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Thursday, July 11, 2024

Technology News and More-Thursday Edition...

 Technology News and More...




“Gay furry hackers” attack Heritage Foundation and release sensitive data related to Project 2025

500+TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 17h
A group of self-described “gay furry hackers” claim to have stolen two gigabytes of data from conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation. The hackers, known as SiegedSec, stole and released the data in retaliation to the think tanks’ ‘ Project 2025 ’ - a list of policy proposals to be enacted almost immediately after Donald Trump’s inauguration, should he win the election. The first key take


Elon Musk escapes paying $500 million to former Twitter employees
400+Engadget / 10h
The social media platform formerly known as Twitter has been at the center of multiple legal battles from the very beginning of Elon Musk's takeover. One such suit relates to the more than 6,000 employees laid off by Musk following his acquisition of the company – and his alleged failure to pay them their full severance. Yesterday, Musk notched a win over his former employees. The case in questio


What is AI?
100+MIT Technology Review / 21h
Internet nastiness, name-calling, and other not-so-petty, world-altering disagreements AI is sexy, AI is cool. AI is entrenching inequality, upending the job market, and wrecking education. AI is a theme-park ride, AI is a magic trick. AI is our final invention, AI is a moral obligation. AI is the buzzword of the decade, AI is marketing jargon from 1955. AI is humanlike, AI is alien. AI is super-




Traditional cybersecurity measures are no longer enough
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / now
Traditional cybersecurity measures are no longer sufficient to defend against sophisticated attacks, particularly those powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Threat actors are constantly innovating and exploiting vulnerabilities in interconnected digital environments, including cloud-based infrastructures and remote work setups. Regulatory requirements and customer expectations on data privacy


Adfin wants to fix bill payments for sole traders and small companies
TechCrunch / 19min
Meet Adfin, a new UK-based fintech startup that wants to help companies get their invoices paid — whatever it takes. Founded by two fintech experts, the company is starting with a problem and building a product around it. The problem is that it’s still hard to get paid if you’re set up as a sole […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Microsoft killed my online life after I called Gaza
BBC News / 1h
Palestinians calling home to Gaza on Skype are being blocked and banned from using Microsoft products.


Reliance may list Jio at $112 billion valuation next year, Jefferies says
TechCrunch / 1h
Reliance Industries, India’s most valuable company, may consider spinning off its telecom arm Jio for a public listing as early as 2025, Jefferies said in a research note, with investors favouring this route over an initial public offering. The move follows Jio’s recent focus on monetisation and market share gains, signaled by its leading role […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For perso


Amazon is giving away 3 more free PC games during Prime Day next week, including Rise of the Tomb Raider


Engadget / 1h
One of the holiest but non-religious days of our economic year is just around the corner and Amazon will mark the occasion by giving away three AAA titles during Amazon Prime Day through its Prime Gaming service . The online retailer announced it will offer free copies of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Chivalry 2 and Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Edition for 48 hours start


Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, July 11, 2024
LifeHacker / 2h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for July 11, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is medium difficult; I got it in four. Beware, there are spoilers below for July 11, Wordle #1,118! 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 we


Get unlimited access to CISSP training and risk management courses for under £24
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: The CISSP Security and Risk Management training bundle is on sale for £23.31 (reg. £329.81) through July 21 and can help prepare you for top security certifications. Opens in a new window Credit: Shutterstock The CISSP Security & Risk Management Training Bundle £23.31 at the Mashable Shop £329.81 Save £306.50 As cyber threats become more sophisticated, businesses and organisations need pro


How to watch Vekic vs. Paolini in Wimbledon 2024 online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream Vekic vs. Paolini in Wimbledon 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . Italian dynamo Jasmine Paolini narrowly missed out on winning the French Open, but now the No. 7 seed has a real shot at winning Wimbledon . Paolini decisively beat Emma Navarro in the quarter final, but Paolini will have to show the sam


