exclusively on streaming services. What a mess.


Conner O'Malley's new standup special is a scathing critique of our AI reality
Mashable / 12h
Pressing play on a Conner O'Malley video is a disorienting experience. Could it be a continuation of a previous character or universe? Could it be another installation of Truth Hunters host Mark Seevers , O'Malley's creation for the 2016 election that resembled Alex Jones if he were locked in a Wisconsin basement for two years, subsisting only on hot dog relish and stale buns? Sure. Could it be a


Why points and miles are a bad long-term investment
90The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. It’s easy to think of points and miles as a variant of Monopoly money. To some, they’re easy to throw around and spend nonchalantly; they can almost seem ethereal. To others, travel rewards can be easy to hoard. They are a form of currency, after all — and we can become as stingy with our reservoir of points as we ar


Senate study proposes ‘at least’ $32B yearly for AI programs
TechCrunch / 12h
The AI industry moves faster than the rest of the technology sector, which means it outpaces the federal government by several orders of magnitude. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Bird Flu Has Made It to the Big Apple
Gizmodo / 12h
Avian influenza has come for New York City’s birds. In a new study Wednesday, scientists report traces of highly pathogenic H5N1 in a small number of NYC’s wild bird population. Though this discovery may not be directly related to the ongoing outbreaks of H5N1 in U.S. dairy cattle, it’s another sign that these viruses… Read more...


Microsoft Explains Outlooks New Design on Windows
How-To Geek / 12h
Microsoft released the new Outlook for Windows earlier this year, replacing the legacy Windows Mail and Calendar apps, with the eventual goal of replacing the classic Outlook desktop app. Microsoft has now explained elements of the redesign and some of its future plans.


Ubisoft's planned free-to-play Division game is dead
Engadget / 12h
Just over three years ago, Ubisoft announced The Division Heartland , a free-to-play entry in its survival-action shooter series. At the time, it suggested that Heartland would arrive later in 2021 or in 2022, but that never happened. In fact, Heartland isn't coming out at all. In its quarterly earnings report , Ubisoft said it ended development of the game, which Red Storm Entertainment, a studi


Prepare to Get Manipulated by Emotionally Expressive Chatbots
29Wired / 12h
The emotional mimicry of OpenAI’s new version of ChatGPT could lead AI assistants in some strange—even dangerous—directions.


Congress passes long-awaited FAA reauthorization bill, sends to Biden for signature
The Points Guy / 12h
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Federal Aviation Authority reauthorization bill on Wednesday and sent the bill to President Joe Biden’s desk following last week’s bipartisan passage in the Senate. The bill renews the FAA’s funding for five years and includes a range of safety measures, consumer protections and measures to fix the nation’s chronic shortage of air traffic controllers.


FBI seizes hacking forum BreachForums — again
TechCrunch / 12h
The FBI along with a coalition of international law enforcement agencies seized the notorious cybercrime forum BreachForums on Wednesday. For years, BreachForums has been a popular English-language forum for hackers and cybercriminals who wanted to advertise, sell and trade stolen data. Just recently, a threat actor advertised Dell customers’ personal information and data stolen from […] © 2024 T


Google's Project Astra Is an AI Assistant That Can Respond to What It Sees
LifeHacker / 12h
At I/O 2024, Google made lots of exciting AI announcements—but one that has everyone talking is Project Astra. Essentially, Project Astra is what Google is calling an "advanced seeing and talking responsive agent." This means that a future Google AI will be able to get context from what's around you and you can ask a question and get a response in real time. It's almost like an amped-up version o


RealVNC is dropping its “Home” plan and barely noting its free “Lite” option
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: RealVNC) RealVNC will soon end its "Home" plan that's free to use for up to three users and five devices. If you still wanted a non-commercial just-in-case plan, there is one, but you're going to have to hunt a bit. RealVNC users with Home subscriptions will likely receive an email from the company with the subject line: "Important changes to your Home subscription." The email no


'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' review: George Miller's blazing action folktale might just have outdone 'Fury Road'
Mashable / 12h
A bombastic wasteland folktale, George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is an ingenious, eye-popping prequel to his near-perfect action romp Mad Max: Fury Road . While it revisits several characters and locations we've already seen, it's also a wildly different beast, one that replaces its predecessor's mile-a-minute chase structure with a years-spanning story that elevates the series' operatic i


Twin Probes Suffer Thruster Glitch on the Way to Mercury
Gizmodo / 13h
For more than five years, a pair of spacecraft have been traveling through the solar system to reach the innermost planet Mercury and observe its extreme conditions. During its complex journey, the BepiColombo mission ran into a problem that’s preventing its thrusters from operating at full power, potentially… Read more...


Furiosa Is Every Bit the Mad Max Masterpiece You're Hoping For
100+Gizmodo / 13h
If you think of Mad Max: Fury Road as The Hobbit, Furiosa is its Lord of the Rings . They’re two stories set in the same world, with the same characters, taking place at different periods of time. One is a little more singular and focused while the other is larger and more expansive. They’re two stories that