How to watch Rybakina vs. Krejcikova in Wimbledon 2024 online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream Rybakina vs. Krejcikova in Wimbledon 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . Elena Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022 and another title is almost in the Kazakhstani's grasp. Rybakina defeated Elina Svitolina in straight sets to reach this semi-final, but the No. 4 seed haves to beat Barbora Krejcikova to advanc


How to watch Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Watch Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video . Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . It's time for the next fixture of the WNBA, and this time Chicago Sky and New York Liberty go head to head. It's set to be a great game, and not one basketball fans are going to want to miss. If you want to watch the Chic


Report: The GoPro Max 2 might fix the current model's biggest problem
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
A new image of what may be GoPro’s anticipated Max 2 has surfaced online. Industry leaker Quadro News posted a rather cryptic photograph of the action camera bearing the company logo on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter). To be honest, it doesn’t reveal much, and there aren't any details on specifications or potential features, although a good amount of information can be extrapolated fro


Apple warns iPhone users in 98 countries of spyware attacks
TechCrunch / 3h
Apple has issued a new round of threat notifications to iPhone users across 98 countries, warning them of potential mercenary spyware attacks. It’s the second such alert campaign from the company this year, following a similar notification sent to users in 92 nations in April. Since 2021, Apple has been regularly sending these notifications, reaching […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. Fo


'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for July 11
Mashable / 4h
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 July 11'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


How to Search All of Craigslist
How-To Geek / 4h
You can't search the entire Craigslist site all at once by defaultyou're limited to picking one region or another. However, if you're deal hunting, that is a serious restriction. Here are a few ways to search the entirety of Craigslist all at once.


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 11
Mashable / 5h
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


This AI chatbot will answer all your climate change questions
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
A new AI chatbot can help you understand climate change and how it's causing a global crisis. The Washington Post has introduced Climate Answers , which is designed to respond to your questions directly using the newspaper's climate journalism. The AI draws from the publication's extensive archive on the subject to compose its response in everyday language, along with links to the pieces it is us


NASA update on Starliner thruster issues: This is fine
Ars Technica - All content / 5h
Enlarge / Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on final approach to the International Space Station last month. (credit: NASA ) Before clearing Boeing's Starliner crew capsule to depart the International Space Station and head for Earth, NASA managers want to ensure the spacecraft's problematic control thrusters can help guide the ship's two-person crew home. The two astronauts who launched June 5 on th


Beeble AI raises $4.75M to launch a virtual production platform for indie filmmakers
23TechCrunch / 6h
Visual effects (VFX) have emerged as essential in filmmaking and have transformed storytelling and creativity in the film industry with its diverse digital techniques. However, the high cost of VFX tools often leaves independent filmmakers and content creators working with modest budgets struggling to compete with larger productions. A new company, Beeble AI, is turning […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All


OpenAI Is Testing Its Powers of Persuasion
Wired / 6h
Sam Altman is touting AI’s ability to sway people's behavior. His company is also wrestling with the risks.


Neuralink Will Offer Telepathy and then Brain Control of Teslabots
Next Big Future / 6h
Neuralink will double the bandwidth of its devices with more accurate placement of the threads into the brain. The next generation device will have 3000 channels. The company’s first system, called Telepathy, centers around 64 threads that are inserted directly into the brain. The threads are thinner than a human hair and record neural signals ... Read more


Limiting Factor Projects Megapack Demand
Next Big Future / 6h
Jordan at the Limiting Factor projects magapack energy demand. He does his usual excellent job but he does not factor in increased energy demand from AI data centers. AI data centers could more double the amount of overall world energy needed by 2040. The overall energy demand used in Tesla Master Plan part 3 did ... Read more


Will K-pop's AI experiment pay off?
20BBC News / 7h
Some of the genre's biggest names are now using artificial intelligence, but fans are divided.


Musk defeats ex-Twitter staff seeking $500m in severance
27BBC News / 7h
A US judge dismissed the case, one of several filed in the aftermath of Mr Musk's takeover of the site.


Amazon at 30: What next for 'The Everything Company'?
100+BBC News / 7h
Can Amazon sustain its rapid growth since 1994 - or will rivals or regulators cut it down to size?


Samsung expects profits to jump by more than 1,400%
85BBC News / 7h
The South Korean tech giant is benefiting from the AI boom which has lifted the prices of advanced chips.


Elon Musk’s Neuralink Is Ready to Implant a Second Volunteer
98Wired / 7h
In a livestreamed update on X, Elon Musk and Neuralink executives gave an update on the company's next study participant—and its next-generation brain implant.


NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Thursday, July 11 (game #396)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
It's time for your daily instalment of the NYT's Connections game. If you've not played it before, you're in for a treat. If you have, you'll know what to expect and why it's such great fun. What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers , Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need h


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, July 11 (game #130)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
I thoroughly enjoyed playing today's Strands puzzle from the NYT, so I recommend you give it a try yourself. Though thinking about it, if you weren't going to do that you wouldn't be on this page anyway, so I'll shut up. Either way, have fun! Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games. SPOILER WARN


Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, July 11 (game #899)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Another day, another difficult Quordle to solve. Today's is objectively hard – so you may want to look at my hints below. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles. S POILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers. Quo


American Airlines Plane Bursts Tires, Catches Fire As Pilots Cancel Takeoff At High Speed
View from the Wing / 7h
American Airlines flight 590 from Tampa to Phoenix was preparing to take off this morning when tires on the right main gear burst. The pilots rejected takeoff at a speed of around 150 knots and vacated the runway at the last turnoff. A fire ensued and after several minutes fire crew responded. Continue reading ...


Report finds most subscription services manipulate customers with 'dark patterns'
28Engadget / 7h
Most subscription sites use "dark patterns" to influence customer behavior around subscriptions and personal data, according to a pair of new reports from global consumer protection groups. Dark patterns are "practices commonly found in online user interfaces [that] steer, deceive, coerce or manipulate consumers into making choices that often are not in their best interests." The international re


The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6's coolest AI feature is this two-screen live translate trick
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Samsung’s newest foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, were unveiled during the company’s latest Unpacked event . We got to see the smartphones in all of their next-gen glory, from the Z Fold 6’s snazzy redesign to the Z Flip 6’s improved camera array. It isn’t all hardware upgrades, though. The pair introduces multiple AI features, but the most interesting is Interpreter . It quickly prov


After Deadly Hurricane, Texans Using Whataburger App to Track Power Outages
79Futurism / 8h
Mess in Texas Nothing spells dystopia quite like using a fast food app to track damage from natural disasters — but in Texas, they make do. As a viral post on X-formerly-Twitter indicates , the San Antonio-based fast food chain Whataburger's store locator offers a better look at what areas are still experiencing power outages in the wake of the uber-destructive Hurricane Beryl than the state's ow


After the Price Hike, Is Xbox Game Pass Still Worth It?
LifeHacker / 8h
Gamers’ honeymoon period with Xbox Game Pass might soon be over. Microsoft’s gaming subscription bundle previously gave gamers access to hundreds of titles, including day-one releases for as low as $10, but price hikes are here, along with some serious new restrictions. The news was officially confirmed by Microsoft today after initially being reported by Windows Central , and puts Microsoft on a


Samsung criticized for 'cloning' Apple products after Galaxy Unpacked event
Mashable / 8h
It's said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – but numerous tech outlets, YouTubers, and even some Samsung fans seem to think the consumer electronics giant took mimicry a bit too far this time. On Wednesday, Samsung had its big Galaxy Unpacked event where it unveiled a slew of new products including smartphones, smartwatches, and earbuds. Samsung even announced a whole new line wit


Latest Apple Arcade additions show Apple is looking backward, not forward
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge / Vampire Survivors on the iPhone. It doesn't look like much, but it sure is addictive. (credit: Samuel Axon) Apple recently announced new games coming to Apple Arcade, its gaming subscription service for iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, and Vision Pro headsets. The headlining title is Vampire Survivors , an indie hit that combined the gameplay of bullet hell shooters and the addictive qu


Threat actors exploited Windows 0-day for more than a year before Microsoft fixed it
6 TTPs•
Ars Technica - All content / 8h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Threat actors carried out zero-day attacks that targeted Windows users with malware for more than a year before Microsoft fixed the vulnerability that made them possible, researchers said Tuesday. The vulnerability, present in both Windows 10 and 11, causes devices to open Internet Explorer, a legacy browser that Microsoft decommissioned in 2022 after its aging code


Amazon Ramps Up Security to Head Off Project Nimbus Protests
42Wired / 8h
Former Big Tech workers intended to disrupt Wednesday’s AWS Summit in New York to protest the company’s $1.2 billion contract with Israel.


Trump Threatens to Imprison Mark Zuckerberg
100+Futurism / 8h
Temper Tantrum If Donald Trump gets reelected to the presidency, he has a long list of enemies he wants imprisoned — apparently including Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. "All I can say is that if I'm elected President, we will pursue Election Fraudsters at levels never seen before, and they will be sent to prison for long periods of time," he wrote in a Tuesday post on his social m


FTC bans 'ask me anything' app for teen use
Mashable / 9h
Anonymous messaging apps like NGL: ask me anything are attractive to curious teens eager to share unfiltered opinions or hear candid confessions from their peers. But a new order from the Federal Trade Commission highlights how such apps can be weaponized against teen users through bullying, harassment, and deception. Often marketed as free, the apps can impose a different cost, taking a toll on


Google Maps for iPhone Now Has a Speedometer
24LifeHacker / 9h
Google Maps is finally bringing a speedometer and speed limit indicator to its iPhone app. The navigation service has had these features on Android for several years now, and Google has told TechCrunch that it's finally bringing them to the iPhone as well. When you're using Google Maps to navigate, your current speed will be displayed in the bottom-left corner of the display, and it will change c


The Peloton Drops to Its Lowest Price yet As an Invite-only for Prime Day
LifeHacker / 9h
Despite its ups and downs, the name "Peloton" still attracts a lot of attention, and Amazon knows that. That's probably why it decided to add the Peloton Bike into its otherwise (mostly) unimpressive invite-only deals lineup ahead of Prime Day . The deal itself is great: The bike is discounted to $1,011 , down from its regular price of $1,455. Because it is an invite-only deal, there are a few ca


Uh-oh, Apple Vision Pro: A Samsung and Google XR headset is coming 'later this year'
Mashable / 9h
Samsung and Google are working on an XR (extended reality) headset, threatening the Apple Vision Pro . How do we know? Well, Google SVP of Platforms and Services Rick Osterloh made an appearance at Samsung's Unpacked event , which showcased new products like the Samsung Galaxy Ring, the Galaxy Watch Ultra , and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Osterloh appeared on stage to reaffirm Google's commitment to bri


More ex-military officials are becoming VCs as defense tech investment reached $35B
TechCrunch / 9h
As venture capitalists continue to pour money into defense tech startups, they’re turning to a new hiring pool: ex-military officials. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Le Sage Theory of Gravity Aligns More With Exodus 1G Propellantless Force
Next Big Future / 9h
Dr Charles Buhler takes people through his lab in a new video. He explains more about how they developed and detected a new force from large electrostatic pressure differences. They claim this force can test theories of physics related to gravity and a macroscale casimr effects. This is highly controversial but if this proves out ... Read more


Nextbigfuture Disrupted Access
Next Big Future / 9h
Hi Nextbigfuture readers. There was a few hours of outage for Nextbigfuture.com due to Stackpath going out of business. They were providing DNS nameserver access. Stackpath DNS servers were shutdown. I have now switched and corrected the new DNS records. This will propogate globally. Apologies for the inconvenience.


Airbnb Hosts Are Secretly Stalking Your Social Media Before Confirming Bookings
View from the Wing / 9h
When you make a booking for a hotel you get an instant confirmation. Airbnb's are not so simple. You often request the stay, and the owner has to confirm it. They may reject you for any reason or no reason. Continue reading ...


Court ordered penalties for 15 teens who created naked AI images of classmates
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: master1305 | iStock / Getty Images Plus ) A Spanish youth court has sentenced 15 minors to one year of probation after spreading AI-generated nude images of female classmates in two WhatsApp groups. The minors were charged with 20 counts of creating child sex abuse images and 20 counts of offenses against their victims’ moral integrity. In addition to probation, the teens will al


Republicans angry that ISPs receiving US grants must offer low-cost plans
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Matt Anderson Photography) Republican lawmakers are fighting a Biden administration attempt to bring cheap broadband service to low-income people, claiming it is an illegal form of rate regulation. GOP leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee announced an investigation into the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is ad


How to earn and redeem Hilton Honors points at SLH properties
The Points Guy / 9h
Hilton recently expanded its portfolio with the addition of roughly 400 Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties (which were formerly part of World of Hyatt). SLH is a collection of boutique hotels ranging from romantic cliffside retreats in Greece to cowboy-themed ranches in Colorado . It prides itself on offering unique properties that reflect the local culture better than your average chain


The Best Online Multiplayer Games of 2024 for Switch, XBox, and PC
Wired / 9h
Gather your friends (or find some friendly strangers) for any one of these thrilling games.


Google Photos will soon seamlessly transfer to Apple’s iCloud
40Engadget / 9h
Google and Apple are launching a new tool to transfer images from Google Photos to iCloud. As part of the Data Transfer Initiative (DTI), the tool will add iCloud transfers to Google Takeout’s export options. 9to5Mac first spotted the announcement. The tool, which will roll out over the next week, automates the transfer process from Google Photos to iCloud, so you don’t have to download, upload o


You and your friends can now share and remix your favorite conversations with the Claude AI chatbot
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Anthropic has released the Artifacts feature teased recently for its Claude generative AI chatbot, allowing users to publish, share, and even remix AI-generated content with one another. Artifacts sit as standalone pieces of content produced by Claude, including documents, images, code, and even interactive displays. Moreover, you can now make your Artifact public and see those created by others


CNN Firing 100 Employees Amid “Strategic Push Into AI”
Futurism / 9h
Harness On CNN announced today that it would be laying off another 100 staffers, or three percent of its overall workforce — a decision that CEO Mark Thompson billed as part of an overall modernization and pivot-to-video effort. And yes, in his memo to CNN employees — as published in full by The Hollywood Reporter — Thompson was sure to mention that a "strategic push into AI" will be part of that


Microsoft Surrenders OpenAI Board Position
NYT > Technology / 10h
As regulatory scrutiny picks up, the tech giant says it is pleased with the progress OpenAI has made with governance and considers its oversight role unnecessary.


Why a 40-Year (or Longer) Mortgage Is a Terrible Idea
LifeHacker / 10h
The dream of home ownership has never been more challenging in this country—home prices are soaring and interest rates are at the highest point in more than a decade . And even if you manage to find a strategy that lets you consider buying a house within your budget, the reality of home ownership is that it’s really expensive . Buying the house is step one—paying for that house is steps two throu


You Can Use Spotify Entirely From the Command Line
LifeHacker / 10h
Spotify might be the least keyboard-friendly music player ever made. I spend so much time clicking around in this application when I'm trying to find something to listen to and it all just feels so... slow . That's why I love spotify-player , which goes to the extreme the other way. It's a complete interface for Spotify that you control entirely from the command line. Yes, I realize this is ridic


Turkish Airlines releases new credit card: Another way to earn Miles&Smiles
22The Points Guy / 10h
If you’re a Turkish Airlines loyalist, there’s a new cobranded credit card that just hit the market for your consideration. Turkish Airlines has just released its first credit card for the U.S. market. The $99 annual fee Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature credit card is issued by First Electronic Bank and is only open to U.S. applicants. Applications are now open as of July 10,


Winamp Music Player Is Now on iPhone and Android
How-To Geek / 10h
It's been a years-long effort, but Winamp is truly returning from the dead. While the new web-based Winamp player lacks what most see as an essential featurelocal music playbackthis shortcoming is rectified in the new Winamp mobile app.


Watch out, iPhone fans – a new SMS attack could steal your Apple ID. Here’s how to stay safe
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
The best iPhones are hugely popular devices, and that makes Apple fans key targets for scammers and fraudsters. Fall victim and you could end up losing your Apple ID (now called an Apple Account ), your money and more. That’s been perfectly illustrated by a new attack that uses SMS messages to steal your Apple ID – and all the data it contains. First noted by Broadcom , the attack involves “a thr


FTC study finds ‘dark patterns’ used by a majority of subscription apps and websites
27TechCrunch / 10h
Dark patterns refer to a range of design techniques that can subtly encourage users to take some sort of action or put their privacy at risk. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Copenhagen rewards eco-friendly travelers with free kayak tours, ice cream and more
43The Points Guy / 10h
Travelers to Copenhagen can soon pay for perks at some of the Danish capital’s coolest attractions by going for a bike ride, showing a train ticket and partaking in other climate-friendly activities. The barter system is part of a new initiative called CopenPay , which the city is piloting this summer from July 15 through Aug. 11, Wonderful Copenhagen (the city’s tourism organization) shared with


Microsoft Overhauls Game Pass With Higher Prices and New Standard Plan
How-To Geek / 10h
Game Pass allows you to play many different Xbox and PC games for one monthly subscription. It has been one of the best deals in gaming, but now Microsoft is changing prices and overhauling its plans.


NASA Investigating Mysterious Radio Signals From the Sun
62Futurism / 10h
Tuning In The Sun's surface semi-regularly erupts in spectacular events like coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar flares that awe us with their displays of power. But these forms of solar activity also produce something subtler that intrigues astronomers: mysterious radio signals that, in the decades since they were first observed, have proved elusive to pinpoint. Scientists know that the sour


Microsoft’s Xbox 360 stores will close up shop on July 29
75Engadget / 10h
Get ready to feel old and/or cluttered, depending on how many consoles are hooked up to your game room TV right now. The Xbox 360 Store and Marketplace are coming to a close later this month. Microsoft announced this last year and put an official end date of July 29, according to its official FAQ page . In case you didn’t notice, the end of July is fast approaching. All of the games, DLC and any


Three betas in, iOS 18 testers still can’t try out Apple Intelligence features
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Apple) The beta-testing cycle for Apple's latest operating system updates is in full swing—earlier this week, the third developer betas rolled out for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia, and the rest of this fall's updates. The fourth developer beta ought to be out in a couple of weeks, and it's reasonably likely to coincide with the first betas that Apple offers to the full pub


Zotac may have been exposing private customer data straight into Google search results
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Computer hardware manufacturer Zotac misconfigured a database containing sensitive customer data, resulting in that information being leaked on the wider web. Zotac is best known for its graphics cards and mini PCs, with its product lineup including various NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, ZBOX mini PCs, various motherboards, SSDs, and other computer accessories. As reported by BleepingComputer , t


When to Request Repairs After a Home Inspection (and When a Credit Is Better)
LifeHacker / 11h
Of the many decisions made while buying a home, negotiating post-inspection repairs and upgrades with a seller might be one of the most fraught. There's a fine balance to ensuring you don't end up in a tough financial spot over necessary fixes while also not risking the deal falling through. Home inspections are a standard step in the process, and it's not uncommon for issues—both major and minor


Southwest sale: 40% off flights to Hawaii
35The Points Guy / 11h
Southwest Airlines is offering 40% off flights to Hawaii for travel through much of 2024. Use the code “HAWAII40” and book your flight by July 11. Deal basics SOUTHWEST.COM Airline : Southwest Airlines Routes : Valid for select flights from the continental U.S. to and from Hawaii, excluding John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, California How to book : Directly with Southwest Airlines using the


Stranded Astronauts "Absolutely Confident" in Boeing's Leaky Starliner
100+Futurism / 11h
ISS Stranding NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are still stuck indefinitely on board the International Space Station after their ride, Boeing's plagued Starliner, sprang several helium leaks , kicking off a lengthy investigation. And while NASA insists the pair are " not stranded in space ," the space agency still hasn't announced a date for their long-deferred return journey. Ho


IHG negatively changed its dynamic award pricing algorithm: Here’s what we know
44The Points Guy / 11h
IHG One Rewards slowly rolled out dynamic award pricing in 2020, starting with properties in Greater China and eventually reaching U.S. properties . Then, IHG’s dynamic award pricing algorithms went wild as rates spiked at specific properties in 2021. Now, we’re potentially seeing another less obvious devaluation. Over the last year, I’ve redeemed IHG points for 30 nights. Across these nights, in


Here Are 7 Ways I Keep My Streaming Bills Under Control
How-To Geek / 11h
Like death and taxes, streaming service price hikes have become an inevitable part of life. With this in mind, its wise to find ways to keep your subscription spending under control. I've found some ways to cut back on streaming services and actually save money by cutting the cord from cable.


Now open: Finnair’s huge new Schengen Lounge with expanded capacity and space for Oneworld elite members
49The Points Guy / 11h
Editor’s note: This post was updated with new information. Finnair is showing off photos of its new Schengen Lounge that opened at Helsinki Airport (HEL) on July 9. The lounge primarily serves customers traveling on short-haul flights within Europe and passengers connecting in Helsinki from the U.S. and traveling onward to Finland’s Lapland and the wider Nordic and Baltic regions. The new lounge


The makers of Palworld have formed a new company in partnership with Sony
40Engadget / 11h
The maker of Xbox Game Pass stalwart Palworld said on Wednesday it’s forming a new company in partnership with… Sony. Palworld developer and publisher Pocketpair announced its new team-up with Sony Music Entertainment to create Palworld Entertainment, Inc. The joint venture’s stated purpose: “accelerating the multifaceted global development of Palworld and its further expansion,” which sounds lik


Elon Musk does not owe ex-Twitter staffers $500 million in severance, court rules
61TechCrunch / 11h
Elon Musk faces several lawsuits for firing more than 6,000 Twitter employees, including then-CEO Parag Agrawal, following Musk’s 2022 takeover of the social media platform. On Tuesday, Musk defeated one of those lawsuits, as a federal judge ruled X Corp. doesn’t owe the ex-employees any more severance. The lawsuit, filed by Twitter’s former head of […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For


This Peanut Butter Latte Isn’t As Weird As It Sounds
LifeHacker / 12h
Some folks watch horror movies when they want to feel trilled and disgusted. I just turn to the food content scattered across TikTok and Instagram Reels. Most of the ideas I encounter there seem questionable at best, and like downright bullshit at worst. Some are surface-level perverted but slightly appealing, so I’ll try them out, expecting them to fall flat (see: Jell-O grapes , cloud brea d),


The Best Early Prime Day Sales on Power Tools
LifeHacker / 12h
Tools are notoriously expensive, and power tools even more so—so taking advantage of deals when they’re available is always a good way to save money on your current and future DIY home projects. As we approach Prime Day on July 16, there are already some good tool deals available that you can take advantage of. Makita 18 volt cordless circular saw A good quality circular saw will be useful for a


This early Prime Day deal discounts 25 percent off the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
Engadget / 12h
Amazon Prime Day isn’t quite here yet, but it is just around the corner. As we wait for July 16, some early deals are coming in hot. For instance, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is 25 percent off , dropping the cost down to $300. This is the best price we’ve seen all year on this particular model. This isn’t your average air fryer/oven combo. It made our list of the best air fryers for som


Congress apparently feels a need for “reaffirmation” of SLS rocket
37Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / Stuart Smalley is here to help with daily affirmations of SLS. (credit: Aurich Lawson | SNL) There is a curious section in the new congressional reauthorization bill for NASA that concerns the agency's large Space Launch System rocket. The section is titled "Reaffirmation of the Space Launch System," and in it Congress asserts its commitment to a flight rate of twice per year for the ro


Nearby star cluster houses unusually large black hole
Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / From left to right, zooming in from the globular cluster to the site of its black hole. (credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Häberle) Supermassive black holes appear to reside at the center of every galaxy and to have done so since galaxies formed early in the history of the Universe . Currently, however, we can't entirely explain their existence, since it's difficult to understand how they c


This worrying cyberattack targets one of the key protocols propping up the whole internet
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Different devices, all over the internet, could be vulnerable to endpoint takeover, due to running a decades-old encryption protocol, experts have warned. Academic researchers Sharon Goldberg, Miro Haller, Nadia Heninger, Mike Milano, Dan Shumow, Marc Stevens, and Adam Suhl recently published a paper detailing how multiple devices, including industrial controllers, telecommunications services, an


Movavi Video Editor makes creating content a breeze with AI-powered tools
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
The barrier to entry for content creation can be surprisingly high. Despite widespread access to video platforms and built-in audiences, there’s still a learning curve to creating high-quality content that viewers want to see and engage with. Creative productivity doesn’t have to be a limiting factor in becoming a successful content creator, however. With Video Editor by Movavi , anybody with a s


Hertz Nightmare: Charges Customer $400 For A Free Car Rental – And Bills His Employer’s Card
54View from the Wing / 12h
I'm not even sure what advice to give to this reader who redeemed Hertz point for a free rental but found that they charged his company credit card for it anyway. Continue reading ...


Flowers Erupt in Hostile Desert
39Futurism / 12h
Desert Rose Something magical is happening in the barren landscape of the Atacama Desert in Chile, considered the driest place on our planet with annual precipitation that can only be measured at a fraction of an inch. Patches of delicate white and purple flowers have suddenly bloomed in parts of the Atacama, Reuters reports , after a bout of rare rainfall and a spike of warming temperatures coax


Redeeming Hilton Honors Points At SLH Properties: A Great Deal
One Mile at a Time / 12h
Hilton Honors and Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) have just rolled out their exclusive new partnership . This is super exciting, as it gives Hilton Honors members the ability to earn and redeem points at nearly 400 additional boutique, luxury properties. Within the past day, we’ve seen Hilton Honors open availability at a vast majority of SLH properties, and what we’re seeing so far is fan


The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Is Samsungs New AirPods Pro Competitor
How-To Geek / 12h
Samsung revealed a bunch of new devices today at its Unpacked event, including the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The Pro model has an updated design that is reminiscent of Apple AirPods Pro, but with some unique tricks.


It’s back: Sapphire Reserve holders can enroll for Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
42The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with the latest information. There’s good news for Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders: Chase and Marriott have launched a new status challenge similar to the one the bank and hotel megachain offered a year ago. As of July 1, those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve can enroll for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status . It appears that this offer is available to


The Most Rewarding Card For Unbonused Spend Now Has An Up Front Bonus
25View from the Wing / 12h
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express now has an initial bonus offer. Most of the time it hasn’t. Frankly, the card is too good, and extra points should get you to pay attention. Continue reading ...


What To Do If Google Messages Keeps Crashing
How-To Geek / 12h
Is your Google Messages app crashing repeatedly? This can be frustrating, especially when you rely on it for communication. Luckily, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to fix this issue. Heres what to do if